Free DNS Lookup Tool
Look up all DNS records for any domain — A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, and SOA. Verify your DNS configuration, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and check email authentication records like SPF, DMARC, and DKIM.
Look Up DNS Records
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Try QuickSEO →What Are DNS Records?
DNS (Domain Name System) records are the mapping files that translate human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. When someone visits your website, their browser queries DNS servers to find the IP address associated with your domain. DNS records also control email delivery, specify nameservers, and hold verification data for services like Google Workspace and email authentication.
Misconfigured DNS records are one of the most common causes of website downtime and email delivery failures. Regularly checking your DNS records ensures your domain is pointing to the correct servers and that email authentication is properly configured.
DNS Record Types Explained
- A Record — Maps a domain to an IPv4 address. This is the most fundamental DNS record and tells browsers which server hosts your website.
- AAAA Record — Maps a domain to an IPv6 address. The next-generation internet protocol with a vastly larger address space than IPv4.
- CNAME Record — Creates an alias from one domain to another. Often used to point subdomains (like www) to the main domain or to a CDN hostname.
- MX Record — Specifies mail servers for receiving email. Includes a priority value so you can configure primary and backup mail servers.
- TXT Record — Holds arbitrary text data. Used for domain verification, email authentication (SPF, DMARC, DKIM), and other service configurations.
- NS Record — Identifies the authoritative nameservers for a domain. These are the servers that hold the definitive DNS records for your domain.
- SOA Record — Start of Authority record containing administrative information about the DNS zone, including the primary nameserver, hostmaster email, serial number, and refresh intervals.
Email Authentication Records
Email authentication is critical for preventing spam and phishing. Three DNS-based mechanisms work together to protect your domain:
SPF
Sender Policy Framework specifies which IP addresses and servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. Stored as a TXT record starting with "v=spf1".
DMARC
Domain-based Message Authentication tells receiving servers how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM checks. Stored as a TXT record on _dmarc.yourdomain.com starting with "v=DMARC1".
DKIM
DomainKeys Identified Mail adds a digital signature to outgoing emails, allowing recipients to verify that the message was not modified in transit and was authorized by the domain owner.
How to Use This Tool
- Enter a domain name — Type any domain (e.g., example.com). The tool automatically strips protocols and paths if you paste a full URL.
- Click "Lookup" — The tool resolves all DNS record types in parallel for fast results.
- Review the summary — See at a glance how many records exist, whether IPv6 is configured, and the status of email authentication.
- Inspect each record type — Browse A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT, NS, and SOA records individually with detailed values.
- Check email authentication — Verify that SPF, DMARC, and DKIM are configured to protect your domain from email spoofing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are DNS records?
DNS records are instructions stored in authoritative DNS servers that map domain names to IP addresses and provide other information about a domain. Common record types include A (IPv4 address), AAAA (IPv6 address), CNAME (alias), MX (mail server), TXT (text data such as SPF and DMARC), NS (nameserver), and SOA (start of authority).
Why should I check my DNS records?
Checking DNS records helps you troubleshoot website connectivity issues, verify that your domain points to the correct server, confirm email authentication is properly configured (SPF, DMARC, DKIM), and ensure nameservers are set up correctly after a domain transfer or hosting migration.
What is an MX record?
An MX (Mail Exchange) record specifies the mail servers responsible for receiving email for a domain. MX records include a priority value — lower numbers have higher priority. When someone sends email to your domain, their mail server looks up your MX records to find where to deliver the message.
What are SPF, DMARC, and DKIM records?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance), and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) are email authentication records stored as TXT records. SPF specifies which servers can send email for your domain, DKIM adds a digital signature to outgoing messages, and DMARC tells receivers how to handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks.
What is the difference between A and AAAA records?
A records map a domain to an IPv4 address (e.g., 93.184.216.34), while AAAA records map a domain to an IPv6 address (e.g., 2606:2800:220:1:248:1893:25c8:1946). IPv6 is the newer protocol with a larger address space. Ideally your domain should have both A and AAAA records to support all visitors.
Grow your AI & SEO traffic
Search Analytics
Your full Google Search Console dashboard: clicks, impressions, rankings, and CTR trends over time.
Grow Your Organic Traffic from AI & Search Engines
Monitor your SEO performance and AI visibility in one dashboard. Track how ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity reference your brand — and get actionable recommendations to grow traffic from both AI and Google.
Try QuickSEO →
