How to Find DNS Servers: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners to Experts
Understanding DNS (Domain Name System) is crucial for anyone involved in web development, network administration, or even just troubleshooting internet connectivity issues. DNS servers act as the internet’s phonebook, translating human-readable domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 142.250.185.142) that computers use to locate each other. Finding the DNS servers your computer or network is using can be useful for various reasons, from diagnosing connection problems to optimizing your browsing speed and security. This comprehensive guide will walk you through several methods to find your DNS servers, catering to different operating systems and technical skill levels.
## Why Would You Need to Find Your DNS Servers?
Before diving into the methods, let’s understand why you might need to find your DNS servers in the first place:
* **Troubleshooting Internet Connectivity:** If you’re experiencing issues connecting to websites or the internet in general, an incorrect or non-responsive DNS server could be the culprit. Identifying your current DNS settings allows you to diagnose whether the problem lies with the DNS server itself.
* **Improving Browsing Speed:** Some DNS servers are faster and more reliable than others. By identifying your current DNS servers, you can compare their performance to alternative public DNS servers (like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS) and switch to a faster option.
* **Enhancing Security:** Certain DNS servers offer enhanced security features, such as malware blocking and phishing protection. Finding your current DNS servers allows you to assess whether you’re using a secure option and switch if necessary.
* **Configuring Network Devices:** When setting up routers, servers, or other network devices, you often need to specify DNS server addresses. Knowing how to find your existing DNS servers can provide a starting point for configuring these devices.
* **Understanding Your Network Setup:** Examining your DNS settings can give you a better understanding of how your network is configured and how your computer resolves domain names.
## Methods to Find Your DNS Servers
Here are several methods to find your DNS servers, categorized by operating system and technical approach:
### 1. Using Command-Line Tools (All Operating Systems)
Command-line tools offer a powerful and universal way to find DNS servers, regardless of your operating system. The specific commands vary slightly, but the underlying principle remains the same: querying your system’s network configuration.
#### a. Windows: `ipconfig /all`
The `ipconfig` command is a built-in Windows utility for displaying network configuration information. The `/all` switch provides a more detailed output, including DNS server addresses.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Command Prompt:** Press the Windows key, type `cmd`, and press Enter. You can also search for “Command Prompt” in the Start Menu.
2. **Run the Command:** Type `ipconfig /all` and press Enter.
3. **Locate DNS Servers:** Scroll through the output until you find the section corresponding to your network adapter (e.g., “Ethernet adapter Ethernet” or “Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi”).
4. **Identify DNS Servers:** Look for the line labeled “DNS Servers”. This line will list the IP addresses of the DNS servers your computer is currently using. Multiple DNS server addresses may be listed, separated by spaces.
**Example Output:**
Ethernet adapter Ethernet:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : example.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Ethernet Connection (2) I219-V
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-79-84-4A-2C
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::101c:4a39:794b:4a2c%4(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.10(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Thursday, March 16, 2023 9:00:00 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Friday, March 17, 2023 9:00:00 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 67108864
DHCPv6 Client DUID . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-22-AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF-01-02
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
In this example, the DNS servers are `192.168.1.1`, `8.8.8.8`, and `8.8.4.4`.
#### b. macOS and Linux: `scutil –dns` (macOS) or `resolvectl status` (Linux)
macOS and Linux offer different command-line tools for retrieving DNS information. macOS uses `scutil`, while modern Linux distributions often use `resolvectl`.
**macOS:**
1. **Open Terminal:** Open the Terminal application (located in `/Applications/Utilities`).
2. **Run the Command:** Type `scutil –dns` and press Enter.
3. **Locate DNS Servers:** The output will list DNS server addresses under the “nameserver[X]” entries, where X is a number.
**Example Output:**
DNS configuration
resolver #1
search domain[0] : example.com
nameserver[0] : 192.168.1.1
nameserver[1] : 8.8.8.8
if_index : 5 (en0)
flags : Request A records
reach : 0x00020002 (Reachable,Directly Reachable Address)
resolver #2
search domain[0] : home
nameserver[0] : 192.168.1.1
if_index : 4 (en1)
flags : Request A records
reach : 0x00020002 (Reachable,Directly Reachable Address)
In this example, the DNS servers are `192.168.1.1` and `8.8.8.8`.
**Linux (using `resolvectl`):**
1. **Open Terminal:** Open a terminal window.
2. **Run the Command:** Type `resolvectl status` and press Enter.
3. **Locate DNS Servers:** The output will show DNS servers for each network interface. Look for the “Current DNS Server” or “DNS Servers” lines under the relevant interface.
**Example Output (truncated for brevity):**
Global
Protocols: +LLMNR +mDNS -DNSOverTLS DNSSEC=no
resolv.conf mode: stub
Current DNS Server: 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers: 192.168.1.1
8.8.8.8
In this example, the DNS servers are `192.168.1.1` and `8.8.8.8`.
**Linux (Older Distributions – `/etc/resolv.conf`):**
On older Linux distributions that don’t use `resolvectl`, you can find DNS server information in the `/etc/resolv.conf` file.
1. **Open Terminal:** Open a terminal window.
2. **Run the Command:** Type `cat /etc/resolv.conf` and press Enter.
3. **Locate DNS Servers:** Look for lines that start with `nameserver`. These lines will list the IP addresses of the DNS servers.
**Example Output:**
# Generated by NetworkManager
search example.com
nameserver 192.168.1.1
nameserver 8.8.8.8
In this example, the DNS servers are `192.168.1.1` and `8.8.8.8`.
#### c. Using `nslookup` (All Operating Systems)
While primarily used for querying DNS records, `nslookup` can also reveal the default DNS server your system is using.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Command Prompt/Terminal:** Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).
2. **Run the Command:** Type `nslookup` and press Enter.
3. **Locate Server Information:** The first few lines of the output will display the default server being used. This includes the server name and its IP address, which is your DNS server.
4. **Exit `nslookup`:** Type `exit` and press Enter to exit the `nslookup` interactive mode.
**Example Output:**
> nslookup
Server: router.example.com
Address: 192.168.1.1
> exit
In this example, the DNS server is `192.168.1.1`.
### 2. Using Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs)
If you prefer a graphical interface, you can find your DNS servers through your operating system’s network settings.
#### a. Windows: Network and Sharing Center
Windows provides a user-friendly interface for viewing network connection details, including DNS servers.
**Steps:**
1. **Open Network and Sharing Center:** Right-click the network icon in the system tray (usually in the bottom-right corner of your screen) and select “Open Network and Sharing Center”.
2. **Click on Your Network Connection:** Click on the name of your active network connection (e.g., “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi”). This will open the “Status” window for that connection.
3. **Click on “Details…”:** In the “Status” window, click the “Details…” button.
4. **Locate DNS Servers:** In the “Network Connection Details” window, find the line labeled “DNS Servers”. This line will list the IP addresses of the DNS servers your computer is currently using.
#### b. macOS: System Preferences -> Network
macOS provides access to DNS settings through the System Preferences.
**Steps:**
1. **Open System Preferences:** Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences”.
2. **Open Network:** Click the “Network” icon.
3. **Select Your Network Connection:** Select your active network connection (e.g., “Wi-Fi” or “Ethernet”) from the list on the left.
4. **Click “Advanced…”:** Click the “Advanced…” button in the bottom-right corner of the window.
5. **Click the “DNS” Tab:** In the “Advanced” window, click the “DNS” tab.
6. **View DNS Servers:** The “DNS Servers” list will display the IP addresses of the DNS servers your computer is currently using. These addresses are typically listed in the top section of the DNS tab.
#### c. Linux: Network Manager (GUI)
The method for finding DNS servers through the GUI varies depending on your Linux distribution and desktop environment. However, most distributions use Network Manager, which provides a graphical interface for managing network connections.
**Steps (Generic Network Manager):**
1. **Open Network Manager:** Typically, you can access Network Manager by clicking on the network icon in the system tray (usually in the top-right or bottom-right corner of your screen).
2. **Edit Connection:** Select your active network connection from the list and click the “Edit Connections…” or similar option.
3. **Edit IPv4 or IPv6 Settings:** In the connection editor window, select the “IPv4 Settings” or “IPv6 Settings” tab, depending on which IP version you’re using.
4. **View DNS Servers:** Look for the “DNS Servers” field. This field will list the IP addresses of the DNS servers your computer is currently using. The method of how DNS is handled may vary, it could be automatically obtained, DHCP only, or manual. Make sure if it is automatic, that you verify the interface IP address is correct for your network.
### 3. Using Online Tools
Several online tools can help you determine your public IP address and DNS servers. These tools work by analyzing the connection information from your web browser.
#### a. WhatIsMyDNS.com
WhatIsMyDNS.com is a simple website that displays your current DNS servers, your IP address, your hostname, and other relevant network information.
**Steps:**
1. **Open a Web Browser:** Open your favorite web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
2. **Visit the Website:** Go to [https://www.whatismydns.com/](https://www.whatismydns.com/).
3. **View DNS Servers:** The website will automatically detect and display your current DNS servers under the “DNS Servers” heading.
#### b. DNSLeakTest.com
DNSLeakTest.com is primarily designed to detect DNS leaks (where your DNS queries are not being routed through your VPN), but it also displays your current DNS servers.
**Steps:**
1. **Open a Web Browser:** Open your favorite web browser.
2. **Visit the Website:** Go to [https://www.dnsleaktest.com/](https://www.dnsleaktest.com/).
3. **Run the Test:** Click the “Standard Test” or “Extended Test” button.
4. **View DNS Servers:** After the test completes, the results will display a list of DNS servers being used. These are the servers that your browser is currently communicating with.
**Note:** The “Extended Test” performs more queries and can provide a more comprehensive list of DNS servers.
#### c. Other Similar Websites
Many other websites offer similar functionality to WhatIsMyDNS.com and DNSLeakTest.com. A simple web search for “find my DNS servers” will reveal a variety of options.
### 4. Checking Your Router Configuration
Your router typically acts as the DNS server for devices on your local network. Therefore, finding your router’s DNS settings can reveal the DNS servers being used by your network as a whole.
**Steps:**
1. **Find Your Router’s IP Address:** You can usually find your router’s IP address using the `ipconfig` command (Windows) or by checking your network settings in macOS or Linux (as described in previous sections). The router’s IP address is often listed as the “Default Gateway”.
2. **Access Your Router’s Web Interface:** Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address in the address bar. Press Enter.
3. **Login to Your Router:** You will be prompted to enter your router’s username and password. The default username and password are often printed on a sticker on the router itself. If you’ve changed the default credentials, use those instead. If you don’t know the password, you may need to reset your router to its factory defaults (refer to your router’s manual for instructions).
4. **Navigate to DNS Settings:** The location of the DNS settings varies depending on your router’s manufacturer and model. Look for sections labeled “DNS”, “WAN”, “Internet”, or “Advanced Settings”.
5. **View DNS Servers:** The DNS settings page will display the primary and secondary DNS server addresses being used by your router. These are the DNS servers that your router is providing to devices on your network.
**Note:** Some routers allow you to manually configure DNS servers, while others automatically obtain DNS servers from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). If your router is configured to obtain DNS servers automatically, the DNS server addresses displayed may change periodically.
## Understanding DNS Server Types
It’s helpful to understand the different types of DNS servers:
* **ISP DNS Servers:** These are the DNS servers provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). They are often the default DNS servers used by your network.
* **Public DNS Servers:** These are DNS servers offered by third-party organizations like Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1), and OpenDNS. They are often faster and more reliable than ISP DNS servers and may offer enhanced security features.
* **Local DNS Servers:** These are DNS servers running on your local network, such as on your router or a dedicated server. They are used to resolve domain names within your local network.
## Changing Your DNS Servers
Once you’ve found your current DNS servers, you might want to change them to improve your browsing speed, security, or privacy. The process for changing DNS servers varies depending on your operating system and device. Here’s a brief overview:
* **Windows:** Through the Network and Sharing Center, access the properties of your network adapter, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” or “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)”, click “Properties”, and specify the desired DNS server addresses in the “Use the following DNS server addresses” section.
* **macOS:** In System Preferences -> Network, select your network connection, click “Advanced…”, click the “DNS” tab, and add or remove DNS server addresses in the “DNS Servers” list.
* **Linux:** Through Network Manager (or your distribution’s network configuration tool), edit your network connection, select the “IPv4 Settings” or “IPv6 Settings” tab, and specify the desired DNS server addresses in the “DNS Servers” field. You may need to change the “Method” to “Manual” to enter custom DNS servers.
* **Router:** Access your router’s web interface and navigate to the DNS settings (as described earlier). Specify the desired DNS server addresses in the appropriate fields.
## Conclusion
Finding your DNS servers is a simple yet valuable skill that can help you troubleshoot network issues, optimize your browsing experience, and enhance your online security. By using the methods outlined in this guide, you can easily determine your current DNS settings and make informed decisions about whether to switch to alternative DNS servers. Whether you prefer command-line tools, graphical interfaces, or online resources, there’s a method that suits your technical skill level and preferences. Remember to choose DNS servers that are fast, reliable, and secure to ensure a smooth and safe online experience.