Hover DNS Setup Guide

How to Set Up DNS Records on Hover

Hover is a no-nonsense domain registrar focused on simplicity and privacy, without upsells or aggressive marketing. This guide demonstrates how to configure DNS records in Hover's clean interface, from pointing your domain to hosting to setting up email services.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1. Access Hover Control Panel Log into hover.com with your account credentials.
   • Click on your domain name from the domains list on the dashboard
   • Select the 'DNS' tab at the top of the domain page
   • You'll see existing DNS records in a simple, clean table
   • Hover shows record type, hostname, and value columns
2. View Existing DNS Records Review current DNS configuration before making changes.
   • Default records include Hover parking page A record and CNAME for www
   • Hover may include email forwarding MX records if configured
   • Note existing TTL values before making changes
   • You can edit or delete existing records using the action buttons
3. Add New DNS Record Click 'Add New' button to create a custom DNS record.
   • Select record type from dropdown (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, SRV, NS)
   • Enter Hostname (leave blank for @ root domain, or type subdomain)
   • Input Value/Target (IP address for A, hostname for CNAME, text for TXT)
   • For MX records, also enter Priority (typically 10, 20, 30 for multiple servers)
   • TTL is automatically set to 900 seconds (15 minutes) by default
   • Click 'Save' to add the record
4. Verify and Test Changes DNS changes on Hover propagate relatively quickly.
   • Hover DNS updates their nameservers within minutes
   • Global propagation typically completes within 1-4 hours
   • Full propagation can take up to 24-48 hours depending on TTL
   • Use ReviewMyDNS to check propagation status across 50+ global DNS servers
   • Flush local DNS cache to test changes on your device immediately

Common DNS Record Types on Hover

• A Record: Points your domain to an IPv4 address. Leave hostname blank for root domain (example.com) or enter subdomain (www, blog, store). Required to connect domain to web hosting server. Type: A, Hostname: (blank for @), Value: 192.0.2.1, TTL: 900
• CNAME Record: Creates an alias pointing to another domain name. Cannot be used on root domain (@) - use A record instead. Commonly used for www subdomain or connecting to third-party platforms like Shopify or WordPress.com. Type: CNAME, Hostname: www, Value: example.com, TTL: 900
• MX Record: Directs email to mail servers. Priority determines routing order (lower = higher priority). Add multiple MX records for redundancy. Required for custom email hosting or services like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365. Type: MX, Hostname: (blank), Value: mail.example.com, Priority: 10, TTL: 900
• TXT Record: Stores text information for SPF email authentication, DKIM signatures, DMARC policies, and domain verification. Essential for email deliverability and security. Used by email providers to prevent spoofing. Type: TXT, Hostname: (blank), Value: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all, TTL: 900

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• DNS changes not appearing after several hours: Hover DNS typically propagates within 1-4 hours globally. Check that you clicked 'Save' after adding the record. Verify your domain is using Hover nameservers (ns1.hover.com, ns2.hover.com). Flush your local DNS cache and try from different networks. Use our global DNS checker to identify servers still showing old records.
• Cannot create CNAME for root domain: DNS protocol prohibits CNAME records on root domains (@). Hover requires an A record pointing to an IP address for root domains. If your hosting provider only provides a CNAME, contact them for the underlying IP address to use in an A record.
• Email delivery failing after DNS update: Verify MX records point to correct mail servers with proper priority values. Ensure you didn't delete existing email forwarding or MX records. Check SPF and DKIM TXT records if using email services. Hover's email forwarding requires specific MX records. Email DNS changes can take 2-6 hours to propagate to mail servers.
• Website showing Hover parking page instead of my site: This means the A record is still pointing to Hover's parking IP (typically 64.98.145.30). Update or replace the @ A record to point to your web hosting IP address. Changes appear on Hover's nameservers within 15-30 minutes, but ISP caching may delay visibility 1-4 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are Hover's nameservers? Hover's default nameservers are ns1.hover.com and ns2.hover.com. You can find your specific nameserver values in your domain's 'Overview' tab. These nameservers must be set at your domain registrar (if registered elsewhere) for Hover DNS to work. Nameserver changes propagate in 24-48 hours.
• How long does Hover DNS propagation take? Hover updates their authoritative DNS servers within minutes of saving changes. Global propagation to ISPs and resolvers typically takes 1-4 hours, though the industry standard is up to 48 hours. Hover uses a default TTL of 900 seconds (15 minutes) which enables relatively fast propagation. Use our DNS propagation checker to monitor worldwide status.
• Does Hover offer email forwarding? Yes! Hover includes free email forwarding for up to 100 email addresses per domain. In your domain settings, go to 'Email' tab to set up forwarding (e.g., forward hello@yourdomain.com to your Gmail). Hover automatically manages the required MX and other email DNS records for forwarding.
• Can I use external nameservers instead of Hover's DNS? Yes! In domain settings, click 'Edit Nameservers' and enter custom nameservers from providers like Cloudflare or your hosting company. Once changed, manage all DNS records at the external provider. Nameserver changes take 24-48 hours to propagate. You can switch back to Hover nameservers anytime to regain Hover DNS management.