DNS Checker

Look up DNS records (A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, CNAME) for any domain in real time.

DNS records are fetched in real time. Results include A, AAAA, MX, TXT, NS, and CNAME records with TTL values.

What Is a DNS Record and Why Should You Check It?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is often described as the phonebook of the internet. Every time you type a domain name into a browser, DNS translates that human-readable address into the machine-readable IP address that servers use to communicate. Behind every domain sits a set of DNS records, each serving a specific purpose: pointing traffic to a web server, routing email, verifying domain ownership, or defining security policies. When those records are correct, everything just works. When they are wrong, misconfigured, or still propagating, visitors see errors, emails bounce, and entire services go dark.

Checking your DNS records is one of the first and most important steps in troubleshooting any domain-related issue. If you have just migrated to a new host, changed your mail provider, updated nameservers, or set up a new subdomain, you need to confirm that the rest of the world is seeing the same records you configured. Because DNS relies on caching at multiple layers (browsers, operating systems, ISPs, and recursive resolvers), changes can take hours to fully propagate. A DNS checker queries live resolvers so you can see exactly what is being served right now, rather than what your local machine has cached.

This free DNS lookup tool fetches the most common record types in real time and displays them with their TTL (Time To Live) values. Whether you are debugging an email delivery problem, verifying that a new A record has propagated, or auditing the DNS configuration of a domain you manage, the results give you the ground truth you need to move forward confidently.

How to Use the DNS Checker

Enter your domain name (for example, example.com) into the input field. You do not need to include the https:// prefix; the tool strips it automatically.
Click the Check DNS button. The tool queries authoritative and recursive resolvers and retrieves the current records for your domain.
Review the results table, which lists each record type, its value, TTL, and status. Use the Copy Results button to export the data for sharing or documentation.

Common DNS Record Types Explained

Different record types control different aspects of how your domain behaves. Understanding what each one does is essential for diagnosing issues quickly. Below are the six record types this tool returns.

A Record (IPv4)

Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address (e.g. 192.0.2.1). This is the most fundamental record type — it tells browsers which server to connect to when loading your website.

AAAA Record (IPv6)

Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address (e.g. 2001:db8::1). As IPv4 addresses run out, AAAA records are increasingly important for modern networks and mobile carriers.

CNAME Record

Creates an alias from one domain name to another. Commonly used to point www subdomains or CDN endpoints to a canonical hostname without duplicating IP addresses.

MX Record

Mail Exchange records direct email to the correct mail server. Each MX record includes a priority value; lower numbers are tried first. Missing or wrong MX records cause email delivery to fail.

NS Record

Name Server records identify which DNS servers are authoritative for your domain. If these point to the wrong provider, none of your other records will resolve correctly.

TXT Record

Stores arbitrary text, most commonly used for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication policies, as well as domain ownership verification for services like Google Search Console.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does DNS propagation take?

Typically 1-48 hours. Global propagation depends on TTL values set on your records. Most changes are visible within 24 hours, but some DNS resolvers may cache old records for up to 48 hours.

Why is my domain not resolving?

Common causes: DNS records not propagated yet, incorrect nameserver configuration, DNS server outage, or typo in record configuration. Use this tool to check if your records are live.

How do I flush my DNS cache?

On Windows: ipconfig /flushdns. On Linux: sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches or sudo systemctl restart nscd. On macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.

What DNS records do I need for email?

At minimum: MX records pointing to your mail server, a TXT record with SPF policy (e.g., v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all), and a DKIM TXT record for email signing.

What is a TTL value?

TTL (Time To Live) is how long DNS resolvers cache your record. Measured in seconds. Common values: 3600 (1 hour) for normal use, 300 (5 min) during migrations, 86400 (1 day) for stable records.