How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding – Windows 11 & 10

byKona -
0

How to Fix "DNS Server Not Responding" (Windows 11, Windows 10, Wi-Fi, PS5, Android & More)

DNS server not responding error on laptop
You click a link. The page won't load. Instead, your screen shows one annoying message: "DNS server not responding."

It seems that your entire Internet is down. However, it is most likely not the Wi-Fi. It is most likely not the Internet plan. It is most likely just a small thing, something not a big deal. It is most likely the DNS server, which is not working now.

In this article, you will find answers to the questions What is DNS? Why am I getting this error? And how do I fix it? The solutions for the error on Windows 11, Windows 10, Wi-Fi, one-system only, PS5, Ubuntu, and Android are all covered in simple, easy-to-follow steps.

Let's fix it.

What Does "DNS Server Not Responding" Mean?

How DNS works diagram
Think of the DNS (Domain Name System) as the telephone directory of the Internet. When you type in "google.com," your computer has to convert this domain name to an IP address (telephone number) in order to find the website. This is where the DNS comes in; it looks up the domain name and gives your browser the corresponding IP address.

If you're getting the error "DNS server not responding," it means that your computer attempted to look up a domain name (web address), but the DNS was not able to provide the necessary IP address.

The good news is that your Internet connection is probably working fine.

It may just have failed to respond to a specific lookup request.

What Is the Cause of DNS Failure?

There isn't just one cause. It's usually one of these:

  • Your internet service provider's DNS server is down or overloaded
  • A problem with your router or modem
  • Outdated or corrupted network adapter drivers
  • A buildup of old, broken data in your DNS cache
  • A misconfigured firewall or antivirus blocking DNS traffic
  • A bad Wi-Fi connection or weak signal
  • Windows network settings that got scrambled after an update

Because there are so many possible causes, the fix is usually trial and error — try one solution, test it, move to the next if it doesn't work. That's exactly how this guide is laid out.

How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Windows 11

Windows 11 users often see this error right after a system update. Here's the order of fixes worth trying.

1. Restart Your Router and PC First

Before anything else, restart your router. Unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in. Then restart your computer. This clears temporary glitches and solves the problem more often than people expect.

2. Flush Your DNS Cache

Your computer stores old DNS results to save time. If that stored data gets corrupted, it causes errors. Clear it out:

ipconfig flushdns command in Windows 11


  1. Search "cmd" in the Windows search bar and open Command Prompt.
  2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  3. Then run these one by one:
    • ipconfig /registerdns
    • ipconfig /release
    • ipconfig /renew

Restart your PC afterward.

3. Change Your DNS Server Address

Sometimes your ISP's default DNS server is the actual problem. Switching to a public DNS server often fixes this instantly.

  1. Open Settings > Network & Internet.
  2. Click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
  3. Select Edit next to DNS server assignment.
  4. Change it from Automatic to Manual.
  5. Turn on IPv4 and enter a preferred DNS address (see the section below on which DNS to pick).
  6. Save and restart your browser.

4. Update Your Network Adapter Driver

An outdated driver can silently break DNS requests.

  1. Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
  2. Expand Network adapters.
  3. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and choose Update driver.
  4. Select Search automatically for drivers.

5. Disable IPv6 Temporarily

IPv6 conflicts are a common, lesser-known cause in Windows 11.

  1. Go to Network Connections (search "ncpa.cpl").
  2. Right-click your active connection > Properties.
  3. Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
  4. Click OK and restart.

How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Windows 10

Windows 10 uses nearly the same fixes, with slightly different menus.

Reset Winsock and TCP/IP

This is a Windows 10 favorite fix that resets your network settings back to default:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
  3. Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.
  4. Restart your computer.

Disable Extra Network Connections

If you have unused network adapters enabled (like a virtual VPN adapter or an old Ethernet connection), they can interfere.

  1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Click Change adapter settings.
  3. Right-click any connection you're not using and select Disable.

Try a Different Browser

If only your browser fails to load pages, but other apps use the internet fine, the browser's own DNS cache might be the problem. Try Firefox if you use Chrome, or vice versa. If that works, clear your original browser's cache and update it.

Router Wi-Fi signal troubleshooting

DNS Server Not Responding on Wi-Fi

If this only happens over Wi-Fi (but works fine on wired Ethernet), the issue is usually your router or wireless signal, not your computer.

  • Move closer to your router. Weak signal causes dropped DNS requests.
  • Restart the router. This clears its internal DNS cache too.
  • Forget and reconnect to the Wi-Fi network on your device.
  • Update your router's firmware through its admin settings page.
  • Switch your Wi-Fi band — try the 5GHz network if you're on 2.4GHz, or vice versa.

If the problem follows you to every device on that Wi-Fi network, it's almost certainly the router.

DNS Server Not Responding on One Computer Only

This is a helpful clue. If every other device connects fine and only one computer struggles, the problem lives on that machine — not your network.

Focus on these fixes for that one device:

  1. Flush its DNS cache (steps above).
  2. Update its network adapter driver.
  3. Temporarily disable its antivirus and firewall to test.
  4. Change its DNS server address manually to a public DNS.
  5. Run Windows Network Troubleshooter: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network & Internet.

If none of these work, a full network reset (Winsock reset, shown above) usually clears it.

How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on PS5

PS5 manual DNS settings screen

Console errors work a little differently since there's no driver or antivirus involved.

  1. On your PS5, go to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection.
  2. Select your connection and choose Advanced Settings.
  3. Under DNS Settings, switch from Automatic to Manual.
  4. Enter a public Primary DNS and Secondary DNS (see recommendations below).
  5. Save and test your connection under Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.

If it still fails, restart your router and your PS5, and double-check the cables if you're on wired internet.

How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Ubuntu

Linux users can fix this quickly through the terminal or the Settings app.

Using Settings (GUI):

Ubuntu manual DNS configuration


  1. Open Settings > Network.
  2. Click the gear icon next to your connection.
  3. Go to the IPv4 tab.
  4. Switch DNS to Manual and enter a public DNS address.
  5. Click Apply, then toggle Wi-Fi off and on.

Using Terminal:

sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved

This restarts Ubuntu's DNS resolver service and often clears the error immediately.

How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Android

On phones, this error usually shows up as "can't connect" in your browser even though other apps work.

Android private DNS provider hostname setting


  1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the gear icon next to your connected network.
  3. Select Advanced > Private DNS.
  4. Choose Private DNS provider hostname and enter a trusted DNS hostname (like dns.google for Google's DNS).
  5. Save and reconnect to Wi-Fi.

If you're on mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, try turning Airplane Mode on and off, or restarting your phone.

How Can I Reset My DNS Server?

Resetting DNS just means clearing old, saved DNS data and letting your device request fresh information. On Windows, this is the flush command combo:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

On a router, resetting DNS is done by restarting the router itself. On phones, it's usually done by switching Wi-Fi off and back on, or toggling Airplane Mode.

Is Changing DNS to 8.8.8.8 Safe?

Google DNS vs Cloudflare DNS comparison


Yes. 8.8.8.8 is Google's public DNS server, and it's one of the most widely used DNS services in the world. It's free, fast, and reliable. Millions of people and businesses use it daily without issue.

That said, keep in mind that using any third-party DNS means that provider can technically see which websites you're looking up — the same way your ISP already can. If privacy is a big concern for you, look into DNS providers that publish a "no-logging" policy.

For everyday browsing and fixing DNS errors, 8.8.8.8 is a safe and dependable choice.

Is 1.1.1.1 Still the Fastest DNS?

1.1.1.1, run by Cloudflare, has consistently ranked among the fastest public DNS services in independent speed tests. Speed can vary slightly depending on your location and your ISP's network routing, so it isn't guaranteed to be the single fastest option for every single person everywhere.

In general, though, 1.1.1.1 remains a strong, speed-focused choice, and it's a solid pick if your goal is fixing slow or unresponsive DNS lookups.

A simple approach: try both 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1, and stick with whichever loads pages faster on your own connection.

Quick Recap

  • "DNS server not responding" almost always means a lookup failure, not a full internet outage.
  • Start simple: restart your router, flush your DNS cache, try a different browser.
  • If only one device is affected, the fix lives on that device.
  • If it's every device on Wi-Fi, the router is the likely culprit.
  • Switching to a public DNS server like 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1 solves this error for most people, on most devices — Windows, PS5, Ubuntu, and Android included.

Try these fixes in order, and in most cases, you'll be back online within a few minutes.

Tags

You may like these posts

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post