Have you ever tried to access a website, only to see the dreaded “DNS Server Not Responding” error? 😡 This can be frustrating, especially when you need to browse the internet urgently. But don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll explain:
✅ What “DNS Server Not Responding” means
✅ Why the error occurs
✅ Step-by-step solutions to fix it quickly
Let’s get started! 🚀
🔹 What Does “DNS Server Not Responding” Mean?
Before jumping to solutions, let’s understand what’s happening.
🔍 DNS (Domain Name System) is like a phonebook for the internet. It converts human-readable website names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 142.250.185.206) that computers understand.
💡 When you see the “DNS Server Not Responding” error, it means your computer can’t connect to the DNS server, preventing access to websites.
🔹 Why Does This Error Happen? (Common Causes)
🔴 Internet Connection Issues – Your network might be down
🔴 Incorrect DNS Settings – Your PC may have the wrong DNS configuration
🔴 Router or Modem Problems – Your device might need a restart
🔴 Firewall or Antivirus Blocking DNS – Security software might be interfering
🔴 ISP Issues – Your internet provider’s DNS server might be down
🔴 Outdated Network Drivers – Your PC’s network adapter may be causing issues
Now, let’s move on to fixing this error! ✅
🔹 How to Fix “DNS Server Not Responding” – Step-by-Step
🔹 1. Restart Your Router & Modem 🔄
🔧 Sometimes, the issue is as simple as a temporary glitch in your router. Try these steps:
1️⃣ Turn off your router and modem
2️⃣ Unplug them from the power source
3️⃣ Wait 5 minutes
4️⃣ Plug them back in and turn them on
💡 Check if the issue is resolved. If not, move to the next step.
🔹 2. Check Your Internet Connection 🌐
Ensure your internet connection is working by:
✅ Trying a different device (phone, tablet) on the same network
✅ Opening another website or running a speed test
✅ Switching to mobile data to see if the issue is with your ISP
If other devices work fine, the problem is likely with your PC.
🔹 3. Change Your DNS Server to Google DNS (Recommended) 🛜
Sometimes, your ISP’s DNS server is slow or down. Switching to a public DNS server (like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS) can solve the issue.
How to Change DNS on Windows:
1️⃣ Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center
2️⃣ Click on Change adapter settings
3️⃣ Right-click your active network and select Properties
4️⃣ Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties
5️⃣ Choose Use the following DNS server addresses
6️⃣ Enter:
- Preferred DNS Server:
8.8.8.8 - Alternate DNS Server:
8.8.4.4
7️⃣ Click OK and restart your PC
💡 For Cloudflare DNS, use 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 instead.
🔹 4. Flush DNS Cache & Reset Network Settings 🧹
Your computer stores old DNS records in a cache. If the cache is corrupt, clearing it can fix the error.
How to Flush DNS Cache (Windows):
1️⃣ Open Command Prompt (Search “cmd” → Run as Administrator)
2️⃣ Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
bashCopyEditipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
💡 Restart your computer and try browsing again!
🔹 5. Disable Firewall & Antivirus Temporarily 🔥
Sometimes, your firewall or antivirus blocks your DNS requests.
1️⃣ Temporarily disable your firewall and antivirus
2️⃣ Try visiting a website
3️⃣ If the issue is fixed, add an exception for your browser in the security software
💡 Don’t forget to re-enable your firewall and antivirus after testing!
🔹 6. Restart Your Computer in Safe Mode 🖥️
Booting into Safe Mode with networking helps diagnose if a third-party application is causing the problem.
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode:
1️⃣ Press Win + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter
2️⃣ Go to the Boot tab and check Safe boot (with Networking)
3️⃣ Click Apply → OK and restart your PC
💡 If the error disappears, a third-party app is causing the issue!
🔹 7. Update Your Network Drivers 🔄
Outdated drivers can cause DNS issues. Updating them might solve the problem.
How to Update Network Drivers (Windows):
1️⃣ Right-click Start Menu → Device Manager
2️⃣ Expand Network Adapters
3️⃣ Right-click your active network device → Update driver
4️⃣ Select Search automatically for drivers
💡 Restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved.
🔹 8. Contact Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) 📞
If none of the above solutions work, the problem may be with your ISP’s DNS servers.
✅ Call your ISP’s customer support and ask if they have DNS server issues
✅ Request them to guide you through troubleshooting
🔹 Final Thoughts: Fixing DNS Errors Made Easy!
✅ Restart your router & modem
✅ Check your internet connection
✅ Switch to Google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4)
✅ Flush DNS cache & reset network settings
✅ Disable firewall & antivirus temporarily
✅ Update your network drivers
By following these steps, you should be able to fix the “DNS Server Not Responding” error in minutes! ⏳
💡 Still facing issues? Let me know in the comments! 🚀
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