# How to create a DNS record

When setting up mechanisms like DMARC, SPF or DKIM you're typically asked to **create a DNS record** on your domain name.

The DNS is a directory of names and allows to store information such as pointers to resources on the Internet in it. For example, when setting up DMARC you would typically create a resource record of type `TXT` (text) that contains the DMARC policy.

Resource records in the DNS are made available by an **authoritative nameserver**: which one you're using depends on the DNS provider associated to your domain name. **Often, DNS is included as a free service** when you buy or renew a domain with a registrar (the company that sells you domains).

Here are some tips:

- Find out whether you're using the DNS server provided by your domain registrar or an external service (like Cloudflare, Vercel, etc.).
- Look for the page where you manage DNS records, it may be called "DNS records", "DNS management" or "DNS zone".
- Refer to these guides for more detailed instructions:
  - [Cloudflare](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/manage-dns-records/how-to/create-dns-records/) (when setting up DNS records for DMARCwise, **disable proxying**, i.e. the orange cloud)
  - [GoDaddy](https://www.godaddy.com/help/manage-dns-records-680)
  - [Gandi](https://docs.gandi.net/en/domain_names/common_operations/dns_records.html)
  - [Namecheap](https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/767/10/how-to-change-dns-for-a-domain/)
  - [DNSimple](https://support.dnsimple.com/categories/dns/)
  - [ClouDNS](https://www.cloudns.net/wiki/article/9/)
  - [Google Cloud DNS](https://cloud.google.com/dns/docs/records)
  - [AWS Route 53](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/resource-record-sets-creating.html)
  - [Azure DNS](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dns/dns-web-sites-custom-domain?tabs=azure-portal)
  - [Bunny DNS](https://support.bunny.net/hc/en-us/articles/12816389845404-How-to-set-up-a-domain-and-DNS-records-in-DNS)
  - [Vercel](https://vercel.com/docs/domains/managing-dns-records)

## Modifying existing DNS records

If you already have a DNS record such as a DMARC record, most of the time you can just **edit its contents** without deleting and re-creating the record.

In some cases, for example **when switching the DNS record type** (e.g. from `TXT` to `CNAME`) you may not be able to change the type of the existing record, so you'll need to remove the record and create a new one.