'DNS Server Isn't Responding' Error

The 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error is a warning for connectivity issues with a server that helps the device or PC hostnames, such as a website's URL, to IP addresses. Its appearance may relate to malfunctions with network settings and can stop websites or Web services from loading. By adjusting their network settings or correcting software conflicts, users have various means of resolving the 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error by restoring connectivity.

Hands-On DNS Correction

Although the internet is more of a crucial part of working day life than ever, most users have no curiosity for its underpinnings. The 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error is one way in which ignorance can bite back on Web surfers – preventing them from loading websites or other services while delivering an apparently-unhelpful alert. Since the DNS or Domain Name System is a critical element in the internet's foundational workings, any user can take advantage of understanding some of its basic troubleshooting tactics.

Similar to a non-local version of a Windows Hosts file, DNS servers facilitate the interpretation of people-friendly network entities, such as a website's URL, into computer-intelligible IPs (for instance, 192.168.0.0 is the start of a range of private IP addresses). Besides improving loading times, the servers and their settings also are responsible for connecting new devices to available networks, including home ones.

In the event of a 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error, users have many direct responses that may solve the problem and restore connectivity. Some examples relevant to most Windows users include:

• Users can clear the DNS cache of retained information and reset their IP addresses to default values. After opening the Command Prompt, input the following commands, hitting enter between each line:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew

• Resetting or restarting the router also may resolve DNS issues and usually is the first recommended solution. Disconnecting the router from its power supply, waiting several minutes, and then plugging it back in will restart it without wiping its settings. Somewhat more drastically, users also can reset the device to factory condition or default settings through a Web configuration application (or holding the Reset button). However, this also resets the device's password.

• The most straightforward solution to DNS-specific errors is manually changing the network adapter device's TCP/IP addresses from the Properties window. It may either obtain an address automatically or use a specific address. When in doubt, users should choose known to be safe addresses, such as Google's '8.8.8.8' and '8.8.4.4' (for primary and alternative, respectively).

Indirect Solutions to DNS Server Issues

Conflicts in software and hardware versions also can produce unpredictable effects on network configurations and Web accessibility. For more general-purpose troubleshooting, users may temporarily disable some features or roll back updates until they can isolate the problem. Disabling IPv6 (the update to IPv4) is one such possibility. Some users also may experience conflicts associated with security and anti-virus software, although these issues usually are swiftly resolved in software updates. Since disabling all security solutions leaves users vulnerable to attacks and exploits, malware researchers discourage it for protracted periods, especially while maintaining internet connectivity.

Taking the above technique to its most extreme, Windows users can reboot into Safe Mode – thereby disabling most applications. This feature provides a temporary 'clean slate' environment for troubleshooting. In some cases, the Windows 10 P2P (or peer-to-peer) feature also may interfere with DNS and is worth disabling while testing for compatibility problems.

Software updates are essential for ensuring both network adapters and security software's optimal performance and will remove numerous products' critical vulnerabilities. Users can employ the built-in driver-updating feature in Windows or third-party driver managers. Still, malware experts recommend manually navigating to official company websites and installing drivers through direct links, when practical.

In conjunction, these solutions will resolve most Domain Name System issues and prevent the 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error from appearing. As a final, cautionary note, malware experts warn against taking warning messages from unknown entities online too seriously. Drive-by-downloads and online tactics may use the 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error, or similar warnings, for accessing sensitive information or the computer.

Even though many of the possible outcroppings of a 'DNS Server Isn't Responding' error involve 'good' features going wrong, users have all the tools at their disposal for resolving problems while not sacrificing modernity or safety. With updates where appropriate supplementing a mindset of ruling out errors, one by one, any Windows user – no matter how casual – can overcome this problem and resume Web-surfing without stress.