Help Center/ Domain Name Service/ User Guide/ Public Domain Name Resolution/ Public Zones/ Reclaiming a Public Zone
Updated on 2025-08-18 GMT+08:00
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Reclaiming a Public Zone

Scenarios

Assume that you are the owner of a domain name and you are creating a public zone for your domain name on the DNS console. If "This public zone has been created by another account. You need to reclaim the public zone first." is displayed when you are creating a public zone, as shown in the following figure, you can reclaim the public zone.

Feature Description

When you reclaim a public zone for a domain name, the DNS console will first generate a TXT record. You need to add this TXT record on your current DNS service provider's platform and then verify the TXT record on the DNS console. The DNS console will request the TXT record over the Internet. If the TXT record value is returned, you are the domain name owner and your public zone will be reclaimed automatically.

  • If a public zone is reclaimed, all record sets added to it before will be deleted.
  • If DNS resolution is abnormal due to incorrect public zone reclaim operations, you are liable for the risks and consequences.

Product Concepts

Domain Name Owner

A domain name is owned by the person or organization who registered it through a domain registrar Details about a domain name owner are as follows:

  • Ownership and control: Domain name owners have the right to use domain names as they see fit, for example, directing them to specific servers and creating subdomains.
  • Registration and maintenance: Domain name owners must register their domain names with a registrar and pay annual renewal fees to maintain ownership and prevent expiration.
  • Information management: Domain name owners are generally required to provide personal information, including their name, address, and email address, during the registration process. This information is stored in a publicly accessible database called the WHOIS database. However, privacy protection services can be used to hide their personal details.
  • Management permissions: Domain name owners can manage DNS settings, control website resolution, implementing security measures like DKIM and SPF records, and transfer domain names to other registrars.
  • Renewal and transfer: Domain name owners should renew their domain registrations before the expiration date. Domain names can be transferred through registrars or traded in the secondary market.

DNS Service Provider

A DNS service provider manages the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into server IP addresses. A DNS service provider provides the following functions:

  • Domain name resolution: translates domain names into IP addresses so that users can access target websites by entering a domain name.
  • DNS record management: allows users to set and manage various DNS records, like A, CNAME, and MX records.
  • High availability and stability: leverages multi-node distribution to ensure the DNS resolution stability and efficiency.
  • Value-added services: provides functions such as load balancing, CDN integration, anti-DDoS, and intelligent resolution to improve website performance and security.

Process Flow

Procedure

  1. Obtain the TXT record.

    1. Go to the Public Zones page.
    1. In the upper right corner of the page, click Create Public Zone.
    2. Configure the parameters and click OK.
    3. Click Reclaim a public zone in the displayed message.

    4. In the Reclaim Public Zone dialog, take a note of the TXT record set.

  1. Add the TXT record for verification.

    The following operations are performed on Alibaba Cloud which is the example DNS service provider. The operations are for reference only. For details, see "Add DNS Records" in the Alibaba Cloud documentation.

    1. Log in to the Alibaba Cloud console.
    2. In the service list in the upper left corner of the console, choose Domain Name and Websites to go to its DNS console.

    3. In the navigation pane, choose Public DNS Resolution > Authoritative DNS Resolution.
    4. In the domain name list, click the target domain name in the Domain Name column.

      If the target domain name does not exist in the list, click Add Domain Name.

    5. Add a TXT record for the domain name.
      • Record type: TXT
      • Record name: Enter the record named obtained in 1.e.
      • Record value: Enter the record value obtained in 1.e.

    6. Confirm the configuration and submit your request.

      If the status of the record becomes Normal, the TXT record is added.

  2. Verify the TXT record.

    Go back to the dialog box shown in 1.e and click Verify.

    The DNS console will verify the TXT record. If the verification is successful, a public zone will be created for your domain name.

Parent Topic: Public Zones