An ALIAS record is a type of DNS record that works in a similar way as a CNAME record, with the main difference that it is adjusted (flattened) to be able to work with other DNS records.
Typically, a CNAME record is used only for subdomains, like www, and not for the root domain —the main domain, like domain.tld, often represented by the @ symbol in the DNS zone. Allowing a CNAME on the root domain would prevent adding other essential records, such as A, MX, TXT, among others, causing issues with the domain’s functionality. With an ALIAS record, however, this setup becomes possible.
If your domain is pointing to Hostinger, you can manage its DNS by following this guide.
For domains pointed elsewhere, use the DNS management tools provided by the respective platform.
How to add an ALIAS record
Only one ALIAS record can be added to a root domain's DNS zone. If there’s already an ALIAS record, either edit or remove it instead of creating a new one.
To add a new ALIAS record, navigate to the domain's DNS zone editor on hPanel and select the CNAME record type from the dropdown list:
Values
Next, enter the following values:
Name (Host) – Use domain.tld, or the @ symbol, which is appended by default, so no need to add it manually.
Target (Points to) – Enter the destination where the ALIAS record should point. This must be in the format of a domain or subdomain, for example, service.website.tld; it cannot be an IP address, such as 185.185.185.185, or a URL like service.website.tld/home.
TTL – If you don't have a specific requirement, leave the default value of 14400 seconds.
When all is good to go, click on Add Record. Once added, it will appear as CNAME ALIAS in the DNS zone:
How to edit or delete an ALIAS record
To make changes to an existing ALIAS record, go to your domain's DNS Zone Editor. Click the Delete button to remove it, or Edit to modify its properties:
After making any changes on your domain's DNS zone, allow up to 24 hours to be applied globally.
How to verify an ALIAS record
An ALIAS record flattens the CNAME to retrieve the IP address of the target domain, effectively pointing the domain to that IP. As a result, it won’t appear as a CNAME in DNS discovery tools, but can be located by checking the A or AAAA record of the target domain instead.
To check the propagation status of an ALIAS record, follow these steps:
Open the DNS Checker online tool on your browser.
Enter your domain name, select the A record type from the dropdown, and click Search. Note the resulting IP address:
Then, enter the target of the ALIAS record and check the A record:
If the ALIAS record is configured correctly, the IP address for both your domain and the ALIAS target should match.