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To publish a manual-mode website, open it in the editor and click Publish in the upper-right corner. A new project stays a private draft until that first publication; later edits also need to be published again. Connecting a custom domain is a separate step, and its DNS changes may take time to reach visitors.
Publish the site for the first time
- Sign in to your dashboard and open Websites.
- Find the site and select Edit website.
- In the editor, select Publish in the top-right corner.
- On the confirmation screen, open the site or copy its URL. The screen may also provide a QR code for viewing it on a mobile device.
Hostinger’s manual-mode publishing instructions describe the project as a private draft until its first publication. Trying to open it before publishing can result in a 404 or an SSL protocol error.
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Preview before launch and publish later edits
Use Preview in the editor to check content and layout, including the mobile layout. Preview is for testing, and some functions are limited; check features that cannot be fully tested there after publishing. See Hostinger’s preview instructions.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhen you change the site after launch, select Publish again to send those edits to the live version. Allow a few minutes, then check the result in a private or incognito browser window, or use preview mode to review the changes.
Connect a custom domain separately
You can publish using the automatically generated preview domain while you build or wait for a custom domain. To use a domain registered elsewhere, connect it to the project and point its DNS to Hostinger. Publishing the site and connecting the domain are distinct tasks: domain setup alone does not publish your latest site changes. Follow the account-specific steps in Hostinger’s domain connection guide.
Choose a DNS approach
| Approach | Who manages the DNS zone | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Nameservers | Hostinger | Changing nameservers moves DNS-zone management to Hostinger. If the domain uses a separate email provider, check that its MX records are present after the change. |
| CNAME records | Your current DNS provider | The zone remains with that provider. The provider must support the required records for the root domain; some do not support this setup without CNAME flattening. |
For manual mode, Hostinger’s domain pointing guide says A records are not supported. Its example points both @ and www to connect.hostinger.com, and directs users to remove existing root-domain A or AAAA records before adding the documented CNAME records. Use the exact values and steps shown for your domain and account. If your DNS provider cannot support the required root-domain records, Hostinger suggests transferring the domain or using a provider with CNAME flattening.
Allow time for DNS changes
Hostinger estimates that DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours. This is the provider’s estimate, not a guarantee for every registrar, DNS resolver, or connection. The generated preview domain may still work while the custom domain is being connected.
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- Confirm that you published: If the project is still a draft, use Publish in the editor.
- Check for unpublished edits: After changing a live site, publish again and give the update a few minutes before checking.
- Try a private window: This can help distinguish a live-site update from a browser’s cached view.
- Check domain setup: Confirm that the domain is connected and its DNS records match the instructions for your account. If the domain was just pointed, allow for propagation.
- Look for Coming Soon mode: If the site remains unavailable after several hours, Hostinger advises checking whether this mode is enabled.
If it is still unavailable after the relevant checks and the propagation window, consult Hostinger’s publishing troubleshooting guidance or contact its support team.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Publish a landing page while other pages are unfinished
If the whole site is not ready, Hostinger’s supported approach is to make a finished landing page or homepage the active homepage, hide unfinished pages from navigation, and publish.
- Set the completed page as the homepage.
- Move unfinished pages to Hidden from navigation.
- Publish the site.
Hiding a page from navigation does not make it private: people may still open it using its direct URL, and it may appear in search results unless you separately hide it from search engines. The site must retain at least one active page; this workflow does not fully unpublish the site. See Hostinger’s landing-page guidance.
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