I've been struggling to find clear instructions on how to set up reverse DNS records for my AT&T residential account, even though I pay for a static IP block. I wanted to share my experience to save others the hassle. My journey was a bit of a headache; almost all the guides online seemed outdated or inaccurate. After multiple calls to AT&T's customer support, technical support, and even their security office, I finally found someone who could assist me—but not before a lot of confusion and miscommunication. So if you're in a similar situation, here's how I managed to get my reverse DNS records configured. I recommend avoiding long email chains with AT&T's DNS technicians by sticking to a straightforward approach. Here's a step-by-step guide based on my experience from September 2025, where I list the necessary details for the email request and effective practices for setting up your records. I hope this helps!
5 Answers
It's surprising they even set this up for you. Don't count on it lasting, though—who knows when AT&T might change their policies!
I doubt it will break. I'm part of the consortium managing static blocks, so they should adhere to the rules!
It's always a hassle with AT&T, even for enterprises! I can't imagine how challenging it is for residential users.
You might want to consider using 'PTR' instead of 'reverse DNS' when talking to tech support. It seems to get the right message across better!
Totally! Just saying 'DNS' might confuse them. I’ve had my fair share of trouble with that.
Thanks for the post! Just curious, but why would anyone need reverse DNS for a home account?
Mainly for mail servers that need to send emails directly rather than via a relay. It also helps with network management since you get actual server names instead of generic hostnames. Plus, some services like FTP might reject connections without valid PTR records.
Exactly! And AT&T offers static IPs for residential at an extra cost, so it's worth it for some users.
I'd love to see a similar guide for Comcast. We have clients still facing issues with their reverse DNS records on Microsoft 365.
Right? It’s AT&T we're talking about. Even business specifics can change unexpectedly.