Does the port go in the A record? (A record vs SRV confusion)

Short answer: no — the port never goes in an A record. This is one of the most common DNS mix-ups, so here's the clear split between the two record types.

A record vs SRV record

• A record maps a name to an IP only. It has no place for a port.
• SRV record adds the port, so players don't have to type it.

Put simply: A record = name → IP; SRV record = adds the port. If your server is on the default 25565, you don't need an SRV record at all.

Tip: If you ever feel tempted to write IP:port into an A record's value, stop — the value is the bare IP, nothing else.

Frequently asked questions

So where does my custom port go? In the SRV record's Port field, alongside a Target that points at your A-record hostname.

My server is on 25565 — what do I need? Just the A record. No SRV record is required on the default port.