Reset a DNS zone to its defaults
Restore a domain's DNS records to cPanel's defaults when a migration or manual edit has left the zone broken.
Restore a domain's DNS zone to the defaults cPanel would create for a new domain. Applies to shared and reseller hosting.
Useful when a migration or a manual edit has left the zone in a state that is easier to rebuild than to unpick.
This deletes every custom record in the zone. SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, domain verification records, subdomains pointing elsewhere, and any MX records for external mail are all removed and replaced with cPanel's defaults.
Write down what you need to recreate before you do this.
Record what you have first
dig +short ANY example.com
dig +short TXT example.com
dig +short MX example.comOr copy the record list from the Zone Editor. Pay particular attention to:
- MX records, if mail is handled anywhere but here — resetting them stops mail delivery immediately
- TXT records for SPF, DKIM, DMARC and any service verification
- CNAME records pointing at external services
Reset it
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In cPanel, open Zone Editor under Domains.
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Select Manage beside the domain.
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Select Actions, then Reset DNS Zone.
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Confirm.
Afterwards
The zone now contains cPanel's defaults: A records for the domain and www,
local MX, and a basic SPF.
Recreate what you noted down. In particular:
- External mail — re-add the MX records and update SPF. See Use Google Workspace for your email.
- Mail authentication — SPF and DMARC. See SPF records and Publish a DMARC record.
- Verification records for Google, Microsoft or similar.
If the domain uses external nameservers
Resetting the zone here does nothing visible. A domain delegated to Cloudflare or a registrar's DNS ignores this zone entirely — make the changes there instead. Check first with Check which nameservers a domain uses.