You can redirect one domain to another domain directly from your Hostinger hPanel. This guide covers the full process for setting up a domain redirect (also called URL forwarding) for domains registered through Hostinger. The steps are the same whether you want to redirect a primary domain to a different domain or forward a parked domain to an active site.
This takes about 5-10 minutes and works for anyone with a Hostinger hosting account that includes domain management.
The process involves changing the DNS settings for the domain you want to redirect. You point the domain to Hostinger’s nameservers if it isn’t already there, then configure the redirect rule in hPanel. No coding or technical knowledge is needed.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Time required | 5-10 minutes |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| What you need | A Hostinger account with domain management access, the domain you want to redirect must be registered through Hostinger or pointed to Hostinger nameservers |
| What you will achieve | A working redirect that sends visitors from the old domain to the new domain |
Before you start
Before you begin the redirect process, confirm a few things first.
- The domain you want to redirect must be in your Hostinger account. If it’s registered elsewhere, you need to update its nameservers to Hostinger first.
- You need the exact destination URL. Write down the full web address where visitors should land, including the “https://” part.
- Check that your hosting plan includes domain management. Most Hostinger shared hosting plans include this, but some budget plans may not.
- If the source domain has an active website or email service, the redirect will break those. Warn anyone using that domain for email before you start.
How to redirect a domain to another domain on Hostinger, step by step
Open a new browser tab and sign in to your Hostinger account. You’ll see the hPanel dashboard after login.
Step 1: Go to your domain list
Click “Domains” in the left sidebar menu. A list of all domains registered in your account appears.
If you don’t see the domain you want, check that you’re logged into the correct Hostinger account.
Step 2: Select the domain you want to redirect
Find the domain you want to redirect in the list. Click the three-dot menu icon (⋯) at the far right of that row. Select “Manage” from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Open the DNS zone editor
In the domain management panel, look for a section called “DNS Zone” or “DNS Editor.” Click it to open the DNS record editor.
Important: Make sure you’re editing the source domain’s DNS, not the destination domain. This is a common mistake that causes the redirect to fail.
Step 4: Clear existing DNS records for the redirect type
For a full domain redirect, you need to remove or update the A records and CNAME records that point to your old hosting. You don’t need to delete every record, only the ones that control where the domain resolves.
Delete the existing A record (usually points to an IP address) and the www CNAME record if they exist. Keep the NS records and SOA record alone.
If you have email MX records for this domain, note them down first if you want to keep email working after the redirect.
Step 5: Set up the redirect in Hostinger’s redirect tool
Go back to the domain management menu. Look for “Redirect” or “URL Forwarding” in the sidebar or tabs. Not all Hostinger plans show this option in the same spot, so if you can’t find it, check the “DNS” or “Advanced” submenus.
Click “Add Redirect” or “Create Redirect.”
Step 6: Enter the redirect details
You’ll see a form with these fields:
- Source URL or From: This is your domain. Leave it as the bare domain (example.com) unless you want to redirect a specific subdomain.
- Destination URL or To: Enter the full destination URL, including https:// (for example, https://newdomain.com).
- Redirect type: Select “301 Permanent Redirect” for a permanent move. Select “302 Temporary Redirect” only if this is short-term.
Wait time: DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate worldwide, but the redirect usually starts working within 30-60 minutes for most visitors.
Step 7: Save the redirect rule
Click “Save” or “Create.” The redirect rule appears in the list of active redirects.
Step 8: Verify the redirect works
Open a new browser tab and type the old domain into the address bar. You should be sent to the new domain after a few seconds. If the old page loads instead, wait 10 minutes and try again.
Clear your browser cache before testing. Older browsers may have the old site cached and show it even though the redirect is working.
What to do if something goes wrong
Problem: The old domain still shows the old website
Fix: Check that you removed or updated the A records in the DNS zone editor. The old A record can override the redirect if it’s still pointing to your old hosting server. Delete the A record for the root domain and the CNAME for www, then save the DNS zone.
Problem: The redirect isn’t permanent, it only works sometimes
Fix: Confirm you selected “301 Permanent Redirect” and not “302 Temporary Redirect” or “Meta Refresh.” A 301 tells browsers and search engines the move is permanent. A 302 is for temporary moves and won’t pass the same SEO value. Go back to the redirect management page and edit the rule to change the type.
Problem: I see a “DNSPROBEFINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error
Fix: This error means the domain is not resolving at all. The nameservers may not be set to Hostinger’s nameservers. Go to the “DNS Zone” area and check the NS records.
If they don’t point to Hostinger, you need to update the nameservers at your domain registrar. Hostinger’s nameservers are usually ns1.dns-parking.com and ns2.dns-parking.com.
Problem: Email stopped working on the redirected domain
Fix: Domain redirects affect all traffic, including email. If you still need email on the old domain, you can’t do a full domain redirect. Instead, set up individual redirects for the web traffic only by pointing the A record to a specific server and handling the redirect at the server level.
Or set up a separate mail exchanger (MX) record after the redirect, but this gets tricky. A simpler option is to migrate your email to the new domain and set up forwarding from the old email addresses.
What happens next
After the redirect is active, your old domain will send all visitors and search engines to the new domain. Search engines will gradually update their indexes to show the new domain instead of the old one. This process can take a few weeks, depending on how often Google crawls your site.
You should keep the old domain registered and the hosting plan active as long as the redirect is in place. If you cancel the plan, the redirect stops working and the domain may show a parked page or error.
If you set this up because you moved your website to a new domain, you might also need to update your site’s internal links and any services that reference the old domain. Things like social media profiles, business listings, and email signatures all need updating.
If you’re setting up redirection for a new project or consolidation, check the current Hostinger coupon page to see if you can save on your hosting plan. A fresh hosting account with the right plan makes domain management smoother.
For anyone managing multiple domains, the DNS record setup process for individual services can be useful to understand alongside redirects. Knowing how DNS works helps you troubleshoot issues faster when something goes wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Can I redirect a subdomain to a different domain?
Yes. When you create the redirect rule, specify the subdomain as the source. For example, “blog.olddomain.com” can redirect to “newdomain.com/blog.”
How long does the redirect take to start working?
Most redirects start working within 30-60 minutes. Full DNS propagation across all internet providers can take up to 24 hours.
Will the redirect affect my SEO rankings?
A 301 redirect passes most of the SEO value from the old domain to the new domain. Google officially confirms this. The new domain may see a temporary ranking dip while Google recrawls and reindexes everything.
Can I redirect a domain without hosting?
Yes, if the domain is registered with Hostinger. You don’t need an active hosting plan on the source domain. The redirect works through the DNS settings in your Hostinger account.
Does the redirect work for all pages or just the homepage?
By default, a domain redirect sends all traffic to the root of the destination domain. If you need specific pages to redirect to specific destinations, you need a more advanced redirect setup using .htaccess on a hosting plan.
Can I cancel the redirect later?
Yes. Go back to the redirect management page in hPanel and delete the redirect rule. The domain will stop forwarding traffic and will show whatever site is hosted on it instead.
What happens to my email if I redirect a domain?
Email stops working on the old domain because all traffic (including email) gets forwarded. If you need email on both domains, either set up email forwarding through your hosting control panel or use a separate mail service.
Get started with Hostinger
If you’re moving domains or setting up a new website, Hostinger’s hosting plans include free domain registration and easy domain management tools. Use the code on this page to get 85% off your first plan plus a free domain.
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