Explore the guide library · Windows diagnostic tools
Separate the resolver being queried from the name and addresses returned for your destination.
An nslookup result contains information about both the DNS service and the destination name. Mixing those roles can lead to an unnecessary router reset or an incorrect conclusion about where a website is hosted.
Start with one affected name
Open Command Prompt and enter nslookup HOSTNAME, replacing HOSTNAME with the public destination you are investigating. Avoid adding a full web path or a protocol prefix. DNS looks up names; it does not retrieve the article or sign in to the application.
Identify the responding resolver
The initial server information describes the DNS service handling the query. It might be your router, a provider resolver or a service supplied by an approved VPN. An unfamiliar reverse name for that server is not by itself evidence that the requested website failed.
Inspect the answer separately
Look for the requested name, any aliases and returned addresses. Services can legitimately provide several addresses or different answers by location and time. Do not treat a different address from a friend’s computer as automatic proof of tampering.
Ask a more precise question
Microsoft documents query-type controls. For a focused comparison, nslookup -type=A HOSTNAME asks for IPv4 address records, while nslookup -type=AAAA HOSTNAME asks for IPv6 records. A missing record of one type does not mean every form of access must fail.
Connect the result to the symptom
- A timeout warrants checking reachability to the intended resolver.
- A name-not-found response warrants checking spelling and the expected DNS namespace.
- A returned address moves the investigation toward connection, TLS or application behavior.
Keep workplace hostnames and private resolver details out of public screenshots. Compare results with the service owner’s published guidance. Name resolution is one stage of access, so finish by testing the actual task that the user could not complete.
Sources and editorial notes
Sources checked 8–9 October 2026. Independent guidance and original illustrations; product comparisons use published specifications rather than hands-on benchmarks. Check the exact model, revision and regional documentation before changing settings.