How to Inspect an SNS and Its Dapp Canisters

This guide explains how to discover and inspect all canisters that belong to a Service Nervous System (SNS), including governed dapps.

You can interact with canisters in two ways:

1. Start from the SNS Root Canister

Each SNS has a root canister that controls the SNS system.

Verify the SNS root

All deployed SNS root canisters are listed in the SNS-W canister:

SNS-W canister ID:
qaa6y-5yaaa-aaaaa-aaafa-cai

Call:

list_deployed_snses

DFX example:

dfx canister --network ic call qaa6y-5yaaa-aaaaa-aaafa-cai list_deployed_snses '(record {})'

In the Dashboard:

  1. Search for the SNS-W canister ID

  2. Click list_deployed_snses

  3. Click Call

2. List All SNS and Dapp Canisters

From the SNS root canister, call:

list_sns_canisters

This returns:

  • Governance canister

  • Ledger canister

  • Swap canister

  • Any governed dapp canisters

DFX example:

dfx canister --network ic call <SNS_ROOT_CANISTER_ID> list_sns_canisters '(record {})'

3. Get Full Status and Controllers

To inspect canister status, cycles balance, and controllers, call:

get_sns_canisters_summary

DFX example:

dfx canister --network ic call <SNS_ROOT_CANISTER_ID> get_sns_canisters_summary '(record {})'

You can verify the controller hierarchy:

  • SNS root controls all SNS canisters except the swap canister

  • Swap is controlled by the NNS root

  • NNS root canister ID:
    r7inp-6aaaa-aaaaa-aaabq-cai

  • SNS root itself is controlled by SNS governance

4. Start from a Dapp Instead

If you only know the dapp canister ID:

  1. Query its controller

  2. If it is controlled by an SNS root, use that root canister ID

  3. Follow the steps above

If you only have a URL ending in .ic0.app, remove .ic0.app to obtain the canister ID.

5. Inspect SNS Governance Neurons

To list neurons in SNS governance:

Method: list_neurons

This method is paginated using:

  • limit

  • start_page_at

DFX example:

dfx canister --network ic call <SNS_GOVERNANCE_CANISTER_ID> list_neurons '(record { of_principal=null; limit=100: nat32; start_page_at=null })'

6. Check Token Balances

Tokens in the decentralization swap

Call:

icrc1_balance_of

on the SNS ledger, using the swap canister as owner.

Tokens in the SNS treasury

Call:

icrc1_balance_of

on the SNS ledger, using:

  • Owner = SNS governance canister

  • Subaccount = treasury subaccount