Getting DNS error is quite a common issue for most of the network users but DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN can be really troublesome. When you get this error code on your system, it clearly indicates DNS related problems in it. Hence, it will block the access to any website or web page and prevent you from connecting to the internet.
So, unless you troubleshoot this error, the DNS will not be able to translate any IP address in order to connect to the corresponding server. You will only be seeing this error notification along with the heading ‘This webpage is not available’. Hence, before this DNS error takes a toll on your system and network, you need to apply some solutions.
In this article, you will get all the necessary information regarding this error code in the DNS server. It will also suggest the best possible fixes with step by step instructions to remove this DNS error.
What Can Lead to the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error Message?
There are multiple causes due to which users can receive the error of DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on their web pages. According to networking experts, this issue can arise when something is not appropriate with your DNS or Internet settings. A majority of Chrome users has reported about getting this DNS issue more frequently than ever.
However, you can experience this error code on Mac, Windows, Android or other Operating Systems as well. Now, let’s discuss a few major reasons behind getting this DNS error message while accessing web pages.
In case you type a wrong website address or web page link, it can generate this error code. Somehow, if DNS server fails to decode the proper destination of an IP address, you can receive this error.
Any bugs or outdated updates in the Google Chrome or any other web browser can generate DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN message. If your computer has any antivirus or firewall program that blocks a few specific pages, it can point towards this DNS error.
Unstable Internet connectivity during loading any website or updating a web browser can also cause this issue.
How can you Fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error Code?
If you are experiencing DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Mac or any other OS or web browser, check the following info to fix it. Here, you will learn the methods, which can resolve this DNS error and allow you to access websites without any problem.
Fix 1: Relaunch the DNS Client Service
A majority of Windows users has resolved this DNS issue simply by restarting their DNS Client services. Hence, if there is any conflict due to domain name caches of DNS, this solution can fix it quick.
In order to try this method, first, hit the Windows logo button and R keys simultaneously from your keyboard. Then, enter ‘services.msc’ in the box and click on the ‘OK’ button.
As the list of services running on your Windows shows up on the screen, locate the option of ‘DNS Client’.
After that, choose the ‘Restart’ option after right-clicking on it. Users can also make use of the Command Prompt window to restart the service for DNS Client. So, you need to write ‘cmd’ in the Run dialog box and hit the ‘Enter’ key. Next, type the command ‘net stop dnscache’, press ‘Enter’ button and write ‘net start dnscache’.
Fix 2: Release Old IP Address and Renew It
In case you get this confirmation that this error is occuring due to DNS issues in client-side, you can try this fix. Here, you will have to release the current IP address set on your PC. After that, you can renew this address by flushing the local DNS cache on your system.
Instructions for Windows Users
First, follow the steps discussed in the previous method and launch the Run dialog box. Then, write ‘cmd’ and enter into the Command Prompt window by pressing the ‘OK’ button.
Next, type ‘ipconfig /release’ at the place of blinking cursor. As you hit the ‘Enter’ key after typing it, Windows will release the IP address currently set on it. After this command has been executed properly, write ‘ipconfig /flushdns’ in the next line and press ‘Enter’. The purpose of writing this command is to flush the cache of local DNS.
One of the easiest ways to confirm this solution is when it generates ‘Successfully flushed DNS Resolver Cache’ message. Now, write ‘ipconfig /renew’ in the Command Prompt and press ‘Enter’ button. By executing this command, Windows will try to renew this IP address and fix this DNS error code.
Instructions for Mac Users
If you are experiencing DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Mac error, check out the following instructions. On your Mac based computer, you can release and renew the IP address by clicking on ‘System Preferences’. Hence, first, click on the ‘Apple Start’ menu and locate this option from the drop-down menu.
Next, select the tab for ‘Network’ and navigate to the ‘Advanced’ button at the bottom-right corner of the window. Then, find the tab for ‘TCP/IP’ and hit the ‘Renew DHCP’ button.
This will release the local DNS cache from your Mac and make your system suitable for flushing the DNS. Now, click on the icon of ‘Terminal’ and write ‘dscacheutil -flushcache’ in the command window.
Hopefully, this will flush DNS on your Mac, as there is no specific message generated to confirm this. In case this solution doesn’t troubleshoot the DNS error in Mac, try the remaining solutions.
Fix 3: Remove Website from List of Local Hosts
As the local hosts file consist of manual DNS entries, you need to check it for fixing this specific error. This way, you will be able to learn whether the website you are getting this error on is listed in local hosts. If this happens to be the actual reason behind DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, you need to apply the following steps.
Steps on Windows
To try this fix, make sure your Windows has text editor software that you can access as an administrator. This can include programs like Atom, Notepad, which you can easily get on the internet. Then, choose ‘Run as administrator’ after right-clicking on it.
As the text editor window opens on your system, browse to the path link ‘C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\’. Then, inside the folder of ‘etc’, you need to select the filename ‘hosts’.
After opening this file, go through the list of websites or web pages mentioned here. Now, check it thoroughly to locate those pages that you couldn’t access due to this DNS error. If you find any of those websites in the list, simply remove them and restart your computer.
Hopefully, you won’t have to encounter this error code when you try to access any of the sites that you deleted from local hosts recently.
Steps on Mac
For performing this method on your Mac, it is recommended to install a third-party application for managing and editing host files. However, to attempt this method on Mac manually, let’s take a look at the instructions.
You can make use of the Finder bar in order to locate the ‘Utilities’ folder on your Mac. Hence, launch the Mac Finder and search on the left pane to find the applications. Then, check the Menu and hit the ‘Go’ tab beside the option of ‘View’.
Now, select the option of ‘Utilities’ from the drop-down menu. Users can also use their keyboard and hit the buttons of ‘Shift’, ‘Command’ and ‘U’ to open the ‘Utilities’ window.
After that, select the tab for ‘Terminal’ and write the command ‘sudo nano /private/etc/hosts’ in it. Next, repeat the steps discussed in Windows, where you need to check for the sites in the hosts and delete them.
Fix 4: Replace your DNS Server Addresses
This is another great way to fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error message on both Windows and Mac based systems. So, let’s discuss the steps to apply this solution and change the IP address of your DNS server.
Change DNS Server Address in Windows
Start with accessing the Run dialog box (Windows logo + R) and write ‘control panel’ in it. After hitting the ‘OK’ button, open the tab for ‘Network and Internet’. After that, select the ‘Network and Sharing Center’ and hit the link for ‘Change Adapter Settings’ on the left pane.
Choose your active internet connection, which can be a WiFi or LAN connection, and right-click on it. Then, select the option of ‘Properties’ click on the ‘Networking’ tab on the next window.
Now, select the checkbox for ‘Internet Protocol Version 4’ or ‘Internet Protocol Version 6’ based on your connection type. Then, hit the ‘Properties’ button and select the option of ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’.
If you have selected IPv4, then set 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 as your preferred DNS server address. But, in the case of IPv6, you need to set them as 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001.
Finally, click on the ‘OK’ button and relaunch your web browser to access the website giving this DNS error. Now, check whether it is showing you the error ‘This webpage is not available’.
Change DNS Server Address in Mac
If you want to modify your Mac’s DNS server address, click on ‘System Preferences by following the steps in fix 2. Then, select the ‘Network’ tab and hit the ‘Advanced’ button. Now, choose the option of ‘DNS’ and enter the suitable values for IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.
In the case of IPv4, you need to type ‘1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1’ whereas, for IPv6, write 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001 respectively.
So, in this article, you have hopefully learned the underlying causes and fixes for the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error message. Now, to know more about DNS issues or to get a professional solution to resolve them, you can contact our experts.
