How Do I Fix DNS Server Isn’t Responding Windows 10?

How Do I Fix DNS Server Isn’t Responding Windows 10?

If you are facing issues with your internet connection and seeing the error message “DNS Server Isn’t Responding” on your Windows 10 computer, don’t worry. This is a common problem that can be resolved easily. In this article, we will walk you through some troubleshooting steps to fix this issue.

What is DNS?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses, allowing us to access websites using human-readable names instead of numerical IP addresses. When you type a website URL into your browser, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to find the IP address associated with that domain name.

If the DNS server isn’t responding, it means your computer is unable to establish a connection with the DNS server, resulting in the inability to access websites.

Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1: Restart Your Router and Computer

The first and easiest step to try is restarting your router and computer. Sometimes, network glitches can cause temporary issues with the DNS server. Simply turn off your router and computer, wait for a few seconds, and then turn them back on.

Step 2: Check Your Network Cables and Wi-Fi Connection

Make sure all the network cables are securely plugged in if you are using a wired connection. If you’re connected via Wi-Fi, ensure that you have a stable Wi-Fi connection by checking other devices connected to the same network.

Step 3: Flush DNS Cache

• To flush the DNS cache on Windows 10, open Command Prompt as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)”.
• Type the following command and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdns
• This will clear the DNS cache on your computer, allowing it to establish a fresh connection with the DNS server.

Step 4: Change DNS Server Addresses

If flushing the DNS cache doesn’t solve the problem, you can try changing your DNS server addresses to a public DNS service like Google DNS or OpenDNS. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the network icon in your system tray and select “Open Network & Internet Settings”.
2. In the Settings window, click on “Change adapter options”.
3. Right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties”.
4. In the properties window, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on “Properties”.
5. Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter either of these addresses:
• Google DNS:
  Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8
  Alternate DNS server: 8.4.4
• OpenDNS:
  Preferred DNS server: 208.67.222.222
  Alternate DNS server: 208.220.220
6. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Step 5: Disable VPN or Proxy Settings (if applicable)

If you are using a VPN or proxy service, try disabling it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. Sometimes, these services can interfere with the DNS settings and cause connectivity problems.

Step 6: Update Network Drivers

Outdated or faulty network drivers can also cause DNS server issues. To update your network drivers:

1. Right-click on the Start button and select “Device Manager”.
2. In the Device Manager window, expand the “Network adapters” category.
3. Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update driver”.
4. Choose to automatically search for updated driver software.

If an updated driver is found, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

Conclusion

The DNS Server Isn’t Responding error can be frustrating, but by following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to resolve the issue on your Windows 10 computer. Remember to restart your router and computer, check your network cables or Wi-Fi connection, flush the DNS cache, change DNS server addresses if necessary, disable VPN or proxy settings, and update network drivers. Hopefully, one of these steps will help you get back online quickly.