Having the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG while surfing the web can really throw you for a loop. You’re minding your own business, trying to check out the latest memes or cat videos, and suddenly, bam!—this cryptic message pops up, usually in Google Chrome or some other fancy Chromium-based browser.
What’s it trying to tell you? Well, it’s basically saying that something’s gone haywire in the ol’ Domain Name System (DNS) setup.
Now, for the uninitiated, DNS is like the internet’s GPS—it takes those human-friendly website names you type in and converts them into the actual addresses computers use to find stuff online. But when your DNS settings go wonky, it’s like sending your browser on a wild goose chase. No wonder you’re getting that “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG” message.
So, what could be causing this mess? Oh, the usual suspects: wonky network settings, cranky routers, wrong DNS server addresses, or even a cluttered DNS cache. And let’s not forget about those sneaky malware gremlins or pesky browser extensions—they love to mess with your DNS and throw a wrench into the works.
Now, don’t panic just yet. Understanding what’s behind this error is the first step to fixing it. We’ll dive deep into the potential culprits and arm you with strategies to tackle them head-on. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to kick those DNS demons to the curb and get back to your uninterrupted browsing bliss in no time.
So, grab your troubleshooting hat, and let’s get this show on the road!
Solution #1: Power Cycle (Both Router & PC)
Power cycling, or simply restarting, both your router and PC is like hitting the refresh button for your internet connection. It’s a simple yet effective fix for many network-related headaches, including the pesky network error.
When you power cycle your router, it wipes the slate clean on its internal settings and reconnects with your Internet Service Provider (ISP). And rebooting your PC? That’s like giving it a fresh start, wiping out any wonky network settings or cached DNS data that might be causing trouble.
To do this power cycle thing right, follow these steps:
- Shut down your PC: Close all your programs and give your computer a nice, peaceful rest.
- Turn off your router: Find the power button on your router and give it a tap. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, unplug it from the wall.
- Wait a spell: Let both your router and PC chill out for at least 30 seconds to a minute. This gives them time to let go of any pent-up frustration.
- Power up that router: Hit the power button or plug your router back in if you unplugged it.
- Boot up your PC: Once your router has had a chance to wake up (usually takes a couple of minutes), fire up your computer.
Now that both devices are back online, give the internet another whirl. Mostly power cycle routine works like a charm, banishing that pesky error and getting you back to smooth surfing. But if the gremlins persist, we might have to bust out some bigger troubleshooting guns.
Solution #2: Flushing DNS Cache
Your operating system’s DNS client is like a meticulous librarian, diligently storing away IP addresses and other DNS data to speed up future requests to the same place. But here’s the kicker: sometimes that stored info gets all jumbled up, leading to the dreaded “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG” error popping up on your screen.
To kick this error to the curb, you gotta clear out that cache, giving your network a clean slate to talk to those hostnames like old pals. Now, it’s not just your computer that might be hoarding corrupted DNS data; your network might be in on it too. So, we’re gonna hit the reset button on both ends.
Flushing DNS Cache on Windows:
- Fire up Command Prompt as an admin. >> 20 Different Ways To Open CMD On Your Computer
- Type in
ipconfig /flushdns
and hit Enter. - Sit tight while it does its thing and gives you the green light.
Flushing DNS Cache on macOS:
- Open up Terminal.
- Depending on your OS version, enter one of the following commands:
- For Mac OS X El Capitan: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
- For Mac OS X Yosemite: sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches
- For Mac OS X Mavericks: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
- For Mac OS X Mountain Lion: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
- For Mac OS X Lion: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
- For Mac OS X Snow Leopard: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
- For Mac OS X Leopard and earlier: sudo lookupd -flushcache
- You might have to drop in your password to get the job done.
- Hang tight while it wraps things up.
By following these steps, you’re wiping the slate clean both on your computer and across your network, potentially bidding farewell to that pesky network error. It’s like hitting the refresh button for your system, making sure it’s all good to go for smooth sailing on the internet seas.
Solution #3: Renewing IP Address
Refreshing your Local or DNS Server IP address can work wonders when troubleshooting pesky network problems like IP conflicts. Lucky for you, it’s a breeze to do, and it works like a charm on various operating systems, including Windows and macOS.
For Windows aficionados, snagging a new IP address is a cinch with the Command Prompt. Here’s the scoop:
- Summon the Command Prompt by either tapping into the Start menu or hitting Windows Key + R, typing “cmd”, and hitting Enter.
- Once you’re in the Command Prompt groove, type “ipconfig /release” (without quotes) and hit Enter. This nifty command lets go of your current IP address setup.
- Now, punch in “ipconfig /renew” (still no quotes) and hit Enter. This little number requests a shiny new IP address from the DHCP server.
- After those commands have done their thing, type “exit” to bid adieu to the Command Prompt.
- Give your computer a restart to seal the deal, then give your network connection a whirl to check if the issue has taken a hike.
For the macOS crowd, sprucing up your IP address involves a detour through System Preferences. Here’s how you navigate:
- Kick off by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner and selecting “System Preferences”.
- In the System Preferences hub, glide over to “Network”.
- Pick out your current network connection, usually marked as “Connected”.
- Tap on the “Advanced” button lounging at the bottom right corner.
- Up top, select the “TCP/IP” tab.
- Hunt down the “Renew DHCP Lease” button and give it a click. This little move beckons a fresh IP address from the DHCP server, sprucing up your Mac’s network configuration.
- Once the deed is done, bid adieu to the System Preferences window.
By sticking to these steps, you can give your IP address a makeover on both Windows and macOS setups, potentially kissing those network headaches like IP conflicts goodbye. And hey, if you’re rocking a different operating system, just swing by your trusty pal Google to dig up instructions tailored to your setup. Easy peasy, right?
Solution #4: Change DNS IP To Google’s Public DNS
Typically, your computer’s DNS server settings are set to grab addresses automatically. But sometimes, especially in Google Chrome, these settings can act up. When that happens, you’ll need to get hands-on and tweak things manually by specifying the DNS server IP address.
Our top choice? Google Public DNS. It’s a freebie from Google, known for its lightning-fast domain name resolution for all internet hosts. So, next time your DNS settings throw a tantrum, just remember: Google’s got your back!
How to Change DNS in Windows OS
- Open Network and Sharing Center: Press the “Windows key + R key” combo to summon the Run dialog box. Type in “ncpa.cpl” and hit “OK”.
- Navigate to Adapter Settings: In the Network Connections window, click on “Change adapter settings” on the left side.
- Access Adapter Properties: Right-click on your active network adapter (like Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select “Properties”.
- Modify Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Settings: Scroll down to find “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”. Click it, then hit “Properties”.
- Change DNS Server Settings: Look for “Use the following DNS server addresses” and click it.
- Enter DNS Server Addresses: Input Google’s DNS server addresses: “8.8.8.8” for Preferred DNS server, and “8.8.4.4” for Alternate DNS server.
- Save Changes: Hit “OK” to confirm and close the properties window.
- Restart Computer: Give your computer a reboot to let the changes settle in.
And there you have it! Your new DNS settings should be humming along smoothly.
How to Change DNS in macOS
- Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select “System Preferences”.
- Access Network Preferences: Inside System Preferences, click on the “Network” icon.
- Select Network Connection: Double-click on the network connection you’re using (or want to adjust DNS settings for).
- Access Advanced Settings: Click the “Advanced” button in the lower right corner of the new window.
- Navigate to DNS Settings: In the advanced settings window, click on the “DNS” tab.
- Add Google Public DNS Servers: Click the “+” symbol below the DNS servers list and input “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” for Google’s DNS servers.
- Save Changes: Hit “OK” to confirm and close the advanced settings window.
- Apply Changes: Back in the Network preferences pane, click “Apply” to ensure your new DNS settings take effect.
And that’s all there is to it! Your Mac should now be sporting the fresh DNS settings.
Solution #5: At Last, Resetting The Chrome Browser
Resetting your browser back to its default state can work wonders when you’re facing all sorts of pesky issues during your browsing escapades. This nifty process brings your browser settings back to their original configurations, often ironing out glitches or conflicts without messing with your precious data like bookmarks and passwords. However, it’s worth noting that while this method keeps your bookmarks and passwords safe, it does hit the reset button on other settings like extensions, themes, and browsing history, reverting them back to square one.
The steps to reset your browser are pretty much the same across different operating systems, whether you’re rocking Windows, macOS, or Linux versions of Chrome.
- Open Chrome Settings: Fire up Google Chrome and give a tap to the three-dot menu icon lounging in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the menu that drops down, hit up “Settings”.
- Access Reset Options: In the Settings tab, scroll on down to the bottom of the page or make a beeline for the address bar. Type in the following address: “chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings” and hit Enter. Boom! You’re whisked away to the reset options.
- Initiate Reset: Once you’ve landed on that magic page, Chrome kindly presents you with the reset options. Just go ahead and click on the “Reset” button to kick things into gear.
- Confirmation: Chrome might throw a little confirmation dialog box your way to double-check your intentions. Take a quick glance over the info provided and give that “Reset Settings” button a solid click to confirm.
- Wait for Completion: Chrome goes to work, resetting your browser settings to their factory defaults. This could take a hot minute or two, depending on how speedy your system is feeling.
- Restart Chrome: Once the reset dance is done, close down and fire back up Google Chrome to let the changes sink in. Ta-da! Your browser is now back to its fresh-out-of-the-box state, keeping your bookmarks and passwords safe and sound.
When you've been waiting for the webpage to load for hours, but your Wi-Fi is just like, 'Nah, I'm on a break!' 🤷♂️📶🤯💻
WIFI is Connected but No Internet Access – What to Do?https://t.co/UGUk1gCkcK#LoadingHell #InternetWoes #WifiFails #ConnectionConundrum #NetworkNonsense pic.twitter.com/zFCbG6gnlA— deskdecode (@deskdecode) March 6, 2024
will the same solution work for the smartphones too because i am facing this same issue on my android phone.
yes