Fix · Domains and DNS

"CNAME at the root is not allowed"

Not checked against the vendor's current screens

What you may see

My registrar will not let me point the main name to a hostname

Most likely cause

The standard does not allow a CNAME on the main name because other records (like mail) must live there; some services offer an ALIAS-style record, or the host gives a number to use.

Check first (about two minutes)

Does your host give an IP address (an A record) for the main name?

The fix prompt

What you type here never leaves your browser. The search runs on this page, and nothing is sent to a server or to an AI.

The exact error or what you see

What you did before it happened

Kept only in this browser, on this device. Keys and passwords are removed before anything is saved.

Prompt language

You are a patient senior engineer who knows domain names and DNS settings and explains them to people who are not developers. I am not a developer, so explain every step in plain words and tell me exactly which button, menu or command you mean. If you are not sure about something, say so; do not guess.

Menu and button names change over time. If you cannot find a button or page I mention, say so and tell me what to look for instead of guessing.

THE PROBLEM
"CNAME at the root is not allowed"

THE EXACT ERROR OR WHAT I SEE
[paste the exact error here]

WHAT I DID BEFORE IT HAPPENED
[write in a few words what you did before it happened]

MOST LIKELY CAUSE
The standard does not allow a CNAME on the main name because other records (like mail) must live there; some services offer an ALIAS-style record, or the host gives a number to use.

DO THESE STEPS, IN THIS ORDER
1. Use the A (and AAAA) record values the host gives for the main name, and a CNAME only for www or subdomains.
2. If only a hostname is given, tell me if my DNS provider supports an ALIAS or flattened record and how it is named there.
Stop and tell me if what you see does not match a step. Do not skip ahead.

CHECK THAT IT WORKED
- The main name resolves to the host and mail records still work.
Tell me exactly what I should see on the screen when it works.

DO NOT CHANGE
- Do not delete mail records to make room for the CNAME.
- Anything I did not ask about: the design, the text, other pages, other settings or the data.
- Do not delete files, data or branches, do not reset or force-push, and do not rewrite history, unless you first show me exactly what would be lost and I say yes.
- Do not paste, print or ask me to paste a password or secret key into this chat. If one is needed, tell me which settings page of the right service to store it in.

WHEN YOU FINISH
Explain in simple words what you changed (file by file or setting by setting), why you changed it, and how I can undo it.

Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Cursor, then follow what it says.

After you tried it, did it work?

Steps

Use the A (and AAAA) record values the host gives for the main name, and a CNAME only for www or subdomains.
If only a hostname is given, tell me if my DNS provider supports an ALIAS or flattened record and how it is named there.

Do not do this

Do not move DNS to another company just for this.
Do not delete mail records to make room for the CNAME.

Fix it Which DNS record do I need: A, CNAME or something else?

Try another entry