Automation

nslookup Commands: DNS Lookups, Record Types & Reverse DNS (2026)

Look up any DNS record from the command line with nslookup, PowerShell Resolve-DnsName, and dig. Query A, MX, TXT, and PTR records, specify a DNS server, and do reverse lookups — complete 2026 reference for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

By InventiveHQ Team

Need to look up a domain's DNS records right now? Run the lookup in the tool below — or read on for every nslookup, PowerShell Resolve-DnsName, and dig command for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Open the Dns Lookup toolFree, in your browser on inventivehq.com →
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Verified June 2026 · nslookup, dig & Resolve-DnsName on Windows 11/10, macOS & Linux

Quick Reference: Essential Commands

# Look up a domain's IP (A / AAAA records)
nslookup example.com

# Query a specific record type
nslookup -type=MX example.com
nslookup -type=TXT example.com

# Reverse lookup (IP -> hostname)
nslookup 8.8.8.8

# Ask a specific DNS server
nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1

Which command should you use?

Jump to the section you need below, or run a live lookup in the tool above.

nslookup: The Cross-Platform Classic

nslookup (name server lookup) ships with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's the quickest way to answer "what does DNS say about this name?"

WindowsmacOSLinuxBuilt in — no install

nslookup Syntax Reference

CommandWhat it does
nslookup example.comForward lookup (A / AAAA)
nslookup -type=MX example.comMail server (MX) records
nslookup -type=TXT example.comTXT records (SPF, DKIM, verification)
nslookup -type=NS example.comAuthoritative name servers
nslookup -type=SOA example.comStart of Authority record
nslookup -type=CNAME www.example.comCanonical name (alias)
nslookup 8.8.8.8Reverse lookup (PTR)
nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1Query a specific DNS server

Interactive Mode

Running nslookup with no arguments opens interactive mode, handy for several lookups in a row:

nslookup
> set type=MX
> example.com
> set type=A
> example.org
> server 8.8.8.8
> example.net
> exit

Tip: Add the DNS server as a second argument (nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1) to bypass your local resolver. It's the fastest way to check whether a DNS change has propagated to a public resolver yet.

Resolve-DnsName: The PowerShell Way

On Windows, Resolve-DnsName returns structured objects you can filter, sort, and script — far nicer than parsing nslookup text.

Windows 10Windows 11Server 2012+Built in — no module

# Basic lookup
Resolve-DnsName example.com

# Specific record type
Resolve-DnsName example.com -Type MX
Resolve-DnsName example.com -Type TXT

# Reverse lookup
Resolve-DnsName 8.8.8.8

# Query a specific server and bypass the cache
Resolve-DnsName example.com -Server 1.1.1.1 -DnsOnly

# Just the IP addresses, scripting-friendly
(Resolve-DnsName example.com -Type A).IPAddress
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dig: The Modern Standard on macOS & Linux

dig (Domain Information Groper) is the preferred tool on Unix-like systems — more detailed and more scriptable than nslookup.

macOSLinux⚠ Install on Windows (BIND tools)

# Clean answer only
dig example.com +short
dig example.com MX +short

# Full record with the answer section only
dig example.com ANY +noall +answer

# Reverse lookup
dig -x 8.8.8.8

# Query a specific server
dig @1.1.1.1 example.com

# Trace the full resolution path from the root servers
dig example.com +trace

Common DNS Record Types

TypePurpose
AMaps a name to an IPv4 address
AAAAMaps a name to an IPv6 address
CNAMEAlias pointing one name at another
MXMail servers and their priority
TXTFree-form text — SPF, DKIM, domain verification
NSAuthoritative name servers for the zone
SOAZone authority and serial/refresh timers
PTRReverse mapping (IP -> hostname)
SRVService location (host + port)
CAAWhich certificate authorities may issue certs

Troubleshooting: Common nslookup Messages

Each row is deep-linkable — share a specific message with …#dns-nxdomain, and the row highlights on arrival.

MessageMeaningFix
Non-existent domainNo record exists (NXDOMAIN)Check spelling, confirm the domain is registered, try another record type or server
DNS request timed outThe DNS server didn't respondCheck connectivity; try a public resolver: nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1
Default Server: UnKnownYour resolver has no reverse (PTR) recordCosmetic — ignore it, or specify a server explicitly
No response from serverThe queried server isn't answering on port 53Verify the server IP and that a firewall isn't blocking DNS
Query refusedThe server won't answer your query (REFUSED)You may not be authorized to query that resolver — use your own or a public one
Server failedThe resolver hit an error (SERVFAIL)Often a DNSSEC or upstream issue — try another resolver or dig +trace

Checking DNS Propagation

After changing a DNS record, query several public resolvers to see whether the change has spread:

nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1      # Cloudflare
nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8      # Google
nslookup example.com 9.9.9.9      # Quad9

If the resolvers disagree, the change is still propagating — DNS caches honor the record's TTL, so allow up to the TTL value (often 300–3600 seconds) before expecting consistency everywhere.

nslookup vs dig vs Resolve-DnsName

ToolPlatformBest for
nslookupWindows, macOS, LinuxQuick checks anywhere; universally available
Resolve-DnsNameWindowsScripting — returns objects, not text
digmacOS, Linux (installable on Windows)Detailed diagnostics, +trace, clean scripting

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use nslookup to find a website's IP address?

Run 'nslookup example.com'. nslookup returns the A (IPv4) and AAAA (IPv6) records for the domain, along with the DNS server that answered. To query a specific record type, add the type: 'nslookup -type=A example.com'.

How do I look up MX records with nslookup?

Run 'nslookup -type=MX example.com' (or '-query=MX'). This returns the mail servers for the domain and their priority values. In PowerShell, use 'Resolve-DnsName example.com -Type MX'. On macOS/Linux, use 'dig example.com MX'.

How do I do a reverse DNS lookup?

Run 'nslookup 8.8.8.8' — nslookup automatically does a reverse (PTR) lookup when you give it an IP address. Explicitly: 'nslookup -type=PTR 8.8.8.8'. In PowerShell: 'Resolve-DnsName 8.8.8.8'. With dig: 'dig -x 8.8.8.8'.

How do I query a specific DNS server with nslookup?

Add the server as the second argument: 'nslookup example.com 8.8.8.8' queries Google's DNS instead of your default resolver. This is useful for confirming a record has propagated, or comparing your local resolver against a public one.

What does 'Non-existent domain' mean in nslookup?

It means the DNS server has no record for the name you queried (NXDOMAIN) — the domain doesn't exist, isn't registered, or the record type you asked for isn't present. Check spelling, confirm the domain is registered, and try a different record type or DNS server.

Why does nslookup say 'Default Server: UnKnown'?

nslookup couldn't resolve the name of your configured DNS server (it has no PTR record), which is cosmetic and doesn't affect lookups. You can ignore it, or specify a server explicitly: 'nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1'.

What's the difference between nslookup, dig, and Resolve-DnsName?

All three query DNS. nslookup ships with Windows, macOS, and Linux but is considered legacy. dig (Domain Information Groper) is the modern standard on macOS/Linux with richer output. Resolve-DnsName is the PowerShell cmdlet on Windows, with structured object output that's easy to script.

How do I get nslookup to show the full DNS response?

Use interactive mode and set debug: run 'nslookup', then 'set debug' (or 'set d2' for verbose), then enter the domain. For a one-liner with full detail, dig is better: 'dig example.com ANY +noall +answer' or 'dig example.com +trace' to follow the resolution path.

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