Discover the simple way to get the dns server through cmd: Quick Windows DNS lookup with ipconfig /all, nslookup, and tips

Yes — you can quickly get the DNS server through cmd by running ipconfig /all and looking for the DNS Server entries under your active network adapter. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to find your DNS servers using Command Prompt, verify them with nslookup, save the info to a file for sharing, and troubleshoot common issues. We’ll keep it practical with step-by-step commands, a quick comparison of methods, and plenty of real-life tips so you’re not left guessing.

What you’ll learn

• How to open and use Command Prompt to reveal DNS servers
• How to read IPv4 and IPv6 DNS addresses shown by ipconfig /all
• How to verify DNS resolution with nslookup
• How to save DNS details to a text file for support or documentation
• Quick troubleshooting steps if DNS shows up blank or incorrect
• When and why you’d use alternative commands like netsh to view DNS settings

Useful URLs and Resources text only

• Microsoft Docs – how to use ipconfig – microsoft.com
• Microsoft Docs – nslookup command – docs.microsoft.com
• Windows Command Line Tips – stackoverflow.com
• Windows networking basics – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation
• DNS resolver basics – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System

Body

Find DNS server with ipconfig /all

This is the simplest, most reliable way to see every DNS server your PC knows about via the Command Prompt.

• Step 1: Open Command Prompt

  • Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter. If you can, run as Administrator to avoid permission hiccups on some systems.

• Step 2: Run the command

  • Type: ipconfig /all
  • Press Enter.

• Step 3: Read the output

  • Scroll to the active network adapter. You’ll see a line group labeled DNS Servers: one line per DNS server. Under most home networks you’ll see 1–3 IPv4 addresses, and possibly IPv6 addresses as well.
  • Example:
    • DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
    • DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

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  • ipconfig /all pulls the full network adapter configuration from Windows, including the DNS server addresses that the adapter is currently using or has been configured to use.

• Quick tips

  • If you don’t see any DNS Servers listed, you’re likely not connected to a network or the adapter isn’t configured to use DNS. Try reconnecting, or force a renew with ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew.
  • If you have multiple adapters Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, VPN, make sure you’re reading the DNS for the active, connected adapter. The “Media State” line can help you identify the currently active interface.

• Save a copy for troubleshooting

  • You can save the full output to a file for sharing with a support person:
    • ipconfig /all > c:\dns_info.txt
    • Then you can open c:\dns_info.txt to review the details or attach it to a ticket.

• What to look for in the results

  • Primary DNS server: the first address listed under DNS Servers
  • Secondary DNS server: the next address if present
  • IPv6 DNS servers: if your network uses IPv6, you’ll see one or more IPv6 addresses in the DNS Servers list
  • If you see addresses like 0.0.0.0 or ::, that can indicate a misconfigured interface or a NIC that isn’t wired up correctly yet

Verify DNS with nslookup

Ipconfig /all tells you which DNS servers you have, but nslookup helps confirm they actually resolve domains.

• Step 1: Open Command Prompt as above HOW TO ADD BOTS TO YOUR DISCORD SERVER A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS AND POWER USERS

• Step 2: Start nslookup

  • Type: nslookup
  • Press Enter.
  • The prompt will show the default server that will answer your queries, plus the address.

• Step 3: Look up a domain

  • Type: nslookup example.com
  • Press Enter.
  • You’ll see which DNS server answered and the IP addresses for the domain, e.g.,
    • Server: 192.168.1.1
    • Address: 192.168.1.1
    • Name: example.com
    • Addresses: 93.184.216.34

• Step 4: Optional: test with a specific DNS server

  • You can force a query to a particular DNS server by specifying the server in the first command:
    • nslookup
    • server 8.8.8.8
    • example.com
  • This is handy if you want to verify that a specific DNS server is capable of resolving a domain.

• Why nslookup is handy

  • It validates that DNS resolution actually works and also reveals which server answered your query, which is helpful if you’re troubleshooting a misrouted DNS problem.

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  • If nslookup returns a failure, double-check your DNS server addresses in ipconfig /all and ensure your network is connected. You can also try a known-good public DNS server like 8.8.8.8 Google to test resolution.

Save DNS details to a text file for sharing

If you’re working with tech support or documenting a setup, saving DNS details can save back-and-forth.

• How-to

  • ipconfig /all > c:\dns_details.txt
  • Open the file to confirm it captured the DNS Servers lines, or share it with someone helping you troubleshoot.

• When to use this

  • When sending logs for a ticket, including both your IPv4 and IPv6 DNS servers helps the other person replicate your environment.
  • If you’re documenting a home network, this gives you a snapshot of what’s configured without re-running commands.

Alternative commands to view DNS on Windows not strictly cmd, but useful

If you’re comfortable exploring beyond ipconfig /all, these commands can give additional context about DNS on your system.

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  • Show IPv4 DNS servers for all interfaces:
    • netsh interface ipv4 show config
  • You’ll see sections for each interface, with DNS Servers listed inline
  • Note: Netsh output can be a bit dense, but it’s comprehensive for diagnosing multiple adapters

• PowerShell option not a pure cmd command, but a common extension

  • Get-DnsClientServerAddress -AddressFamily IPv4
  • This shows the DNS server addresses assigned to each network adapter for IPv4
  • You can run a similar command for IPv6:
    • Get-DnsClientServerAddress -AddressFamily IPv6

• Quick side-by-side: cmd vs PowerShell

  • For a quick, single-screen view, ipconfig /all in CMD is the fastest.
  • For more granular, adapter-by-adapter details, netsh and Get-DnsClientServerAddress in PowerShell offer deeper insights.

Common issues and quick fixes

• Issue: DNS Servers show as blank or 0.0.0.0

  • Fix: Make sure you’re connected to a network. If you’re on VPN, check the VPN’s DNS settings. Try renewing your IP configuration: ipconfig /release followed by ipconfig /renew.
  • If the problem persists, reboot the router/modem and the PC, and verify there’s no firewall rule blocking DNS traffic port 53 UDP/TCP.

• Issue: DNS resolution works for some sites but not others

  • Fix: Try a known-good public DNS e.g., 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 by temporarily changing your DNS settings in the network adapter properties. You can do this via GUI or by netsh:
    • netsh interface ipv4 set dns name=”YOUR_ADAPTER_NAME” static 8.8.8.8
  • After changing, run ipconfig /flushdns to clear the resolver cache, then test again with nslookup.

• Issue: Changes don’t appear after ipconfig /all How to Create a Discord Music Server Step by Step Guide

  • Fix: Some adapters cache DNS settings from VPNs or virtual adapters. Disconnect any VPN and retry. Also, check for IPv6 vs IPv4 conflicts; disable IPv6 temporarily to isolate the issue if your network doesn’t use IPv6.

• Issue: DNS caching causing delays

  • Fix: Flush the DNS cache:
    • ipconfig /flushdns
  • Then re-test with nslookup or by loading a website again.

• Quick user-friendly checklist

  • Confirm active adapter is connected
  • Check both IPv4 and IPv6 DNS entries
  • Use nslookup to test a domain
  • Save the results if you’re troubleshooting with someone else
  • Consider temporary DNS changes only to test, then revert if needed

Quick reference table

Best practices for everyday use

• Keep a primary and secondary DNS server
  • Having a fallback DNS helps avoid outages when your primary server has issues
• Use reputable DNS providers
  • If you’re experiencing slow resolutions, consider public DNS options with strong privacy and performance
• Document and test changes
  • When you update DNS settings, test with nslookup immediately and save outputs for future reference
• Separate DNS changes from everyday browsing
  • For troubleshooting, isolate DNS changes from routine tasks to avoid unexpected network behavior

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my DNS server address in Windows 11 or Windows 10 using CMD?

Yes — use ipconfig /all in Command Prompt and read the DNS Servers lines under your active network adapter. This shows the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses your machine currently uses.

What command shows all DNS servers on my computer?

Ipconfig /all is the quickest, most reliable command in CMD. It lists the DNS Servers for each network adapter.

How can I verify that my DNS server actually resolves domains?

Use nslookup, then query a domain like nslookup example.com. The response shows the server used and the resolved IPs. If you want to test a specific DNS server, use: nslookup, then server x.x.x.x, followed by the domain. Connect to Azure SQL Server from Power BI a Step by Step Guide

How do I save DNS info to a text file?

Run ipconfig /all > c:\dns_info.txt. Open the file to review, or share it with someone helping you troubleshoot.

How do I flush the DNS cache?

Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter. This clears cached DNS data, which can help when a site has recently changed its IP address.

How do I renew or release my IP configuration from CMD?

You can refresh your network settings with:

• ipconfig /release
• ipconfig /renew
  These can help if your DNS is not being assigned correctly by DHCP.

Can I view DNS settings for IPv6 as well?

Yes. The ipconfig /all output will also show IPv6 DNS Server addresses if you’re using IPv6 on your network.

What’s the difference between a DNS server and a DNS resolver?

A DNS server is a server you configure or receive from your network to translate domain names to IPs. A DNS resolver is the recursive function that queries DNS servers on your behalf to resolve domains. Your Windows machine uses both while performing lookups. Discover How to Find Your Primary DNS Server Address with Ease: Quick Guide to Locate and Change DNS Settings

If DNS isn’t working, should I try a different DNS server?

If you’re experiencing slow or failing resolution, temporarily trying a known public DNS like 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 can help determine if the issue is with your current DNS provider. Revert to your usual DNS after testing.

How can I test DNS on a Mac or Linux machine using a terminal?

On macOS or Linux, you’d use similar tools: dig or nslookup for DNS verification, and ifconfig or ip a for interface details. ipconfig is Windows-only; macOS/Linux use different commands, but the concepts are the same.

Is there a way to automate checking DNS servers across multiple adapters?

Yes. In PowerShell, you can pull Get-DnsClientServerAddress for all interfaces and export results to a CSV for auditing. Combine with a small script to run ipconfig /all for each machine in a networked environment if you’re managing multiple devices.

What should I do if I can’t find DNS servers in ipconfig output?

Double-check your network connection, ensure you’re reading the correct adapter some PCs use VPNs or virtualization that may create extra adapters, and consider using netsh or PowerShell commands for a deeper dive. If still stuck, a reboot or a fresh network reset can clear misconfigurations.

Sources:

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