The DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses. When you enter a website address in your browser, the DNS servers translate it into the corresponding IP address and then direct your request to the appropriate web server. However, sometimes your browser may encounter an error while trying to access a website, and one of the most common errors is the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error.
In this blog, we will discuss what this error means, what causes it, and how you can fix it.
The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is a common DNS-related error that occurs when the DNS servers cannot find the IP address corresponding to the domain name you entered. The error message appears on your screen when you try to access a website and your browser cannot establish a connection with the website’s server.
The term “NXDOMAIN” in the error message stands for “Non-Existent Domain,” which means that the DNS servers could not find any records for the domain name you entered.
There are several reasons why you might encounter the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. Some of the most common causes include:
Now that we know what causes the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error let’s look at some of the ways to fix it.
The first thing you should do when you encounter the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is to check your internet connection. Ensure that your device is connected to the internet and try to access other websites to see if the issue is with your internet connection.
Clearing your DNS cache can sometimes help resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. To clear your DNS cache, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Step 2: Type the following command and hit Enter: ipconfig /flushdns
Step 3: Once the command executes successfully, restart your browser and try accessing the website again.
If your DNS server settings are incorrect or if the DNS servers are down, you can change your DNS servers to resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. To change your DNS servers, follow these steps:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
Step 3: Right-click on your network connection and select Properties.
Step 4: Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
Step 5: Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the following DNS server addresses:
Step 6: Click OK to save your changes.
Step 7: Restart your browser and try accessing the website again.
If you’re using Google Chrome, you can try disabling the DNS prediction service to resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. To do this, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Google Chrome and click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner.
Step 2: Click on Settings.
Step 3: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Advanced.
Step 4: Under the Privacy and security section, click on “Use a prediction service to load pages more quickly.”
Step 5: Toggle off the “Use a prediction service to load pages more quickly” option.
Step 6: Restart your browser and try accessing the website again.
Method 5: Contact your ISP
If none of the above methods work, you may need to contact your internet service provider (ISP) to resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. Your ISP may be able to troubleshoot the issue and provide you with a solution.
The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is a common DNS-related error that can occur for several reasons, including incorrect DNS server settings, network connectivity issues, blocked or restricted access to websites, incorrect URLs or domain names, or DNS server issues. To fix the error, you can try checking your internet connection, clearing your DNS cache, changing your DNS servers, disabling DNS prediction service, or contacting your ISP. With these steps, you should be able to resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error and access the website you were trying to visit.
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