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Windows DNS Server Not Responding Error

Errornetwork errors

Overview

Windows 'DNS server not responding' error prevents all web browsing and indicates the system cannot resolve domain names to IP addresses.

Key Details

  • All websites fail to load but some applications using IP directly may work
  • Can affect one device or all devices on the network
  • Ping to 8.8.8.8 may succeed while ping to google.com fails
  • Windows Network Diagnostics typically reports this specific error
  • Can be caused by ISP, router, or local computer issues

Common Causes

  • ISP DNS servers experiencing outage
  • Router DNS relay failing or overloaded
  • Local DNS cache corrupted
  • Network adapter DNS settings misconfigured
  • Third-party DNS filtering software interfering

Steps

  1. 1Flush DNS cache: ipconfig /flushdns
  2. 2Release and renew IP: ipconfig /release then ipconfig /renew
  3. 3Change DNS to Google (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1): Network adapter > IPv4 > Properties
  4. 4Reset Winsock: netsh winsock reset then restart
  5. 5Restart your router and modem — unplug for 30 seconds

Tags

windowsnetworkdnsinternetconnectivity

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Frequently Asked Questions

This confirms DNS is the issue. Your internet connection works but domain name resolution does not.