Hostinger DNS Setup Guide

How to Set Up DNS Records on Hostinger

Hostinger is one of the most popular budget-friendly web hosting providers, serving millions of users worldwide. This guide walks you through configuring DNS records in Hostinger's hPanel control panel for websites, email, and domain verification.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1. Log Into Hostinger hPanel Access your Hostinger account and navigate to DNS management.
   • Visit hpanel.hostinger.com and sign in with your credentials
   • Click 'Domains' in the left sidebar menu
   • Select your domain from the list
   • Click 'DNS / Nameservers' in the domain settings
2. Navigate to DNS Zone Editor Find the DNS zone editor in hPanel.
   • hPanel shows all DNS records in a clean table layout
   • You'll see existing A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records
   • Default records include Hostinger nameservers and hosting A records
   • Click 'Add Record' button to create a new DNS entry
3. Add New DNS Record Create a custom DNS record for your domain.
   • Select record type from the dropdown (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV)
   • Enter the hostname (use @ for root domain or type subdomain name)
   • Input the target value (IP address, hostname, or text content)
   • Set TTL value (14400 seconds default recommended)
   • Click 'Add Record' to save the entry
4. Verify DNS Propagation Confirm your DNS changes have propagated globally.
   • Hostinger DNS typically updates within 15-30 minutes
   • Full global propagation can take 1-24 hours depending on TTL
   • Use ReviewMyDNS to check propagation status across worldwide servers
   • Flush your local DNS cache to test changes on your device immediately

Common DNS Record Types on Hostinger

• A Record: Maps your domain to an IPv4 address. Use @ for root domain or enter a subdomain name like www or blog. Type: A, Name: @, Points to: 192.0.2.1, TTL: 14400
• CNAME Record: Creates an alias pointing to another domain. Commonly used for www subdomain or third-party service integration. Type: CNAME, Name: www, Target: example.com, TTL: 14400
• MX Record: Routes email to your mail server. Hostinger email uses mx1.hostinger.com and mx2.hostinger.com with priorities 5 and 10. Type: MX, Name: @, Mail Server: mx1.hostinger.com, Priority: 5, TTL: 14400
• TXT Record: Stores text data for SPF email authentication, DKIM, DMARC, and domain ownership verification. Type: TXT, Name: @, Value: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all, TTL: 14400

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• DNS changes not appearing after 30 minutes: Hostinger DNS updates within 15-30 minutes to their servers. If changes aren't visible, flush your DNS cache (ipconfig /flushdns on Windows, sudo dscacheutil -flushcache on Mac). Use ReviewMyDNS to check if propagation is in progress across global servers.
• Website showing Hostinger parking page: Your A record is still pointing to Hostinger's default parking IP. Update the @ A record to point to your actual hosting server IP address. Check your hosting provider for the correct IP. Changes take 15-30 minutes.
• Hostinger email not receiving messages: Verify MX records are set to mx1.hostinger.com (priority 5) and mx2.hostinger.com (priority 10). Ensure SPF TXT record includes Hostinger's mail servers. Check that no conflicting MX records exist from previous configurations.
• Cannot edit DNS records in hPanel: If DNS editing is grayed out, your nameservers may be pointing to an external provider. Switch nameservers back to Hostinger's default (ns1.dns-parking.com, ns2.dns-parking.com) to manage DNS in hPanel, or manage DNS at your external provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are Hostinger's default nameservers? Hostinger's default nameservers are ns1.dns-parking.com and ns2.dns-parking.com. These are shown in your hPanel under Domains > DNS / Nameservers. You must use these nameservers to manage DNS records through hPanel.
• How long does Hostinger DNS propagation take? Hostinger updates their authoritative DNS servers within 15-30 minutes. Global propagation typically completes in 1-4 hours, though it can take up to 24 hours depending on previous TTL values and ISP DNS caching. Monitor propagation with ReviewMyDNS.
• Can I use Cloudflare DNS with Hostinger hosting? Yes, you can change your nameservers to Cloudflare's nameservers in hPanel under DNS / Nameservers > Change Nameservers. Once changed, manage all DNS records in Cloudflare's dashboard instead of hPanel. Hostinger hosting works with any nameservers.
• Does Hostinger support DNSSEC? Hostinger supports DNSSEC for domains registered with them. You can enable it in hPanel under your domain's DNS settings. If using external nameservers, configure DNSSEC at your DNS provider and add DS records at Hostinger.