Windows test DNS settings

How to check if network traffic is using DNS resolver you set

Did you switch your DNS settings to 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8, or 208.67.222.222? Here are three ways to test if your network traffic uses the DNS you set.

Domain Name System (DNS) is a resolver service that can translate familiar domain names (Google.com) into IP addresses (172.217.6.238) which aren’t easy to remember. Typically, you do not have to worry about this because your Internet Service Provider (ISP) automatically provides these settings. However, there are many other DNS resolvers on the internet that are faster, reliable, and more secure, including Cloudflare, Google, and Cisco.

Although setting up any of these resolvers on your computer or router is a straightforward process, after changing the DNS settings, there is not an obvious way to test if the network traffic is passing through the servers you configured.

If you’re switching to Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8, or Cisco OpenDNS 208.67.222.222, you can quickly test your settings in at least three different ways.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to ensure your network traffic is passing through the DNS servers you have previously configured.

Test DNS settings using DNSleaktest.com

To find out if your network traffic is getting routed through the DNS servers you’ve configured, use these steps:

  1. Open dnsleaktest.com website.

  2. Click the Standard test button.

    DNS leak test

Once you complete the steps, check the ISP column to see the name of the DNS service you’re currently using on the test result page.

Test DNS settings on Windows 11 or 10

If you’ve previously configured custom DNS settings from Cloudflare, Google Public DNS, or Cisco OpenDNS, you can quickly check if the traffic is going through the resolver you’ve configured using the nslookup tool.

To test with the nslookup command if your internet traffic is using the new DNS settings on Windows 11 or Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the console.

  3. Type the following command and press Enter:

    nslookup

    nslookup command

Under the “Default Server field,” you’ll notice the name of the DNS service you’re using. The Address field will also indicate the DNS address that your computer uses to route the network traffic.

Test DNS settings using router

If you’ve changed the router settings, the nslookup won’t work because it’ll show your router IP address as the DNS server, but it doesn’t mean your traffic isn’t using the service you’ve configured.

To verify your traffic is routing through the DNS servers you set on your router, use these steps:

  1. Open a web browser.

  2. Sign in to your router portal using its IP address.

    Quick tip: If you don’t know the address, use the nslookup tool in Command Prompt, and the IP address that shows in the result will be the one of the router.
  3. Browse to the network tools. (If you don’t know, refer to your router’s manual to get this info.)

  4. Select the nslookup option as the test method.

    Router DNS lookup tool

After you complete the steps, in the nslookup result, you should be able to determine the TCP/IP address the router is using to route the traffic.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.