DNS Server Not Responding? 8 Fixes for Windows, Mac, and Mobile (2026)

When you see "DNS server not responding" or "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN," it means your device cannot translate website names (like google.com) into IP addresses. Without DNS, your browser has no idea where to send your request—even though your internet connection might be perfectly fine. This is one of the most common and most confusing internet errors because your WiFi shows "connected" but nothing loads.

This guide explains what DNS is, why it fails, and gives you 8 proven fixes for every operating system.

What Is DNS and Why Does It Stop Responding?

DNS (Domain Name System) works like a phone book for the internet. When you type "youtube.com" in your browser, your device asks a DNS server "What IP address does youtube.com point to?" The DNS server responds with the correct IP, and your browser connects.

When the DNS server is not responding, this translation cannot happen, and your browser shows an error even though your WiFi connection is active.

Cause	Affects	Fix
ISP DNS server is down	All devices	Switch to public DNS
Corrupted DNS cache	One device	Flush DNS cache
Wrong DNS configuration	One device	Reset DNS settings
Router DNS relay issue	All devices	Restart router or set DNS on router
Firewall blocking DNS	One device	Check firewall/antivirus settings
VPN DNS leak or conflict	One device	Disable VPN temporarily

Fix 1: Switch to a Public DNS Server

This is the most effective fix. Your ISP's DNS server may be slow, overloaded, or down. Switching to a public DNS immediately resolves the issue.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → WiFi → Hardware properties.
2. Click Edit next to DNS server assignment.
3. Set to Manual, enable IPv4.
4. Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
5. Alternate DNS: 8.8.8.8
6. Click Save.

Windows (Command Line)

netsh interface ip set dns name="Wi-Fi" static 1.1.1.1
netsh interface ip add dns name="Wi-Fi" 8.8.8.8 index=2

macOS

1. Open System Settings → Network → WiFi → Details → DNS.
2. Click + and add 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.

iPhone

1. Settings → WiFi → tap i next to your network.
2. Tap Configure DNS → Manual.
3. Delete existing servers, add 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.

Android

1. Settings → Network → WiFi → long-press your network → Modify.
2. Show advanced options → IP settings: Static.
3. DNS 1: 1.1.1.1, DNS 2: 8.8.8.8.

DNS Provider	Primary	Secondary	Focus
Cloudflare	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1	Fastest resolution, privacy-focused
Google	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4	Extremely reliable, global network
Quad9	9.9.9.9	149.112.112.112	Blocks malicious domains automatically
OpenDNS	208.67.222.222	208.67.220.220	Family filtering options

Fix 2: Flush Your DNS Cache

Your device caches DNS lookups to speed up browsing. If a cached entry becomes corrupted or outdated, it can prevent connections to specific sites or all sites.

Windows

ipconfig /flushdns

macOS

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Chrome Browser (all platforms)

Type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar and click Clear host cache.

Fix 3: Restart Your Router

Your router acts as a DNS relay, forwarding DNS requests from your devices to the ISP's DNS server. If the router's DNS cache or relay process hangs, all devices lose DNS. Power-cycle the router (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in) to clear the issue.

Fix 4: Disable Your Firewall or Antivirus Temporarily

Some security software blocks DNS traffic on non-standard ports or interferes with DNS resolution. Temporarily disable your firewall/antivirus to test:

• Windows Defender Firewall: Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Firewall → turn off for Private network.
• Third-party antivirus: Right-click the tray icon → Disable for 10 minutes.

If DNS works with the firewall disabled, add an exception for DNS (UDP port 53) rather than leaving the firewall off.

Fix 5: Disable IPv6

IPv6 DNS resolution can conflict with IPv4 on some networks. Temporarily disabling IPv6 often resolves stubborn DNS issues.

Windows

netsh interface teredo set state disabled
netsh interface ipv6 set dns name="Wi-Fi" static ::1

Or: Network & Internet → WiFi → Properties → uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6.

Fix 6: Reset Network Settings

A full network reset clears all custom DNS configurations, cached data, and network profiles:

• Windows: Settings → Network → Advanced → Network reset
• iPhone: Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings
• Android: Settings → System → Reset → Reset WiFi, mobile & Bluetooth

Fix 7: Set DNS on the Router (Network-Wide Fix)

Instead of changing DNS on each device, configure it once on the router so all devices benefit:

1. Log in to your router at the admin panel.
2. Find Internet or WAN settings.
3. Set DNS to 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.
4. Save and reboot the router.

Fix 8: Check for Malware

Some malware modifies DNS settings to redirect your traffic through malicious servers. If your DNS settings keep changing back after you fix them, run a full malware scan:

:: Windows - run Windows Defender full scan
MpCmdRun -Scan -ScanType 2

Pro Tip: If you frequently experience DNS issues with your ISP, permanently switch to Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) at the router level. Cloudflare operates the fastest DNS network globally with a strong privacy policy. Your ISP's DNS servers are almost always slower and less reliable.

Frequently Asked Questions