DNS Server Not Responding

How to Fix “DNS Server Not Responding”

DNS Error 📄 All browsers, Windows Troubleshooter
⚡ Quick answer

"DNS Server Not Responding" means your device cannot contact the DNS server configured in your network settings. Without DNS, domain names cannot be translated to IP addresses and no websites load.

First, check if your internet is working and what your current IP address is:

🔍 Check My IP Address →

What Causes the “DNS Server Not Responding” Error?

This message appears in Windows Network Diagnostics and browser error pages. Your device is trying to reach its configured DNS server (usually your ISP's DNS or your router) but getting no response. Causes include: your router is offline, your ISP's DNS servers are down, your configured DNS address is wrong, your router's DNS relay is not working, a firewall is blocking UDP port 53 (DNS), or your network adapter has a problem.

How to Fix It — 5 Methods

1 Restart your router ▶
  1. Unplug the router from power
  2. Wait 30 seconds
  3. Plug back in and wait for all lights
  4. Try again — this fixes the majority of "DNS Server Not Responding" errors
2 Change your DNS server to Google or Cloudflare ▶

Bypass your ISP's DNS with a reliable public server.

  1. Windows: Control Panel → Network → adapter settings → right-click → Properties → IPv4 → Use the following DNS: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
  2. Mac: System Settings → Network → DNS → add 8.8.8.8
  3. Restart your browser
3 Flush DNS cache ▶

Windows: Open Command Prompt as Administrator → ipconfig /flushdns
Mac: Terminal → sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

4 Disable IPv6 temporarily ▶

IPv6 DNS issues sometimes cause this error even when IPv4 DNS works.

  1. Windows: Network adapter → Properties → uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"
  2. Apply and restart your browser
  3. If this fixes it, your IPv6 DNS configuration is the issue
5 Try a different browser or disable antivirus ▶
  1. Test in a different browser — if only Chrome shows the error, the problem is browser-specific
  2. Temporarily disable antivirus web protection and test
  3. If another browser works, reset Chrome settings at chrome://settings/reset
🔒
Some errors are caused by ISP blocks or network restrictions
A VPN bypasses them instantly by routing through a different server.
PureVPN → IPVanish →

✅ Fixed it? Visit tools.examineip.com to confirm your IP address and connection are working correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my router cause "DNS Server Not Responding"?
Yes. Your router often acts as a DNS relay — forwarding DNS queries to your ISP. If the router freezes or its DNS relay stops working, all devices on the network get "DNS Server Not Responding." A router restart almost always fixes this.
How do I test if my DNS server is working?
Open Command Prompt and run: nslookup google.com 8.8.8.8. If this returns an IP address, Google's DNS is working. If it fails, you have a broader connectivity issue.
Is "DNS Server Not Responding" the same as "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN"?
Related but different. "DNS Server Not Responding" means the DNS server cannot be reached at all. "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN" means the DNS server was reached but said the domain does not exist.

Learn More About IP Addresses & Privacy

Other Internet Errors Explained

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN
This error means your browser could not find...
Server IP address could not be found
This error means Chrome tried to look up...
ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED
ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED means Chrome could not resolve the domain...

← Back to the complete guide: Internet Errors Hub

Last updated: March 30, 2026 • Report an error

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