If you are getting a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, you won’t be able to access the Internet.

The error indicates a non-existing domain. The error is annoying, right? But don’t worry, we have provided 5 easy solutions that could fix the issue.

Before we look at the solutions, let’s first understand what DNS is and how it is related to Internet access.

What is DNS and what is its role in your Internet access?

DNS is short for Domain Name System. DNS is responsible for relating IP address to the domain name (URL or website address). Domain Name Servers are like Internet Phonebook containing information about website names and their corresponding servers (where they are hosted)

When you type a URL in Chrome address bar, your browser sends the website URL to the Domain Name Server which returns the IP address of the website you want to access. If the DNS is successful in finding the IP address for the domain name, the browser starts loading the website.

If the Domain Name Server is not able to find the IP address related to the URL, it returns an error like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. While this error usually occur when there’s some problem with the website or Domain Name Server, you cannot ignore the possibility of something amiss at your end, like wrong settings, corrupt cache or anything else.

Now let’s look at the solution. Here we have provided 5 solutions but you don’t need to try all of them. You can start with the first solution. and if it does not work, move to next and so on.

Solution One- Stop/Start DNS Client Service

The DNS client service in Windows works to cache and resolve Domain Name System names. The DNS client service is enabled by default in Windows 10. Many users were able to resolve the issue by restarting DNS Client Service. Here are the steps to follow.

• Press Windows logo key and R simultaneously on the keyboard to bring up Run Command Console
• In the Run command console, type services.msc and hit Enter on the keyboard
• In the Services window, find DNS client service in the list and right-click on DNS client service item

• Select Restart from the menu
• Close all windows
• Open a browser and try accessing any website.

If the error is not resolved, move to next solution.

Solution Two- Clear browser cookies and cache

Browsers store information of the websites you visit. This information is stored in form of Internet cookies and cached files. Whenever you visit any site again, the browser uses the cookies and cache to access and load the website faster.

Over time, a large volume of cookies and cached files gets stored in your computer and there is a possibility some cookies have expired that could lead to errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. A simple solution to this problem is deleting cookies and cache which will force the browser to start anew when loading any site. Here are the steps to follow.

• Open Chrome browser
• Copy the following in Chrome address bar – chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
• You will see a Settings tab open and you will see a pop-up like the one below
• Go to Basic tab

• Put a check mark for following options – Browsing history, cookies, and other site data, and cached images and files
• Above these options, you will see Time range. Click down arrow to reveal the drop-down list
• Select All time from the drop-down list
• Click Clear data
• Restart Chrome browser and see if you are able to access the Internet.

If you are still getting a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, move to next solution

Solution Three – Try Google DNS servers

The DNS servers for your internet connection are selected by your ISP providers. There is a possibility the DNS server of your ISP is having some problems that could lead to an error like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. In such situation, you can change the DNS settings that will force the browser to use recommended DNS servers. Here are the settings to follow.

• Press Windows logo key and R simultaneously on the keyboard to bring up Run Command Console
• In the Run command console, type control panel and hit Enter on the keyboard
• In the Control Panel window, set the view by to small icons
• Click Network and Sharing center
• In the Network and Sharing center window, click Change adapter settings

• In the Network connections window, right-click on the network you use

• Select Properties from the menu
• In the Ethernet properties window, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)

• Click Properties
• In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) properties window, click the option Use the following DNS server addresses

• In the Preferred DNS Server, type the following value – 8.8.8.8
• In the Alternate DNS server, type the following value – 8.8.4.4
• Click OK
• Close all windows
• Open a browser and try accessing any website

If the error is not resolved, move to next solution

Solution Four- Use Command prompt to execute commands

Whenever you visit any website, the IP address of the website is stored in DNS cache. There is a possibility the IP address of the website has changed and your computer is still using IP address stored in DNS cache. To resolve this problem, you need to clear DNS cache by executing commands from a command prompt. Here are the steps you need to follow.

• Click Start and type command prompt in the Search box
• Right-click command prompt from the list and select Run as administrator
• In the command prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each command
• Before typing next command in the list, wait for the earlier command operation to complete. Do not type any text within brackets
• ipconfig /release  (This will release IP address)

• ipconfig /flushdns  (This will clear the DNS cache)

• ipconfig /renew  (This will renew IP address)

• netsh int ip set dns (This will rest IP settings)

• netsh winsock reset  (This will reset Winsock catalog)

• After you have executed all commands, close command prompt window

Open a browser and check whether the problem is resolved. In most cases, the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error should be resolved

Solution Five- Disable any VPN services you use

If you are using any VPN service, try disabling it and see if it resolves the issue.   If none of the solution has worked for you, try disabling anti-virus temporarily.  The steps to disable antivirus temporarily differs with each anti-virus. You need to refer official documentation of the anti-virus to know the exact steps to disable anti-virus temporarily.