7 Powerful Uses of the nslookup Command in Windows (Explained)

The nslookup command in Windows is a powerful tool for troubleshooting DNS and network problems. It allows you to perform DNS lookups, trace hostnames to IP addresses, and verify DNS configurations. Whether you’re a network admin or a curious user, mastering how to use nslookup can save time and solve critical connectivity issues.

What is the nslookup Command in Windows?

nslookup, short for Name Server Lookup, is a command-line utility included in Windows that lets you query DNS to retrieve domain, IP, and DNS record information. This tool is invaluable when investigating issues with your network’s Domain Name System.

It can be run via Command Prompt (cmd) to inspect DNS servers and identify problems with name resolution.

How to Run nslookup

To use nslookup in Windows, follow these steps:

Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
In the Command Prompt, type nslookup and press Enter.
You can now begin querying DNS information interactively or by entering specific commands.

7 Practical Ways to Use the nslookup Command in Windows

Here are seven real-world use cases for Windows nslookup, all of which highlight its flexibility in DNS diagnostics.

1. Find the IP Address of a Domain

Use nslookup to get the IP address of any domain:

nslookup google.com

This tells you which IP address the domain google.com resolves to via your DNS server.

2. Query a Specific DNS Server

Want to test if a DNS issue is localized to one server? Query a different one:

nslookup facebook.com 8.8.8.8

This checks how Google’s DNS resolves facebook.com.

3. Check DNS Records (MX, A, CNAME, etc.)

To get different DNS record types, first enter interactive mode:

nslookup set type=MX exampledomain.com

This will return the mail server responsible for handling emails for that domain.

4. Discover Canonical Names (CNAME) and Aliases

Want to trace an alias? Use the nslookup alias feature by querying CNAME records:

set type=CNAME
example.example.com

This is handy for understanding URL redirections and subdomain configurations.

5. Perform Reverse DNS Lookups

A reverse lookup identifies the domain name associated with an IP address:

nslookup 8.8.8.8

Shows the domain (if any) linked to Google’s DNS IP address.

6. Troubleshoot DNS Issues in Networks

If a website isn’t loading, use nslookup to check if it’s a DNS problem. For example:

nslookup yourdomain.com

If DNS fails to resolve, it’s likely a configuration issue or outage with your DNS server.

7. Verify Local DNS Cache

You can compare nslookup results with the local DNS resolver OR flush your DNS if outdated values cause loading issues:

ipconfig /flushdns

Then re-run nslookup to confirm if DNS records update.

Common nslookup Commands Table

nslookup Command	Purpose
`nslookup example.com`	Get IP address of domain
`nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1`	Query using specific DNS server
`set type=MX`	Lookup mail exchange records
`set type=A`	Lookup IPv4 address records
`set type=CNAME`	Find canonical name (alias)

Why Use nslookup Over Online DNS Tools?

Using cmd nslookup provides real-time DNS insights without relying on internet-based tools. It reflects how your system or local network sees DNS, making it more accurate for internal diagnostics and enterprise troubleshooting.

Tips for Advanced Windows DNS Lookup

Run nslookup -debug for verbose output.
Use interactive mode by simply typing nslookup, then enter multiple commands.
Always cross-reference with external DNS tools to verify propagation or external visibility.