Therefore, whenever your computer has a problem translating the domain name to its IP address, you get the error message DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. And the probable solution is to double-check and retype the domain name. However, if the domain name is correct but you are still seeing this error, it is time to troubleshoot it.
What is a DNS?
DNS, or, the Domain Name System, is a server that has a collection of the domain name and their IP addresses. It converts the address you type in the browser’s address bar, such as google.com, to their respective IP address, i.e. 142.250.179.142.
What Causes DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN?
When the browser cannot find the IP address of the domain name typed on the address bar, it shows the error message DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.
How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN
Now that we know things that stop a browser from resolving the domain name, let us see how we can fix these issues.
The domain name expired or is not registered Incorrect Domain Name Server (DNS) address Antivirus blocking access to the site Incorrect domain name VPN turned on Site blocked by ISP
Restart DNS Client Service
According to Microsoft’s official documentation, the DNS client stores setting for configuring the DNS. The DNS client service resolves the domain name by locally querying cached data from previous searches. Restarting the service might solve any issues with it. Disabling this service stops all DNS lookups and stops the services that explicitly depend on the DNS client. Therefore, it is not ideal to leave it disabled. Below, we have mentioned the steps to restart DNS Client Services. Alternately, you can also tweak registry settings to reset the DNS client. However, changing the wrong registry settings can make your system unusable. Therefore, it is always a good idea to backup your registry before performing the steps mentioned below.
Set DNS Server Manually
If your network adapter cannot access the DNS server, you can provide the adapter with the address to the server manually. Follow the steps mentioned below to set the address to a DNS server.
For Windows
For MacOS
8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Prefered and alternate addresses for IPv4)2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844(Prefered and alternate addresses for IPv6)
Check Hosts File
The host file contains domain names that map to the respective IP address before going to DNS servers. Although the host file contains only sample data, the DNS may not work if this file has incorrect IP address values mapped with domain names. To fix this, you need to re-write the host file. Before we start, make sure to back up the current Hosts file.
Clear DNS Cache
Another reason that might be causing DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN is due to Chrome’s DNS cache. Chrome has a DNS cache that contains data that a website uses constantly. Clearing this cache deletes all DNS entries from Chrome that might be causing the issue.
Use Browser’s Secure DNS
Domain Name System Server that the ISP (Internet Service Provider) provides may not always work. That is why the browser also offers a feature to use a secure DNS. You can access this setting in any browser inside Privacy and security. Once you find this setting, choose any DNS listed on the drop-down menu. Now, try connecting to a website to see if it fixed the issue.
Disable Antivirus/Firewall and VPN
If you are facing issues when accessing a certain website, it can also be that the firewall or antivirus software is blocking the said website. If antivirus detects any threats from a website, it will stop these sites from loading. Enabling VPN may also cause issues with DNS server settings. This, in turn, may also stop you from browsing certain websites.
Reset Network Configuration
If none of the solutions fix the issue with DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, you can try resetting your network configurations. Resetting your network will reset all your IP stacks and flush and re-register DNS information. Here is an article that you can follow to reset network configuration on Windows. However, if you use a macOS, here are some steps you can perform to reset your network configuration.
com.apple.airport.preferences.plistcom.apple.network.identification.plist or com.apple.network.eapolclient.configuration.plistcom.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plistNetworkInterfaces.plistPreferences.plist
Now, all your network configurations should reset.
Restart router
This step might be very simple, but something as simple as a simple restart might fix the issue you face. Sometimes, when a router is turned on for too long can put it under a lot of stress and might even heat up. Restarting will also clear any cache stored on the router. Try restarting your router for five to ten minutes to see if it fixes the issue.
