How to Fix the “DNS Server Not Responding” Error on Windows

A common issue resolved for you

Microsoft Windows displays a “DNS Server Not Responding” error when your system can’t connect to the specified DNS servers or the DNS system doesn’t respond. However, you can change a few options on your computer to resolve the error. Here’s how.

Some ways tofix your DNS problemsinclude removing your DNS cache, turning off your antivirus and firewall, disabling IPv6, using alternate DNS servers, and more.

Use a Different Web Browser

You get aDNS server erroron your system because your current web browser has an issue. This prevents the browser from connecting to your specified servers.

In this case, you can switch to an alternate web browser and see if your issue gets resolved. For example, if you’re currently usingGoogle Chromeas your browser, you can switch toMozilla FirefoxorMicrosoft Edgeto see if you can connect to your sites.

If this solves the problem, you can reset your primary browser to fix your DNS issues.

Restart Your Router

Another way toget around many DNS server issuesis by rebooting your router. Your router disables and re-enables all of its features when you give it a reboot, fixing many minor problems with the device.

You can restart most routers by pressing thePowerbutton on the device. You can also use the power socket switch or your router’s settings page in your web browser to turn your device off and back on.

Launch your web browser and try to access your sites when your router restarts and establishes an internet connection.

Delete Your DNS Cache

Windows uses a DNS cache to help you quickly translate domain names to IP addresses. Sometimes, cache corruption prevents your web browser’s access to sites.

In this case, you canclear your DNS cache, which helps fix many issues. Your computer will rebuild this cache as you browse sites.

Turn Off Your Firewall

Yourfirewall’sjob is to monitor your PC’s incoming and outgoing network connections. This utility may have detected your access to your DNS servers as a potential threat, blocking your connection and resulting in a “DNS Server Not Responding” error.

You can fix this by temporarily disabling your firewall. Here’s how to do that for Microsoft Defender Firewall:

Disable Your Antivirus

A possible reason you’re getting the “DNS Server Not Responding” error is that your antivirus program has detected your access to your DNS servers as a threat. This may have led the program to block your activity, resulting in the above error message.

You can check that byturning off your antivirus protectiontemporarily. Here’s how to do that for Microsoft Defender Antivirus:

Turn Off IPv6

Sometimes, your PC’s Internet Protocol Version 6 feature doesn’t work well with your specified DNS servers, causing various issues. In this case, you can toggle off the protocol and see if that fixes the problem.

You can turn IPv6 back on any time you want.

Change Your DNS Servers

Like all other online services, yourDNS servers can face outages. When this happens, your web browsers and other apps can’t locate online addresses, resulting in various DNS error messages.

In this case, you canswitch to alternate DNS servers. There are some good third-party servers to choose from, like Google’s public DNS and OpenDNS.

Disable Your Other Network Connections

If your Windows PC continues to display the “DNS Server Not Responding” error,your other network adaptersmay be interfering with your primary one.

You can fix that by disabling all your network adapters except the one you are using on your PC. Here’s how.

Update Your Network Adapter Drivers

Outdated drivers often cause various issues, and your “DNS Server Not Responding” may result from old network adapter drivers. In this case, you canupdate your drivers to the latest versionand resolve your issue.

Resolve DNS Server Issues on Your Windows 10/11 PC

DNS server issues are common, and you can encounter them anytime. The good thing is it’s easy to deal with most of these problems. You can change a few options on your system, switch to alternate servers, and update the network adapter drivers to fix your issue.

You can then access your sites and allow your apps to connect to any web host without issues.

Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm.Read Mahesh’s Full Bio

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