Domain nameservers control where your domain's DNS zone is managed. For example, if your domain uses Hostinger nameservers, its DNS zone is managed at Hostinger.
During the domain transfer to Hostinger, which can take up to 7 days, nameservers are locked and can't be changed. That's why you need to select one of the following options before starting the transfer:
Keep existing nameservers
Use Hostinger nameservers and DNS records
Use Hostinger nameservers but keep existing DNS records
Here's what each option means and how to decide which one is right for you.
Option 1 — Keep existing nameservers
This option keeps your current nameservers and all existing DNS records unchanged during the domain transfer.
This is recommended in any of these cases:
You plan to migrate your website and email services to Hostinger after the transfer.
You prefer to update the nameservers after the transfer is complete.
You want to continue managing the DNS zone with your current provider while handling domain registration (contact details and renewals) at Hostinger.
If your current provider doesn't support DNS management for domains registered elsewhere, consider options 2 or 3. If you're unsure, contact your current domain provider.
Option 2 — Use Hostinger nameservers and DNS records
This option helps ensure uninterrupted service in the following cases:
Your website and email services are already hosted at Hostinger.
The domain is already using Hostinger’s nameservers.
You can also select this option if you plan to create a new website and set up email accounts entirely at Hostinger.
Learn more: DNS Zone Management at Hostinger 💡
Option 3 — Use Hostinger nameservers but keep the existing DNS records
This option is recommended if:
Your website is hosted in Hostinger, but email services are hosted elsewhere.
You want to manage the DNS zone at Hostinger after the transfer while keeping custom DNS records.
This way, your website hosting (files and databases) will continue to be managed at Hostinger. External email services and other custom DNS records remain unchanged.
What is DNSSEC?
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a DNS feature designed to add an extra layer of security to the domain name lookup process.
Since Hostinger has its own built-in security features, DNSSEC is not supported. To ensure a smooth domain transfer, we recommend disabling DNSSEC if it’s enabled for your domain. You can do this through your current domain provider.
To confirm whether DNSSEC is enabled, check with your provider before starting the transfer.