🌐 How to Set Up DNS Using GoDaddy or Hostinger (Complete Guide)

If you’ve ever wanted to connect your domain to a custom website, email provider, or platform like Google Sites or Shopify — you’ll need to configure your DNS (Domain Name System) settings.

Whether your domain is registered on GoDaddy or Hostinger, setting up DNS records is super straightforward. In this article, I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.

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✅ What Is DNS and Why It Matters?

DNS is like the phonebook of the internet. It tells browsers where to find your website when someone types your domain name.

Some common reasons to update DNS settings:

• Connect a domain to your web hosting
• Set up Google Workspace or Zoho Mail
• Point a domain to a platform like Notion, Shopify, Blogger, etc.
• Verify domain ownership for SEO tools

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🛠️ Step-by-Step: Setup DNS in GoDaddy

🔹 Step 1: Log In to Your GoDaddy Account

Go to https://godaddy.com
Click “Sign In” and enter your credentials.

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🔹 Step 2: Go to Domain Settings

1. Click on your name (top right) → “My Products”
2. You’ll see a list of domains you own
3. Click DNS next to the domain you want to edit

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🔹 Step 3: Add or Edit DNS Records

Now you’re in the DNS Management dashboard.

You’ll see a list of existing records like:

Type	Name	Value	TTL
A	@	192.0.2.1 (example)	1 hour
CNAME	www	yourdomain.com	1 hour

To add a new record:

1. Click Add
2. Choose the type (A, CNAME, TXT, MX, etc.)
3. Fill out the Name, Value, and TTL
4. Click Save

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🔹 Example: Point to Hosting Provider

Let’s say your hosting gives you an IP address (e.g., 123.456.789.1) — add an A record like this:

Type	Name	Value
A	@	123.456.789.1

Want to redirect www to your root domain?

Type	Name	Value
CNAME	www	yourdomain.com

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🔹 Step 4: Wait for DNS Propagation

Changes can take up to 24 hours, but usually update in 30–60 minutes. Use tools like https://dnschecker.org to track it.

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🟣 Step-by-Step: Setup DNS in Hostinger

🔹 Step 1: Log In to Hostinger

Visit https://hostinger.com and log in.

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🔹 Step 2: Go to DNS Zone Editor

1. Click on “Websites” → Select the domain
2. Scroll down to “Advanced” → Click DNS Zone Editor

Here you’ll find existing records and the option to edit or add new ones.

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🔹 Step 3: Add or Edit DNS Records

Click “Add Record” or use the edit (✏️) icon on existing records.

Just like GoDaddy, choose the record type and fill out:

Field	Description
Type	A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.
Name	Subdomain or @ for root
Value	IP address or destination
TTL	Leave default or 3600

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🔹 Example: Add Google Site Verification

Type	Name	Value (From Google)
TXT	@	google-site-verification=abc123xyz987

To connect email (like Zoho or Google Workspace), you’ll need to add MX records as per their documentation.

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🔐 Bonus Tip: Use Custom Nameservers (Optional)

If you’re using third-party DNS (like Cloudflare), you’ll need to update nameservers instead:

1. In GoDaddy → Domain > Manage DNS > Nameservers > Change
2. In Hostinger → Domains > DNS/Nameservers > Edit Nameservers

Replace existing nameservers with ones provided by your DNS provider.

Example:

ns1.cloudflare.com  
ns2.cloudflare.com

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🎯 Final Thoughts

DNS may seem technical, but once you’ve done it a few times — it’s just another part of the web dev workflow.

Whether you’re verifying your domain, pointing it to a custom app, or configuring email — GoDaddy and Hostinger both give you full control.

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How to Set Up DNS Settings for Google Sites (Step-by-Step)