{"id":19110,"date":"2026-04-21T12:21:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/blog\/?p=19110"},"modified":"2026-04-30T14:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T18:15:08","slug":"how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix &#8220;DNS Server Not Responding&#8221; Error (Windows, Mac &amp; Linux)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What does 'DNS server not responding' mean?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"It means your device sent a request to translate a domain name (like google.com) into an IP address, but the DNS server didn't reply in time or at all. This could be a problem with the DNS server itself, your network connection, your router, or your device's DNS settings.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the fastest fix for DNS server not responding?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The three quickest fixes are: (1) Flush your DNS cache \u2014 on Windows run ipconfig \/flushdns, on Mac run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. (2) Switch to Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) in your network adapter settings. (3) Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds. These three steps resolve the majority of DNS errors.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Why does Windows say 'Your DNS server might be unavailable'?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"This appears when Windows network diagnostics detect that your configured DNS server isn't responding. It's most commonly caused by your router's DNS going down or your ISP having issues. Manually switching to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) typically resolves it immediately.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do I fix DNS_PROBE_POSSIBLE in Chrome?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Go to chrome:\/\/net-internals\/#dns and click Clear host cache to flush Chrome's internal DNS cache. Then flush your system DNS cache, and if the error continues, switch your DNS server to 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare).\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do I fix 'No functioning DNS server available'?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"'No functioning DNS server available' means Windows could not find any responding DNS server. The most reliable fix is to go to your network adapter's TCP\/IPv4 properties and manually enter 8.8.8.8 as the preferred DNS and 8.8.4.4 as the alternate.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Is it safe to flush DNS?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes, flushing your DNS cache is completely safe. It clears cached domain-to-IP mappings so your device looks them up fresh. No settings are changed, no data is lost, and your internet connection is not interrupted.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do I fix DNS errors on a Mac?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Open Terminal and run: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. If that doesn't work, go to System Settings > Network, select your connection, click Details, go to the DNS tab, and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as DNS servers.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do I check if my DNS is working?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Run nslookup google.com in a command prompt or terminal. A working DNS returns a valid IP address. You can also run ping 8.8.8.8 \u2014 if that succeeds but visiting websites fails, the problem is definitely DNS rather than general connectivity.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"HowTo\",\n  \"name\": \"How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding\",\n  \"description\": \"Step-by-step guide to fixing the DNS server not responding error on Windows, Mac, and Linux.\",\n  \"totalTime\": \"PT15M\",\n  \"step\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 1,\n      \"name\": \"Flush your DNS cache\",\n      \"text\": \"Windows: ipconfig \/flushdns | Mac: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder | Linux: sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 2,\n      \"name\": \"Switch to a public DNS server\",\n      \"text\": \"Set your preferred DNS to 8.8.8.8 and alternate to 8.8.4.4 in your network adapter settings.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 3,\n      \"name\": \"Restart your router\",\n      \"text\": \"Unplug your router from the power source, wait 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully reconnect.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 4,\n      \"name\": \"Release and renew your IP address\",\n      \"text\": \"Windows: run ipconfig \/release then ipconfig \/renew. Mac\/Linux: disconnect and reconnect to your network.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 5,\n      \"name\": \"Disable IPv6 temporarily\",\n      \"text\": \"In your network adapter's TCP\/IP settings, uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP\/IPv6) and click OK.\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"HowToStep\",\n      \"position\": 6,\n      \"name\": \"Check firewall and antivirus settings\",\n      \"text\": \"Temporarily disable your firewall to check if it is blocking DNS traffic on port 53. If this fixes the issue, add an exception rather than leaving the firewall disabled.\"\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;ve landed here, you&#8217;re probably staring at an error that says <em>&#8220;DNS server not responding&#8221;<\/em>, <em>&#8220;Your DNS server might be unavailable&#8221;<\/em>, or <em>&#8220;No functioning DNS server available&#8221;<\/em>  &#8211; and your browser isn&#8217;t going anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that DNS errors, while frustrating, are almost always fixable in a few minutes. This guide walks you through every proven fix in order, from the quick wins to the deeper solutions, covering Windows, Mac, and Linux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In This Guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-dns-error\">What does this error actually mean?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#common-error-codes\">Common DNS error codes explained<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#quick-fixes\">Start here: the three fastest fixes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#all-fixes\">All fixes, step by step<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#platform-specific\">Platform-specific instructions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-dns-error\">What Does &#8220;DNS Server Not Responding&#8221; Actually Mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every time you type a website address into your browser, your device needs to translate that human-readable name (like <em>google.com<\/em>) into a numerical IP address that computers use to route traffic. That translation is handled by a DNS server, think of it as the internet&#8217;s phone book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you see &#8220;DNS server not responding,&#8221; it means your device sent that translation request and got no reply. The DNS server it was configured to use either didn&#8217;t respond in time, returned an error, or couldn&#8217;t be reached at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a handful of reasons this happens: your router&#8217;s DNS server may have gone down, your DNS cache may have gone stale or corrupted, a firewall may be blocking DNS traffic, or your ISP&#8217;s DNS infrastructure may simply be having problems. The fix depends on which of these is to blame &#8211; which is exactly what this guide helps you figure out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"common-error-codes\">Common DNS Error Codes and What They Mean<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>DNS problems show up under many different error messages depending on your browser and operating system. Here&#8217;s a quick reference for the ones we see most often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Error Message<\/th><th>Where You&#8217;ll See It<\/th><th>What It Means<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><code>DNS server not responding<\/code><\/td><td>Windows (all browsers)<\/td><td>Windows diagnostics found your DNS server is unreachable<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>Your DNS server might be unavailable<\/code><\/td><td>Windows troubleshooter<\/td><td>Same as above; Windows ran diagnostics and pinpointed DNS<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>DNS_PROBE_POSSIBLE<\/code><\/td><td>Chrome \/ Edge<\/td><td>DNS lookup started but returned an inconclusive result<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED<\/code><\/td><td>Chrome \/ Edge<\/td><td>DNS lookup completed but found no matching IP for the domain<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>No functioning DNS server available<\/code><\/td><td>Windows<\/td><td>No DNS server in your configuration is responding at all<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>Server not found<\/code><\/td><td>Firefox<\/td><td>Firefox could not resolve the domain name<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>Safari can't find the server<\/code><\/td><td>Safari (Mac \/ iOS)<\/td><td>DNS lookup failed or timed out<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>Temporary failure in name resolution<\/code><\/td><td>Linux \/ terminal<\/td><td>The system resolver could not reach a DNS server<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><code>Unable to resolve host<\/code><\/td><td>Linux \/ Android<\/td><td>The hostname could not be translated to an IP address<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All of these errors point to the same underlying problem, DNS resolution failed, so the fixes below apply to all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quick-fixes\">Start Here: The Three Fastest Fixes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before working through the full list, try these three first. They solve the problem in the majority of cases and take less than five minutes combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Fix 1 &#8211; Flush Your DNS Cache<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your device stores recent DNS lookups in a local cache. If an entry has gone stale or corrupted, it causes resolution failures. Flushing it forces a fresh lookup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Windows<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>ipconfig \/flushdns<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>macOS (Monterey and later)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo dscacheutil -flushcache &amp;&amp; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Linux (systemd)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>After running the command, reload the page you were trying to reach. If it still doesn&#8217;t load, move to Quick Fix 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Fix 2 &#8211; Switch to a Public DNS Server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your router or ISP may be assigning a DNS server that is slow, down, or unreliable. Switching to Google&#8217;s or Cloudflare&#8217;s public DNS is fast, free, and often resolves the issue immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Google DNS:<\/strong> <code>8.8.8.8<\/code> (preferred) and <code>8.8.4.4<\/code> (alternate)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cloudflare DNS:<\/strong> <code>1.1.1.1<\/code> (preferred) and <code>1.0.0.1<\/code> (alternate)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>See the <a href=\"#platform-specific\">platform-specific section<\/a> below for the exact steps on Windows, Mac, and Linux.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Fix 3 &#8211; Restart Your Router<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many DNS errors are caused by the router itself having a stale or failed DNS state. Unplug it from the wall, wait a full 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait for it to fully reconnect before testing. This is a power cycle \u2014 not a factory reset \u2014 so nothing gets wiped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"all-fixes\">All Fixes, Step by Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the quick fixes didn&#8217;t resolve it, work through the following in order. Each one addresses a different possible cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Try a Different Browser<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before going deeper, check whether the problem is browser-specific. Open a different browser and visit the same site. If it loads, the issue is with that browser&#8217;s DNS cache, not your system. In Chrome specifically, you can flush its internal DNS cache by going to <code>chrome:\/\/net-internals\/#dns<\/code> and clicking &#8220;Clear host cache.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Try a Different Device<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Load the same website on another device on the same network it can be a phone, tablet, or another computer. If it works on the other device, the problem is specific to your machine. If every device on the network is affected, the problem is your router or your ISP&#8217;s DNS infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Restart Your Computer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A restart clears transient network state, refreshes background services, and often resolves intermittent DNS failures caused by software conflicts. Worth doing before digging into more involved fixes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Flush DNS Cache and Renew Your IP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On Windows you can flush the DNS cache and renew your IP address together, which helps if DHCP has assigned stale configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Windows<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>ipconfig \/flushdns\nipconfig \/release\nipconfig \/renew<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>macOS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo dscacheutil -flushcache &amp;&amp; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Linux (systemd)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Change Your DNS Server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Manually assigning a reliable public DNS server is one of the most effective fixes available. See the <a href=\"#platform-specific\">step-by-step instructions<\/a> below for your operating system. Use <code>8.8.8.8<\/code> \/ <code>8.8.4.4<\/code> (Google) or <code>1.1.1.1<\/code> \/ <code>1.0.0.1<\/code> (Cloudflare).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Disable IPv6 Temporarily<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some DNS errors, particularly <code>ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED<\/code> and &#8220;No functioning DNS server available&#8221;, are caused by a conflict between IPv6 and your DNS configuration. Temporarily disabling IPv6 can confirm whether this is the cause and often resolves it outright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Windows:<\/strong> Control Panel ? Network and Sharing Center ? click your active connection ? Properties ? uncheck <strong>Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP\/IPv6)<\/strong> ? OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>macOS:<\/strong> System Settings ? Network ? select your connection ? Details ? TCP\/IP tab ? set &#8220;Configure IPv6&#8221; to <strong>Link-local only<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Check Your Firewall and Antivirus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>DNS traffic uses port 53 (UDP and TCP). If your firewall or antivirus is blocking this port, DNS resolution will fail silently. Temporarily disable your firewall and check whether the error clears. If it does, add a specific exception for DNS traffic rather than leaving your firewall off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Only disable your firewall long enough to test. Re-enable it as soon as you&#8217;ve confirmed whether it was the cause.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Disable Secondary Network Adapters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your machine has multiple active network adapters, a physical Ethernet card, a Wi-Fi adapter, and a virtual adapter from VPN or virtual machine software, they can conflict during DNS resolution. Disabling adapters you&#8217;re not actively using can resolve these conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Windows:<\/strong> Control Panel ? Network Connections ? right-click any unused adapter ? <strong>Disable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo ip link set eth1 down<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Replace <code>eth1<\/code> with the interface you want to disable. Run <code>ip link show<\/code> to list all interfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Disconnect Your VPN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>VPNs route DNS queries through their own servers. If the VPN&#8217;s DNS infrastructure is down or misconfigured, you&#8217;ll get DNS errors even though the rest of your internet connection works fine. Disconnect your VPN and test again. If DNS resolves normally without it, the issue is with the VPN&#8217;s DNS settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Update Network Adapter Drivers (Windows)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Outdated or corrupted network adapter drivers can cause intermittent DNS failures, especially after a Windows update. Right-click the Start button ? Device Manager ? expand <strong>Network adapters<\/strong> ? right-click your adapter ? <strong>Update driver<\/strong> ? Search automatically for updated driver software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Boot in Safe Mode with Networking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you suspect a third-party application is interfering with DNS, some security tools and system utilities can do this, booting in Safe Mode with networking loads only essential services. If DNS works in Safe Mode, a startup application in your normal environment is the culprit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Windows:<\/strong> Press <code>Windows + R<\/code> ? type <code>msconfig<\/code> ? Boot tab ? check <strong>Safe boot<\/strong> and select <strong>Network<\/strong> ? Apply ? restart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mac (Apple Silicon):<\/strong> Shut down, hold the power button until startup options appear, select your disk, hold Shift, then click Continue in Safe Mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mac (Intel):<\/strong> Restart and hold the Shift key until the Apple logo appears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"platform-specific\">How to Change Your DNS Server &#8211; Step by Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Windows 10 and Windows 11<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Press <code>Windows + R<\/code>, type <code>ncpa.cpl<\/code>, and press Enter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right-click your active network connection and select <strong>Properties<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP\/IPv4)<\/strong> and click <strong>Properties<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select <strong>Use the following DNS server addresses<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter <code>8.8.8.8<\/code> as the Preferred DNS server and <code>8.8.4.4<\/code> as the Alternate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click OK, then close the remaining windows.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">macOS (Ventura, Sonoma, and Later)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open System Settings and go to <strong>Network<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), then click <strong>Details<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the <strong>DNS<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>+<\/strong> button and add <code>8.8.8.8<\/code>, then add <code>8.8.4.4<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click OK and then Apply.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ubuntu \/ Debian Linux<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On modern Ubuntu (18.04 and later using systemd-resolved), open the resolved config:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo nano \/etc\/systemd\/resolved.conf<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Find the <code>[Resolve]<\/code> section and set the DNS line to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>DNS=8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Save the file and restart the resolver:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>On systems using <code>\/etc\/resolv.conf<\/code> directly, open the file and add or replace the nameserver lines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>nameserver 8.8.8.8\nnameserver 8.8.4.4<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Verify Your DNS Is Working<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After applying a fix, use these commands to confirm DNS is resolving correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Windows and macOS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>nslookup google.com<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Linux:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>dig google.com<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>A successful response returns a valid IP address. If you see <code>NXDOMAIN<\/code>, <code>SERVFAIL<\/code>, or a timeout, DNS is still not resolving correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also quickly separate a DNS problem from a broader connectivity issue by pinging an IP address directly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code><code>ping 8.8.8.8<\/code><\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>If this succeeds but visiting websites doesn&#8217;t, the problem is definitively DNS. If this also fails, you have a broader network connectivity issue rather than a DNS-specific one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hosting shouldn&#8217;t add to your DNS headaches. KnownHost&#8217;s fully managed VPS and dedicated servers include expert 24\/7 support that handles DNS configuration, nameserver setup, and network troubleshooting for you. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/managed-vps\"><strong>Explore Managed VPS Hosting ?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does &#8220;DNS server not responding&#8221; mean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It means your device sent a request to translate a domain name into an IP address, and the DNS server did not reply. This can be caused by the DNS server being down, your network failing to reach it, a misconfigured router, or a corrupted local DNS cache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the fastest fix for DNS server not responding?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by flushing your DNS cache,  on Windows run <code>ipconfig \/flushdns<\/code>, on Mac run <code>sudo dscacheutil -flushcache &amp;&amp; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/code>. If that doesn&#8217;t work, switch your DNS server to <code>8.8.8.8<\/code> and restart your router. These three steps resolve the majority of DNS errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does Windows say &#8220;Your DNS server might be unavailable&#8221;?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This message appears when the Windows network troubleshooter detects that your configured DNS server isn&#8217;t responding. It&#8217;s most commonly caused by your router&#8217;s DNS server going down or your ISP experiencing issues. Manually switching to Google DNS (<code>8.8.8.8<\/code>) typically fixes it immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix DNS_PROBE_POSSIBLE in Chrome?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Go to <code>chrome:\/\/net-internals\/#dns<\/code> and click &#8220;Clear host cache&#8221; to flush Chrome&#8217;s internal DNS cache. Then flush your system DNS cache, and if the error persists, switch your network adapter&#8217;s DNS to <code>8.8.8.8<\/code>. This error means Chrome&#8217;s DNS probe returned an inconclusive result \u2014 a fresh lookup usually clears it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix &#8220;No functioning DNS server available&#8221;?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This Windows error means none of the DNS servers in your configuration are responding. The most reliable fix is to go into your network adapter&#8217;s TCP\/IPv4 properties and manually enter <code>8.8.8.8<\/code> as the preferred DNS and <code>8.8.4.4<\/code> as the alternate. This overrides whatever broken server your router was assigning automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it safe to flush DNS?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, completely. Flushing DNS clears your device&#8217;s cache of recently resolved domain names. No settings are changed, no data is deleted, and your internet connection isn&#8217;t interrupted. The cache rebuilds itself automatically as you browse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I fix DNS errors on a Mac?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Open Terminal and run: <code>sudo dscacheutil -flushcache &amp;&amp; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/code>. If the error persists, go to System Settings ? Network ? select your connection ? Details ? DNS tab, and add <code>8.8.8.8<\/code> and <code>8.8.4.4<\/code>. On macOS Monterey and later, the <code>killall -HUP mDNSResponder<\/code> part is required,  <code>dscacheutil<\/code> alone won&#8217;t fully flush the cache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I check if my DNS is working?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Run <code>nslookup google.com<\/code> in a command prompt or terminal. A working DNS returns a valid IP address. You can also run <code>ping 8.8.8.8<\/code>, if that succeeds but <code>ping google.com<\/code> fails, the problem is definitely DNS rather than general network connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need rock-solid DNS for your business? KnownHost&#8217;s dedicated servers give you full control over your DNS configuration, backed by enterprise-grade infrastructure and around-the-clock support. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/dedicated-servers\"><strong>View Dedicated Server Options ?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;ve landed here, you&#8217;re probably staring at an error that says &#8220;DNS server not responding&#8221;, &#8220;Your DNS server might be unavailable&#8221;, or &#8220;No functioning DNS server available&#8221; &#8211; and your browser isn&#8217;t going anywhere. The good news is that DNS errors, while frustrating, are almost always fixable in a few minutes. This guide walks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1979],"tags":[74,86,1448,91],"class_list":["post-19110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guides","tag-dns","tag-hosting","tag-tips","tag-vps-2"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to fix dns server not responding error on Windows, Mac &amp; Linux<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"DNS server not responding? Follow our step-by-step fixes for Windows, Mac, and Linux \u2014 covering every error from DNS_PROBE_POSSIBLE to &quot;Your DNS server might be unavailable.&quot; Most fixes take under 5 minutes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to fix dns server not responding error on Windows, Mac &amp; Linux\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"DNS server not responding? Follow our step-by-step fixes for Windows, Mac, and Linux \u2014 covering every error from DNS_PROBE_POSSIBLE to &quot;Your DNS server might be unavailable.&quot; Most fixes take under 5 minutes.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.knownhost.com\/blog\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"KnownHost\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KnownHost\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-21T16:21:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-30T18:15:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jonathan K.W.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@KnownHost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@KnownHost\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jonathan K.W.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jonathan K.W.\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8661868db511b07eb455356260f4b0ac\"},\"headline\":\"How to Fix &#8220;DNS Server Not Responding&#8221; Error (Windows, Mac &amp; Linux)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-21T16:21:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-30T18:15:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1988,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"DNS\",\"hosting\",\"tips\",\"vps\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-fix-dns-server-not-responding-error\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to fix dns server not responding error on Windows, Mac & Linux\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.knownhost.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-21T16:21:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-30T18:15:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"DNS server not responding? 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