DNS settings are an important part of your internet connection in Windows 11. When DNS is working correctly, your computer can translate website names such as example.com into IP addresses so your browser can connect to the correct server.
If websites are not loading, some domains cannot be reached, or your internet connection appears to work while name resolution fails, checking your DNS settings can help identify the problem.
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| Learn how to check DNS servers, test DNS resolution, view and clear DNS cache, and troubleshoot DNS problems in Windows 11. |
Windows 11 provides several built-in ways to check DNS settings. You can use the Settings app, Command Prompt, PowerShell, ipconfig /all, and nslookup.
In this guide, you will learn how to check your current DNS servers, find DNS settings for Wi-Fi and Ethernet, view the DNS cache, test DNS resolution, and troubleshoot common DNS problems.
What Is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System.
Its primary purpose is to translate human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers can use to communicate across networks.
For example, when you enter:
example.com
your computer needs to determine the IP address associated with that domain before establishing the connection.
DNS servers perform this name-resolution function.
Without working DNS resolution, you may still have an active internet connection but be unable to access websites using their domain names.
What Are DNS Settings?
DNS settings tell Windows which DNS servers it should use when resolving domain names.
Your DNS configuration may come from:
- Your router
- Your internet service provider
- A manually configured DNS server
- A company or organization network
- A VPN
- Another network management service
When your PC connects to a network using DHCP, DNS server information can be provided automatically.
You can also configure DNS servers manually when needed.
How to Check DNS Settings Using Windows 11 Settings
The Settings app provides a graphical way to inspect the DNS configuration of your network connection.
For Wi-Fi
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Select Wi-Fi.
- Open the connected Wi-Fi network.
- Look for the IP and DNS configuration information.
Depending on your Windows 11 version and configuration, DNS information may appear under the network's hardware or IP assignment settings.
For Ethernet
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Select Ethernet.
- Open the connected Ethernet network.
- Review the network configuration.
Windows 11 may show whether DNS server assignment is automatic or manually configured.
How to Check DNS Servers Using ipconfig /all
Command Prompt is one of the most reliable built-in methods for checking DNS server information.
Open Command Prompt and run:
ipconfig /all
Microsoft documents ipconfig /all as displaying the full TCP/IP configuration for all network adapters.
Find the network adapter you are currently using.
For Wi-Fi, you may see:
Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi
For Ethernet, you may see:
Ethernet adapter Ethernet
Look for:
DNS Servers
For example:
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
1.1.1.1
The actual addresses on your computer may be different.
How to Check DNS Settings Using PowerShell
PowerShell provides another useful method for inspecting DNS configuration.
Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell and run:
Get-DnsClientServerAddress
This command can display DNS server addresses associated with network interfaces.
To focus on IPv4 DNS information, you can use:
Get-DnsClientServerAddress -AddressFamily IPv4
For IPv6:
Get-DnsClientServerAddress -AddressFamily IPv6
This can be useful when a Windows 11 PC has multiple network adapters.
How to Check DNS Servers for Wi-Fi
If your computer is connected through Wi-Fi, you should identify the DNS configuration associated with the Wi-Fi adapter.
Run:
ipconfig /all
Then locate:
Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi
Under that section, find:
DNS Servers
You may see one or more DNS server addresses.
These are the DNS servers Windows can use for name resolution on that connection.
How to Check DNS Servers for Ethernet
If your computer uses an Ethernet cable, run:
ipconfig /all
Find:
Ethernet adapter Ethernet
Then look for:
DNS Servers
The listed addresses represent the DNS servers configured for that network interface.
How to Check DNS Settings with nslookup
nslookup is useful for testing DNS resolution.
Open Command Prompt and type:
nslookup
Press Enter.
You should see information about the DNS server currently being used for the query.
You can also test a specific domain directly:
nslookup example.com
This asks the configured DNS resolver to resolve the domain.
Microsoft's DNS troubleshooting documentation recommends nslookup for testing DNS servers and DNS records.
How to Check Which DNS Server Is Responding
Run:
nslookup example.com
The output commonly includes a Server and Address section.
For example:
Server: dns.example Address: 192.168.1.1
This helps you identify the DNS server handling the request.
The actual output depends on your network configuration.
How to Test DNS Resolution
One of the simplest DNS tests is:
nslookup google.com
If the command returns an IP address, DNS resolution is working for that query.
You can test another domain:
nslookup microsoft.com
If one domain resolves while another does not, the issue may involve a specific DNS record, domain, or DNS server response rather than a complete loss of internet connectivity.
How to View the DNS Cache in Windows 11
Windows maintains a DNS resolver cache containing information from recent DNS lookups.
To view the cache, open Command Prompt and run:
ipconfig /displaydns
Microsoft documents ipconfig /displaydns as displaying the contents of the DNS client resolver cache.
The output may contain previously resolved domain names and related DNS records.
This can be useful when troubleshooting DNS resolution problems.
How to Clear DNS Cache in Windows 11
If DNS information appears to be outdated or a domain is resolving incorrectly, you can clear the Windows DNS resolver cache.
Open Command Prompt and run:
ipconfig /flushdns
Microsoft documents this command as flushing and resetting the contents of the DNS client resolver cache.
After running the command, Windows can perform new DNS lookups instead of relying on the cleared cached entries.
Microsoft's DNS troubleshooting documentation also recommends clearing the client DNS cache with ipconfig /flushdns during DNS troubleshooting.
What Does "Successfully Flushed the DNS Resolver Cache" Mean?
After running:
ipconfig /flushdns
Windows may display a message indicating that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed.
This means the local DNS resolver cache has been cleared.
It does not mean that your internet connection has automatically been repaired. If the underlying problem is a DNS server failure, router problem, or network configuration issue, additional troubleshooting may still be necessary.
How to Check if DNS Is Working
You can perform several simple tests.
Test 1: Check Your IP Configuration
ipconfig
Make sure the active adapter has an IP address and default gateway.
Test 2: Test DNS Resolution
nslookup example.com
Test 3: Test Internet Connectivity by IP
You can use ping with a known IP address as part of troubleshooting, although successful ping results do not by themselves prove that all internet services are working.
Test 4: Compare Different Domains
nslookup google.com nslookup microsoft.com
If DNS resolution fails consistently, investigate the configured DNS server and network connection.
How to Tell if the Problem Is DNS or Internet Connectivity
A useful troubleshooting approach is to separate DNS resolution from basic network connectivity.
For example, if your PC can communicate with a known IP address but cannot resolve domain names, DNS becomes a strong suspect.
If neither IP connectivity nor DNS resolution works, the problem may be broader and could involve:
- Wi-Fi connection
- Ethernet connection
- Router
- Default gateway
- ISP connection
- Firewall
- Network adapter
This is why checking your IP configuration before changing DNS settings is useful.
What Are Common DNS Server Addresses?
DNS servers can be provided by your ISP, router, organization, or another DNS service.
Some commonly used public DNS services include:
| Service | Example IPv4 DNS Address |
|---|---|
| Cloudflare DNS | 1.1.1.1 |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 |
These are examples only. You do not need to change your DNS servers simply because another provider exists.
For many users, the DNS servers supplied automatically by the network are perfectly adequate.
Should You Change DNS Servers?
Changing DNS servers is not always necessary.
You might consider changing them when:
- Your current DNS server is unreliable
- DNS resolution is consistently slow or failing
- You need a specific DNS filtering policy
- Your organization requires a particular DNS server
- You are troubleshooting a DNS-specific problem
However, changing DNS servers can also interfere with networks that require internal DNS servers, especially corporate or managed environments.
Do not replace organizational DNS settings without understanding the network requirements.
How to Check Whether DNS Is Automatic or Manual
Windows 11 allows DNS server assignment to be configured automatically or manually.
To inspect the setting:
- Open Settings.
- Select Network & internet.
- Select your active connection, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Open the IP assignment or network properties section.
- Look for the DNS server assignment setting.
If it is configured automatically, your network can provide DNS server information.
If it is configured manually, specific DNS server addresses have been entered.
How to Check DNS Configuration for All Network Adapters
A Windows 11 PC can have several network interfaces.
PowerShell makes it easy to inspect DNS settings across adapters.
Get-DnsClientServerAddress
This can reveal DNS server addresses associated with different interfaces.
You may see entries for:
- Wi-Fi
- Ethernet
- VPN
- Virtual adapters
- Other network interfaces
Always identify which interface is actually connected before changing DNS configuration.
Why Do I See Multiple DNS Servers?
It is normal to see more than one DNS server.
For example:
DNS Servers: 192.168.1.1 1.1.1.1
Your network may provide multiple DNS server addresses for redundancy.
The exact behavior depends on Windows, the network configuration, and the DNS resolver setup.
Why Does My DNS Server Show My Router's IP Address?
It is common for a home network to list the router's local IP address as the DNS server.
For example:
DNS Server: 192.168.1.1
In this configuration, your computer sends DNS requests to the router, which can then forward the requests to an upstream DNS resolver.
This is not necessarily a problem.
Why Does DNS Work on My Phone but Not My PC?
If your phone works on the same Wi-Fi network while your Windows 11 PC cannot resolve websites, the problem may be specific to the PC.
Possible causes include:
- Incorrect DNS configuration
- Corrupted DNS cache
- VPN configuration
- Proxy configuration
- Firewall or security software
- Network adapter problems
Start by checking:
ipconfig /all
Then test:
nslookup example.com
If necessary, clear the DNS cache:
ipconfig /flushdns
Why Can I Access Some Websites but Not Others?
If only certain websites fail while others work, DNS resolution can be one possible cause.
Test the problematic domain with:
nslookup example.com
Replace example.com with the domain that is failing.
Microsoft's DNS troubleshooting guidance recommends testing the specific failing record and checking the DNS cache when name resolution problems occur.
How VPNs Can Affect DNS Settings
VPN software can change how DNS requests are handled.
When a VPN is active, DNS queries may be routed through the VPN connection or a DNS server supplied by the VPN configuration.
This means your normal Wi-Fi or Ethernet DNS configuration may not tell the entire story while a VPN is connected.
If DNS problems only occur when a VPN is active, temporarily disconnecting the VPN can help determine whether it is involved.
How Proxy Settings Can Affect Website Access
Proxy settings can also influence how applications connect to the internet.
If DNS resolution appears normal but browsers or applications still cannot access websites, check Windows proxy settings as part of broader network troubleshooting.
Open:
Settings → Network & internet → Proxy
Review automatic and manual proxy configuration.
Common DNS Problems in Windows 11
DNS Server Not Responding
Your computer may be unable to communicate with the configured DNS server.
Check the DNS server address and network connection.
DNS Resolution Failed
The DNS server may be unable to resolve the requested domain.
Use:
nslookup example.com
to test the domain.
Old DNS Cache Entry
A cached DNS record can sometimes be relevant when troubleshooting a name-resolution problem.
Use:
ipconfig /flushdns
to clear the local resolver cache.
Incorrect Manual DNS Configuration
If DNS was manually configured incorrectly, Windows may be unable to resolve domains.
Review the DNS server assignment in network settings.
VPN or Proxy Interference
VPN and proxy configurations can affect how network requests are routed.
Quickest Way to Check DNS Settings in Windows 11
If you want the fastest command-line method:
- Press Windows + S.
- Search for Command Prompt.
- Open Command Prompt.
- Type:
ipconfig /all
For a quick DNS resolution test, run:
nslookup example.com
DNS Troubleshooting Command Cheat Sheet
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
ipconfig /all |
View complete network configuration including DNS servers |
ipconfig /displaydns |
View the DNS resolver cache |
ipconfig /flushdns |
Clear the DNS resolver cache |
nslookup example.com |
Test DNS resolution for a domain |
Get-DnsClientServerAddress |
View DNS server addresses in PowerShell |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my DNS settings in Windows 11?
Open Settings and inspect your network connection, or run ipconfig /all in Command Prompt and look for the DNS Servers section.
What command shows DNS settings in Windows 11?
The ipconfig /all command displays detailed network configuration, including DNS server information. PowerShell users can also use Get-DnsClientServerAddress.
How do I test DNS in Windows 11?
Open Command Prompt and run nslookup example.com. The command tests whether the configured DNS resolver can resolve the domain.
How do I clear DNS cache in Windows 11?
Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns. This clears the Windows DNS client resolver cache.
Why is my DNS server my router's IP address?
Many home networks use the router as the local DNS endpoint. The router can forward DNS requests to an upstream resolver.
Why can I access some websites but not others?
A DNS resolution problem is one possible cause. Use nslookup to test the domain that is failing and compare the results with other domains.
Should I change my DNS server?
Not necessarily. If your current DNS server works correctly, there may be no reason to change it. Changing DNS can also cause problems on managed or corporate networks.
Does VPN software affect DNS?
Yes. A VPN can change how DNS queries are routed or which DNS servers are used while the VPN connection is active.
Can I check DNS without installing software?
Yes. Windows 11 includes Settings, Command Prompt, PowerShell, ipconfig, and nslookup for checking and troubleshooting DNS configuration.
Final Thoughts
Checking DNS settings is an important step when troubleshooting internet and website-access problems in Windows 11.
For a complete overview of your current network configuration, use:
ipconfig /all
To test whether a domain can be resolved, use:
nslookup example.com
To view the local DNS cache, use:
ipconfig /displaydns
And when DNS cache information needs to be cleared during troubleshooting, use:
ipconfig /flushdns
Understanding your DNS servers, IP configuration, gateway, and network adapter makes it much easier to determine whether a Windows 11 internet problem is caused by DNS or by a broader connectivity issue.