The DNS Server Is Not Responding Error

DNS is an integral part of the internet and translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing you to access websites by typing easy-to-remember words or numbers. But sometimes the server stops responding and you’re stuck with an annoying error message.

This article will explain what the problem is and how to fix it. We will explore some of the most effective methods including restarting your router, flushing DNS cache, and disabling software like antivirus or firewalls.

Restart your router or modem

The DNS (Domain Name System) is essentially the Internet’s phone book, matching easily memorized website names to their corresponding IP addresses. The entire process of querying various servers takes a fraction of a second and is imperceptible to users.

Each computer or device that connects to the Internet has a DNS server setting at either the operating system level or the router level. The latter is more important because it dictates which DNS servers all devices on a network use for Internet access.

The operating system level setting is called a DNS resolver; when a user enters a website address into their browser, the recursive resolver sends a request to the network to find out what the actual IP address is for that site. The resolver then caches the answer for future use and hands it back to the software that entered the name.

Refresh your browser’s cache

When you see this error, it usually means that your computer or browser can’t reach the DNS servers. This could be because of a variety of different reasons, including malware or a faulty router.

One of the quickest ways to find out what’s causing this issue is to use another device to connect to the internet. If you can visit the website on another device, it indicates that the problem is with your computer or browser.

Occasionally, your DNS cache can get outdated. To resolve this, you need to flush your DNS cache. This process is similar to clearing your browser’s cache but it resets the IP addresses instead of deleting your web pages. To do this, follow the steps below for your operating system.

Try a different browser

One of the quickest ways to troubleshoot DNS issues is to use a different browser. If the website loads without error in another browser, it is likely that the problem is local to your device and not a result of an Internet or DNS server outage.

To make sure the issue is not with your network connection, try accessing the site using a mobile data connection. This will help you to determine whether the problem is with your browser or your home Wi-Fi.

If you’re able to load the site using a different browser but still see the “DNS Server is not responding” error, it could be that your antivirus or firewall program is interfering with your internet connection. If this is the case, temporarily deactivating your firewall or antivirus program should allow you to navigate the web normally. This will also help you to clear any DNS cache that may be causing the issue.

Reconnect your modem or router

When you try to load a website and are met with the “DNS Server Not Responding” error message, it can be extremely frustrating. However, the good news is that most of these errors have simple solutions.

You can usually fix this problem by restarting your router or modem. Simply unplug the device and wait about 30 seconds before plugging it back in. Then, try opening the website again. If this doesn’t work, try using another device to access the internet (like a mobile phone on Wi-Fi or ethernet cable).

You can also use a command prompt to flush your DNS cache. This will clear IP addresses and other DNS related data from your computer’s cache, which may help resolve the “DNS server is not responding” error. To do this, open a command prompt by pressing the Win key and typing cmd. Then, type ipconfig /flushness and press enter.