Manage Hostinger DNS records

When to use

• "Point example.com at this server / IP."
• "Add a TXT record for SPF / DKIM / domain verification."
• "Remove the old MX records and set up Google Workspace."
• "Why isn't my DNS resolving?"

The zone model matters

Hostinger's DNS API is zone-oriented, not record-oriented. There is no create record or update record tool. DNS_updateDNSRecordsV1 takes a zone array where each entry groups all records sharing one name and type:

{
  "domain": "example.com",
  "overwrite": true,
  "zone": [
    { "name": "@",   "type": "A",   "ttl": 300, "records": [{ "content": "192.0.2.10" }] },
    { "name": "www", "type": "CNAME", "ttl": 300, "records": [{ "content": "example.com" }] }
  ]
}

name, type, and records are required per entry; ttl is optional. Use @ for the apex.

The overwrite flag is the critical decision:

• overwrite: true — every existing record matching that name+type is deleted and replaced by exactly what you send. Use this when you want the listed records to be the complete set (e.g. replacing all MX records).
• overwrite: false (or omitted) — TTLs are updated and your records are appended alongside the existing ones. Use this when adding a record without touching siblings (e.g. adding one more TXT verification record).

Getting this backwards either silently duplicates records or silently deletes the ones you meant to keep. State which mode you're using, and why, in your confirmation message.

Valid type values: A, AAAA, CNAME, ALIAS, MX, TXT, NS, SOA, SRV, CAA.

Steps

1. Read current state — DNS_getDNSRecordsV1 for the domain.
2. Note the rollback point — DNS_getDNSSnapshotListV1 and record the most recent snapshot ID. Hostinger creates snapshots automatically; there is no tool to create one on demand, so capture the existing ID rather than promising a fresh backup.
3. Dry run — DNS_validateDNSRecordsV1 with the exact zone and overwrite values you intend to send. It returns 200 when valid and 422 with details when not. Always do this before mutating.
4. Show the diff — list what will be created, changed, and removed, and name the overwrite mode.
5. Wait for explicit confirmation.
6. Apply — DNS_updateDNSRecordsV1.
7. Verify — re-read with DNS_getDNSRecordsV1 and confirm the resulting zone. Optionally corroborate with dig against public DNS, noting that propagation lags the API.

Deleting

DNSdeleteDNSRecordsV1 filters by name and type, and removes all records matching each filter. To drop only some of several records sharing a name and type, use DNSupdateDNSRecordsV1 with overwrite: true and the records you want to keep.

DNS_resetDNSRecordsV1 returns the entire zone to Hostinger defaults. It is not a targeted delete — treat it as a last resort and confirm explicitly.

Rolling back

DNSrestoreDNSSnapshotV1 with the domain and a snapshot ID from DNSgetDNSSnapshotListV1. Inspect a snapshot's contents first with DNS_getDNSSnapshotV1 so the user knows what state they're reverting to.

Validation before calling

• A → IPv4 only; AAAA → IPv6 only.
• CNAME cannot coexist with other record types on the same name, and cannot be used on the apex — use ALIAS there.
• MX must point at a hostname, never an IP.
• TXT → escape inner double quotes.
• Changing apex A/AAAA, NS, or MX breaks live traffic or mail. Call these out prominently.

Do not

• Do not call DNSupdateDNSRecordsV1 without a preceding DNSvalidateDNSRecordsV1.
• Do not claim a backup was created — snapshots are automatic, so cite an existing snapshot ID instead.
• Do not use dig as the primary read path; it reflects cached data, not the zone.