To change the nameservers for your .de domain, the domain must have an active DNS zone, as required by Denic.de. Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth process.
Step 1 – Preparations
Before changing the domain's nameservers, make sure:
The domain is fully registered and active.
You have full ownership and control of the domain name.
The domain is already added to your hosting plan. For web and cloud plans at Hostinger, refer to this guide: How to add a website.
Step 2 – Get the required nameservers
Obtain the nameserver values you want to use. For Hostinger values, refer to this guide: Where to find Hostinger nameservers.
The nameserver values for Hostinger may vary depending on the hosting type and domain. Always use the exact ones shown in your panel.
Step 3 – Verify the domain's configuration
Open the Denic Predelegation check website
Enter the domain name and nameservers.
Click Execute:
If the change can be made, a Check successful message will appear:
If the check fails or you get an error message, refer to this page for further information: Nameserver Predelegation Check - Errors.
Do not update the nameservers until all errors are resolved.
Step 4 – Update nameservers
Once you've confirmed that the nameservers can be changed without issues, update them through the platform where your domain is registered. For domains registered at Hostinger, check this guide: How to change nameservers.
After updating, your domain may take up to 24 hours to propagate, though it usually updates within a few hours. You can monitor the status live using a tool such as dnschecker.org.