HOW-TO: Check your DNS

Checking your DNS (Domain Name System) settings is useful for troubleshooting network issues or ensuring that your network is configured correctly. Here are the steps for Windows, macOS, and Linux:

Windows

1. Using Command Prompt:
   1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
   2. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
   3. Look for the “DNS Servers” entry under your active network connection (e.g., Ethernet adapter or Wireless LAN adapter). This will list the IP addresses of the DNS servers your computer is using.
2. Using Network & Internet Settings:
   1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
   2. Go to “Network & Internet.”
   3. Select “Status” from the left menu, then click on “Change adapter options.”
   4. Right-click on your active network connection (e.g., Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select “Properties.”
   5. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties.”
   6. In the Properties window, look at the “Use the following DNS server addresses” field if it’s filled in, or if “Obtain DNS server address automatically” is selected. This will show your DNS settings.

macOS

1. Using Network Preferences:
   1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select “System Preferences.”
   2. Click on “Network.”
   3. Select your active network connection (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the list on the left.
   4. Click on the “Advanced” button in the lower right corner.
   5. Go to the “DNS” tab. This will display the DNS servers that your Mac is using.
2. Using Terminal:
   1. Open Terminal (you can find it in Applications > Utilities).
   2. Type scutil --dns and press Enter.
   3. Look for the “resolver #1” section. This will list the DNS servers your Mac is using.

Linux

1. Using Terminal:
   1. Open a terminal window.
   2. Type nmcli dev show | grep DNS and press Enter.
      • This command will display the DNS servers used by NetworkManager.
   3. Alternatively, you can check the contents of the /etc/resolv.conf file by typing cat /etc/resolv.conf and pressing Enter.
      • This file usually lists the DNS servers that the system is using.
2. Using Network Manager:
   • Open the network manager applet (usually found in the system tray or system settings).
   • Select your active network connection and go to its settings.
   • Look for the DNS settings in the configuration options. This will show the DNS servers your system is using.

Verifying DNS Configuration

1. Using a Browser:
   • Open a web browser and go to a site like whatismydnsserver.com. This site will display your current DNS server information.
2. Using Command Line Tools:
   • Windows: Type nslookup google.com in Command Prompt and press Enter. The “Server” and “Address” fields will show the DNS server being used for the lookup.
   • macOS: Type nslookup google.com in Terminal and press Enter. The “Server” and “Address” fields will show the DNS server being used for the lookup.
   • Linux: Type nslookup google.com or dig google.com in Terminal and press Enter. The output will show the DNS server being used for the lookup.

These steps will help you check your DNS settings on most operating systems.