How to check nameservers of a domain + common problems

If you are considering switching hosting providers or recently pointed your domain to a new host, it’s crucial to ensure that the nameservers are correctly updated.

In this article, you will learn how to check your domain’s nameservers and see whether the domain name system (DNS) changes were successful. You can either use a WHOIS lookup tool or your system console to check whether the domain’s nameservers are correct and pointing to the right host.

How to Check Nameservers Using WHOIS Lookup Tools

The most common way to check nameservers is by using a WHOIS lookup tool. Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it.

1. Find Your Web Host’s Nameservers

First, access your hosting control panel to look for the provider’s nameserver details. In this tutorial, we’ll be using hPanel:

1. Go to Hosting → Plan Details.

2. Head to the Nameservers section and note the nameservers’ details.

2. Use a WHOIS Lookup Tool to Find Your Current Nameservers

There are plenty of WHOIS lookup tools available online to help you find your domain nameservers. In this tutorial, we’ll be using the Hostinger WHOIS Lookup Tool as an example:

1. Type your domain name into the search box and hit the Search button.

2. Your domain details should look something like this:

3. Compare Nameservers

Next, compare your hosting provider’s nameservers with the ones you found using the WHOIS lookup tool. If they show the same details, your domain is set up correctly. If not, contact the hosting company for further assistance.

If you wish to hide your contact details from WHOIS, consider getting domain privacy protection. Note that personal information is hidden by default for EU and BR citizens, except for .au, .it, and .us domains.

How to Check Nameservers Using System Console

In this section, we’ll show you how to use the command prompt to check nameservers on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Windows

For Windows, you can use nslookup. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows + R shortcut command on your keyboard. Then, type in cmd and click OK.

2. Now, you should see a command-prompt window.

3. Type in the following command:

nslookup -type=ns yourdomain.tld

4. The system will then show information about the domain’s nameservers. Although we are using a test account here, you should see something similar to the example below:

Linux

To check your nameservers with Linux, follow these steps:

1. Press CTRL + ALT + T to open your Linux computer’s terminal window.

2. Enter the following command:

dig +short ns yourdomain.tld

macOS

Using macOS, here’s what you need to do to check your domain’s nameservers:

1. Open the macOS Launchpad by clicking on the Command + Spacebar keys.

2. In the search field, type in Terminal and press Enter.

3. Then, run the following command:

dig +short ns yourdomain.tld

4. You will then find information about the domain nameservers similar to the screenshot below:

Common Issues When Checking Nameservers

There are some common issues that may arise when checking nameservers. We will cover a few examples in the sections below.

Domain Is Available for Registration

If the results show that your domain is available and not registered anywhere, be sure to check that you’ve correctly entered your site’s URL. For accuracy, copy it from your domain registrar directly.

Other than that, it’s also possible that the WHOIS lookup tool you are using shows outdated information. This is common if you’ve entered a newly registered domain. If this is the case, try refreshing the page and re-entering the information or using another WHOIS lookup tool.

Nameserver Values Not Showing

Generally, this issue can occur when checking less common extensions. Make sure that the WHOIS lookup tool you use supports your domain extension. Sometimes, ccTLDs like .cn or the .lt domain have their own dedicated WHOIS lookup websites.

DNSSEC Being Enabled

If DNSSEC is enabled at your current registrar, it can prevent any DNS changes from fully propagating.

If your new DNS records are not propagating even after 24 hours, it’s a good idea to utilize a DNSSEC checker. If the status is signedDelegation, DNSSEC is enabled, so you will need to contact your registrar to disable it.

After it’s disabled, propagation will continue as usual.

Using WHOIS Lookup While Domain Is Not Propagated

Since any DNS changes trigger global propagation, it can take time before the new records are set. For example, depending on the TLD, propagation can take anywhere from a few hours to 48 hours.

We recommend giving it time and rechecking via tools like DNS Checker a few hours after you make the change. If you see that not all records have been updated to the new ones, give it the full 48 hours before rechecking or contacting your provider.

Conclusion

Adequately setting up DNS records guarantees that your website will be up and running in no time. This also ensures minimal downtime whenever you change hosting providers.

In this tutorial, you’ve learned how to quickly check nameservers using two methods – via your system console and online using WHOIS lookup tools.

If you have any further questions, let us know in the comments section below.

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