Editing DNS records – can't change A or CNAME records

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattlocke · Member ·

    Hi there,

    I need to point this newly registered domain to heathrowstories.co.uk, which is registered with Gandi.net. I can’t seem to edit the core A or CNAME records in the DNS editing page on WordPress.com.

    Is this to do with the 60 day limit for transfers? Or can you make the changes for me?

    thanks!

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • staff-doublebassd · Staff ·

    Hi there,

    Is this to do with the 60 day limit for transfers? Or can you make the changes for me?

    No, it doesn’t You should be able to modify the A and CNAME records in order to point them over to your new host.

    Just to cover all the bases, in order to edit those records, you can go to Store > My Domains from the dashboard, click the edit domain button, and click edit DNS to reach the page you are referring to. In order to update those records, you can click the pencil icon that appears when you hover your pointer over each respective record.

    Here is our support page on the process:

    Point a Domain to an External IP Address

    Here is information from Gandi.net that should assist you in updating your records:

    https://wiki.gandi.net/en/dns/zone/a-record#a_records
    https://wiki.gandi.net/en/dns/zone/cname-record

    If you have the credentials already and you’re having trouble, I’d be happy to add them for you.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    Thanks!

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattlocke · Member ·

    Thanks Darnell,

    The problem is, when I go to Upgrades/Domains and then click on Heathrowstories.com, I then click on ‘Name servers and DNS’, and then ‘DNS records’, I can then see the list of A/CNAME/MX records, but there doesn’t seem to be any option to edit the primary A/CNAME/NS records. These are marked as ‘handled by WordPress.com’, and there is no button or option to edit them.

    I tried adding a new A Name record, but this hasn’t made any difference.

    Any advice? Is there another way to enter the DNS records that would give me the option to edit them?

  • staff-doublebassd · Staff ·

    Hi there Matt,

    You cannot edit the primary records on our end because heathrowstories.com is not registered with WordPress.com – the domain is only mapped here. If you want to change the nameservers or CNAME, you must do it through the host provider, Gandi.net.

    The links I provided before should be able to help you:

    Here is information from Gandi.net that should assist you in updating your records:
    https://wiki.gandi.net/en/dns/zone/a-record#a_records https://wiki.gandi.net/en/dns/zone/cname-record

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    Thanks!

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattlocke · Member ·

    Hi Darnell,
    No, that’s not true. Heathrowstories.com *is* registered through WordPress. I can email you the receipts if you want.

    Heathrowstories.co.uk *is* registered through Gandi, and I can change everything there no problem. The issue I have is I can’t change the A/Cname records on the .com, which is registered through WordPress.

    Can you help with this at all?

  • staff-doublebassd · Staff ·

    Ah, apologize for that Matt –

    I was looking at the wrong custom domain under your account.

    If you go here:

    https://heathrowstoriesdotcom.wordpress.com/wp-admin/paid-upgrades.php?page=domains

    You should be able to update your A and CNAME records. The A record should be the first record you see under existing DNS records. If you hover to the far right of the record, a pencil should appear. Click that pencil and it should ask you:

    Are you sure you wish to edit this domains A records? This will result in your domain no longer loading your WordPress.com site.

    Click yes, and then you’ll have the option to update both the A and CNAME records.

    I tried adding a new A Name record, but this hasn’t made any difference.

    How long did you wait before changing the records back to default? Note that any changes you make to DNS might take 48-72 hours to properly activate throughout the net, so if you did not wait at least 48 hours after making updates, I would definitely try again.

    Again, our support page gives detailed instructions on how to update the records.

    If you want to edit the nameservers, you will have to click on the Name Servers tab on the left under the domain management page. You cannot change them under the edit DNS tab.

    For more information on changing nameservers, please visit our support page:

    https://en.support.wordpress.com/change-name-servers/

    Of course, if you are still having trouble but have the information you need to add to update the records, I’d be happy to add them for you.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    Thanks!

  • Unknown's avatar
    mattlocke · Member ·

    Ah – thank you! I couldn’t find out how to get to that page. I was going via the newer light-blue wordpress.com dashboard, and that version wouldn’t let you edit the core A/CNAME records.

    It’s a bit confusing, as there’s two places you can edit DNS in WordPress.com -the one via STORE gives you full access, but the one via UPGRADES/DOMAINS (using the newer, light-blue themed interface) doesn’t give you full access – it won’t let you edit the core A/CNAME records, and it doesn’t link to the STORE/DOMAINS page to let you edit them there. There needs to be a link to help you find the right page to fully edit the DNS details!

    Thanks,

    Matt

  • staff-doublebassd · Staff ·

    Ah, I see.

    Yes, there are a few features that the old editor has that the new editor does not. I will definitely take note of that and relay this insight internally. Thanks for the feedback and sorry for the confusion.

    Glad you were able to get that sorted! Of course, let me know if you have any questions.

    Thanks!

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