Table of contents

What is DNS How DNS works Key DNS recordsWhere to manageHow to change DNS settingsHow to avoid DNS downtimeWordPress DNS FAQsNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Admin → DNS Settings

WordPress DNS settings: a complete beginner’s guide

If you’re setting up a WordPress site and came across terms like “DNS,” “A record,” or “nameservers,” you’re not alone. DNS settings can feel intimidating—but they’re critical to keeping your site online, your emails working, and your domain pointing to the right place.

Let’s break it down in plain English and walk through everything you need to know.

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What is DNS and why it matters for WordPress

DNS (Domain Name System) is the system that translates human-readable domain names like example.com into IP addresses that computers use to locate websites and services on the internet. It’s like the internet’s phonebook. Without DNS, your browser wouldn’t know where to go when you type in a website URL.

For WordPress users, DNS controls where your domain sends visitors. It ensures your domain name connects to your web hosting server, loads your WordPress site properly, and delivers email if you’re using a custom domain.

If DNS is misconfigured, you’ll likely see errors like “This site can’t be reached.”

How DNS works with WordPress domains and hosting

Your WordPress site relies on DNS to connect a few moving parts:

The domain registrar is where you bought your domain.
The nameservers point your domain to your DNS provider (sometimes your registrar, sometimes your host)
Your DNS zone contains the individual records that control where your website and emails go.

For example, let’s say you bought a domain from A Registrar and you’re hosting your WordPress site on A Hosting Provider. You’d either:

Keep A Registrar’s nameservers and edit the DNS records in your Registrar’s account, or
Point the domain to A Hosting Provider’s nameservers and manage your DNS settings inside your Hosting Provider’s control panel.

That choice determines where you manage your DNS settings day-to-day.

Key DNS records every WordPress user should know

Here are the most important DNS records you’ll encounter when managing a WordPress site:

A record – Points your domain (e.g., yoursite.com) to your server’s IP address.
CNAME record – Creates an alias for a domain, like pointing “www.yoursite.com” to “yoursite.com.”
MX record – Directs email to your mail provider (e.g., Google Workspace or Zoho Mail).
TXT record – Adds verification and security info (like SPF for email deliverability or domain ownership).
NS record – Specifies which servers host your DNS records.
AAAA record – Like an A record, but for IPv6 addresses instead of IPv4

Most users will only need to update A, CNAME, MX, or TXT records.

Where to manage WordPress DNS settings

Here’s where DNS settings live, depending on your setup:

Domain registrar – If your domain uses the registrar’s nameservers, DNS is managed in their dashboard.
Hosting provider – If you use your web host’s nameservers, you’ll find DNS settings in the hosting control panel.
WordPress.com – DNS management is available in the “Domains” section of the WordPress.com dashboard if you bought your domain there.
Self-hosted WordPress – WordPress.org sites don’t manage DNS directly. You’ll use your registrar or hosting provider to configure DNS.

If you’re unsure where your nameservers point, you can use a free tool like whois.domaintools.com to check.

How to change DNS settings for your WordPress site

Here’s a beginner-friendly walkthrough for updating your DNS records:

Log into your domain registrar. Go to the site where you registered your domain (like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Google Domains) and sign in.
Find the DNS settings or Zone Editor. Look for a section labeled “DNS Settings,” “DNS Zone,” “Advanced DNS,” or something similar.
Update or add records. Add or edit A, CNAME, MX, or TXT records as needed. If you’re pointing to a new host, you’ll usually need to:
- Update the A record to the new host’s IP
- Add a CNAME for www
- Update MX and TXT records if you’re using email services like Google Workspace
Save changes. Double-check your entries for typos and click Save.
Wait for propagation. DNS changes can take a few minutes to 48 hours to fully update across the internet. Use dnschecker.org to track progress.

How to avoid DNS downtime during migration

If you’re changing web hosts or moving domains, these tips can help you avoid service disruptions:

Lower the TTL (Time To Live) – A day or two before migration, set TTL values to 300 seconds (5 minutes) so changes take effect faster.
Pre-configure DNS at the new host – Before switching nameservers, add all the correct records in your new DNS zone.
Use a staging domain or subdomain – Test your new setup without affecting your live site.
Monitor propagation – After updates, use a tool like WhatsMyDNS to confirm DNS records have fully propagated.

WordPress DNS FAQs

DNS settings aren’t actually inside WordPress. You’ll manage them through your domain registrar (like GoDaddy) or web host’s DNS panel (like Liquid Web or Nexcess).

At minimum, make sure your domain has:

An A record pointing to your server’s IP
A CNAME record for www (if you want it)
MX and TXT records if you use email on your domain

For WordPress.com, go to My Site > Domains. For self-hosted WordPress, domain settings live with your registrar or hosting control panel. WordPress.org doesn’t handle DNS directly.

In self-hosted WordPress, go to Settings > General to view your domain URL—but not DNS settings. To manage DNS, log into your domain registrar or host where your nameservers are set.

Getting started with WordPress DNS settings

Getting your DNS settings right is one of the most important steps in launching or managing a WordPress site. It’s the invisible connection that ensures your domain, host, and email all work in sync.

If you’re setting up or updating DNS for your WordPress site, take it slow and double-check each record. A little care here prevents big headaches later.

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