How to Check DNS Records (A, MX, TXT) and Your IP Address

To check a domain's DNS records, enter the domain in a DNS lookup tool and choose the record types you need: A and AAAA for the website's server, MX for email, TXT for verification and email security, and NS for the DNS provider. The IP & DNS Lookup does this in one click and also shows your own public IP address, location and internet provider.

How do I find my public IP address?

Open the IP & DNS Lookup. The top section shows:

• Your IP address, with a copy button and whether it's IPv4 or IPv6.
• Approximate location: city, region and country (with its flag).
• Network: your internet provider (ISP) and its ASN number.
• Timezone.

You can also type another public IP into "Look up another IP" to see where it's registered.

Your public IP is different from the local address your router gives your device (like 192.168.1.10). Websites only see the public one.

How do I look up DNS records?

1. Type a domain in the DNS lookup box. You can paste a full URL; the tool removes https:// and the path.
2. Pick the record types. A, MX, TXT and NS are selected by default; you can add AAAA, CNAME, SOA and CAA.
3. Press Look up.

Results are grouped by type with their TTL (how long they may be cached). Each lookup's address bar includes ?domain=, so you can share a link to the same check. A Copy all option copies the results as text.

What do the DNS record types mean?

Record	What it does
A	Points the name at an IPv4 address: where the website is hosted
AAAA	The same for IPv6 addresses
MX	Mail servers: where email for the domain is delivered; lower priority is tried first
TXT	Text records: SPF, DKIM, DMARC and site-ownership checks (Google, Microsoft and others)
NS	Name servers: who hosts the domain's DNS, often the registrar or Cloudflare
CNAME	An alias: this name points to another name instead of an address
SOA	Start of authority: the primary name server and the zone's serial number
CAA	Which certificate authorities may issue SSL certificates for the domain

How do I check SPF and DMARC for email?

Email security mostly lives in TXT records:

• SPF starts with v=spf1 and lists the servers allowed to send email for your domain.
• DMARC lives at _dmarc.yourdomain.com and starts with v=DMARC1. Its policy (p=none, quarantine or reject) tells receivers what to do with mail that fails checks.

When you look up TXT records, the tool flags an SPF record and also checks the _dmarc record for you, showing the policy it finds. If emails from your domain land in spam, missing or broken SPF and DMARC are common causes.

Common reasons to check DNS

• Moving a website: confirm the A record points to the new server.
• Setting up email (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho): check the MX and SPF records.
• Verifying a domain for Google Search Console or an ad network: check the TXT record.
• Switching to Cloudflare: confirm the NS records changed.
• SSL problems: check CAA allows your certificate provider.

Why do my changes take time?

Each record has a TTL in seconds. Resolvers around the world keep the old answer until it expires. A TTL of 3,600 means up to an hour. If you plan a move, lower the TTL a day before. The lookup asks public resolvers, so if it still shows the old value, the change hasn't reached them yet.

Is the lookup private?

Unlike most tools on this site, the IP and DNS lookup has to run on our server: browsers can't query DNS or see their own public IP directly. Lookups go to the public resolvers 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8, and nothing is stored. There's a fair-use rate limit to keep it fast for everyone.

Check your domain now

Open the free IP & DNS Lookup to see your IP and any domain's records. Building a site? Make its icons with the Favicon Generator (see how to create a favicon), and share it with the QR Code Generator.