--- title: "Minecraft Server Domain Setup: A and SRV Records | ZCS" description: "Point a custom domain at your Minecraft server with A and SRV records, plus checks for the DNS problems that stop players from connecting." url: "https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-dns-srv-record-guide" updated: "2026-10-20T07:16:50.972429+00:00" source: "ZCraft Studios" --- > Site index for AI agents: https://www.zcraftstudios.com/llms.txt (full reference: https://www.zcraftstudios.com/llms-full.txt). Every page is available as Markdown by adding `.md` to its URL or sending `Accept: text/markdown`. 1. [Home](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/) 2. [Blog](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog) 3. Minecraft Server Domain Setup: A and SRV Records [ All posts](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog) # Minecraft Server Domain Setup: A and SRV Records ZCraft StudiosOct 15, 2026Updated Oct 20, 2026 Point a custom domain at your Minecraft server with A and SRV records, plus checks for the DNS problems that stop players from connecting. ## In this guide - [The three things your domain must resolve](#the-three-things-your-domain-must-resolve) - [When an A record is enough](#when-an-a-record-is-enough) - [When you need SRV](#when-you-need-srv) - [DNS example](#dns-example) - [Test in the correct order](#test-in-the-correct-order) - [Common mistakes](#common-mistakes) - [Keep the stack secure](#keep-the-stack-secure) - [How to know the change is finished](#how-to-know-the-change-is-finished) - [Related guides](#related-guides) ## Minecraft Server Custom Domain: A Records, SRV Records and DNS Troubleshooting ## The three things your domain must resolve A custom address such as play.example.com is an alias for a server connection, not a hosting service. The DNS records must ultimately lead to a reachable game endpoint. An A record maps a hostname to an IPv4 address, an AAAA record to IPv6, and an SRV record can tell supported Java clients which hostname and port to use. DNS does not open a firewall or repair a server process that is offline. ## When an A record is enough If your Java game server is reachable at the default port and has a stable public IPv4 address, an A record for a dedicated hostname is often sufficient. Point `play.example.com` to the address supplied by your host. Do not use a private address such as `192.168.1.5` for friends outside your home network. Check whether the provider uses a proxy or requires a specific endpoint before creating records. ## When you need SRV Some game hosts allocate a non-default port. An SRV record for Minecraft Java service discovery can reference that port so players enter a clean hostname. An illustrative layout is below. Replace the examples with the actual details from your host and DNS provider, and check provider-specific formatting. ## DNS example ``` A mc.example.com -> 203.0.113.10 SRV _minecraft._tcp.play.example.com priority 0 weight 5 port 25580 target mc.example.com ``` `203.0.113.10` is a reserved documentation address, not a server you can connect to. SRV targets should resolve to valid host addresses; an SRV record is not a substitute for configuring the game listener. If your DNS service has separate name, priority, weight, port and target fields, enter them separately. ## Test in the correct order 1. Confirm the host's direct IP or assigned hostname and port work in the Minecraft client. 2. Check that the A/AAAA record returns the intended address. 3. If you use an SRV record, check its service name, target and port. 4. Join with the custom hostname, then repeat after a server restart. 5. If the IP works but the name fails, focus on DNS instead of adding plugins. ## Common mistakes An SRV record whose target does not resolve, using a website-only proxy on a game hostname, mapping a domain to the wrong host allocation, or expecting a DNS change to take effect instantly can all break the address. Records are cached according to TTLs; don't assume every resolver refreshes at the same moment. A domain might also point to old hosting infrastructure after migration. ## Keep the stack secure A custom domain does not replace authentication, an allowlist or a network firewall. If you run a proxy network, backend servers must not accept untrusted direct player connections. Keep panel and database endpoints separate from the public game hostname. ## How to know the change is finished The custom hostname resolves correctly, a normal player can join without typing a special port when intended, reconnects work after restart, and no alternate DNS record sends clients to a stale server. Record where the DNS is managed so the next maintainer can fix it. ## Related guides - [Connection Refused Troubleshooting](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-connection-refused-fix) - [Port 25565 Not Working](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-port-25565-not-working) - [Velocity Proxy Setup](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/velocity-proxy-network-setup) [ Previous guide Move a Minecraft Server to a New Host Safely](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-move-host-without-losing-world)[ Next guide Minecraft Whitelist Not Working? Fixes for Access Errors](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-whitelist-not-working)