How Do I Fix Windows Your DNS Server Might Be Unavailable Error?

Are you encountering the frustrating “Your DNS Server Might Be Unavailable” error on your Windows computer? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps to fix this error and get your internet connection up and running smoothly again.

Understanding DNS

Before diving into the solutions, let’s quickly understand what DNS is. DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is responsible for translating human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses (like 192.168.1.1) that computers use to communicate with each other over the internet.

When you type a website address into your browser, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to resolve the domain name into an IP address. If there is an issue with your DNS server, you won’t be able to access websites or establish an internet connection.

Possible Causes of the Error

There can be several reasons why you are experiencing the “Your DNS Server Might Be Unavailable” error:

• Internet Service Provider (ISP) issues: Sometimes, the problem lies with your ISP’s DNS server. It might be down or experiencing technical difficulties.
• DNS cache corruption: Your computer stores a local copy of recently accessed domain names in its DNS cache. If this cache becomes corrupted, it can lead to various DNS-related errors.
• Incorrect network configuration: Misconfigured network settings on your computer can also cause this error.

Solution 1: Restart Your Router and Computer

The first step in troubleshooting any network-related issue is to restart both your router and computer. This simple action can often resolve temporary glitches and refresh the network connection.

Follow these steps:

1. Turn off your router: Locate the power button on your router and press it to turn off the device. Wait for about 10 seconds.
2. Turn off your computer: Click on the “Start” button, select “Power,” and choose “Shut down” from the options.
3. Turn on your router: Press the power button again to turn on your router.

   Wait for it to fully boot up.

4. Turn on your computer: Press the power button on your computer to turn it back on. Wait for it to start up completely.

This simple restart can often resolve minor connectivity issues, including problems with DNS servers.

Solution 2: Change Your DNS Server Settings

If restarting didn’t solve the problem, you can try changing your DNS server settings. By default, your computer uses the DNS server provided by your ISP. However, using a different DNS server like Google DNS or OpenDNS can sometimes help resolve connectivity issues.

To change your DNS server settings, follow these steps:

1. Open Network and Sharing Center: Right-click on the network icon in your system tray and select “Open Network & Internet Settings. “
2. Select Change adapter options: In the Network & Internet Settings window, click on “Change adapter options.

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3. Select your network connection: Right-click on the network connection you are currently using and choose “Properties. “
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4): In the Properties window, locate the “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” entry and double-click on it.
5. Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses”: In the TCP/IPv4 Properties window, select the option “Use the following DNS server addresses. “
6. Enter new DNS server addresses: Enter the IP addresses of a reliable DNS server, such as Google DNS (8.8.8 and 8.4.4) or OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.220.220).
7. Click “OK” to save changes: Once you have entered the new DNS server addresses, click on “OK” to save your settings.

Note that changing your DNS server settings may require administrative privileges on your computer.

Solution 3: Flush Your DNS Cache

If the above solutions didn’t work, it’s time to clear your DNS cache. This will force your computer to discard any corrupted or outdated entries in its cache and fetch fresh information from the DNS servers.

To flush your DNS cache, follow these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator: Press Windows + X and choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.
2. Type the command: In Command Prompt, type “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter.

You should see a message confirming that Windows successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

Solution 4: Disable IPv6

In some cases, disabling IPv6 can resolve DNS-related issues. Although IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, some networks and DNS servers may not fully support it yet.

To disable IPv6, follow these steps:

1. Open Network and Sharing Center: Right-click on the network icon in your system tray and select “Open Network & Internet Settings. “
2. Deselect Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6): In the Properties window, locate the “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” entry and uncheck it.
3. Click “OK” to save changes: Once you have disabled IPv6, click on “OK” to save your settings.

Note that disabling IPv6 may not be necessary for all users. If this solution doesn’t work for you, you can re-enable IPv6 by following the same steps.

Conclusion

The “Your DNS Server Might Be Unavailable” error can be frustrating, but by following these solutions, you should be able to resolve it and regain access to the internet. Remember to restart your router and computer first, then try changing your DNS server settings or flushing your DNS cache if needed.

If all else fails, disabling IPv6 might be worth a try. We hope this guide helped you fix the issue!

If you found this article helpful or have any further questions, please let us know in the comments below.