Among NirSoft’s collection of lightweight and practical utilities, one update stands out: DNSLookupView v1.17, a tool for Windows 10, 11, and Server 2025 that lets you trace in real time every DNS query a system makes.
What makes it remarkable is not only the precision with which it captures data, but also how it turns something as opaque as DNS resolution into clear, actionable information for admins, technicians, and curious users alike.
What DNSLookupView Does
Every time an application —whether it’s a browser or an email client— needs to resolve a domain into an IP address, a DNS query is triggered. DNSLookupView displays these queries in a table that includes:
- Domain name (host)
- Query type (A, AAAA, etc.)
- Query status (success or error)
- Query result (IP address or response)
- Precise timestamp
- Requesting process (including PID and application name)
The latest release adds a “Clear All” button to wipe results quickly and fixes small issues in process association.
Why It’s Useful
This tool is especially handy for:
- Diagnosing slowdowns: some timeouts are caused by failed DNS lookups.
- Security checks: spotting which processes are making queries can reveal malware activity.
- Server auditing: on Windows Server 2025, it helps validate if critical services are resolving correctly.
- App testing: developers can verify which domains their apps contact.
In short, it’s a magnifying glass on one of the most invisible processes of the Internet.
How It Works
DNSLookupView leverages Event Tracing for Windows (ETW), specifically the Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client provider and event 3008, which logs every query handled by the Windows DNS Client service.
The program requires no installation: just download the executable, open it, and press F5 to start capturing. Hit F6 to stop. Results can be exported in multiple formats: CSV, JSON, XML, HTML, or plain text.
Project Evolution
Since its first release in 2020, DNSLookupView has gained significant improvements:
- Advanced filters: show only or exclude specific domains.
- Dark mode and full screen support.
- Automatic export of logs.
- Community translations (available in 12+ languages).
Version 1.15 introduced detailed error descriptions, 1.12 added dark mode and auto-start capture, and 1.10 brought domain filtering.
Requirements and Limitations
- Works only on Windows 8.1, 10, 11, and Server 2025.
- Not available for older systems due to different DNS stacks.
- Requires sufficient user privileges to access ETW events.
Feature Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported systems | Windows 8.1, 10, 11, Server 2025 (32 & 64-bit) |
| Data shown | Domain, query type, status, result, timestamp, requesting process |
| Capture method | Real-time ETW tracing (Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client, event 3008) |
| Export formats | CSV, JSON, XML, HTML, TXT |
| What’s new in v1.17 | “Clear All” button, improved process mapping |
| License | Freeware (redistributable, non-commercial use only) |
Conclusion
In a world dominated by heavy or paywalled troubleshooting tools, DNSLookupView stands out for being lightweight, clear, and free. It’s another example of NirSoft’s philosophy: simple, portable, precise utilities that solve everyday problems for admins and power users.
With this update, it continues to establish itself as a key tool for network troubleshooting and DNS auditing in modern Windows environments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can DNSLookupView be used on Windows Server?
Yes, it fully supports Windows Server 2025, making it suitable for enterprise environments.
Does it consume many resources when running?
No, the footprint is minimal since it only listens to ETW DNS Client events.
Can logs be saved automatically?
Yes, advanced options allow automatic export in CSV, JSON, or other formats.
Is it free for professional use?
Yes, NirSoft distributes DNSLookupView as freeware. It can be used and redistributed as long as it isn’t bundled into commercial software.
