How To Fix DNS Server Not Responding? 8 Effective Ways

Today’s topic: How to fix DNS server not responding? 

I know you are thinking, “Where am I going with this one?” Trust me, it might seem boring now, but the day you face this annoying issue, you will remember me and my guide on resolving it. 

So without wasting time, I am going to dive deep into solving the ‘DNS not responding’ error – and ensure there is more than one solution to help you out. 

Stay tuned!

What Does ‘DNS Not Responding’ Even Mean? 

DNS (Domain Name System) is much like the phonebook of the internet. 

So, it basically translates domain names that are human-friendly into IP addresses that are computer-friendly. 

For example, ‘www.hostwinds.com’ is a domain name that translates to ‘192.168.1.1,’ which is an IP address, thanks to DNS. 

As a result, when anyone comes across the ‘DNS not responding’ issue, it means their browser is facing trouble connecting to the DNS service for performing the required translation. 

DNS Not Responding? Signs Of Possible Issues:

So when your DNS is not responding, it is possible to face difficulties while browsing the internet. 

But how can anyone even understand that they are facing DNS response problems? Or is it just bad connectivity? Confusing, right? 

This is precisely why I’ve tried my best to highlight all the possible issues that are stopping your DNS from responding:

1. Web Pages Are Not Loading:

Perhaps one of the most obvious signs that your DNS isn’t responding is the failure to load any web page. 

So when you are typing a website URL in the address bar of your browser and hitting ‘Enter,’ the browser will depend on the DNS to find the subsequent IP address. 

Now, without any working DNS, the browser will not be able to translate the domain name. 

This, in turn, will leave you in front of a blank page or worse, a never-ending (super frustrating) loading spinner. 

2. Error Messages: 

You might come across error messages like ‘DNS Probe Finished No Internet,’ or ‘DNS Service Not Responding.’

These error messages are direct communication from your device that it has failed to connect with the DNS service and retrieve the required data. 

3. Slow Internet Browsing: 

Even if a web page loads eventually, you might notice that the speed of your internet connectivity becomes slow and sluggish. 

This usually happens because your device is struggling with resolving domain names. And this, in turn, is causing delays in terms of fetching the web content. 

Also, it is possible that online games will lag, video streaming will endlessly buffer, and downloads will become time-consuming. 

4. Spotty Connection: 

DNS issues are usually intermittent. So, while some websites will load, others might not. Also, it is possible that your internet connectivity might undergo fluctuations for a whole day. 

How To Fix DNS Server Not Responding Error?

When any DNS-related issues interrupt internet connectivity, it is useful to know how to solve them effectively. And with my help, you can troubleshoot this error and resolve it. 

I have done my best to compile the 8 most effective ways of solving this error below – my advice? Don’t give up before trying them all out!

1. Switch your web browsers.
2. Restart your router.
3. Restart your computer, but do so in ‘Safe Mode.’
4. Flush the DNS cache. 
5. Reconfigure your DNS server.
6. Reconfigure your Security Software or Firewall.
7. Disable IPV6.
8. Contact your ISP.

1. Switch Your Web Browsers:

Sometimes, the simplest approach might just be the correct one. You can just update or switch your browser. 

So, if you see that switching browsers actually works, then you can make it your default browser. 

For example, I used to face major problems with accessing Google Docs from Chrome last year. 

As a writer, this was causing significant delays in my deliveries. So, I switched to Microsoft Edge for a few weeks for a smoother experience. 

2. Restart Your Router:

It is possible that your router might be holding too much data, which in turn is causing bottlenecks when you are attempting to access the World Wide Web! 

In that case, you can turn off your router and unplug it – now, wait for atleast 30 seconds before you can plug it back in and turn the router on. 

Also, once you restart it, wait for it to boot up before you can try to access the website you were trying to open initially.

3. Restart Your Computer In Safe Mode:

This one has always been my favorite go-to option. So, if your operating system is not working properly, it could cause a DNS response error. 

In such cases, you can restart the computer, but do it in Safe Mode to limit the resources and files used. Also, some of the stored data may be causing the DNS server response issue. 

For macOS:

1. Tap on the Apple icon located at the top-left of the screen
2. Now, tap on ‘Shut Down,’ and let your Mac shut down completely.
3. Then press and hold your device’s power button. 
4. Do this till ‘Loading startup options’ appears on your screen.
5. From here, choose a volume.
6. Finally, while you are holding the Shift key down, tap on ‘Continue in Safe Mode.’
7. Your device will now automatically restart. Also, note that you will know you’re in the ‘safe mode’ once you come across ‘Safe Boot’ in the login window’s menu bar.

For Windows:

1. Tap on ‘Windows Start’ located at the bottom-left of the screen. 
2. Now, tap on ‘Power,’ which will open three options for you – ‘Restart,’ ‘Shut Down,’ and ‘Sleep.’ 
3. Tap on ‘Restart,’ while holding the Shift key down. Immediately, you will see ‘Choose an option’ on the screen. 
4. From here, tap on ‘Troubleshoot,’ before clicking on ‘Advanced.’
5. Now, from here, select ‘Start-Up Settings.’
6. Then, click on the ‘Restart’ option. 
7. Once the PC restarts, you will come across some options.
8. Just press F5 or select 5 to access ‘Safe Mode with Networking.’

4. Flush DNS Cache:

DNS cache on a user’s router or device can get corrupted or outdated over time. This, in turn, can stop your DNS from responding. 

For macOS:

1. Tap on the ‘launchpad’ icon located in the Dock. 
2. Now, type ‘Terminal’ into the search box and tap on ‘Terminal’ to open the same.
3. From here, just type out ‘sudo dscacheutil -flushcache’ first and then hit ‘Enter.’

For Windows:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Tap on the ‘Windows Start’ button. Also, you can access the ‘search’ option located at the bottom-left of the screen. 
3. Now, type in ‘Command Prompt’ and then right-click on the same.
4. Then, tap on ‘Run as administrator.’
5. Finally, just type in ‘ipconfig /flushdns’ and hit ‘Enter.’

5. Reconfigure Your DNS Server:

Misconfigured settings in the DNS server can disrupt the normal flow of the server. 

Moreover, this is prone to happen if you tend to manually set server addresses that are inaccurate or no longer functioning. 

As a result, it is always an excellent idea to set up a system in a way that it can automatically detect and subsequently connect to the available DNS server. 

For macOS:

1. Click the ‘Apple’ icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. From here, select ‘System Preferences,’ then click ‘Network.’
3. In the Network window, choose the connection you’re currently using, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet. So, from here, click the ‘Advanced’ button.
4. Now, navigate to the DNS tab. If any custom DNS server addresses appear in the list on the left, select them.
5. Then, click the minus (–) button to delete each listed DNS server.
6. Now, leave the DNS server list empty so macOS can automatically use the network’s default DNS servers.
7. Finally, close the window and apply the changes. So, your system will now automatically use available DNS servers, which can resolve the unresponsive DNS server error.

For Windows:

1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. 
2. Then, type ‘control’ and press ‘Enter’ or click ‘OK’ – the Control Panel window will appear on your screen. 
3. In Control Panel, select ‘Network and Internet.’
4. From here, click ‘View network status and tasks’ to open the Network and Sharing Center.
5. Next, in the left sidebar of the Network and Sharing Center, click ‘Change adapter settings,’ to open the Network Connections window.
6. In the Network Connections window, locate the connection you’re currently using (for example, Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
7. Now, right-click the active connection and choose ‘Properties’ – the properties window for that connection will appear.
8. In the list of items, select ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).’
9. From here, click the ‘Properties’ button below the list.
10. Inside the IPv4 Properties window, you’ll see two options for DNS configuration – ‘Obtain DNS server address automatically’ and ‘Use the following DNS server addresses.’
11. Finally, if you want Windows to automatically connect to an available DNS server, select ‘Obtain DNS server address automatically.’ 
12. Also, if you prefer manual configuration, choose ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’. Then, enter the Preferred DNS server and the Alternate DNS server that you can obtain from your DNS service or network administrator.
13. Finally, click ‘OK’ to save your changes and close the window.

6. Reconfigure Your Security Software Or Firewall:

Security software or a firewall can easily block all DNS queries. This, in turn, can prevent a user’s device from contacting DNS servers. 

In that case, I have explained how you can reconfigure your firewall or security software for both macOS and Windows:

For macOS:

1. Visit ‘System Preferences’ and select ‘Security & Privacy.’
2. From the ‘Firewall’ section, click on ‘Firewall Options.’
3. Ensure that ‘DNS’ is enabled in the featured list of services.

For Windows:

1. Type ‘Firewall’ into the search bar. 
2. From here, pick ‘Windows Defender Firewall.’ 
3. Now, open ‘Windows Defender Firewall.’
4. Then tap on the ‘Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall’ option located on your left. 
5. Now scroll down till you find ‘DNS Client.’ 
6. Ensure you have checked ‘DNS Client’ for both public and private networks. 

7. Disable IPV6:

The transition to IPv6 from IPv4 can cause DNS compatibility issues. Moreover, this can lead to the DNS server failing to respond to errors. This is especially true for older systems. 

8. Contact Your ISP (Internet Service Provider):

When your ISP (internet service provider) experiences any DNS issue, you might witness the ‘DNS not responding’ error. 

Now, this is not really your control. So, you can do only one thing in this case – just contact your ISP and report the issue. 

Also, while you’re waiting for your ISP to solve the issue, you can consider switching temporarily to an alternative DNS server, like:

a) OpenDNS (208.67.220.220 and 208.67.222.222). 

b) Google DNS (8.8.4.4 and 8.8.8.8).

Know How To Fix DNS Server Not Responding Error:

While the ‘DNS server not responding’ error is frustrating and causes unnecessary delays, it is not the end of everything! 

Moreover, it is a temporary issue that you can actually solve easily, thanks to my comprehensive guide focusing on effective solutions for this problem. 

Also, you know how to identify the issue as well. In that case, quit worrying and get back to browsing the internet without any interruption. 

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