How Do I Fix My DNS Server Windows 8?

If you’re encountering issues with your DNS server on Windows 8, don’t worry. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to fix it 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 google.com) into IP addresses (like 172.217.1.46). In simple terms, it helps your computer find and connect to websites on the internet.

Common DNS server issues

There are several common issues that can arise with DNS servers, such as:

• No internet connection: If your DNS server is not functioning correctly, you may lose access to the internet.
• Slow browsing: A misconfigured or overloaded DNS server can result in slow loading times for websites.
• DNS errors: You might encounter errors like “DNS server not responding” or “DNS probe finished no internet” when trying to access websites.

Troubleshooting steps

Step 1: Restart your router

The first step in troubleshooting any network-related issue is to restart your router. This helps refresh the connection between your devices and the router, which can sometimes resolve DNS problems.

Step 2: Flush the DNS cache

A corrupted DNS cache can cause various issues. To flush the DNS cache, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator:
• Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
• Select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

3. Wait for the process to complete:

You should see a message confirming that the DNS cache has been flushed.

Step 3: Change your DNS server settings

If restarting your router and flushing the DNS cache didn’t resolve the issue, you can try changing your DNS server settings. Here’s how:

1. Open the Network and Sharing Center:
• Right-click on the network icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner).
• Select “Open Network and Sharing Center. “
2. Click on “Change adapter settings” on the left-hand side of the window.
3. Right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties.

   “

4. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” from the list of items and click on “Properties. “
5. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses:”

You can use public DNS servers like Google’s DNS (8.8.8 for Preferred DNS server and 8.4.4 for Alternate DNS server) or OpenDNS servers (208.67.222.222 for Preferred DNS server and 208.220.220 for Alternate DNS server).

6. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Step 4: Update your network drivers

Outdated or incompatible network drivers can sometimes cause DNS server issues. To update your network drivers:

1. Open Device Manager:
• Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
• Select “Device Manager” from the menu.
2. Expand the “Network adapters” category.
3. Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update driver.”
4. Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

Your computer will search for the latest driver updates and install them if available.

5. Restart your computer.

Conclusion

If you’ve followed all the steps above, you should now have a working DNS server on your Windows 8 machine. Remember to restart your computer after making any changes to ensure they take effect. If you’re still experiencing issues, consider reaching out to your internet service provider for further assistance.

I hope this tutorial has helped you fix your DNS server problem and get back online without any hassle!