Enter any domain name and instantly see its current DNS records — A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, and CAA — pulled directly from live DNS servers, not cached data. Filter by a specific record type or check all of them at once. No account, no installation, and results in seconds.
What DNS Records Actually Control
DNS (Domain Name System) records are the instructions that tell the internet where to send traffic, email, and verification requests for your domain. Each record type controls a different function:
- A Record — Points your domain to an IPv4 address (the server hosting your website)
- AAAA Record — Points your domain to an IPv6 address
- CNAME Record — Points a subdomain (like
www) to another domain name - MX Record — Directs email for your domain to the correct mail server
- NS Record — Identifies which nameservers are authoritative for your domain
- TXT Record — Stores text data, commonly used for domain verification (Google Workspace, SPF/DKIM email authentication) and ownership proof
- SOA Record — Contains administrative information about the domain zone, including the primary nameserver and refresh timing
- CAA Record — Specifies which Certificate Authorities are permitted to issue SSL certificates for your domain
Common Situations Where You Need to Check DNS Records
After a domain or hosting migration — Confirm your A record points to the new server’s IP address and that old records from the previous host have been fully replaced.
Setting up business email — Verify your MX records are correctly pointing to your email provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or another mail host) before assuming email delivery issues are something else.
Diagnosing DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN or “site can’t be reached” errors — When a domain won’t resolve, checking its current DNS records from an external server (rather than your local browser) is the fastest way to identify whether the problem is missing records, propagation delay, or a registry-level issue. See our complete guide: How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error.
Verifying domain ownership for third-party services — Google Search Console, Google Workspace, and many SaaS platforms require a TXT record to verify domain ownership. Use this tool to confirm the verification record was added correctly and has propagated.
Setting up SPF/DKIM for email deliverability — TXT records control SPF and DKIM configuration, which directly affects whether your emails land in inboxes or spam folders. Verify these records are present and correctly formatted.
Checking SSL certificate authority restrictions — CAA records control which certificate authorities can issue SSL certificates for your domain — relevant when troubleshooting SSL issuance failures.
Who Uses This DNS Checker
Web developers managing client migrations — Verify DNS changes have taken effect correctly after moving a site to a new host, without relying on the client’s local cache or guesswork.
IT teams setting up business email — Confirm MX, SPF, and DKIM records are correctly configured before troubleshooting deeper into email delivery platforms.
WordPress agencies onboarding new clients — Quickly audit a new client’s existing DNS configuration before making any changes, creating a clear before/after record of the domain’s setup.
Hosting support teams — Diagnose customer-reported “my site is down” or “my email isn’t working” tickets by checking actual DNS records rather than relying on the customer’s description of symptoms.
Anyone troubleshooting a domain that won’t load — If you’re seeing DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, “this site can’t be reached,” or similar errors, checking DNS records from an external source (not your browser’s cache) is the correct first diagnostic step.
Accurate DNS records keep websites and services running smoothly.
How to Use the DNS Checker
Step 1 — Enter the Domain
Type the domain name you want to check (e.g., example.com) into the Domain field.
Step 2 — Select a Record Type (Optional)
Choose a specific record type — A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, TXT, SOA, or CAA — or leave it set to ALL to retrieve every record type in a single check.
Step 3 — Check Records
Click Check DNS Records. Results appear in a table showing the record Type, Name, Value, and TTL (Time to Live).
Step 4 — Copy or Export
Click Copy Results for a quick text summary, or Download JSON Report to save the full structured result for documentation or troubleshooting records.
DNS Checker vs. Checking Through Your Registrar Dashboard
| Registrar Dashboard | This DNS Checker | |
|---|---|---|
| Shows what you configured | Yes | — |
| Shows what’s actually live on the internet | Not always — dashboards can lag behind real propagation | ✅ Yes — queries live DNS |
| Useful for verifying propagation | No | ✅ Yes |
| Works for any domain (not just your own) | No — registrar access only | ✅ Yes — check any domain |
| Account required | Yes | ✅ None |
| Speed | Requires login | ✅ Instant |
Key insight: Your registrar dashboard shows what you configured — not necessarily what’s live on the internet right now. DNS propagation delays, registry-level holds, and caching mean these can differ. Always verify with an external checker like this one when troubleshooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my registrar show correct DNS records but my site still won’t load?
This is one of the most common and confusing DNS scenarios. Your registrar dashboard reflects your configuration, but several things can prevent that configuration from being live: DNS propagation still in progress, a domain status like serverHold applied at the registry level (which overrides DNS resolution regardless of correct records), or local DNS cache showing you stale data. Check the domain with this tool to see what is actually resolving right now, and read our DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN troubleshooting guide for a complete breakdown of causes.
How long does it take for DNS changes to propagate?
DNS propagation typically takes anywhere from a few minutes to 48–72 hours, depending on the TTL (Time to Live) value of the previous records and how quickly global DNS resolvers refresh their cache. Lower TTL values result in faster propagation when records change.
What does TTL mean in DNS records?
TTL (Time to Live) specifies, in seconds, how long a DNS resolver should cache a record before checking for updates again. A TTL of 3600 means resolvers will cache that record for one hour before re-querying. Lower TTL values mean faster updates when you make changes, but slightly higher load on DNS servers.
Can I check DNS records for any domain, or only domains I own?
You can check DNS records for any publicly registered domain — DNS records are public information by design, since they need to be readable by any server on the internet attempting to connect to that domain.
What is a CAA record and do I need one?
A CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) record specifies which Certificate Authorities are permitted to issue SSL/TLS certificates for your domain. It is optional — domains without a CAA record allow any CA to issue certificates — but adding one is a security best practice that prevents unauthorized certificate issuance.
My MX records look correct but I’m still not receiving email. What else should I check?
Beyond MX records, email deliverability depends on SPF, DKIM, and DMARC TXT records being correctly configured, as well as your mail server’s reputation and configuration. Use this tool to confirm your TXT records are present and correctly formatted, then verify your email provider’s specific setup documentation for any provider-specific requirements.
More Free Developer Tools
The DNS Checker is one of six free tools available at WP Codex Plugins:
- Codex Starter — Generate a complete WordPress theme starter ZIP instantly
- CSS / JS Minifier — Minify CSS and JavaScript code online
- CTR Calculator — Calculate click-through rates for SEO and ad campaigns
- Hook & Filter Generator — Generate WordPress hook boilerplate code
- Countdown Timer — Free online timer for events and campaigns
➜ Codex Starter Tool
➜ JSON Formatter
➜ HTML Formatter
➜ WP Meta Query Generator
Need Help With a DNS or Website Migration Issue?
Diagnosing DNS issues is the first step — fixing complex migration, multisite sync, or website infrastructure problems often requires hands-on technical support. If you’re dealing with a website migration, DNS configuration, or technical SEO issue beyond what this tool can diagnose, the WP Codex Plugins team can help.