How can I ensure that the email functionality in cPanel continues to work while hosting the website on Webflow with new A DNS records?
TL;DR
- Update only the A records for your root domain and "www" to Webflow’s IPs (75.2.70.75 and 99.83.190.102).
- Keep existing MX, A (mail), and TXT records intact to maintain cPanel email functionality.
If you're hosting your website on Webflow but still want to keep your email working through cPanel, the key is configuring your DNS records properly—specifically your A records for the website and your MX records for email.
1. Update Only A Records for Webflow Hosting
- In your DNS settings (usually managed through your domain registrar or an external DNS provider), update only the A records that point to your domain’s root and "www" to Webflow’s IP addresses.
- Webflow’s A records you’ll typically use are:
- 75.2.70.75
- 99.83.190.102
- Do not change or delete your MX, TXT, or other email-related records.
2. Preserve MX Records for cPanel Email
- Your MX records control where email is delivered. If you’re using cPanel email, these should typically point to something like
mail.yourdomain.com. - Ensure your DNS zone includes the same MX records you had before pointing the site to Webflow.
- A common cPanel setup has:
- MX record:
yourdomain.com → mail.yourdomain.com (Priority 0) - A record:
mail.yourdomain.com → [your cPanel server IP address] - These records must remain unchanged unless your cPanel server IP changes.
3. Include Necessary TXT and SPF Records
- Email delivery and spam prevention rely on TXT records, especially SPF, DKIM, and DMARC entries.
- Make sure these remain in your DNS configuration. For cPanel, SPF records often look like:
"v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:x.x.x.x ~all"(wherex.x.x.xis your mail server IP)
4. Test Email Functionality After DNS Change
- After updating A records, allow time for DNS propagation (up to 24 hours).
- Test:
- Sending and receiving emails using your domain-based email.
- Mail client settings to confirm login details still work.
- Use tools like MXToolbox to check for issues with your email configuration.
5. Optional: Use External DNS if Required
- If your domain registrar’s DNS manager doesn’t allow granular DNS control, consider using a service like Cloudflare or DNSMadeEasy so you can fully customize DNS without affecting your email setup.
Summary
To host your website on Webflow while keeping email functional via cPanel, update only the A records for the root and www subdomain, and preserve your existing MX, A (mail), and TXT records related to email. This ensures your website loads from Webflow while email continues routing through your cPanel server.