Free DNS Lookup Tool

Check and analyze DNS records for any domain name. Our free DNS Lookup Tool allows you to quickly view essential DNS information used for websites, email delivery, and security.

Simply enter a domain name below to retrieve DNS records and verify whether your DNS configuration is correct.

What can this tool check?

This DNS Lookup Tool can retrieve:

✅ A Records (IPv4 addresses)
✅ AAAA Records (IPv6 addresses)
✅ MX Records (mail servers)
✅ NS Records (name servers)
✅ TXT Records
✅ SPF Records
✅ DMARC Records
✅ CNAME Records

How to use this DNS Lookup Tool

  1. Enter a domain name (for example: example.com).
  2. Click DNS Lookup.
  3. Review the DNS records returned by the tool.
  4. Use the results to troubleshoot website, email, or DNS configuration issues.

Tip: If you are experiencing email delivery problems, start by verifying your MX, SPF, and DMARC records.

 

Understanding DNS, MX, SPF, and DMARC

Email delivery and website connectivity rely on a number of DNS records working together correctly. If one of these records is missing or misconfigured, you may experience email delivery failures, website issues, or security problems. Use the information below to better understand the most common DNS-related technologies.

What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is often referred to as the internet’s phonebook. When you enter a domain name such as it-idiots.nl into your browser, DNS translates that human-readable name into an IP address that computers can understand.

Without DNS, users would need to remember numerical IP addresses instead of easy-to-read domain names. DNS records are responsible for directing website traffic, email services, and many other internet-based applications.

Common DNS record types include:

  • A Record – Maps a domain name to an IPv4 address.
  • AAAA Record – Maps a domain name to an IPv6 address.
  • CNAME Record – Creates an alias for another domain name.
  • MX Record – Defines mail servers for a domain.
  • TXT Record – Stores text-based information, often used for email authentication.

What is an MX Record?

An MX (Mail Exchange) Record tells other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain.

For example, if someone sends an email to info@example.com, their mail server first looks up the MX records for example.com to determine which mail server should receive the message.

A domain can have multiple MX records with different priorities. This provides redundancy and ensures email delivery can continue if one mail server becomes unavailable.

Common email providers that rely on MX records include:

  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace
  • Zoho Mail
  • Proton Mail
  • Exchange Server

If MX records are missing or configured incorrectly, incoming emails may be delayed, bounced, or lost entirely.

What is SPF?

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication method designed to prevent email spoofing.

An SPF record is stored as a DNS TXT record and specifies which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain.

For example:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all

When a receiving mail server gets a message from your domain, it checks the SPF record to verify that the sending server is authorized.

SPF helps:

  • Reduce email spoofing
  • Improve email deliverability
  • Lower the chance of emails being marked as spam
  • Protect your domain’s reputation

However, SPF alone is not enough and should be used together with DKIM and DMARC for maximum protection.

What is DMARC?

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) is an email security protocol that builds on SPF and DKIM.

DMARC tells receiving mail servers what action should be taken when an email fails authentication checks.

A typical DMARC record looks like this:

v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com

DMARC policies include:

  • none – Monitor authentication results only.
  • quarantine – Move suspicious messages to spam.
  • reject – Reject unauthenticated messages completely.

Benefits of DMARC include:

  • Protection against phishing attacks
  • Prevention of domain impersonation
  • Improved email security
  • Better visibility through authentication reports

Organizations that use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace are strongly encouraged to implement DMARC alongside SPF and DKIM.

How to Troubleshoot Email Problems

Email issues are often caused by DNS misconfigurations. When troubleshooting email delivery problems, start by checking the following records:

1. Verify MX Records

Ensure your MX records point to the correct mail provider.

For Microsoft 365, the MX record should typically point to Microsoft’s Exchange Online infrastructure.

2. Check Your SPF Record

Verify that all legitimate email services are included in your SPF record.

Missing providers can cause emails to fail SPF validation.

3. Validate DMARC Configuration

A missing or incorrect DMARC record may increase the likelihood of phishing attempts using your domain.

4. Review TXT Records

Many email verification systems use TXT records for authentication and domain ownership validation.

5. Check DNS Propagation

Recent DNS changes can take time to propagate across the internet. During this period, some users may see old records while others see updated values.

6. Test Email Delivery

Send a test message to external providers such as Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo and review the message headers to identify SPF, DKIM, or DMARC failures.

 

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