How to Add DNS Records to DreamHost
To send emails using your private domain name, you will first need to add your domain and create a subdomain within your Benchmark account. After the subdomain has been added, Benchmark will generate the DNS record that you'll add to your DreamHost account under DNS Settings.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions for adding the Benchmark DNS record to DreamHost.
Topics Covered in This Article
Before Getting Started
- Benchmark does not have access to your DreamHost account.
- Your DNS records are unique to the domain and subdomain you added to Benchmark.
- Once your records are created, find them under Email Settings > Domain.
- Propagation can take up to 48 hours.
- Your domain's nameservers must be pointed to DreamHost, and the domain must be set to Fully Hosted or DNS Only for its DNS records to be editable here.
How to Add Your DNS Record to DreamHost
The instructions included in this article were developed using resources from DreamHost.
- Log in to the DreamHost panel and go to Manage Websites.
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Find the domain you're updating, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select DNS Settings.
- Click Add Record.
- Begin adding the records assigned in Benchmark. Add one record at a time — hover over the section matching the record's type (for example, CNAME, MX, or TXT) and click ADD:
- Host: paste the hostname provided in Benchmark.
- Value: paste the value provided in Benchmark — the exact field name depends on the record type.
- Priority: 10 (only used for MX records).
- Click Add Record to save, then repeat steps 3–4 for each remaining record.
After you have finished adding the records, you may return to your Benchmark account to complete the process. If you have navigated away from the records screen, you can still verify your work by checking your domain on the Domain page. From there, click the Retry Verification button next to the domain you are validating. This will initiate a web check to confirm whether the records were added successfully. Please note that DNS record propagation — once the records are valid on the web — can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours.
If the record is not added, your domain's verification will remain pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will adding this record affect my existing website or email?
No. This record only applies to the subdomain you added in Benchmark — it doesn't change or remove any existing records on your root domain.
How long does it take for my record to be verified?
Most records are verified within a few hours, but DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate. If your domain still shows as unverified after 48 hours, double-check that the record matches exactly what's listed on your Domain page in Benchmark.
My subdomain isn't showing up in public DNS lookup tools — is something wrong?
Not necessarily. NS records added to a subdomain in DreamHost may not always appear in tools like dig or whatsmydns.net, but as long as the nameservers you entered are correctly serving records for that subdomain, it will still work as expected and should verify normally in Benchmark.
Can I add records for more than one subdomain?
Yes. Each subdomain you verify in Benchmark gets its own unique record. Add each subdomain in Benchmark first, then repeat the steps above for each one.