How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Windows & Mac (2026)

Getting the "DNS Server Not Responding" error? This frustrating error prevents you from accessing websites even though your internet connection might be working fine. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone book — it translates website names into IP addresses. When it fails, your browser can't find any websites.

Follow these step-by-step solutions to fix the DNS server not responding error on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Mac.

What Does DNS Server Not Responding Mean?

When you see this error, it means your computer cannot reach the DNS server to translate website addresses. You might see messages like:

• "DNS server not responding"
• "Your DNS server might be unavailable"
• "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN"
• "Server DNS address could not be found"
• "This site can't be reached"

Fix 1: Restart Your Router and Computer

Always start with the basics:

1. Restart your computer
2. Unplug your router for 30 seconds, then plug it back in
3. Wait 2 minutes for the router to fully boot up
4. Try accessing a website

Fix 2: Flush DNS Cache

Your computer stores DNS records in a cache that can become corrupted:

On Windows:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click Start → Terminal Admin)
2. Type: ipconfig /flushdns
3. You should see: "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache"
4. Try accessing websites again

On Mac:

1. Open Terminal
2. Type: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
3. Enter your password

Fix 3: Change DNS Server to Google or Cloudflare

Your ISP's DNS server might be down or slow. Switching to a reliable public DNS server often fixes the problem immediately:

On Windows 11:

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet)
2. Click your connected network → Hardware properties
3. Click Edit next to DNS server assignment
4. Switch to Manual
5. Enable IPv4 and enter:
   • Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
   • Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4
6. Click Save

On Windows 10:

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center
2. Click Change adapter settings
3. Right-click your network → Properties
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties
5. Select "Use the following DNS server addresses"
6. Enter: Preferred: 8.8.8.8, Alternate: 8.8.4.4

On Mac:

1. Go to System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details
2. Click DNS
3. Click + and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
4. Click OK → Apply

Recommended DNS Servers:

Provider	Primary DNS	Secondary DNS
Google DNS	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1
OpenDNS	208.67.222.222	208.67.220.220

Fix 4: Disable IPv6

IPv6 can sometimes cause DNS issues:

1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, press Enter
2. Right-click your network → Properties
3. Uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"
4. Click OK
5. Restart your computer

Fix 5: Reset Network Configuration

Reset your entire network stack:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Run these commands one by one:

   ipconfig /flushdns
   ipconfig /registerdns
   ipconfig /release
   ipconfig /renew
   netsh winsock reset
   netsh int ip reset

3. Restart your computer

Fix 6: Disable Antivirus/Firewall Temporarily

Some security software can block DNS requests:

• Temporarily disable your antivirus
• Try accessing websites
• If it works, add DNS exceptions to your antivirus settings
• Re-enable your antivirus immediately after testing

Fix 7: Try Safe Mode with Networking

1. Press Windows + I → System → Recovery
2. Click Restart now under Advanced startup
3. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart
4. Press 5 for Safe Mode with Networking
5. If DNS works in Safe Mode, a third-party program is causing the issue

Fix 8: Update Network Drivers

1. Open Device Manager
2. Expand Network adapters
3. Right-click your adapter → Update driver
4. Select Search automatically
5. Restart your computer

Fix 9: Disable Peer-to-Peer DNS

Windows uses peer-to-peer updates that can interfere with DNS:

1. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options
2. Click Delivery Optimization
3. Turn off "Allow downloads from other PCs"

FAQ

What is the best DNS server?

Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) is generally the fastest DNS server, while Google (8.8.8.8) is the most reliable. Both are free and significantly faster than most ISP DNS servers.

Can I use Google DNS on my phone?

Yes! On Android, go to Settings → Network → Private DNS and enter dns.google. On iPhone, change DNS in Wi-Fi settings for each network.

Is changing DNS safe?

Yes, changing to Google or Cloudflare DNS is completely safe and often faster and more reliable than your ISP's default DNS server.

Conclusion

The DNS server not responding error is almost always fixable by changing your DNS server to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). This should be your first step as it's the quickest and most effective solution. If that doesn't work, flush your DNS cache and reset your network configuration. These methods work on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Mac.