How to Check DNS Propagation

After making a DNS change, you may want to track how quickly your update is spreading across the internet. DNS propagation checkers let you see whether your new DNS records are visible from different locations around the world.

Tools to Check DNS Propagation

• dnschecker.org - Shows the result of your DNS lookup from dozens of servers worldwide. Easy to use and gives you a colour-coded view of propagation progress.
• whatsmydns.net - Another reliable tool that lets you check A, CNAME, MX, TXT, and other record types from global locations.

How to Use a Propagation Checker

1. Visit dnschecker.org or whatsmydns.net.
2. Enter your domain name in the search box.
3. Select the DNS record type you want to check (e.g., A, MX, TXT).
4. Click Search or Check. The tool will query DNS servers around the world and show you the current results from each location.

What the Results Mean

If you see your new values appearing from most locations, propagation is well underway. Some servers may still show old values - this is normal and they will update once their cache expires based on the record's TTL.

Can I Speed Things Up?

Unfortunately, once a DNS change is made, you can't force external resolvers to flush their cache. However, you can check propagation on your own machine by flushing your local DNS cache. On macOS, run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache. On Windows, run ipconfig /flushdns.

If your records don't appear correct after 48 hours, contact our support team.