What Is DNS Propagation?
DNS propagation is the process by which a change you make to a domain's DNS records reaches the DNS servers around the world and is updated there. When you make a new A record, change your NS records, or move hosting, the change does not appear on every server at the same moment, because servers keep records in their cache for the duration of the TTL (Time To Live).
The DNSBil DNS Propagation tool asks Google, Cloudflare, Quad9, OpenDNS, Yandex and other public DNS servers in different parts of the world the same question at the same time, and shows you the value each one returns. That way you can see at a glance where your change has spread and where it has not yet.
How Long Does a DNS Change Take to Propagate?
DNS propagation usually completes within a few minutes to 48 hours. The main factor is the TTL value of the record. The lower the TTL (for example 300 seconds), the faster the change spreads. If you are planning a migration, lowering the TTL a few days before the change speeds up propagation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not all servers show the same result. Is there a problem?
No. It means your change has not yet reached all servers. Once the TTL expires, the other servers will update as well. Wait a short while and check again.
Can I speed up propagation?
You cannot speed it up directly, but if you lower the TTL value before making the change, servers keep the record in their cache for a shorter time and propagation becomes faster.