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How to test if DNS is working

To test if DNS is working, try to resolve a domain name to an IP address. If the name fails but the site loads by its raw IP, DNS is the problem — not your connection.

Step by step

  1. 1
    Run a browser DNS test. Use the tool below to resolve a domain from your browser. A successful lookup means DNS is working for you right now.
  2. 2
    Compare name vs. IP. If a site won't load by name but works by its IP address, the failure is in DNS resolution, not connectivity.
  3. 3
    Try the command line. Run nslookup example.com (Windows) or dig example.com (Mac/Linux). A returned IP means DNS resolved; an error or timeout means it didn't.
  4. 4
    Test a public resolver. Point your device at 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google) and retest. If that fixes it, your default DNS server was the problem.
  5. 5
    Flush your DNS cache. Clear the local cache (ipconfig /flushdns on Windows, sudo dscacheutil -flushcache on Mac) and test again to rule out stale records.

Run a DNS test now

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Resolves and connects to google.com, cloudflare.com, and github.com from your browser. Times include DNS lookup plus connection setup.

What the result means

A successful resolution means your device turned a domain name into an IP address — DNS is working. If pages still fail after a good lookup, the issue is the website or your connection, not DNS.

A failed or timed-out lookup means DNS isn't resolving. Switching to a public resolver like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 fixes most DNS problems caused by a flaky ISP resolver.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if DNS is the problem?

If a website won't open by name but loads by its IP address, or switching to 1.1.1.1/8.8.8.8 fixes it, the problem is DNS resolution.

What does it mean if DNS isn't resolving?

Your device can't translate domain names into IP addresses, so sites fail with errors like 'server not found' or 'site can't be reached' even though your connection works.

How do I test DNS from the command line?

Use nslookup example.com on Windows, or dig example.com on Mac and Linux. A returned IP address means DNS resolved successfully.