How to find out the current DNS server you are using

Looking closely, we see that almost everyone uses the internet these days. In fact, we have another world that is on the Internet. If you keep visiting different websites, you may be aware of DNS (Domain Name System).

Domain Name System, which we call as DNS, is an important process that associates the domain names with their proper IP address. It’s a very important system; with the help of DNS we can see different web pages in our web browser.

What is DNS?

Let’s keep it simple and try to understand what DNS is. In simple terms, DNS is a database consisting of various domain names and IP addresses. Whenever a user enters domain names such as Google.com or Yahoo.com, the DNS servers look at the IP addresses associated with the domains.

After matching with the IP address, it comments on the web server of the visiting site. However, DNS servers were not always stable, especially the ones assigned by the ISPs. That is the most likely reason behind the DNS errors we see while browsing various websites.

What about custom DNS?

Well, if you are using your ISP’s default DNS servers, you will most likely encounter DNS related errors at regular intervals. Some common DNS errors are: DNS lookup failed, DNS server not responding, DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain, etc.

Almost every DNS related problem can be solved by choosing a custom DNS. There are many public DNS servers available for you to use, such as Google DNS, OpenDNS, etc. We also shared a detailed guide about Switch To Google DNS for you to consider.

However, before switching DNS servers, it is always best to make a note of the current DNS server. Therefore, below we have discussed some methods that can help you check the DNS you are using.

Which DNS do I use?

Well, there are multiple methods to check which DNS you are using. Below we have listed some of the best methods to help you check your Windows DNS. So make sure you follow the guide carefully as we will be using CMD to find DNS.

Check DNS on Windows

To check the DNS server you are using on Windows, you need to use CMD. Right-click the Start button and then choose “Command Prompt (Admin)”.

Now on the command prompt you need to enter the following command

ipconfig /all | findstr /R "DNS\ Servers"

This command displays the current DNS server you are using. You can also use the other method to know DNS server on Windows. For that, you need to enter the following command below.

nslookup google.com

Well, you can use any website domain instead of Google.com. The command displays the current DNS server. So, these are the two CMD commands to know DNS on Windows computer.

Which DNS do I use? Mac & Linux

Well, on Mac and Linux based computers, you have to enter the same CMD command to know which DNS server you are using. Just enter the command below to run nslookup on any website.

nslookup google.com

Again, you can replace Google.com with any website of your choice. So, this is how you can check the DNS server on Mac and Linux computers.

Check DNS server on Android

When checking DNS Server on Android, we have plenty of network scanner apps in the Google Play Store. You can use any network scanner app on Android to know which DNS server your Android is using. In addition, you can use free apps such as Network Info II, which does not show ads.

On Network Info II, you need to look at the WiFi tab and then check the DNS1 and DNS2 entries. These are the DNS addresses your phone uses.

Which DNS do I use? iPhone

Like Android, iOS has plenty of network scanner apps to find the DNS server. One of the popular network scanner apps for iOS is known as Network Analyser. Network Analyzer for iOS provides a lot of useful information about your WiFi network.

So on iOS you can use Network Analyzer and then look at the ‘DNS Server IP’.

Check the router’s DNS server

Well, for those who don’t know, the router uses the DNS server, which is assigned by the ISP. However, that can be changed by following the guidelines in this article. To find out which DNS server your router is using, go to the router’s IP address (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and log in with the username and password.

Now you will see the home page of the router. Depending on the router mode, you have to Wireless network or Network. There you will find the options for DNS 1 and DNS 2 entries. If you want to change, you can update the new DNS address there.

Best Free Public DNS Servers

Your ISP provides you with a default DNS server, which often leads to various web errors. Moreover, the DNS servers assigned by the ISP also lead to slow internet speed.

So if you want more speed and better security, it is recommended to switch to public DNS servers. A lot of free public DNS servers are available that offer better browsing speed and security.

Some free public DNS servers can even unblock blocked content on the Internet.

How to change DNS servers on Windows and Android?

We have shared a detailed guide on how to change DNS servers on Windows 10 computers. If you are using a Windows operating system, read our article – Change default DNS to Google DNS for faster internet.

For Android users, we recommend this article: 10 Best DNS Changer Apps for Android. In this article, we have shared some best Android apps to change DNS server on Android.

That is it; you are done! This way you can find out which DNS server you are using. I hope this article helped you! Also share it with your friends.