How to Fix “DNS_probe_finished_bad_config” in Chrome

Before switching to a different browser

There are any number of issues that could prevent you from loading webpages in Google Chrome, from a broken internet connection to adomain name server (DNS) outage. It can also be caused by aform submission (err_cache_miss) erroror, if the problem isn’t on your end, a slow or broken web server that stops responding.

One unfortunate error in Chrome that could stop pages loading, however, is the “dns_probe_finished_bad_config” error. This has a number of causes, but it usually points to a problem with a domain name server configuration. If you want to know how to fix a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error, here’s what you’ll need to do.

What Is a dns_probe_finished_bad_config Error in Google Chrome?

A dns_probe_finished_bad_config error message usually appears in Google Chrome when your device’s DNS server can’t resolve a website address you’ve attempted to visit. In many cases, this is due to some undetected issue with the DNS configuration on your device.

This could be due to a DNS server that’s offline or no longer responding or due to misconfigured network settings on your device. For instance, if the wrong DNS server settings are added, Chrome won’t be able to load websites, resulting in a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error (or similar).

This message is device independent and could appear in Chrome on any device that it supports (including Windows or Mac). Unfortunately, there isn’t a single identifiable cause for this message, but there are some common troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue that should work for most users.

How to Fix a dns_probe_finished_bad_config Error in Google Chrome

There are several ways you can fix a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error in Google Chrome. These include:

While these steps aren’t guaranteed to fix the problem, they should resolve it for most users. If you continue to face issues, you may need to troubleshoot your internet connection further.

Restart Your Device and Network Connection

Before you consider changing any settings on your device, a simple fix for many users is to consider a restart (especially for PC or Mac users). Restarting your device will force it to close and reestablish the current connection to your local network which, in some cases, can help to fix a broken DNS configuration.

You should also consider restarting your network connection by rebooting your network router or internet modem. You may be able to do this via a web interface or through power cycling by switching your router or modem off and on.

If you continue to face DNS issues, however, you’ll need to continue with the steps below.

Reset Your Network Settings on Windows or Mac

While the dns_probe_finished_bad_config error can occur on any device, Windows and Mac users canreset their network settingsto try and resolve it. This involves resetting the TCP/IP stack, causing your device to clear any current settings,releasing your existing IP addressand establishing a new connection.

Switch to Alternative DNS Servers

Domain name service faults can often be traced back to a faulty DNS server. DNS servers provided by an internet service provider, for instance, are sometimes unreliable and can suffer outages, resulting in a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error (or similar).

To overcome this issue, you canchange your DNS providerto an alternative provided by public organizations such as Google.

Disable Third-Party Tools

Several third-party tools or browser extensions could also have an impact on your network connectivity, resulting in a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error. This includesad blockers,web censoring tools, antivirus software andfirewalls.

Due to the nature of how these tools and extensions work, it’s possible that they could interfere with certain websites loading in Chrome. If you suspect that this is the case, you’ll need to disable or remove them entirely.

If they’re installed to your PC or Mac, it should be a simple process toremove the softwareusing the Windows Settings menu or via the Finder app. If the tool is installed in Chrome, you should be able toremove the extensiondirectly by selecting thethree-dots menu icon>More Tools>Extensionsin Chrome.

Fixing Google Chrome Issues

The steps above should help you to fix a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error in Google Chrome. If you’re still having issues, however, you may need to look at switching to another browser to further investigate the issue or consider resetting Google Chrome to default settings.

There are other steps you can take ifChrome stops responding or crashes regularly, including reinstalling it or switching to the Chrome Canary test build version, although this may prove unstable. If you want to optimize Chrome further, however, you may want toenable certain Chrome settings flagsto help you do so.

Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio

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