Setting your domain to 'DNS Only'

This article explains how to remove your domain's default DreamHost DNS-hosting records.

When your domain is 'Fully Hosted', it has several DreamHost IP addresses (A records) that control where the site is hosted. If your site's nameservers are pointing to DreamHost and your site is 'Fully Hosted', your site is hosted on DreamHost's servers.

If your site's nameservers are pointing to DreamHost, but you do NOT want to host the site at DreamHost, you must remove hosting, which removes these IP addresses. Setting the site to 'DNS only' removes hosting and your site's A records. You can then add custom DNS records to point your site to another hosting company.

1. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.
2. Click the Manage button to open the Manage Websites page, which allows you to adjust various settings for your site.
   • If in Grid view, click the Manage button at the bottom of the website box.
   • If in List view, click the Manage button at the far right of your domain name.
3. Click the Hosting tab on the next page.

   

4. Under the Non-Hosting Options section, click Set to DNS Only section to expand.

   Setting a domain to 'DNS Only' does not close your active hosting plan. If you'd like to close your hosting plan, view the following articles instead:

   • Closing a hosting plan
5. Click the Set to DNS Only button that appears.

   

6. Click the red Yes, Remove button that appears to confirm the selection.

When you set a domain to 'DNS only', you remove the following DNS A records:

• non-www A record
• www A record
• ssh A record
• ftp A record

Below are a few things to note regarding these changes:

• Setting the domain to 'DNS Only' does not delete hosted files (except on DreamPress plans) nor does it remove any Custom DNS records you've previously set up. You can set the domain to ‘Fully Hosted’ again to recreate your DNS records for the domain.
• Keep in mind that this only affects your web hosting service and leaves other services like email intact (assuming you already have an active hosting plan on your account). If you have removed your hosting plan but want to continue hosting email with DreamHost, you can purchase a Paid email plan.

Additionally, these changes are only possible for the primary domain – subdomains cannot be set to DNS Only.

If your website is currently hosted and you attempt to add a custom DNS record for the root (@) or www subdomain, the panel displays the following prompt notifying you that the domain will be set to 'DNS Only'. 

This is because only one root (@) or www subdomain record can exist at a time. If you would like to proceed, click the Deactivate Website button.

A confirmation prompt warns that your website will be deactivated if you proceed. Click Yes, Deactivate Website. This removes hosting and the default root (@) and www records, allowing you to point your domain to a different host.

The following describes how to add a new domain to the panel as ‘DNS Only’.

1. Navigate to the Manage Websites page.

   

2. On the top right, click the Add Website button.
3. Choose the option Enter a domain or subdomain you already own.
4. Enter a domain name you have already registered. If it's registered at another company, check the box to confirm that you are the domain name owner.

   

5. On the bottom right, click the Next: Hosting button.

   A list of your hosting plans appears.

6. Select Park Domain (no hosting).

   

7. On the bottom right, click the Park Domain button.

   

   
   You are taken back to the Manage Websites page, where a success message confirms the domain has been added.

8. Click the Manage button under or next to the domain you just added.

   

9. Click the Hosting tab on the next page.

   

10. Under the Non-Hosting Options section, click Set to DNS Only.
11. Click the Set to DNS Only button that appears.

    

12. Click the red Yes, Remove button that appears to confirm the selection.

If you want to host a 'DNS Only' domain again, click the Manage button for your domain on the Manage Websites page. You can then select hosting options for the domain on the subsequent page.

View the following article for more information on how to manage an existing domain:

• The Manage Websites page

After the domain is set to 'DNS Only', you can add custom DNS records to point your site to wherever you like.