Want to know which DNS server your PC connects to? Here’s how to do it on Windows.
The Domain Name System (DNS) converts domain names to IP addresses. Web browsers use these IP addresses to load web pages and ensure that you don’t have to remember IP addresses for every website.
Sometimes you’ll want to see which DNS server your PC is connecting to, either because the one you’re using has gone down or because you want to upgrade to a faster or more secure alternative. Luckily, there are several ways to see which DNS server you’re using in Windows 11.
The Settings menu is the central hub of a Windows PC. It lets you adjust preferences, configure the operating system, and manage all connected devices. You can also use Windows Settings to check your current DNS server on Windows 11.
Here’s how:
- Launch it The start menu by pressing the To win key.
- In the search bar, type Settings and press Walk in. This will open the Settings menu.
- Picking out Network & Internet of the left panel.
- Select the Properties next to the name of the connected network.
- In the next window, you can see the DNS server. It will be next IPv4 DNS Servers option.
2. How to Check Your DNS Server Using Control Panel
Control Panel is an essential component of Windows that allows you to configure various system settings. You can use it to manage applications, enable or disable hardware, modify user accounts, troubleshoot system issues, and check DNS servers.
To check DNS servers using Control Panel, follow these instructions:
- Open the To run dialog using the Win + R keyboard shortcuts.
- In the search bar, type Control Panel and press Enter. This will open the Control Panel window.
- Change the Seen by at Big Icons.
- Select Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on the link next to Connections option.
- Click it Details button in the window that appears.
- You can see the DNS servers in the new window that appears. It will be next IPv4 DNS server option.
3. How to Check Your DNS Server Using Command Prompt
Command Prompt is the command-line interface for the Windows operating system, which is an interesting way to interact with computers using text-based commands. You can use the command prompt to list and modify directories, create or delete files and folders, manage networks, and more.
You can also use the command prompt to check your current DNS server. Here’s how:
- Open the Start menu, type Command Prompt and choose Execute as administrator from the right pane.
- In the command prompt window, type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
- You can see the DNS servers in the information displayed on the screen.
4. How to check your DNS server using Windows PowerShell
You can use Windows PowerShell to perform various tasks, including checking the DNS servers defined on your computer. Here’s how:
- Open Windows PowerShell using one of the many ways to open Windows PowerShell.
- In the PowerShell window, type Get-DnsClientServerAddress and press Enter.
You can see DNS servers next to your network type. If you are using a Wi-Fi connection, the DNS server will be present next to the Wi-Fi option. Whereas if you are using an Ethernet, the DNS servers will be present next to the Ethernet option.
How do you prefer to check your DNS server on Windows 11?
Now you know all the working methods to check DNS servers in Windows 11. All these methods are quick and easy to perform. You can choose whichever you find easiest to perform.
Sometimes the default DNS server may not be among the fastest. In such a case, you can replace your server with many alternatives.