DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN – Explained With Solutions

So, you’ve encountered the notorious “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error, huh? Don’t worry; it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Basically, when you see this error, it means that your computer tried to find the address of a website you wanted to visit, but it couldn’t find it in the directory it checked.understanding the topic

Let me break it down for you: The Domain Name System (DNS) is like the internet’s phonebook. It translates easy-to-remember website names (like example.com) into the actual numeric addresses that computers use to talk to each other. So, when you type in a web address, your computer asks the DNS, “Hey, where can I find this site?” And if the DNS can’t find it, you get the “NXDOMAIN” error, which basically means “Sorry, can’t find what you’re looking for”.

Now, why does this happen? Well, there could be a bunch of reasons. Maybe your DNS settings are messed up, or there’s a glitch with the DNS server itself. Or maybe the website you’re trying to visit doesn’t actually exist (ouch). Whatever the cause, the result is the same: no connection to the website you wanted.

This glitch tends to pop up most often in Google Chrome, wreaking havoc on users no matter if they’re on Windows, Mac, Linux, or even Android devices. It’s the kind of annoyance that can strike at any time the DNS (Domain Name System) service decides to take a nap.

Whether you’re on a mission to visit a particular website or just leisurely surfing the web, this error has a knack for ruining your online fun. But fear not! No matter what’s causing the hiccup, I’ve got your back. Let’s tackle this problem head-on and get your internet back up and running smoothly.

So, Let’s Start With;

Solution #1: Changing DNS Setting

Typically, your computer’s DNS server settings are set to fetch addresses automatically. But sometimes, especially in Google Chrome, these settings can go haywire. When that happens, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and dive into the manual adjustments by specifying the DNS server IP address.

Our top pick? Google Public DNS. It’s a freebie from Google, renowned for its knack in swiftly resolving domain names for all internet hosts. So, next time your DNS settings throw a fit, remember: Google’s got your back!

# How To Change DNS In Windows OS

  1. Open Network and Sharing Center: Hit the “Windows key + R key” combo to fire up the Run dialog box. Type in “ncpa.cpl” and hit “OK”.
  2. Navigate to Adapter Settings: In the Network Connections window that pops up, find and click on “Change adapter settings” on the left-hand side.
  3. Access Adapter Properties: Right-click on your active network adapter—this might be your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Select “Properties” from the menu that shows up.
  4. Modify Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Settings: Scroll down in the Properties window till you spot “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”. Click it, then hit “Properties”.
  5. Change DNS Server Settings: Look for the option that says “Use the following DNS server addresses”. Click it.
  6. Enter DNS Server Addresses: Now, input the DNS server addresses provided by Google. For the Preferred DNS server, type in “8.8.8.8”, and for the Alternate DNS server, punch in “8.8.4.4”.
  7. Save Changes: Hit “OK” to seal the deal and close the properties window.
  8. Restart Computer: Give your computer a reboot to let the changes sink in properly.

And voilà! Your new DNS settings should be up and running smoothly.

# How To Change DNS In Mac OS

  1. Open System Preferences: Start by clicking on the Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen. From the dropdown menu, choose “System Preferences”.
  2. Access Network Preferences: Within the System Preferences window, find and click on the “Network” icon. This action will launch the Network preferences pane.
  3. Select Network Connection: Scan through the list of network connections on the left side of the Network preferences pane. Double-click on the connection you’re currently using to surf the web or the one you wish to adjust DNS settings for.
  4. Access Advanced Settings: Once you’ve double-clicked on the relevant network connection, a new window will pop up. Look for the “Advanced” button in the lower right corner and give it a click. This will unveil the advanced settings for your chosen network connection.
  5. Navigate to DNS Settings: In the advanced settings window, you’ll spot a tab labeled “DNS” at the top. Click on it to access the DNS configuration options for your network connection.
  6. Add Google Public DNS Servers: To integrate Google’s public DNS servers, simply click the “+” symbol located below the list of DNS servers. Input “8.8.8.8” in the first empty field and “8.8.4.4” in the second one. These numbers represent the IP addresses for Google’s public DNS servers.
  7. Save Changes: Once you’ve punched in the DNS server addresses, hit the “OK” button to seal the deal and close the advanced settings window.
  8. Apply Changes: Back in the Network preferences pane, don’t forget to click on the “Apply” button to ensure your new DNS settings are applied to your network connection.

And that’s it! Your Mac should now be all set with the new DNS settings.

# How To Change DNS In Linux OS

  1. Access Network Manager: Start by left-clicking on the Network Manager icon located in the system tray of your Linux desktop environment. This icon usually looks like a series of bars indicating network signal strength. Clicking on it will open up a menu.
  2. Navigate to Connection Settings: From the Network Manager menu, choose the option labeled “Edit Connections”. This action will open a new window where you can manage your network connections.
  3. Select Connection Type: In the “Edit Connections” window, find and select the type of connection you’re currently using – whether it’s “Wired” or “Wireless”, depending on your network setup.
  4. Access Connection Settings: After selecting your connection, double-click on it or hit the “Edit” button. This will bring up the settings for your chosen network connection.
  5. Configure IPv4 Settings: Within the settings window for your connection, locate and select the tab labeled “IPv4 Settings”. This tab contains options related to your IPv4 network configuration.
  6. Change DNS Configuration Method: In the “IPv4 Settings” tab, find the dropdown menu labeled “Method” and change it to “Automatic (DHCP) addresses only”. This ensures that your DNS settings will be obtained automatically from your DHCP server.
  7. Enter DNS Server Addresses: Below the “Method” dropdown menu, there’s a box labeled “DNS servers”. Here, enter the IP addresses of the DNS servers you want to use. For Google’s public DNS servers, enter “8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4”, separating the addresses with a single comma.
  8. Save Changes: Once you’ve entered the DNS server addresses, click on the “Save” button to apply your configuration changes.
  9. Restart Your Computer: To make sure that the changes take effect, it’s recommended to restart your computer. This ensures that your Linux system uses the newly configured DNS servers for domain name resolution.

After restarting your computer, your Linux operating system should now be utilizing the specified DNS servers for network communication.

# How To Change DNS In Android OS

  1. Dive into Wi-Fi Settings: First off, head into your phone’s Wi-Fi settings. Usually, you’ll find this in the Settings app, lurking under “Network & internet” or “Connections”.
  2. Pick Your Network: Among the sea of available Wi-Fi networks, long-press the one you’re currently sailing on. This summons a handy context menu with all sorts of network-related options.
  3. Tweak Network Details: Within that menu, track down the option that whispers “Modify network” or “Modify network settings”. Clicking on this lets you play around with the network’s setup.
  4. Unlock Advanced Options: Sometimes the good stuff is hidden away. Look for a button labeled “Advanced” or “Advanced options” to unveil the extra settings.
  5. Go Static with IP Settings: Now, within those advanced network settings, hunt down the “IP settings” dropdown. Swap out the default “DHCP” for “Static” to take manual control of your network setup, including DNS.
  6. Punch in DNS Server Addresses: Once you’ve switched to Static mode, scroll down until you spot the blank fields begging for DNS server addresses. Toss in Google’s public DNS servers: “8.8.8.8” for Primary DNS and “8.8.4.4” for Secondary DNS.
  7. Seal the Deal: After inputting the DNS addresses, scout around for a button to save or apply your handiwork. It might be called “Save”, “Apply”, or something equally thrilling. Tap it and watch your new DNS settings lock in.
  8. Power Cycle Your Device: To make sure those changes stick, give your Android buddy a reboot. This ensures it fully embraces the new DNS servers for all its name-resolving needs.

After your device has had its little nap and rebooted, it should be cruising along using the DNS servers you specified.

Solution #2: Flushing DNS Setting

Alright, picture this: your computer’s DNS cache is like that cluttered desk drawer you keep shoving stuff into, forgetting what’s in there. Eventually, it gets messy and outdated, causing lookup errors when you’re trying to access websites.

But fear not! Flushing the DNS settings is like giving that drawer a good clean-out. It wipes away all the old, useless info, so your computer can make fresh lookups without stumbling over outdated data. It’s like hitting the reset button for your internet connection.

This handy trick is a go-to for fixing all sorts of DNS issues. Just dive into your command prompt or terminal, run a quick command, and voilà! Errors vanish, and you’re back to smooth sailing on the web. Easy peasy!

# How To Flush DNS In WINDOWS OS

  1. Hit the “Windows Key + R” at the same time to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type in “cmd” and hit Enter to open the Command Prompt.
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type “ipconfig /flushdns” and hit Enter. This will clear out all the old DNS info stored on your PC.
  4. After flushing DNS, give your computer a restart to make sure the changes stick. If you’re still having trouble, there’s a backup command you can still try.
  5. The backup command is “netsh winsock reset catalog”. If the first command didn’t do the trick, open Command Prompt again and type this command. Hit Enter to run it.

# How To Flush DNS In Mac OS

  1. Open up the Terminal.
  2. 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

# How To Flush DNS In Linux OS

  1. Open up a command terminal.
  2. If you’re using the nscd Name Service Cache Daemon, run the command “sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart” to flush the DNS cache.

Solution #3: Clear Browser Cache Or Cookies

Still, hiting the wall with the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error. Fear not, my friend, because sometimes the solution is as simple as cleaning out your browser’s closet aka your browser’s cookies and cache. Here’s the lowdown on how to do it:

  1. Fire up Google Chrome on your trusty computer or laptop.
  2. Spot that trio of vertical dots in the upper-right corner? That’s your ticket to the settings. Give it a click.
  3. Now, from the dropdown menu, hit up “Settings”.
  4. Scroll on down that settings page until you see “Show advanced settings” lurking at the bottom. Click it like you mean it.
  5. You’ll find yourself in the “Privacy” section. Nestled in there is an option labeled “Content settings”. Click on that bad boy.
  6. Among the treasures within is the “Cookies” section. Click on “All cookies and site data”.
  7. Behold! A grand list of all the cookies stashed away. To bid them farewell, hit the “Remove all” button, and voilà! You’ve swept away the digital cobwebs.

Solution #4: Reset Or Reinsatll Chrome

So, you’re still stuck with that pesky “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error, even after trying a few tricks? No worries, we’ve got a couple more up our sleeves.

  1. Resetting Chrome:
    • Launch Google Chrome and head over to the Chrome menu perched at the top-right corner.
    • From the menu, glide down to “Settings”.
    • Keep scrolling until you hit the bottom, then tap into “Show advanced settings”.
    • Under the “Reset settings” section, there’s a button begging to be clicked: “Reset settings”.
    • Once you’ve summoned the courage, click it. A confirmation box will pop up. Give it a firm “Reset”.
  2. Reinstalling Chrome:
    • If the reset doesn’t do the trick, it’s time for a fresh start.
    • Begin by bidding farewell to your current Chrome setup. Open up “Programs and Features” either by typing “appwiz.cpl” into the Run command or digging through the Control Panel.
    • Among the list of installed programs, find Google Chrome and click on “Uninstall”. Follow the prompts until it’s gone.
    • With Chrome out of the picture, head over to the official Google website and snag the latest version of Chrome.
    • Install it like a pro and prepare to be dazzled by the shiny newness.

With a reset or a clean reinstall, you’ll often wipe away the gremlins causing that stubborn network error. Go forth and browse in peace, my friend!

Solution #5: Restart DNS Client Service (For Windows Users Only)

Restarting the DNS Client Service can be a game-changer for tackling DNS errors. It essentially gives your system a refresh by clearing the cache and rebooting the DNS service. This service is responsible for storing DNS records and handling requests to resolve domain names into IP addresses on your computer.

Encountering DNS errors often signals trouble with translating domain names into IP addresses. This could be due to outdated cache, hiccups in connecting with DNS servers, or configuration mishaps. By giving the DNS Client Service a reboot, you’re essentially wiping the slate clean and giving your system a chance to start fresh. This helps address issues that might be causing DNS lookup failures.

After restarting the DNS Client Service, your computer will be armed with fresh DNS information, potentially putting an end to those pesky DNS errors. And the best part? Restarting the DNS Client Service is a breeze. Just head over to the Services application on Windows, give it a click, and hit that restart button. Your system will thank you for it!

To Restart Your DNS Client Service In Windows:

  1. Summon the Run Commander: Press the Windows key and the R key simultaneously to summon the Run commander. It’s like summoning a genie, but for Windows commands.
  2. Type in the Magic Words: Once the Run dialog box appears, type in “services.msc” (without the quotes, of course) and hit OK. This opens up the Windows Services window, your backstage pass to all things service-related.
  3. Locate Your Target: Scroll down the list of services until you spot “DNS Client”. It’s like playing Where’s Waldo, but with less stripes and more technical jargon.
  4. Right-Click to the Rescue: Right-click on the DNS Client. A magical menu will appear, offering you a variety of options like a digital buffet. Select the “Restart” option from the menu and watch the magic happen.

And there you have it! Your DNS Client service is now rebooted and ready to roll. No need to thank me, just doing my techy duty.

Solution #6: Final Tips (For Windows Users Only)

Here are some extra tricks up your sleeve if the previous fixes didn’t quite cut it:

  1. Give Your PC a Nap: Sometimes, your computer just needs a little break. Try restarting it to shake off any pesky issues that might be causing DNS woes. It’s like hitting the reset button on your day.
  2. Disable the Guards: Your antivirus and firewall might be a tad overprotective at times. Temporarily disable them to see if they’re the culprits behind your DNS drama. Think of it as letting your guard down for a bit. >> What’s A Good Antivirus And How To Pick A Best One?
  3. Update Those Drivers: Your network drivers might be feeling a bit outdated or under the weather. Give them a boost by updating them to the latest version. It’s like giving your car a tune-up for smoother rides. >> What Is a Network Driver, And How To Install It?
  4. Turn Back Time: If all else fails, consider turning back the clock (figuratively speaking). Restore your PC using “System Restore” to a time when everything was hunky-dory. It’s like hitting the undo button on your computer’s timeline.
  5. Check the HQ: If the DNS error is haunting you across different browsers, it might be time to investigate your router or modem. They could be the real troublemakers lurking in the shadows. Keep an eye on them, and if all else fails, consider giving them a stern talking-to or even a replacement.

With these extra tricks up your sleeve, you’ll hopefully be able to squash those DNS bugs once and for all, ensuring smooth sailing on the vast seas of the internet.

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1 COMMENT

  1. This website helps us out the on-demand. here’s what i did before performing
    flush the DNS
    clear browser cache and cookies
    reset browser
    Solution No.3. Configure your DNS Address add to open on this website following the guides with a picture of course.

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