How to Set Up DNS on Namecheap for a VPS

If you bought a domain at Namecheap and want it pointing at your VPS, this guide gets you there in about five minutes. Namecheap's DNS panel has a couple of quirks — mainly the Host field — that confuse newcomers, so we'll be precise about what to type.

You'll need your VPS's public IP address and access to your Namecheap account.

Step 1: Open Advanced DNS

Log in, go to Domain List, click Manage next to your domain, then open the Advanced DNS tab. Confirm that under Nameservers the setting is Namecheap BasicDNS. If it says Custom DNS, Namecheap isn't hosting your records — either switch back to BasicDNS or manage records wherever your custom nameservers point.

Step 2: Understand the Host field

Namecheap's Host column is where people slip up:

• @ means the root/bare domain — example.com
• www means www.example.com
• api means api.example.com
• * means a wildcard (any subdomain)

You never type the full domain in the Host field — only the part in front of it.

Step 3: Add the A records

Delete Namecheap's default parking records (the CNAME to parkingpage and any URL Redirect), then click Add New Record:

• Type: A Record, Host: @, Value: 203.0.113.10 (your VPS IP), TTL: Automatic
• Type: A Record, Host: www, Value: 203.0.113.10, TTL: Automatic

That points both the bare domain and www at your server. If your server has IPv6, add AAAA records with the same hosts and the 2001:... address. For the concept behind these, see how to set up an A record for your server.

Step 4: Optional — use a CNAME for www

Instead of a second A record, you can point www at the root with a CNAME:

• Type: CNAME Record, Host: www, Value: example.com., TTL: Automatic

The advantage: if your server IP ever changes, you only update the @ record. Just remember you can't put a CNAME on the root @ itself. Our CNAME record guide with examples covers the rules.

Step 5: Wait for propagation

Namecheap's BasicDNS usually updates within 30 minutes, though the official window is up to 48 hours. Namecheap sets a default TTL of 30 minutes on Automatic. If you want faster future changes, read TTL in DNS explained.

Step 6: Verify

dig +short example.com A
dig +short www.example.com A

Both should return your VPS IP. If they still show a Namecheap parking IP, the old records weren't deleted or propagation hasn't finished. nslookup example.com works too — see diagnosing DNS problems with dig and nslookup.

Adding email records

If you'll run email on this domain, you'll also add MX, SPF and DKIM records here. Namecheap includes a free basic email forwarding feature under Mail Settings. For the full setup, see how to set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC step by step.

Add a subdomain on Namecheap

Subdomains follow the same Host-field logic. To put an app on app.example.com, add:

• Type: A Record, Host: app, Value: your VPS IP, TTL: Automatic

For api.example.com, use Host api, and so on. You never include the root domain in the Host — Namecheap appends it. To point a subdomain at a different port or app on the same VPS, DNS gets it to the box and a reverse proxy takes it the rest of the way — see how to point a subdomain to a different app or port.

Namecheap's free email forwarding

If you only need to receive mail at your domain, Namecheap includes free forwarding without a paid mailbox. Under the Domain tab, scroll to Redirect Email, and add a rule like hello@example.com → you@gmail.com. Namecheap manages the MX records for this automatically. For replying *as* your domain and the deliverability caveats, see how to forward custom domain email to Gmail. If you'll run full email, don't enable Namecheap forwarding and a separate mail provider at once — they fight over MX records.

Common Namecheap pitfalls

• Leftover parking records: the default CNAME to parkingpage.namecheap.com and a URL Redirect Record will override your A record. Delete both.
• URL Redirect vs A record: a "URL Redirect Record" forwards visitors elsewhere instead of pointing at your server. For a VPS you want an A Record, not a redirect.
• Wrong nameservers: if the domain is set to Custom DNS (or another host's nameservers), the Advanced DNS tab does nothing. Switch to Namecheap BasicDNS first.
• Trailing dots: Namecheap adds the domain for you, so type www not www.example.com in the Host, and example.com. (with a trailing dot) only in CNAME *values* if the panel requires it.

Lowering TTL before a planned change

Namecheap's Automatic TTL is 30 minutes. If you know you'll change the server IP soon, edit the record a day ahead and set a custom TTL of 300 (5 minutes). When you finally swap the IP, resolvers pick it up in minutes instead of half an hour. Afterwards, set it back to Automatic.

FAQ

What TTL should I use on Namecheap?

Leave it on Automatic (30 minutes) for normal use. Before a planned IP change, drop it to 5 minutes a day ahead so the switch is fast.

Why is my domain still showing the Namecheap parking page?

You didn't delete the default CNAME / URL Redirect records, or DNS hasn't propagated yet. Remove the parking records and re-check with dig.

Can I point a Namecheap domain to a VPS without changing nameservers?

Yes — as long as you're using BasicDNS, you just edit records in Advanced DNS. You only change nameservers if you move DNS to Cloudflare or a custom provider.

Do I need the www record?

It's recommended so both example.com and www.example.com load. Handle the redirect between them at your web server or with a www-to-apex redirect.

Does Namecheap charge extra for DNS records?

No. BasicDNS comes free with every domain registered at Namecheap, with no limit on how many A, CNAME, MX or TXT records you add, and free email forwarding on top. You only pay if you opt into the PremiumDNS add-on, which layers on DDoS protection and a faster global network — nice for high-traffic sites but unnecessary just to point a domain at a VPS. The one thing to watch: switching to Custom DNS (someone else's nameservers) means Namecheap stops serving your records, so the Advanced DNS tab no longer applies — manage records wherever those nameservers live instead. For a standard VPS setup, free BasicDNS is all you need.

Once DNS resolves, your VPS is ready to serve. Get a fast NVMe VPS with full root access, or register and manage domains directly with Nxeon domains.