On the Domains page, open a domain's "..." menu and choose Manage DNS, then go to the DNS Records tab and click "Add record" to create a TXT, CNAME, A, or AAAA record. For sequencer tracking there are one-click shortcuts. To change many domains at once, select them and use the DNS button in the action bar, or ask the Winnr Agent in the app to add, change, or delete records on up to 50 domains per request (you confirm before anything changes). Custom records only work where Winnr hosts the DNS: purchased domains, and connected domains on the nameserver or Cloudflare-token method.
When you'd use this
Most people never touch custom DNS records, because Winnr sets up everything mail needs automatically. The three real reasons to add one:
- A tracking domain for your sequencer. Open and click tracking works best from a subdomain of your own sending domain rather than the sending tool's shared tracking domain. This is the most common use, and there are one-click shortcuts for it.
- Verifying the domain with another service. Some tools ask you to add a TXT record to prove you control the domain. Paste it in here.
- A small site. Point a subdomain at a server with an A/AAAA record, or at another host with a CNAME. (To send visitors of the whole domain to your main website, use Domain redirects instead, which is built for that.)
Changing records with the Winnr Agent
The Winnr Agent chat panel in the app can manage custom DNS records for you in plain language. It can:
- add a TXT, CNAME, A, or AAAA record (adding one at the same name and type replaces the old value, which is how it changes a record)
- delete a custom record
- set a custom DMARC policy, or reset DMARC to the Winnr default
- list the custom records on a domain
Each request can cover up to 50 domains. Before anything changes, the agent shows what it plans to do and waits for you to click Confirm. For more than 50 domains at once, use the DNS button in the Domains page action bar.
Where this is available
Custom records are only editable when Winnr hosts the domain's DNS zone. That's every domain you purchased through Winnr, plus connected domains where you pointed nameservers at Winnr or used a Cloudflare API token. If a domain was connected with the manual records method, there's no DNS Records tab, because Winnr isn't the DNS host. Add any extra records at your own DNS provider instead.
The DNS Records tab also needs an active plan (pre-warmed marketplace domains keep access).
What's next
- Bulk operations on domains
- Check your domain's DNS health
- How DNS setup works for connected domains
- Set up a domain redirect
Step-by-step
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1. Open the domain's DNS Records tab
On the Domains page, click the "..." menu on the domain's row and choose Manage DNS, then open the DNS Records tab. You'll see three sections. Managed by Winnr (read-only mail records), DMARC policy, and Custom DNS records. If there's no DNS Records tab, Winnr doesn't host this domain's DNS (see the note below).
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2. Add a tracking CNAME with one click
In the Custom DNS records section there's a "Quick add tracking CNAME" row with three shortcuts: track, inst, and emailtracking. Click the one your sending tool uses and Winnr creates the CNAME for you, pointing that subdomain of your domain at the tool's tracking host.
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3. Or add any record yourself
Click Add record, pick the type (TXT, CNAME, A, or AAAA), enter the name (a subdomain, or the domain itself for an apex record), the value, and optionally a TTL (60 to 86400 seconds, default 300), then save. Common uses are a TXT record to verify the domain with another service, or a CNAME or A record for a small website.
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4. Edit or delete a record
Each custom record has an edit (pencil) and delete (trash) button. Adding a record with the same name and type as an existing one replaces it.
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5. Confirm it's live
The new record appears in the Custom DNS records list straight away. Because Winnr hosts the zone, there's no separate step at another provider.
Frequently asked questions
What record types can I add?
TXT, CNAME, A, and AAAA. That covers tracking domains, third-party domain verification (TXT), and pointing a subdomain at a server (A/AAAA) or another host (CNAME). MX records aren't available as custom records, because Winnr manages mail routing for the domain.
What are the tracking CNAME shortcuts for?
Cold email sequencers track opens and clicks through a tracking domain. Using a subdomain of your own sending domain (instead of the tool's shared domain) keeps the links on-brand. The shortcuts (track, inst, and emailtracking) add the CNAME for common tools in one click. If your tool uses a different tracking host, add the CNAME by hand.
Can I add the same record to many domains at once?
Yes, two ways. Select the domains on the Domains page and click DNS in the action bar. Its tabs let you add a custom record, override DMARC, or edit and delete existing custom records across all of them. Or open the Winnr Agent chat panel in the app and describe the change, for example "add a CNAME track pointing to my tracking host on all my acme domains". The agent handles up to 50 domains per request and shows what it will change, and nothing happens until you click Confirm.
Can I add records on a domain I set up manually?
No. Custom records only work where Winnr hosts the DNS zone. That means purchased domains, and connected domains where you pointed nameservers at Winnr or used the Cloudflare-token method. If you created the records yourself at your own DNS provider, add any extra records there too.
Will a custom record break my email authentication?
No. The records mail depends on (inbound A, MX, SPF, DKIM) are shown read-only under Managed by Winnr, and any custom record that would collide with them is rejected automatically.
Can I change the DMARC policy?
Yes. The DMARC policy section on the same tab has an Override DMARC button (Edit override once one is set) and Reset to default. The value must start with v=DMARC1. You can also override DMARC on many domains at once from the DNS button in the action bar, or ask the Winnr Agent to set or reset it.