AAAA records and IPv6: avoid sending visitors to different sites

An AAAA record maps a hostname to IPv6 and may coexist with an A record. Both paths should reach the intended service.

Confirm provider IPv6 support

Use AAAA only when the provider supplies a working IPv6 address for that service. A random server-panel address may not serve your website.

Update both address families

Updating only A during a migration can leave IPv6 visitors on the old server. Compare A and AAAA and test both before retiring the previous hosting.

Separate DNS from server setup

Correct DNS does not ensure the server recognises the hostname or has a valid certificate. Check both DNS and hosting configuration when IPv6 produces a different site or TLS error.

Your practical checklist

• Get the correct IPv6 address.
• Compare A and AAAA during moves.
• Test HTTPS through both routes.
• Keep the previous configuration.

Sources and further reading

• Cloudflare: DNS record types

Registration rules and provider functions can change. Check the current requirements for your domain before ordering or changing services.