GoDaddy DNS is the zone file of records that tells the internet where your domain's website and email live, and you edit it from your Domain Portfolio by selecting the domain and then DNS. You can only edit records there if the domain uses GoDaddy nameservers, whether or not it was registered at GoDaddy.
Here's the catch. Where your DNS is managed depends on your nameservers, not on who you bought the domain from. A domain registered at GoDaddy but pointed at another company's nameservers has its zone file at that company, and changes made in GoDaddy do nothing. GoDaddy also warns that switching nameservers may break existing connections to your website or email.
Which company manages your DNS
| Your domain | Where DNS is managed, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Registered at GoDaddy, using GoDaddy nameservers | Your GoDaddy account |
| Registered elsewhere, using GoDaddy nameservers | Your GoDaddy account |
| Not using GoDaddy nameservers | The other DNS or hosting provider |
Every domain has at least two nameservers. When you change them, the place you manage DNS moves with them. That's the most common reason someone edits an A record in GoDaddy and nothing happens: the domain points somewhere else. If you need a refresher on how the pieces fit, here's my plain guide to what DNS is.
The DNS records you'll use most
| Record | What it does at GoDaddy |
|---|---|
| A | Connects your domain or a subdomain to an IP address, usually your hosting account |
| CNAME | Points a prefix such as www, blog or shop at another domain, not an IP address |
| MX | Tells email services where to deliver your mail |
| TXT | Holds text that verifies ownership, completes SSL checks and sets sender policies such as SPF and DMARC |
| Nameservers | Decide which company holds your zone file |
A few rules from GoDaddy's help are worth knowing before you type anything. Enter @ in the Name field to put a record on your root domain, or a prefix like blog to make a subdomain. The most common CNAME is www with @ as its value, which makes www load the same page as the root domain. A CNAME name can't be @. If a subdomain needs to point at an IP address, use an A record instead.
MX records and email
If your domain uses GoDaddy nameservers and you use one of GoDaddy's email services, the MX records are added for you. For any other provider you get the MX settings from them. Each MX record has a priority, and the lowest number is used first. GoDaddy is clear that adding, editing or deleting MX records may interrupt email already connected to your domain, so check what's there before you touch it.
MX records can sit on a prefix as well as the root. Enter mail as the name and the record handles addresses like [email protected]. On an A record, Add another value lets you point one name at more than one IP address.
TXT records: the limits
TXT values have a maximum of 1024 characters and only ASCII characters are allowed. Record names can't start or end with a hyphen, can't start or end with a period, and can't have more than 63 characters in a row without a period. Every record has a TTL, which is how long servers cache it before checking again.
How to add or edit a GoDaddy DNS record
- Sign in to your GoDaddy Domain Portfolio, select the domain and then DNS.
- Select Add New Record and pick the type: A, CNAME, MX or TXT.
- Enter the Name, using @ for the root domain or a prefix for a subdomain, and the Value from your host or provider.
- Use Add More Records to add several at once, then select Save All Records.
- Check progress with the world icon in the Propagation column. Most changes work within an hour, but allow up to 48 hours.
If your domain has Domain Protection, GoDaddy asks for identity verification on some changes. If you've had 2-step verification on for at least 24 hours, you'll enter a code from SMS or your authenticator app. Otherwise GoDaddy sends a one-time password to the email address on your account.
Changing nameservers
From the domain's settings you choose between GoDaddy Nameservers, which GoDaddy recommends and which keep DNS in your account, or I'll use my own nameservers, where you enter custom ones and DNS is managed elsewhere. GoDaddy's advice is to verify your settings before and after the change. In practice, copy down your current A, CNAME, MX and TXT records first, so you can recreate them at the new provider.
Forwarding a GoDaddy domain
Forwarding sends visitors to a different address, which is handy if your site's built elsewhere or you want the domain to land on a social profile. You can forward the root domain or a subdomain, and GoDaddy now applies forwarding over HTTPS automatically. If the domain isn't on GoDaddy nameservers, setting up forwarding switches it to them, which is worth knowing if your email DNS lives somewhere else.
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| Forwarding type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Permanent (301) | Sends visitors on and tells search engines the destination is the domain's permanent location |
| Temporary (302) | Redirects visitors and search engines for a limited time, until you remove it |
| Forward with masking | Shows the destination but keeps your domain in the address bar, with optional title, description and keywords |
Masking has limits. Some websites don't support it and may not display correctly, and the meta fields are capped at 80 characters for the title, 150 for the description and 500 for keywords. If you want www to forward too, make sure your www CNAME points to @.
The destination address has its own rules: up to 1,000 characters, it must start and end with a letter or number, and underscores and consecutive periods aren't allowed. If you forward a subdomain that doesn't exist yet, GoDaddy adds it for you, and if it already exists, GoDaddy updates its DNS automatically.
My verdict on GoDaddy DNS
I'd keep GoDaddy nameservers unless another provider gives you something you need, because then every record lives in one place and GoDaddy's email sets its own MX records. Before any nameserver or MX change, write down what's there. If you're planning to move the domain itself, read my guide on transferring a domain away from GoDaddy first, so your DNS comes with it.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't my GoDaddy DNS changes work?
The most common reason is that the domain isn't using GoDaddy nameservers. If it uses another company's nameservers, its DNS is managed there, not in GoDaddy.
How long do GoDaddy DNS changes take?
Most DNS changes take effect within an hour but could take up to 48 hours to update globally.
Can a CNAME point to an IP address at GoDaddy?
No. A CNAME points a prefix at another domain. To point a subdomain at an IP address, add an A record instead.
Will changing nameservers break my email?
It can. GoDaddy warns that changing nameservers may break existing connections to your website or email, so verify your settings before and after.
Does GoDaddy domain forwarding work over HTTPS?
Yes. Forwarding over HTTPS is now applied automatically when you set up forwarding.
