While surfing the internet, you may encounter many hindrances in your way to derive the benefits of an ideal internet connection. These can be slow internet speed, inability to comprehend website requirements, and so on. The inability to access the internet may potentially point out towards a problem of DNS, specifically showing “DNS server not responding” or “Server DNS Address could not be found” as shown below. The error is caused when the Domain Name Server (DNS) is not able to resolve the website IP address.
Causes of the problem:
A DNS cache contains the information necessary for domain name resolution and essentially it’s the storage of called and resolved addresses. When you browse the Internet, the user leaves a record of your visit and behavior on each site, kept in cookies or JavaScript applications. Their purpose is to curate your preferences and personalize content for you, every time the website is visited.
These are kept in a DNS cache. A DNS cache contains the information necessary for domain name resolution and essentially it’s the storage of called and resolved addresses. Basically, it enables your computer to more easily reach those websites.
Here are the reasons behind the occurrence of DNS Server Not Responding Error:
1. Network Issues: Many times, it could be not less than a poor internet connection problem that might be responsible for such an inconvenience, inadvertently attributed to DNS. In this case, DNS is really not responsible and hence before assuming DNS errors responsible, you can go to your “Network and Sharing Center” and run the troubleshooter. This will identify and fix many common connectivity issues and can help you narrow down the cause of the issue.
2. Common DNS Issues: TCP/IP: One of the most common causes of DNS errors is the TCP/IP software, or the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which assigns IP addresses to devices and handles the DNS server addresses. You can correct these issues by simply rebooting your computer (you can also use a TCP/IP utility program to fix your settings). Lastly, if the Wi-Fi router and the device you’re working with are both DHCP enabled, it won’t cause an issue. So if one of them is not DHCP enabled, it can lead to connection problems.
3. Internet Provider DNS Issue: Many of the internet providers render DNS server addresses to their users, and if the users have not changed their DNS server intentionally, the root of the problem is more likely to be from this cause. When the provider’s server is overloaded or simply malfunctioning, it can lead to a “DNS server not responding” error or other DNS problem.
4. Anti-Virus Program Issues: Unfortunately, both viruses and anti-virus programs can lead to DNS errors. When the anti-virus database is updated, there can be errors that lead the program to think your computer is infected when it actually isn’t. This, in turn, can lead to Computer Appears to be Correctly Configured but DNS server not responding errors when trying to connect. You can check to see if this is the problem by temporarily disabling your anti-virus program. If your connectivity issue resolves, the problem likely arose by the program. Changing programs or simply getting the most recent update can rectify the issue.
5. Modem or Router Problems: “DNS Server not responding” seems to be an error arduous to fix but minor errors with your modem or router can lead to such a problem too. Simply switching off the device and starting it again after some time can fix the problem temporarily. If there is a problem associated with the modem or router that does not go away, then it must be replaced.
How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding Error
Here are some solutions to how you can fix the problem concerning DNS Server.
Method 1: Correct your DNS Server Address
The problem might arise from your incorrect DNS server address, so here’s what you can do to fix the problem:
1. Press the Windows logo key + R at the same time on your keyboard to open the Run box.
2. Type Control and press Enter.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center in Large icons.
4. Click on Change adapter settings.
5. Right-click on Local Area Connection, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi according to your Windows and then, click on Properties.
6. Click on Internet Protocol Version4(TCP/IPv4) then Properties.
7. Make sure to checkmark “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Use the following DNS server addresses”. Then use the following configuration:
Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
8. Click Internet Protocol Version6 (TCP/IPv6) and then Properties.
9. Tick on “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically” and then, Click OK.
10. Now, reboot your computer and check whether the issue has resolved or not.
Method 2: Flush your DNS cache and reset IP
Apart from ensuring proper connectivity, you might want to flush your DNS cache because of personal and security reasons, for every time the website is visited by you, information is stored in the form of cookies and Javascript applications, enabling to curate content based on your past activities over the internet which indicates that you might want the same type of content when you open the website again. Sometimes you might want to maintain secrecy, and for the same purpose blocking cookies and Javascript may not suffice, which in the end leaves flushing the DNS as the last option.
Steps to flush DNS:
1. Type cmd in Windows Search then right-click on Command Prompt from the search result and select “Run as administrator“.
2. Type the following commands in the Command Prompt Window and press Enter after each command as given below:
ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /registered ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew netsh Winsock reset
3. Reboot your computer and check whether this solution helps in fixing the problem or not.
Method 3: Disable your Antivirus
As discussed earlier, the antivirus software in your computer might be the root cause of the problem you are facing in accessing a website over the internet. Temporarily disabling the software can solve the problem. If it works, you might want to switch to another antivirus software. Installing a third-party application for preventing viruses to invade the computer system can be a problem and hence disabling it might work in fixing the issue.
Method 4: Disable Secondary Connections
If your computer system is connected to more than one network connection, then disable the other connections while keeping only one connection enabled.
1. Click on the Start menu and search for “Network Connections”.
2. In the Network and Internet Settings window, select your connection type, like Ethernet, then click on Change adapter options.
3. Right-click on the other connection (apart from your active Wifi or Ethernet connection) and select “Disable” from the drop-down menu. Apply this to all secondary connections.
4. After saving the changes, refresh your computer and see whether the website you wanted to have access to opens.
Method 5: Update Network Adapter Drivers
1. Search for Device Manager in Windows Search then click on the top search result.
2. Expand Network adapters, then right-click on your Wi-Fi device(for example Intel) and select Update Drivers.
3. Next, select “Browse my computer for driver software.“
4. Now select “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.“
5. Try to update drivers from the listed versions.
6. If the above didn’t work then go to the manufacturer’s website to update drivers: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/
7. Reboot to apply changes.
Method 6: Disable IPv6
1. Press the Windows logo key + R at the same time on your keyboard then type Control and press Enter.
2. Click on Network and Sharing Center in Large icons.
3. Click on Change adapter settings.
4. Right-click on Local Area Connection, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi according to your Windows and then, click on Properties.
5. Make sure to Uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” then click OK.
Again check if you’re able to Fix DNS Server Not Responding Error, if not then continue.
Method 7: Reset your Router
Sometimes the Wi-Fi router might not work due to minor technological problems or simply due to some damage or a high load of data causing disruptions in its proper working. All you can do is simply restart the router, by disconnecting it from the power supply and switching it on after some time, or if there is an “On/Off” button on the router, you can press it and then turn it on again. After restarting, check whether it helps to resolve the problem or not.
You can also reset the router, by opening its configuration web page and finding the “Reset” option, or by simply pressing the reset button more nearly 10 seconds. Doing so will reset the password too.
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Hence, by using the methods mentioned above, you can fix the problems occurring in your connectivity and you don’t need to be a tech-savvy for that. These steps are simple and lucid, and they can help you to know better about your computer and solve any problem which arises out of a certain cause. If the problem persists even after using all the alternatives, you might want to contact your Internet service provider so that he can look into the same and fixes the technical issues.