Have you ever had to wait a few seconds for the internet page to load, even though it’s perfectly fine and you think it should load instantly? In many cases, the power failure is not the network service; it is the DNS. While you might be connected to a high-speed network, a slow DNS answer may make you experience lag as though the web page you are trying to reach is slow as well. Let’s know how to fix slow DNS lookup in this article.
The Domain Name System (DNS) sorts domain names like example.com to IPs that computers use for communication, similar to the internet’s phonebook. Each time you log on to a site, your system will make a DNS resolution before it loads up the site. If this lookup is slow, it will give the impression that all the sites you hit are slow.
It goes over how to fix slow DNS lookup, common reasons behind DNS Latency as well as some suggestions when it comes to streamlining the browsing on Windows, macOS, Smartphones, and even home networks.
A DNS Lookup? What Is A DNS Lookup?
The lookup, which comes from the DNS, involves finding and identifying the IP address for a website based on its domain name.
For example:
You type www.example.com
The device connects with domain name system (DNS) server
The DNS server returns the IP address of the website.
Your web browser accesses the Web page.The Web page is accessed by the Web browser.
This process generally takes a few milliseconds.
To answer that question, let’s start with a more basic one: What is DNS?
A slow DNS lookup means that your device is unable to obtain an IP address from a DNS server quick enough.
Typically, DNS response times are categorized by the industry as follows:
DNS Response Time Performance
Under 50 ms Excellent
50–100 ms Good
100–150 ms Acceptable
Above 150 ms Slow
If the lookup is slow multiple times, the loading time for pages can be quite noticeable, particularly to the first time user of an unfamiliar site.
So, Why Does DNS Look Up Take So Long?
There are a number of problems that can Lead to slow DNS resolution.
Slow ISP DNS Servers
Overloaded DNS servers are a common problem among many Internet providers.
These servers may give a slower reply if they are busy.
Corrupted DNS Cache
DNS records are kept on your PC.
If this is corrupted/up-to-date, the websites may look up slower.
Incorrect DNS Configuration
Obsolete DNS servers or network configuration settings can cause a delay in doing a lookup.
VPN Or Proxy Services
Some VPNs send the DNS queries to a distant VPN provider, thus boosting latency.
Network Congestion
Too many devices on one network or over-crowded routers can make DNS requests slower.
Malware or Security Software
Certain security applications have the ability to inspect the DNS traffic, resulting in a little delay.
Address The DNS Look Up Problem
Implement these tried and tested troubleshooting tactics.
1. Restart Your Router
Temporary dns issues can usually be resolved by a simple reboot.
Steps:
Turn off the router.
Wait 30 seconds.
Turn it back on.
Conduct a speed test to check internet connection.
Restart resets the network connection, gets rid of temporary problems.
2. Change to a Faster DNS Server
The best of all is using another DNS provider that is quicker than your ISP.
Popular options include:
van-der-Beyel 3.3 Groups
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1
Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
Quad9 9.9.9.9 149.112.112.112
Public DNS providers usually have widespread infrastructure that can help lower the latency for DNS lookups.
3. Clear out internet DNS Cache
Changing the DNS cache clears out the old or wrong DNS records.
Windows
Open the Command Prompt as Admin and type:
ipconfig /flushdns
macOS
Open Terminal, and use the correct flush command for your macOS version.
Linux
It’s dependent on the DNS service that’s used, e.g. systemd-resolved or dnsmasq.
Clearing out the cache causes your device to obtain new DNS records.
Press Enter.Click Enter.
Your device has some outdated DNS servers in use.
Run: on Windows from Command Prompt.
ipconfig /all
Or use PowerShell:
Get-DnsClientServerAddress
Check DNS servers settings to ensure their proper functioning and accessibility.
5. Disable VPN Temporarily
These DNS service providers slow down DNS response time.
Switch it off your VPN and test how much you can see when you aren’t on the VPN.
Your VPNs DNS service may be slow if the speeds become much greater.
8. Stop the DNS Client Service.9. Stop the DNS Client Service.
Windows has a service called a DNS Client which keeps caching DNS records.
The service may be restarted to fix some minor problems without rebooting your computer.
7. Test DNS Response Time
Look up performance can be measured using:
Windows
Measure-Command { Resolve-DnsName google.com }
Command Prompt
nslookup google.com
macOS or Linux
dig google.com
Use these tools to decide if it’s related to DNS slowing down or not.
8. Update Network Drivers
Older network adapter drivers can help cause connectivity issues.
Download the latest drivers from your motherboard or computer manufacturers’ web site.
9. Reconfigure your router.
You could be using slow routers’ DNS servers.
Please login to your router and confirm the DNS settings.
The benefits of updating your router’s DNS settings are for everyone using your network.
The Final Setting Is Background Network Activity
When the download or cloud backup is heavy, it may impact network response.
When dealing with DNS performance issues, suspend unwanted network activities that are using more bandwidth.
Advanced tips for faster DNS.
More experienced users can fine-tune the performance of DNS.
Enable DNS Caching
The majority of operating systems automatically cache the DNS responses.
With proper caching repeated requests to the very commonly used websites can be reduced.
Check the DNS TTL Settings.
When running a site, optimizing the Time to Live (TTL) value of DNS can help the needles and balance of the site from being too fast to update it or too slow to cache it.
Remove Unused Network Adapters
A virtual network adapter and/or old version of VPN software can prevent DNS resolution.
If you are not using any adapters, you can remove them.
Signs Your DNS Is Slow
Common symptoms include:
When Internet sites fail to load, they stop their action.
The Browser will show “Looking up host.
Certainly, some websites are faster than others.
Speeds are fine on bandwidth, but slow browsing speeds.
Apps have longer connection times to servers.
When websites are slow to start loading, yet downloads take quick, it’s possible that it’s DNS.
How To Troubleshoot DNS Problems Before They Ever Happen
Follow these best practices:
- Use a good Public DNS provider.
- Update your router’s firmware.
- Restart caching if there are issues.
- Update OS and networked driver.
- Don’t install unnecessary networking software.
- Monitor VPN performance.
These steps are important for the DNS to stay stable.
Common Errors to Steer Clear Of
A host with a constantly changing DNS server.A host whose DNS server changes constantly.
Alternatively, changing providers often might complicate troubleshooting.
Ignoring Router Configuration
Again, even if your computer extends the fast DNS server, the settings of the router can affect other devices as well.
Having a grasp of a wide variety of issues when troubleshooting every single slow web page is essential.
If there are many users on your server, the browser extensions you are using or no quality Wi-Fi can slow down browsing too.
If you’re dealing with any problems, always check the source before making changes.
FAQs
Why you have slow DNS lookup?
Frequently, the reason for slow DNS responses is an overloaded DNS, an outdated DNS cache, incorrect network settings, VPNs or network congestion.
Does network speeding up occur if DNS is changed?
Trying to change your DNS won’t get you any more bandwidth on your download connection, but it may speed up the time it takes to resolve domain names, so websites start loading faster.
What is the fastest DNS server?
Popular fast DNS providers include Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9). The fastest route will depend on your geographical location and network.
How to Clear DNS Cache?
In Windows, as an Administrator, press “Start” and “Run,” type “cmd” into the Run dialog box, and type ipconfig /flushdns and hit “Enter. The commands will differ between macOS and Linux based on the version of the OS.
Are there ways to determine if the DNS is running slowly or not?
Tools like nslookup, dig, Resolve-DnsName and browser developer tools can be used to record the DNS lookup times for latest latency measurements.
Conclusion
Having a clear understanding on how to fix slow DNS lookup can make a huge difference in your web browsing experience, without changing the internet plan. Most DNS delays can be fixed by following a few simple steps that change your DNS provider, flush your DNS, update your network configuration and check your router’s configuration.
If this does not solve slow lookups, you can test your network using diagnostic tools or get in touch with your internet service provider to exclude internet connection problems. Properly configured, websites should start loading quicker, resulting in a smoother and more responsive web experience.
