Common DNS mistakes that break your website (and how to fix them)

1. Incorrect A or AAAA record

Your domain points to the wrong IP address.

example.com → 192.168.1.1 (wrong IP)

Result:

• Website not loading
• Wrong server response

Fix:

• Verify your server IP
• Update A / AAAA records

2. Missing or invalid MX records

Your email routing is not configured correctly.

example.com → MX 10 mail.example.com

Result:

• Emails not delivered
• Emails bouncing

Fix:

• Add correct MX records
• Set proper priority

3. SPF, DKIM, or DMARC not configured

Email authentication is missing or broken.

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com -all
v=DMARC1; p=none;

Result:

• Emails go to spam
• Domain can be used for spoofing

Fix:

• Add SPF record
• Enable DKIM
• Set DMARC policy

4. Conflicting DNS records

Incorrect use of A, CNAME, or TXT records.

example.com → A 1.2.3.4
example.com → CNAME otherdomain.com

Result:

• Domain not resolving
• Unexpected errors

Fix:

• Avoid conflicting records
• Keep DNS clean and simple

Conclusion

DNS issues are common and often unnoticed.

They can break your website, email, and services instantly.

Regular DNS checks help prevent downtime and keep your domain reliable.