Introduction
Ever tried to load a website, only to be greeted by a DNS server not responding how to fix it? Don’t panic! This common issue can be frustrating, but with a few simple steps, you can get your internet connection back up and running in no time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of fixing the DNS server error, even if you’re not a tech expert.
Understanding DNS
Before we dive into the fixes, let’s quickly understand what DNS is. DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it acts like a phonebook for the internet, translating domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers can understand.
Fix #1: Restart Your Router and Modem
If you encounter a DNS server not responding how to fix it, one of the simplest fixes is to restart your router and modem. Here’s how you can do it:
- Locate your router and modem. These are usually separate devices, but some models combine both functions into one unit.
- Power off both the router and modem. You can do this by unplugging their power cables from the wall outlet.
- Wait for about 30 seconds to 1 minute to allow the devices to fully power down.
- Plug the modem back in and wait for it to fully restart. This process may take a few minutes as the modem establishes a connection with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
- Once the modem has restarted, plug the router back in and wait for it to fully restart as well.
- Try accessing the internet again to see if the issue has been resolved.
Restarting your router and modem can often resolve connectivity issues, including DNS server errors. If the problem persists, you may need to try other troubleshooting steps, such as changing your DNS server address or contacting your ISP for assistance.
Fix #2: Change Your DNS Server Address
If you’ve tried restarting your router and modem without success in resolving the DNS server not responding how to fix it, you can attempt to change your DNS server address. This process involves switching from your default DNS server to a public DNS server like Google DNS or OpenDNS. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
- Go to your network settings. You can usually access this by clicking on the network icon in the system tray and selecting “Open Network & Internet settings.”
- In the Network & Internet settings window, click on “Change adapter options” under the “Change your network settings” section.
- Right-click on your active network connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select “Properties” from the context menu.
- In the Properties window, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on the “Properties” button.
- In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties window, select the option to “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
- Enter the IP addresses of the public DNS servers. For Google DNS, enter “8.8.8.8” in the Preferred DNS server field and “8.8.4.4” in the Alternate DNS server field. For OpenDNS, enter “208.67.222.222” in the Preferred DNS server field and “208.67.220.220” in the Alternate DNS server field.
- Click “OK” to save your changes, then restart your computer to apply the new DNS server settings.
Changing your DNS server address can sometimes resolve the DNS server not responding how to fix and improve your internet connection. If the issue persists, you may need to consider other troubleshooting steps or seek assistance from a professional.
Fix #3: Flush Your DNS Cache
Flushing your DNS cache is a straightforward process that can help resolve the DNS server not responding how to fix:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on Command Prompt, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
ipconfig /flushdns
“`
- Wait for the process to complete. You should see a message indicating that the DNS resolver cache was successfully flushed.
- After flushing the DNS cache, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Flushing your DNS cache can clear out any outdated or corrupted DNS information that may be causing the DNS server not responding how to fix it. By doing so, you’re essentially forcing your computer to re-query DNS servers for updated information, which can help resolve connectivity issues.
If flushing the DNS cache doesn’t fix the problem, you may need to consider other troubleshooting steps, such as changing your DNS server address or resetting your TCP/IP stack. However, in many cases, flushing the DNS cache is sufficient to resolve DNS-related issues and restore your internet connection.
Fix #4: Update Your Network Drivers
When your internet connection is disrupted due to a DNS server not responding how to fix, outdated or corrupted network drivers could be the culprit. To resolve this issue, you’ll need to update your network drivers. Here’s a step-by-step guide to updating your network drivers:
- Right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager” from the menu that appears.
- In the Device Manager window, locate and expand the “Network adapters” section.
- Right-click on the network adapter for which you want to update the driver and select “Update driver” from the context menu.
- In the Update Driver Software window, select “Search automatically for updated driver software.” Windows will search online for the latest driver software for your network adapter and install it if found.
- Follow any additional on-screen instructions to complete the driver update process.
- Once the driver update is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Updating your network drivers can help resolve DNS server errors and improve overall network stability. It’s a relatively simple process that can be done even if you’re not a tech expert. By keeping your network drivers up to date, you can ensure that your internet connection remains reliable and secure.
Fix #5: Reset Your TCP/IP Stack
If you’ve tried restarting your router and modem, changing your DNS server address, flushing your DNS cache, and updating your network drivers but the DNS server not responding how to fix persists, resetting your TCP/IP stack may help. Here’s how you can do it:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by typing “cmd” in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on Command Prompt, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
netsh int ip reset
“`
- Next, type the following command and press Enter:
“`
netsh winsock reset
“`
- After running these commands, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Resetting your TCP/IP stack can help resolve issues related to network connectivity, including DNS server errors. It resets various network settings back to their default configurations, which can sometimes fix underlying issues causing the DNS server error.
Conclusion
When faced with a DNS server not responding how to fix it, the first step is to restart your router and modem. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve connectivity issues and restore your internet connection. If that doesn’t work, you can try changing your DNS server address. This process involves switching from your default DNS server to a public DNS server like Google DNS or OpenDNS. You can do this by going to your network settings and entering the IP addresses of the public DNS servers.
If changing your DNS server address doesn’t work, you can try flushing your DNS cache. This process clears out any outdated or corrupted DNS information that may be causing the error. To flush your DNS cache, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type “ipconfig /flushdns”.
Another possible solution is to update your network drivers. Outdated or corrupted network drivers can cause DNS server errors. To update your network drivers, open the Device Manager, expand the Network Adapters section, right-click on your network adapter, and select “Update driver”.
If none of these solutions work, you can try resetting your TCP/IP stack. This process resets the entire network configuration on your computer and can help resolve more complex DNS server issues. To reset your TCP/IP stack, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following commands: “netsh int ip reset” and “netsh winsock reset”.
By following these simple steps, you can resolve a DNS server not responding how to fix it and get back to using the internet without any issues.
About Bytagig
Bytagig is dedicated to providing reliable, full-scale cyber security and IT support for businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups in a variety of industries. Bytagig works both remotely with on-site support in Portland, San Diego, and Boston. Acting as internal IT staff, Bytagig handles employee desktop setup and support, comprehensive IT systems analysis, IT project management, website design, and more. Bytagig is setting the standard for MSPs by being placed on Channel Future’s NexGen 101 list.
