Y'all can't visit a website without get-go accessing a Domain Name Server (DNS). In the process, you lot might be met with a message such as "DNS server not responding." This means that the decentralized naming systems responsible for turning hostnames into IP addresses failed to reply.

In that location are a multifariousness of reasons these types of DNS errors can occur. Fortunately, nearly of them have simple resolutions. In fact, fixing the issue could be every bit piece of cake as restarting your computer or changing spider web browsers.

In this post, nosotros'll explicate what the "DNS Server Not Responding" message ways and some common causes for it. Then we'll walk you through several solutions for how to fix it, both on Windows and macOS devices.

Permit's get started!

What Does "DNS Server Not Responding" Mean?

A DNS is a naming system that takes alphanumeric domain names (or "hostnames") and turns them into numeric IP addresses. Essentially, DNS servers act as translators.

When you input a web accost into your browser, it is forwarded to a DNS server from your router, where information technology's then dissolved and returned as an IP address. Still, if the DNS server is unable to properly complete this name resolution process, the end issue is unremarkably a message indicating that the DNS server is not responding.

"DNS Server Not Responding" means that your browser was unable to establish a connectedness to the internet. Typically, DNS errors are acquired past problems on the user end, whether that's with a network or internet connection, misconfigured DNS settings, or an outdated browser. They can also be attributed to a temporary server outage that renders the DNS unavailable.

Therefore, it's possible that you might be able to resolve the problem but by switching browsers. In other cases, y'all may need to disable connections, alter DNS servers, or affluent the DNS enshroud.

How to Fix the "DNS Server Not Responding" Error in Windows and macOS (10 Methods)

Now that yous understand what this message means and are familiar with some potential causes, information technology'southward time to go to work resolving information technology. Let'south take a look at x potential ways y'all can set up "DNS Server Not Responding" on Windows and Mac devices.

1. Switch to a Unlike Browser

The first step is to troubleshoot the issue by testing your DNS connections. Fixing this problem might exist as simple as switching or updating your web browser.

To do this, try accessing the spider web from a dissimilar browser. For case, if your default browser is Safari or Google Chrome, visit the desired website from Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge instead.

If switching browsers works, you'll likely demand to update your default browser to the latest version or uninstall and reinstall it. Notwithstanding, if you however run across the "DNS Server Not Responding" bulletin, you tin can rule out your browser as the source of the effect.

two. Start Your Calculator in Rubber Manner

If your operating organisation is not operation properly, it can result in the "DNS Server Not Responding" mistake bulletin. Therefore, you may want to try booting your Windows device in Prophylactic Mode to run into whether this resolves this event.

Doing so will limit the files and resources used for running Windows, and can exist an effective way to troubleshoot problems.

To commencement your Windows 10 computer in Safe Mode, kickoff select the Windows button, and so hover over the Ability icon:

windows power
The ability button in Windows

Next, while you're holding downwards the Shift central, select Restart:

windows restart
The Windows restart option

In the window that appears, click on Troubleshoot > Avant-garde. Under Advanced options, select Start-Up Settings, followed by Restart. More than options will appear. You tin can press 4 or v to Enable Safe Mode or Enable Safe Mode with Networking respectively. Your computer will then restart in Safe Way.

If yous're using Windows 7 or earlier, yous can restart it in Condom Manner by going to Power > Restart. Then, while it's booting up, hold downwards the F8 central.

The process is like on macOS devices.

While the machine is restarting and booting upward, hold down the Shift fundamental. Once the Apple logo appears, you can release it. Your device will then start in Safe Mode.

In one case your calculator is in Prophylactic Mode, effort to access the website once again. If there doesn't seem to exist a network connection issue, the source of the trouble may be a 3rd-party software or installation, such as an antivirus application.

iii. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software and Firewall

If switching browsers doesn't resolve the "DNS Server Not Responding" issue, the next stride is to temporarily conciliate your firewall. Antivirus software and firewalls are critical for safeguarding your devices, but they can sometimes cause bug that interfere with network connections.

For Windows users, you tin do this past going to your control panel and navigating to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings.

Mac users tin can notice this pick by navigating to Organization Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall.

Once your firewall is deactivated, try visiting the website again from your browser. If this resolved the issue, yous might consider switching antivirus programs or reconfiguring the settings of your existing application. Either style, call back to reactivate your firewall one time you're washed.

4. Disable Secondary Connections

If disabling your antivirus software or firewall didn't do the trick, another potential solution is to disable any secondary connections available on your device. You want to make sure that only the connection you're currently using is active.

To practise this in Windows, type "Network connections" into the search box of your desktop taskbar. Next, click on View network connections:

view network connections 1
Windows network connections

This volition bring y'all to the Network Connections folio. Any connections y'all're not currently using volition have a red (10) next to them. Right-click on one, and then select Disable:

disable secondary connection
Disabling secondary connections in Windows

Repeat this for whatever other connections that are not currently agile. When you're done, restart your browser and endeavor visiting the website again.

If you're using a macOS, you can do this by clicking on the Apple icon, then navigating to System Preferences > Network. Your connections will be listed on the left side of the window.

macOS network settings
macOS network settings

To disconnect or disable one, select it, and then click on the () sign at the lesser of the window.

5. Disable the Windows Peer-to-Peer Characteristic

If you're using Windows, and disabling your firewall or secondary connections hasn't resolved the "DNS Server Not Responding" error message, at that place'due south one more than choice yous can attempt: the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) feature. Note: This is something you'll but observe in Windows 10.

This characteristic helps preserve your device's download bandwidth. Essentially, it lets you download a Windows update one time, then use your device to spread or share the updated version across other computers included in your local network.

Unfortunately, information technology can too sometimes interrupt DNS processes. Therefore, it'southward worth disabling to see if this resolves the fault message yous're currently facing.

To do then, click on the Windows icon, followed past the Settings (gear icon) > Update & Security:

windows settings update
The Update & Security pick in Windows settings

In the window that opens along the left-manus side, select Delivery Optimization:

windows delivery optimization
The Windows Commitment Optimization bill of fare

Next to the 'Let downloads from other PCs' option, toggle the switch to disable it:

windows p2p feature
The toggle switch for the Windows P2P feature

When yous're done, restart your computer and try accessing the website over again. If this doesn't piece of work, don't worry. We all the same take more than solutions to try.

6. Restart Your Router

The next troubleshooting step is to restart your router. Doing so will flush your router's cache and could exist the solution for resolving the "DNS Server Not Responding" message.

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Near modems come with a ability button that enables you to chop-chop power them off. Subsequently a minute or and then, plough your modem back on and expect for it to re-establish a connection. Once it does, cheque to see whether you're able to access the internet from your browser.

Note that sometimes simply restarting the router isn't enough. You may want to reboot it by unplugging it entirely, and and so waiting at to the lowest degree thirty seconds before plugging it dorsum in and powering information technology on once again.

seven. Install Updated Network Adapter Drivers on Your Computer

Another reason you lot may be seeing the "DNS Server Not Responding" bulletin is if your current Windows network adapter driver is one-time or outdated. If this is the case, getting a new adapter driver or updating yours may be the solution you lot need.

At that place are a couple of means to update your network adapter driver. One is to do it manually, which you should but do if you are at least somewhat familiar working with drivers. Alternatively, you can practise it using an automatic tool such as Commuter Easy or Snappy Commuter Installer (SDI):

snappy driver installer
The Snappy Driver Installer website

Either of these solutions will automatically recognize your organisation and locate the appropriate drivers for you to use with it. We recommend this method considering it eliminates the hazard of man error, such as downloading or installing the wrong commuter on your device.

Once yous download SDI and end installing the updated drivers, restart your reckoner. Then endeavor reconnecting to the net, to determine whether this resolved the issue.

8. Flush Your DNS Cache and Reset Your IP

If you've eliminated your browser, antivirus software, and router as the source of the issue, information technology'south time to plough your attention to your DNS settings. Equally with the router cache, information technology may be that your DNS needs to be cleared before it can properly make a connection to the internet, or your IP might need a reset.

If you're using Windows, start past typing "cmd" into the search field along the taskbar, and then selecting the Control Prompt app:

command prompt app
The Command Prompt application in the Windows card

In the window that opens, enter "ipconfig/flushdns" (no quotations), and hit Enter:

windows command prompt
The Command Prompt in Windows after flushing the DNS cache

When the procedure is finished, information technology will display a bulletin letting y'all know that the DNS cache was successfully flushed. Repeat this process for the following commands:

          ipconfig /registerdns  ipconfig /release  ipconfig /renew        

If yous're using a Mac device, y'all can flush your DNS enshroud past opening the Terminal application (press the Command + Space keys, and then blazon "Last" into Spotlight). In the Concluding application window, enter the following:

          dscacheutil -flushcache        

Press the Enter key. There won't be a success message as there is on Windows devices. However, only running this command will flush the DNS enshroud. For further guidance, you lot can refer to our full guide on how to flush your DNS cache in Windows, Mac, and Chrome.

9. Disable IPv6

IPv6 is the latest Internet Protocol version that helps road traffic between networks and the internet. Unfortunately, it may likewise be backside the "DNS Server Not Responding" message you lot're currently seeing.

Therefore, some other potential solution to endeavor is disabling IPv6 on your computer. To do this in Windows, open your Network Connections control panel, and so correct-click on your current connection. In the driblet-down carte du jour, select Backdrop:

network connection properties 1
The network connection Backdrop menu option in Windows

Under the Networking tab of the console that opens, scroll downwards until you run across Net Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6):

ipv6 windows
Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) in Windows Network Connections

If it's selected, unselect the box, then click on OK. Refresh your browser and try connecting to the internet once again.

To disable IPv6 in macOS, you first need to determine what network interface yous're using. To practice this, open the Terminal awarding, then result the following control:

          networksetup -listallnetworkservices        

If y'all desire to disable IPv6 for a wireless connection, you would use the following command:

          networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi        

For an Ethernet connectedness, you lot would apply:

          networksetup -setv6off Ethernet        

Then striking the Enter key, and refresh your browser to see if the issue is resolved.

10. Change the Default DNS Server on Your Windows Calculator

Some other solution you tin can endeavour in order to set "DNS Server Not Responding" in Windows is to change your default DNS server. To do this in Windows 7, 8, or x, the outset pace is to access your network connexion backdrop.

Start by clicking on the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of the task bar. In the search field, blazon "Network connections", and then select View network connections in the menu that appears:

view network connections
The View Network Connections control panel in the Windows carte du jour

Next, choose the cyberspace adapter you lot're currently using (WLAN for wireless network connections or LAN for ethernet cable connections). Right-click on the cyberspace adapter, followed by Properties:

network connection properties
The Network Connection Properties menu detail in Windows

In the window that opens, cull Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click on the Properties button:

ipv4 properties
The Wi-Fi Properties panel in Windows

To manually assign a unlike DNS server address, select Utilise the following DNS server addresses and input the address of an culling server:

internet protocol DNS
The DNS Server Addresses console in Windows

For instance, y'all can enter Google'southward DNS server, which is "8.viii.8.8", under Preferred DNS server. Then you tin can add "viii.8.4.4" under Alternative  DNS server, and hit OK.

If you're running macOS, you tin locate these settings by clicking on the Apple icon followed by Organization Preferences:

macos system preferences
The System Preferences menu item in Mac

Next, select the Network icon. Cull your current network, so click on the Advanced button:

mac network system
The Advanced button in the Mac Network Arrangement window

Under the DNS tab, click the (+) push next to "IPv4 or IPv6 addresses", and hitting Enter:

mac dns server
Entering new DNS information in macOS

Afterward y'all enter the new DNS data, clickon OK followed by Apply. Restart your web browser, and then visit the website you were trying to access. You should find that the "DNS Server Not Responding" issue is at present resolved.

Summary

Trying to access a website only to be met with a "DNS Server Not Responding" message can be both frustrating and concerning. While at that place are a multifariousness of reasons this error may occur, the good news is that almost have simple resolutions.

As nosotros discussed in this article, there are ten potential solutions you lot can apply to fix a "DNS Server Not Responding" message, in both Windows and macOS:

  1. Switch to a different browser, and if necessary, update your default browser to the latest version.
  2. Start your figurer in Condom Way.
  3. Temporarily disable your antivirus software and firewalls.
  4. Disable secondary connections.
  5. Disable the Windows Peer-to-Peer feature.
  6. Restart your router.
  7. Install updated network adapter drivers on your calculator.
  8. Affluent your DNS cache and reset your IP.
  9. Disable IPv6.
  10. Alter the default DNS server on your computer.

Suggested reading:
How to Prepare the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG Fault Code.
How to Gear up DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error Code


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