How to Check and Troubleshoot Your Domain's DNS

Overview

DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for directing your domain to the correct services.

When DNS is configured correctly, visitors can reach your website, email can be delivered to the correct mail server, and other services can find your domain.

When something is wrong with DNS, you may see problems such as:

• Your website won't load.

• Your domain shows the wrong website.

• Email isn't working.

• A subdomain doesn't resolve.

• A verification service says your DNS record is missing.

• HTTPS or SSL setup isn't completing.

• A recently changed DNS record doesn't appear to be working.

This guide explains how to check the most common DNS problems.

Where Is Your DNS Managed?

Before changing anything, determine where your domain's DNS is actually managed.

Your DNS might be managed by:

• Have Freedom Hosting

• Your domain registrar

• A third-party DNS provider

• A CDN or proxy service

Changing a DNS record in cPanel won't help if your domain's nameservers point somewhere else.

If Your DNS Is Managed by Have Freedom Hosting

You can generally manage your DNS records through:

cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor

If Your DNS Is Managed Elsewhere

Make DNS changes through the provider responsible for your domain's DNS.

If you're unsure, check your domain's nameservers.

Understanding the Most Common DNS Records

You don't need to understand every DNS record to troubleshoot common problems.

These are the ones you'll encounter most often.

A Record

An A record points a domain or hostname to an IPv4 address.

Example:

example.com → 192.0.2.10

A records are commonly used to direct websites to a hosting server.

AAAA Record

An AAAA record performs a similar function but points to an IPv6 address.

CNAME Record

A CNAME points one hostname to another hostname.

For example:

www.example.com → example.com

CNAME records are also commonly used when connecting subdomains to third-party services.

MX Record

MX records tell other mail servers where email for your domain should be delivered.

If your website works but email suddenly stops working, your MX records are worth checking.

TXT Record

TXT records are commonly used for:

• Domain verification

• Email authentication

• SPF

• DKIM-related configuration

• Other services that require DNS-based verification

Checking DNS in cPanel

If Have Freedom Hosting is managing your DNS, you can inspect your records through:

cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor

Find your domain and select Manage.

You'll see the DNS records associated with the domain.

Depending on your hosting configuration, you may see records such as:

• A

• AAAA

• CNAME

• MX

• TXT

• CAA

• Other supported record types

Do not change a record simply because you aren't familiar with it.

Some records are required by your website, email, SSL, or other services.

Checking Your Domain's Nameservers

Nameservers determine which DNS provider is authoritative for your domain.

For example, if your domain uses Have Freedom Hosting's nameservers, DNS changes should generally be made through the DNS system associated with your hosting account.

If your domain uses another provider's nameservers, changes made in Have Freedom Hosting's Zone Editor may not affect the public DNS for the domain.

This is one of the most common sources of DNS confusion.

Checking a Website's DNS

If your website isn't loading, first determine what your domain is resolving to.

For example, if your website should point to your Have Freedom Hosting server, its relevant DNS records should point to the appropriate hosting destination.

Compare the current DNS configuration with the information provided for your hosting account.

If the record points somewhere else, the domain may be going to another server.

Checking a Subdomain

If your main website works but a subdomain doesn't, check the subdomain's DNS configuration.

For example:

blog.example.com

may require an appropriate DNS record.

If the subdomain was created through cPanel and your DNS is managed by the same hosting account, cPanel may create the necessary DNS configuration automatically.

If the subdomain points to an external service, follow that service's DNS instructions.

Checking Email DNS

If your website works but email does not, DNS may be involved.

Check:

cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor

Look for the domain's MX records.

Also check:

cPanel → Email → Email Deliverability

Email Deliverability can help identify and manage certain email authentication records and can provide information about recommended DNS configuration.

Do not delete or replace email-related DNS records unless you know what they are used for.

DNS Propagation

DNS changes aren't always visible everywhere immediately.

When you change a DNS record or nameserver, different DNS resolvers may continue using previously cached information for a period of time.

This is commonly referred to as DNS propagation.

As a result:

• One device may see the new configuration.

• Another device may still see the old configuration.

• Your website may work from one network but not another.

• DNS-checking tools may show different results temporarily.

This doesn't necessarily mean the DNS change failed.

Before Changing a DNS Record

Before modifying an existing record:

1. Make a note of the current value.

2. Determine what the record is used for.

3. Confirm the new value with the service you're configuring.

4. Make the change.

5. Test the affected service.

This is especially important for:

• MX records

• Email authentication records

• Website A/AAAA records

• CNAME records used by third-party services

Common DNS Problems

"My Domain Still Shows My Old Website"

The domain may still be resolving to the old server.

Check the relevant A and AAAA records.

If you've recently changed nameservers, allow time for the change to propagate.

"My Website Doesn't Load at All"

Check:

• Your domain's nameservers.

• Your A/AAAA records.

• Whether the domain is pointed to the correct hosting service.

• Whether the domain has been added to your hosting account.

• Whether your website files are in the correct document root.

DNS is only one part of getting a website online.

"My Website Works but Email Doesn't"

Check:

• MX records.

• Email-related DNS records.

• Your email account configuration.

• cPanel → Email → Email Deliverability.

• Whether your domain's DNS is being managed somewhere other than your hosting account.

Do not assume that website DNS and email DNS are identical.

"I Added a DNS Record but Nothing Changed"

First verify that you're editing DNS in the correct location.

If your domain's nameservers point to another DNS provider, changing the record in Have Freedom Hosting's Zone Editor may not affect public DNS.

If you're certain you're editing the correct DNS zone, allow time for the change to propagate.

"I Deleted a DNS Record by Accident"

Don't immediately start adding random replacement records.

If you know what was deleted, restore the correct value.

If you aren't sure what the record was used for, contact Have Freedom Hosting Support before making additional changes.

This is particularly important for email, SSL, and third-party verification records.

DNS and SSL

DNS problems can also prevent SSL certificates from being issued or validated.

If a newly added domain or subdomain isn't receiving an SSL certificate, verify that:

• The domain resolves correctly.

• DNS points to the expected hosting service.

• The domain is configured correctly in cPanel.

• The website is reachable.

Correct DNS configuration should be established before troubleshooting the SSL certificate itself.

A Simple DNS Troubleshooting Process

If you aren't sure where to start, work through these steps:

1. Check the Domain

Make sure you're troubleshooting the correct domain.

2. Check the Nameservers

Determine who is managing DNS for the domain.

3. Check the DNS Records

If Have Freedom Hosting manages DNS, use:

cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor

4. Check the Relevant Record

Depending on the problem, this may be an:

• A

• AAAA

• CNAME

• MX

• TXT

record.

5. Confirm the Expected Value

Compare the current value with the value supplied by your hosting provider or the service you're connecting.

6. Allow for DNS Changes to Propagate

If you just changed DNS, give the change time to become visible.

7. Test Again

Try the website, email, or service again.

Don't Change DNS Without a Reason

DNS records are easy to change but can have significant effects.

Changing the wrong record can:

• Take your website offline.

• Break email.

• Prevent domain verification.

• Break third-party services.

• Interfere with SSL configuration.

If everything is working correctly, there is usually no reason to change your DNS records simply because you don't recognize one.

Need Help?

If you've checked your DNS and still can't determine what's wrong, contact Have Freedom Hosting Support.

Include:

• Your domain name

• What isn't working

• When the problem started

• Any DNS changes you recently made

• Whether your website, email, or another service is affected

• Any error message you're receiving

If you recently changed nameservers or DNS records, let us know what you changed and when.

That information can make DNS troubleshooting considerably faster.