How Do I Fix My DNS Server Windows 11?

Are you facing issues with your DNS server on Windows 11? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to fix your DNS server and get your internet connection back up and running smoothly.

What is a DNS Server?

Before we dive into the troubleshooting steps, let’s understand what a DNS server is. DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it is responsible for translating human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses (like 192.168.0.1). In simpler terms, it helps your computer connect to websites by resolving their domain names to their corresponding IP addresses.

Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection

The first thing you should do when encountering DNS server issues is to check your internet connection. Make sure that your Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable is properly connected and working fine. You can try restarting your router or modem as well.

Step 2: Flush the DNS Cache

If your internet connection seems fine but you’re still experiencing issues, it might be helpful to flush the DNS cache on your Windows 11 computer. To do this:

1. Open Command Prompt: Press Win + X on your keyboard and select “Command Prompt” from the menu.
2. Type the command: In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
3. Wait for confirmation: You should see a message saying “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”
4. Restart your computer: After flushing the DNS cache, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Step 3: Change DNS Servers

If flushing the DNS cache didn’t resolve the problem, you can try changing your DNS servers. By default, your computer uses the DNS servers provided by your internet service provider (ISP). However, using alternative DNS servers like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS can sometimes improve performance and reliability.

To change your DNS servers on Windows 11:

1. Open Network Settings: Click on the network icon in the taskbar and select “Network & Internet Settings. “
2. Select your network connection: Under “Advanced Network Settings,” choose the network connection you’re currently using.
3. Change adapter options: On the next page, click on “Change adapter options.

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4. Open Properties: Right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties. “
5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4): In the Properties window, find “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and double-click on it.
6. Specify custom DNS servers: In the TCP/IPv4 Properties window, select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. For example, you can use Google’s Public DNS servers: 8.8.8 and 8.4.
7. Save changes: Click “OK” to save your changes.

Step 4: Disable IPv6 (if necessary)

In some cases, disabling IPv6 can help resolve DNS server issues. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Network Settings: Follow the same steps as in Step 3 to open Network Settings.
2. Change adapter options: Click on “Change adapter options.”
3. Open Properties: Right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties.”
4. Deselect Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6): In the Properties window, find “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” and uncheck the box next to it.

Step 5: Restart DNS Client Service

If none of the previous steps worked, you can try restarting the DNS Client service on your Windows 11 computer. Here’s how:

1. Open Services: Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Locate DNS Client service: In the Services window, find “DNS Client” in the list.
3. Restart the service: Right-click on “DNS Client” and select “Restart.”
4. Check for improvements: After restarting the service, check if your DNS server issues are resolved. If not, you can also try stopping and starting the service instead of just restarting it.

In Conclusion

Troubleshooting DNS server issues on Windows 11 can be challenging, but by following these steps, you should be able to fix the problem and get back online. Remember to check your internet connection, flush the DNS cache, change DNS servers if needed, disable IPv6 if necessary, and restart the DNS Client service. Hopefully, one of these solutions will resolve your DNS server issues and ensure a smooth browsing experience.

Happy troubleshooting!