How to Add or Update an A Record Print

How to Add or Update an A Record

An A record connects a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address. It is commonly used to point a website to a hosting server, VPS, dedicated server, or another service that uses a public IPv4 address.

Follow the steps below to add or update an A record for your domain.

1. Find the Correct Server IP Address

Before changing your DNS, make sure you have the correct IPv4 address for the server or hosting service you want to use.

If you are connecting your domain to an ApnCloud service, check your service activation details or Client Area for the correct server IP address.

Do not guess the IP address.

2. Open Your DNS Management Panel

Log in to the platform where your domain's DNS is currently managed.

This may be your domain registrar, hosting control panel, or another DNS provider.

Look for an option such as:

• DNS Management
• Manage DNS
• DNS Records
• DNS Zone
• Zone Editor

3. Find the Existing A Record

Before creating a new record, check whether an A record already exists for the hostname you want to use.

For the main domain, the hostname may appear as:

@

or as the full domain name, depending on the DNS provider.

4. Add a New A Record

If no A record exists, click the option to add a new DNS record.

Select A as the record type.

A typical configuration may look like:

Type: A
Host: @
Value: YOUR_SERVER_IP

Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with the actual IPv4 address assigned to your hosting or server service.

5. Point a Subdomain Using an A Record

You can also use an A record to point a subdomain to a server.

For example, if you want:

app.yourdomain.com

to point to a server, you may create:

Type: A
Host: app
Value: YOUR_SERVER_IP

The exact format of the Host field may vary depending on your DNS provider.

6. Update an Existing A Record

If an A record already exists, edit the existing record instead of creating an unnecessary duplicate.

Replace the old IP address with the new server IP address and save the change.

Before updating an important record, make sure the new server is ready to receive traffic.

7. Review the TTL Setting

TTL determines how long DNS resolvers may cache the record.

For most users, the default TTL provided by the DNS service is suitable.

After changing an A record, some users may continue seeing the previous IP until cached DNS information expires.

8. Save the DNS Record

Review the record carefully and click Save, Add Record, Update, or the relevant confirmation button.

Check that:

• The record type is A
• The hostname is correct
• The IPv4 address is correct
• There are no extra spaces

9. Avoid Conflicting Records

Before or after saving the record, check whether another DNS record conflicts with the same hostname.

For example, the same hostname should not normally have both an A record and a CNAME record at the same time.

Remove or correct old records only when you are sure they are no longer required.

10. Wait for DNS Propagation

After adding or updating an A record, the change may not appear immediately.

DNS propagation time depends on the TTL, DNS provider, internet service provider, and previously cached records.

Avoid repeatedly changing the record while propagation is still in progress.

11. Test Your Domain

After the DNS change begins propagating, open your domain in a web browser.

For example:

https://yourdomain.com

Make sure the website or service loads from the correct server.

12. Check SSL After Changing the IP

If your website uses HTTPS, verify that the SSL certificate is still valid after pointing the domain to the new server.

If the domain is moved to a different server, SSL may need to be installed or issued on the new hosting environment.

Common A Record Problems

If your domain is not resolving correctly, check the following:

• The server IP address is correct
• The A record hostname is correct
• No conflicting CNAME record exists
• The domain is active
• The hosting or server service is online
• DNS propagation has had enough time to complete

Important DNS Tips

• Keep a copy of important DNS records before making changes
• Use the exact IP address provided for your service
• Do not create duplicate A records unnecessarily
• Check website and SSL functionality after changing the server IP
• Allow time for DNS propagation

Need Help?

If your domain does not point to the correct ApnCloud server after updating the A record, please open a Support Ticket from your ApnCloud Client Area.

Include your domain name, the A record value you configured, and a clear description of the issue. Never include your account password in a support ticket.