How to Check Domain Propagation
When you update your domain’s DNS settings—like changing the IP address, adding subdomains, or altering mail server settings—it takes some time for these changes to propagate across the internet.
Domain propagation refers to the time it takes for DNS servers worldwide to update their cached information for a domain name. This period can range from a few minutes to up to 48 hours or more.
If you’ve made changes to your domain settings and want to verify if they’ve propagated, follow these steps:
Use Online Tools
Several online tools can help you check the status of your domain propagation. Some of the popular ones include:
Enter your domain name and select the type of DNS record you want to check (A, CNAME, MX, etc.). These tools will show you the DNS query results from various locations around the world.
If you just want to check the status of a newly registered domain, select the A record.
Command Line Utilities
Windows
nslookup: Open Command Prompt and type nslookup [your_domain_name].
C:\Users\username>nslookup google.com
Server: one.one.one.one
Address: 1.1.1.1
Non-authoritative answer:
Name: google.com
Addresses: 2c0f:fb50:4002:812::200e
192.178.54.14
ping: Similarly, you can use the ping [your_domain_name] command to see if it resolves to the new IP address.
C:\Users\username>ping google.com
Pinging google.com [142.251.47.174] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 142.251.47.174: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=116
Reply from 142.251.47.174: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=116
Reply from 142.251.47.174: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=116
Reply from 142.251.47.174: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=116
Ping statistics for 142.251.47.174:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 31ms, Maximum = 32ms, Average = 31ms
macOS and Linux
dig: Open Terminal and type dig A [your_domain_name].
dig A google.com ; <<>> DiG 9.16.1-Ubuntu <<>> A google.com ;; global options: +cmd ;; Got answer: ;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 6344 ;; flags: qr rd ad; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 0, ADDITIONAL: 0 ;; WARNING: recursion requested but not available ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;google.com. IN A ;; ANSWER SECTION: google.com. 0 IN A 192.178.54.46 ;; Query time: 69 msec ;; SERVER: 172.17.48.1#53(172.17.48.1) ;; WHEN: Wed Sep 06 13:10:01 SAST 2023 ;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 54
ping: Use the ping [your_domain_name] command just like in Windows. This will ping indefinitely, so press Ctrl+C (or CMD+C) to end the ping.
ping google.com PING google.com (192.178.54.46) 56(84) bytes of data. 64 bytes from tzjnba-ad-in-f14.1e100.net (192.178.54.46): icmp_seq=1 ttl=115 time=31.4 ms 64 bytes from tzjnba-ad-in-f14.1e100.net (192.178.54.46): icmp_seq=2 ttl=115 time=31.1 ms 64 bytes from tzjnba-ad-in-f14.1e100.net (192.178.54.46): icmp_seq=3 ttl=115 time=31.3 ms 64 bytes from tzjnba-ad-in-f14.1e100.net (192.178.54.46): icmp_seq=4 ttl=115 time=31.1 ms 64 bytes from tzjnba-ad-in-f14.1e100.net (192.178.54.46): icmp_seq=5 ttl=115 time=30.8 ms ^C --- google.com ping statistics --- 5 packets transmitted, 5 received, 0% packet loss, time 4007ms rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 30.817/31.119/31.369/0.198 ms
Check with your ISP
Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have cached DNS records, which might show you outdated information. To verify if your ISP has updated their DNS cache, you can:
- Clear your local DNS cache by typing in
ipconfig /flushdnsin the Command Prompt (Windows), and pressing Enter. - Restart your modem/router.
- Perform another DNS check as mentioned in the first two steps.
Check from Multiple Devices
Sometimes, DNS caching on your device might show you outdated information. Checking from multiple devices can help you understand if the issue is localized to your device or if the DNS settings haven’t propagated fully yet.
Check with Web Hosting or DNS Providers
If the propagation seems to be taking too long, check the settings on your hosting or DNS provider’s panel. Sometimes, errors or misconfigurations can occur, causing delays in propagation.
Social Media and Forums
Sometimes, it’s helpful to ask community members on social media platforms or forums if they can see the changes. This way, you can get real-time information from various geographic locations.
Manual Verification
For specific DNS records, you can directly query authoritative name servers. This is an advanced method that should be performed cautiously. You can use the dig or nslookup commands to perform these queries.
Conclusion
Checking domain propagation is essential to ensure that your recent DNS changes are being reflected across the web. By using online tools, command line utilities, and contacting your service providers, you can quickly find out the status of your domain.
With patience and the right methods, you can confirm that your changes have successfully propagated worldwide.
