How to Add an A Record in Hostinger: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

An A record is a fundamental type of DNS record that maps a domain name to an IP address. In simple terms, it connects your domain (like example.com) to the server where your website is hosted. This is essential for ensuring that when someone types your domain name into their browser, it points them to the right place.

In this blog, we’ll guide you through the process of adding an A record to your domain in Hostinger. We’ll break it down step-by-step, making it easy for you to follow along and ensure your website functions correctly.

Why Records Are Important

Before getting into the steps, let’s quickly understand why adding an A record is so important. Without an A record, your domain won’t know where to send visitors. It’s like having a phone number without a contact name – the call won’t go through because there’s no link between the name and the number.

Records are the backbone of how the internet works. By connecting your domain to an IP address, it tells the browser exactly where to find your website. This is one of the most common and important DNS records you will manage for your domain.

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding an A Record in Hostinger

Now that you understand what an A record is let’s walk through how to add one in Hostinger.

 

Step 1: Log in to Your Hostinger Account

The first step is to access your Hostinger account. To do this, simply head over to hostinger.com and log in using your email and password.

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Step 2: Access Your Domain Portfolio

Once logged in, you’ll land on the Hostinger dashboard. From there, you need to navigate to your domain settings.

• On the main dashboard, click on the “Domains” tab.
• From the dropdown, select “Domain Portfolio”. This will show you all the domains that you currently own through Hostinger.

 

Step 3: Choose the Domain

In the Domain Portfolio, you’ll see a list of all the domains you have under your account. Find the domain where you want to add the A record.

• Click on the “Manage” button next to the domain name.

This will take you to the management page for that specific domain.

 

Step 4: Navigate to DNS Settings

Now that you’re in the domain management area, it’s time to access the DNS settings.

• On the domain management page, click on the “DNS/Nameservers” tab.
• Scroll down until you find “Manage DNS Records”. This is where you can add and manage various DNS records for your domain, including the A record.

 

Step 5: Add an A Record

Once you’re in the Manage DNS Records section, you’ll see an option to add new DNS records. Let’s go through the process:

• For Type, select “A” from the dropdown menu. This specifies that you’re adding an A record.

Now, you need to fill in a few fields:

• Name: In most cases, you’ll leave this field blank or enter “@” to represent the root domain (e.g., example.com). If you’re adding an A record for a subdomain (e.g., blog.example.com), you’ll enter the subdomain name (e.g., blog).
• IP Address: This is the most important part. Enter the IP address of your server, which Hostinger or your hosting provider should have provided you. This is where your domain will point.
• Time to Live (TTL): TTL represents how long the record stays in the DNS cache. The default setting is usually fine, but you can enter 14400 seconds (4 hours) for a standard TTL.

 

Step 6: Save the A Record

Once you’ve filled out the Name, IP Address, and TTL fields, click on “Add Record”. Hostinger will process your request, and within a few minutes, the A record should be live.

 

Step 7: Verify Your A Record

To verify that your A record has been added correctly, you can use a DNS lookup tool like WhatsMyDNS or DNSChecker. Simply enter your domain, select A record, and perform a lookup to see if the IP address is correctly linked to your domain.

If the A record appears with the correct IP address, congratulations! Your A record is successfully added, and your domain is now pointing to the correct server.

 

Troubleshooting and Common Mistakes

Sometimes, things don’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to resolve them:

Issue 1: A Record Not Propagating

After adding the A record, it may take some time for the changes to take effect globally. This is known as DNS propagation. In most cases, changes can take up to 24-48 hours to fully propagate. You can use DNS checker tools to monitor the propagation process.

 

Issue 2: Entering the Wrong IP Address

Always double-check the IP address you’re entering. If the IP address is wrong, your domain will point to the wrong location, meaning visitors won’t be able to access your site. To fix this, go back into your DNS records and edit the A record with the correct IP address.

 

Issue 3: Mistakes with the Name Field

If you’re adding an A record for your root domain, the Name field should usually be left blank or use the symbol “@”. If you’re adding a subdomain (like blog.example.com), make sure to specify the subdomain name in the Name field.

 

How to Reset DNS Records in Hostinger

If you’ve made a mistake or simply want to start over, Hostinger makes it easy to reset your DNS settings to the default configuration.

How to Reset DNS:

• Scroll to the bottom of the Manage DNS Records section.
• You’ll see an option to Reset DNS Records.
• Click on it and confirm your choice.

This will wipe all the custom DNS records and restore them to Hostinger’s default settings. Be cautious with this option, as you may lose other important DNS records like MX (for email) or CNAME records.

 

Conclusion

Adding an A record in Hostinger is a straightforward process, but it’s an essential part of ensuring your website is correctly linked to your server. Without it, your domain won’t be able to direct visitors to your site. By following the steps in this guide, you can easily add or update your A records and ensure everything is working as it should.

 

Perform regular checks on your DNS records to keep your site running smoothly. And remember, if anything goes wrong, Hostinger makes it simple to edit or reset your DNS settings. With the right A record in place, your visitors will always find their way to your website without any issues.