When you register a domain, it doesn’t automatically connect to an existing website. You have to update the Domain Name System (DNS) settings associated with the domain. Understanding how to do this is a key step in making your site available to the public.
Configuring and updating WordPress DNS settings doesn’t happen within the Content Management System (CMS). To do this, you’ll need to use your registrar’s domain management tools. These vary from one platform to another, but if you know how DNS records work, you’ll have no problem configuring them.
In this article, we’ll talk more about what the DNS is and how it works. Then, we’ll show you how to configure your WordPress DNS settings and talk about which registrar you should use to do this. Let’s get started!
An Introduction to the DNS
The DNS is a decentralized collection of records, connecting domain names with IP addresses. When you navigate to a website using its domain name, your browser checks the DNS records to see what IP address it points to.
All of this typically happens in a matter of milliseconds. You type in a domain and a website should begin loading immediately.
DNS records are not automatic. When you register a new domain, you need to configure its DNS settings and point it toward a website. There are multiple types of records you can use to do this, which we’ll talk about in the next sections.
You also have the option to register a domain and not point it toward any website. This is what’s called a “parked” domain and it’s a common practice if you want to secure a domain name before you start working on the website.
Updating the DNS records for a domain works the same whether they lead to a WordPress website or any other kind of site. That means you can use these instructions for any website you set up.
When to Configure Your DNS Settings
There are several scenarios where it makes sense to configure or update your domain’s DNS records. The first is right after you initially register a domain.
Once the domain is in your possession, you’ll want to connect it to the website you registered it for. You can do this at any point, even if the domain has been parked for a while.
Another scenario is if you change hosting providers for your WordPress site. Since the website is moving from one server to another, you’ll need to update the DNS record that corresponds to it.
You might also need to update the domain’s MX records (part of the DNS settings) if you sign up for email hosting.
Any changes you want to make to an address record have to go through the registrar. That means you’ll want to use a domain registrar that enables you to manage DNS records with a simple user interface.
How to Configure Your WordPress DNS Settings
In this section, we’ll show you how to update your site’s DNS settings using cPanel. This is one of the most commonly-used hosting panels in the market and it’s what NameHero uses.
If your web host uses a different control panel, you can still refer to these instructions. However, the options you get to edit DNS records might be different.
Configure the DNS Records
DNS settings can include several types of records. Each record is an entry in the DNS system that corresponds to a different way to connect a domain with an IP address.
Before we talk about how to configure a DNS record, let’s go over the available types of records:
- A records (and AAAA records). With A records, you can map a domain name to an IPv4 address. AAAA records function much the same but with IPv6 addresses.
- CNAME records. You can use a CNAME record to create a domain alias. For example, you can make it so a www.mydomain.com address points to mydomain.com instead.
- MX records. You can use MX records to specify which email servers to use on behalf of the domain. If you sign up for email hosting, you’ll need to update these records.
- TXT records. These records enable you to store information in the DNS, such as domain ownership verification data.
If you want to map a domain to an IP address, all you need is an A record. The other record types are not used as often, so we’ll focus on A records for this section.
To manage DNS records, you’ll need to go through the control panel for your domain registrar. If your hosting provider uses cPanel, navigate to the Domains section and locate the Zone Editor option:
Once inside, you’ll see an overview of existing domain DNS records. Each domain connected to the hosting account will appear here, alongside options to set up a new address record and existing DNS records:
Look for the option to add a new record and select “A” as its type. The control panel will ask you what IP address to map and which of your domains to apply it to.
When you’re done, you should have an A record that looks like one of the examples above. It can take some time for the DNS servers to update with this new information, but the domain name should start working relatively soon.
Configure the Domain Nameservers
When you register a domain, you also get to specify its nameservers. These are the DNS servers that will give browsers information about which IP address matches your domain name.
By default, your domain registrar will set the DNS record to reflect their nameservers. If you use NameHero to register a domain, you can set the nameservers you want to use during the checkout process:
Domain nameservers typically come in pairs for added redundancy and security. Custom nameservers will have a format such as this:
- ns1.exampledomain.com
- ns2.exampledomain.com
If you already have a domain and want to configure custom nameservers for it, you’ll need to do so through the registrar’s control panel.
With NameHero, you can access your domains through our hosting control panel. You can select any domain you own and change its nameservers from this panel:
Keep in mind that outside of migrating your domain or moving to a new web host, you shouldn’t need to update your domain’s nameservers.
Configure Your WordPress DNS Settings With NameHero
You can use NameHero for domain management and registration. We offer some of the best domain registration prices on the market, as well as access to hundreds of extensions:
Throughout this article, you’ve seen how simple it is to take care of DNS management using NameHero. Thanks to our user-friendly control panels, you can configure the DNS settings for any WordPress site in a matter of minutes.
Aside from domain registration we also offer web hosting services. If you sign up for a web hosting plan and domain name, connecting the two becomes much easier.
Being able to manage your hosting and domains from a single platform can save you time and NameHero offers expert-level support for both these services. If needed, we can help you with your WordPress DNS configuration settings.
Conclusion
The DNS is what makes it possible for us to access websites using domain names and not IP addresses. When you register a new domain, you need to update its DNS records so that they point toward your hosting provider and the website you’re working on.
To configure the WordPress DNS records, you’ll need to go through the registrar you used to obtain your domain. That registrar will give you access to a control panel where you can configure the DNS records to point the domain toward your website.
You can register your domain and configure its DNS records using NameHero. We also offer web hosting plans if you’re looking for a home for your next website. You can start by registering a domain!
Sophia is a staff writer at WordCandy.co, where she produces quality blog content for WordPress plugin and theme developers, hosting providers, website development and design agencies, and other online businesses.
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