The Zone Editor in cPanel allows you to view and modify DNS records for your domains. This is where you configure A records, CNAME records, MX records, and more.
Accessing Zone Editor
- Log into cPanel
- Go to Domains section
- Click Zone Editor
- Find your domain and click Manage
Zone Editor Interface
The Zone Editor displays all DNS records for your domain:
- Name: The hostname or subdomain
- TTL: Time to live in seconds
- Type: Record type (A, CNAME, MX, etc.)
- Record: The value (IP address, hostname, etc.)
- Actions: Edit or delete the record
Adding a New Record
- Click + Add Record dropdown
- Select the record type (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.)
- Fill in the required fields
- Click Add Record
Quick Add Options
Zone Editor provides quick add buttons for common records:
- + A Record: Add an A record
- + CNAME Record: Add a CNAME record
- + MX Record: Add a mail exchanger record
- + Add Record: Dropdown for all record types
Editing an Existing Record
- Find the record in the list
- Click Edit next to the record
- Modify the values
- Click Save Record
Deleting a Record
- Find the record
- Click Delete
- Confirm deletion
Warning: Deleting critical records (A, MX, NS) can break your website or email.
Resetting to Default
If you have made mistakes and want to start fresh:
- Click Actions dropdown for the domain
- Select Reset Zone
- Confirm the reset
Warning: This removes all custom records.
Viewing Raw Zone File
For advanced users, you can view the raw zone file:
- In Zone Editor, scroll down
- Click Manage for your domain
- All records are displayed in a table
Best Practices
- Document changes before making them
- Use low TTL (300) during changes, higher (14400) for stable records
- Test changes using online DNS tools
- Wait for propagation before troubleshooting
Common Tasks
- Point domain to new server: Edit A record
- Set up subdomain: Add A or CNAME record
- Configure email: Add/edit MX records
- Verify domain ownership: Add TXT record
- Enable email security: Add SPF/DKIM/DMARC TXT records