DNS HELP CENTER
DNS Troubleshooting: Free Tools, Fixes & Guides
Troubleshoot domain and DNS issues with practical step-by-step guides and free online tools. Learn how to check DNS records, resolve common DNS errors, and identify problems affecting your website or business email.
Check Your Domain's DNS Records
Use Hostingcone's free DNS Lookup Tool to check A, AAAA, MX, TXT, CNAME, and NS records. Review public DNS results and discover selected common hostnames to help troubleshoot configuration issues.
Public records only. Selected-hostname discovery is not a complete DNS zone inventory, and resolver comparisons do not check every resolver worldwide.
Step-by-Step DNS Troubleshooting Guides
How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN (Step-by-Step Guide)
Understand what causes NXDOMAIN errors and learn how to troubleshoot browser, network, and domain DNS problems.
Read GuideHow to Check MX Records and Fix Email Delivery Problems
Find your domain's MX records, understand mail server priorities, and troubleshoot incoming email delivery issues.
Read GuideDNS Propagation: Why Your DNS Changes Aren't Showing
Learn why DNS changes may take time to appear and how DNS caching, TTL, and nameserver changes affect results.
Read GuideHow to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Windows and Mac
Follow practical troubleshooting steps for DNS resolver errors on Windows and macOS.
Read GuideA Record vs. CNAME Record: Differences, Examples & When to Use Each
Understand the difference between DNS A and CNAME records, when to use each, and how to avoid common configuration mistakes.
Read GuideWhat DNS Problem Are You Experiencing?
Website Not Loading
Check resolver responses, compare devices and networks, and narrow down why your website cannot be reached.
Email Not Receiving Messages
Review MX records and mail server priorities before checking mailbox and provider-side delivery errors.
DNS Changes Not Updating
Check the authoritative DNS provider, TTLs, negative caching, and differences between resolvers.
Domain Not Resolving
Check spelling, registration status, nameservers, and the exact hostname when you see NXDOMAIN.
DNS Record Configuration
Review the public records for your hostname and compare them with your service provider’s requirements.
DNS Records Explained
A — IPv4 Address
Maps a hostname to an IPv4 address so clients can locate an IPv4 destination.
AAAA — IPv6 Address
Maps a hostname to an IPv6 address. Check it alongside A when a website supports both.
CNAME — Hostname Alias
Makes one hostname an alias of another. Its value is a hostname rather than an IP address.
MX — Incoming Email
Identifies the servers that receive email for a domain and their relative priorities.
TXT — Verification & Authentication
Stores text used for service verification and email authentication policies, including SPF and DMARC.
NS — Authoritative Nameservers
Identifies authoritative servers for a zone. Compare zone records with the registrar’s active delegation when troubleshooting.
Need Help Fixing Your DNS Configuration?
Some DNS problems require changes to domain settings, nameservers, hosting configuration, or email routing. Hostingcone's DNS Fixes service can help with supported DNS configuration and troubleshooting tasks.
DNS Fixes — $79 one-time
Includes up to 1 hour of standard DNS troubleshooting and configuration for one domain. Additional work requires approval.
Standard scope applies. Domain fees, mailbox setup, email migrations, server administration, and application-level website repairs are not included.
More Tools and Services for Your Website
Professional Email
Connect your domain to a professional email solution for your business.
Explore Professional EmailDNS Troubleshooting FAQs
How do I check if my DNS records are correct?
Query the exact hostname and relevant record types, then compare the answers with your hosting or email provider’s requirements. A lookup confirms selected public answers, not that every application or mailbox is configured correctly.
Why is my website not loading after changing DNS?
Old cached answers, incorrect records, inactive DNS zones, or nameserver problems can affect resolution. The new server may also need hostname or HTTPS configuration. Compare authoritative and recursive answers before assuming it is only caching.
What does DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN mean?
The browser could not resolve the queried name. NXDOMAIN is a DNS response indicating that the name does not exist in the resolver’s available data; spelling, missing hostnames, delegation, and cached failures are worth checking.
How long do DNS changes take?
Timing varies with previous TTLs, negative caching, delegation caches, and provider publication. Some changes appear quickly while earlier answers remain cached elsewhere. There is no universal propagation deadline.
Can incorrect MX records stop business email?
Yes. Wrong or stale MX records can route incoming mail to an unintended destination. Mailbox setup, filtering, sender authentication, and provider-side errors can also cause delivery problems even with correct MX records.
What's the difference between A and CNAME records?
An A record stores an IPv4 address. A CNAME stores another hostname as an alias. Use the type your provider requires and check standard CNAME restrictions at the same owner name and zone apex.
Can I fix DNS issues myself?
Often, if you control the active DNS zone and understand the required values. Record the existing configuration, make targeted changes, and verify results. Ask for help if shared email, managed networks, delegation, or DNSSEC makes the change uncertain.
When should I contact my hosting provider?
Contact the provider when you need the correct service addresses or help with hosting-side configuration. Registration and delegation issues may need the registrar or DNS provider. Share the hostname, recent changes, and lookup results without sensitive credentials.
Find and Fix DNS Problems Faster
Start with Hostingcone's free DNS Lookup Tool, explore our practical troubleshooting guides, or get professional assistance when you need it.