DNS propagation checker
Changed your DNS? Enter the domain to see whether ten big public DNS services, and your own name server, already give the new answer, and how long saved copies of the old one can last.
- No cost
- No sign-up
- No email
- No Google sign-in
- No subscription
- No limits for normal use
What the propagation checker does
Your name server
We ask the domain's own name server directly. That's the source of truth: once your change shows there, it's saved correctly.
Ten public DNS services
Cloudflare, Google, OpenDNS, NextDNS, AdGuard, Control D, DNS.SB, LibreDNS, IIJ and AliDNS, run by companies in the United States, Europe, Canada, Japan and China.
Same or different
Each answer is compared with your name server, with the time left on saved copies, so you know whether to wait or fix something.
What is DNS propagation?
When you change a DNS record, such as pointing your domain at a new website host or moving your email to Microsoft 365, the change is saved straight away on your domain's name server. But DNS services and broadband providers keep a copy of the old answer for a while to save time, and only ask again when that copy expires. The expiry time is the record's TTL (time to live). "Propagation" is simply the old copies running out, which is why one person sees your new website while another still sees the old one.
How long does DNS propagation take?
Usually minutes to a few hours, and up to 48 hours at most. It depends on the TTL the old record had, not the new one. Changing your name servers (moving DNS to a new company) takes longest, because the registry for .uk or .com saves those for up to two days. If you're planning a move, lower the TTL to 300 seconds a day beforehand, so the switch spreads in minutes.
If your change isn't showing
- Your own name server shows the old answer: the change isn't saved where it counts. You may have edited DNS at the wrong company: check where your name servers point with our DNS lookup.
- Some services differ: they still have the old copy. Wait for the TTL shown, then check again.
- "No record": check the record type and the host name. "@" means the bare domain, "www" the www version.
- Website still old on your own computer: your browser and router save DNS too. Try a private window, or your phone on mobile data.
What it can't check
Big public DNS services answer from the server nearest our checker, so this shows whether the main services have your change, not the cache of every broadband provider. Some name servers don't answer outside requests; then we compare the public services with each other instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DNS propagation checker free?
Yes. No sign-up, no email and no subscription, with only a fair-use limit to stop bots.
Can I speed up DNS propagation?
Not once the change is made: old copies expire on their own. Next time, lower the TTL a day before the change. You can clear your own computer's copy by restarting your browser or router.
Why does my site work on my phone but not my laptop?
Each device and network saves DNS separately. Your laptop or home router still has the old answer; it will update when that copy expires.
Does DNS propagation affect SEO?
Only briefly. While the change spreads, Google may reach the old server. Keep the old site running until propagation finishes so no visitor or crawler sees an error.
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