How to Manage DNS Records in Plesk

DNS records tell the internet where to find your website, email, and other services. Plesk automatically creates the necessary DNS records when you add a domain, but you may need to add, modify, or remove records manually. This guide covers DNS record management in Plesk Obsidian.

Accessing DNS Settings

1. Log in to Plesk.
2. Go to Websites & Domains.
3. Click the domain name you want to manage.
4. Go to Hosting & DNS → DNS.
5. You will see a list of all DNS records for the domain.

Common DNS Record Types

• A Record: Points a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address (e.g., points yourdomain.com to 192.0.2.1).
• AAAA Record: Points a domain or subdomain to an IPv6 address.
• CNAME Record: Aliases one domain to another (e.g., www pointing to yourdomain.com).
• MX Record: Specifies the mail server responsible for the domain.
• TXT Record: Used for SPF, DKIM, and domain verification.
• NS Record: Specifies the authoritative nameservers for the domain.
• SRV Record: Specifies the location of services like SIP or calendaring.

Adding a DNS Record

1. In the DNS page, click Add Record.
2. Select the record type from the dropdown.
3. Fill in the required fields:
   • Domain name: The subdomain or record name (leave blank for the root domain).
   • TTL: Time to live — how long the record is cached (default: 3600 seconds). Lower values mean faster propagation but more DNS queries.
   • IP address or target: The value the record points to (IP address for A records, domain for CNAME, etc.).
4. Click OK to add the record.
5. Click Update to apply the changes.

Modifying a DNS Record

1. In the DNS record list, click on the record you want to modify.
2. Edit the fields as needed.
3. Click OK and then Update.

Removing a DNS Record

1. In the DNS record list, check the box next to the record you want to remove.
2. Click Remove.
3. Click Update to confirm.

Important Notes

• DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally.
• Do not delete essential records (NS, A for root domain) unless you know what you are doing.
• Always verify DNS changes using a tool like https://dnschecker.org or nslookup in your terminal.
• If your domain DNS is managed by an external provider, changes in Plesk will not take effect unless the domain uses Plesk nameservers.

Troubleshooting

Website not loading after DNS changes:

• Wait for DNS propagation (up to 48 hours). Check propagation status at dnschecker.org.
• Verify the A record points to the correct IP address.
• Clear your local DNS cache: run ipconfig /flushdns (Windows) or sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches (Linux).

Email not working after DNS changes:

• Check that MX records are correctly configured and point to the right mail server.
• Verify SPF and DKIM TXT records are present.

"DNS settings update failed":

• Contact your hosting provider — DNS management may be restricted for your subscription.