How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding: Step-by-Step Guide

You’re connected to Wi‑Fi, your signal is strong, but no website will load and the error says “DNS server not responding.” That disconnect usually points to a glitch between your device and the network’s address book. According to Microsoft Learn (official documentation), flushing the DNS cache clears corrupted entries that cause many of these failures. Below, you’ll find tested fixes for every major platform that get you back online in minutes.

DNS failures cause approximately 30% of home connectivity issues ·
Google Public DNS handles over 400 billion queries daily ·
Changing DNS server can improve resolution speed by up to 50% ·
Most errors resolve with a router restart or DNS cache flush

Key facts at a glance

Four numbers sum up the state of DNS errors and the most effective remedies.

What causes the DNS server not responding error?

A DNS server not responding error means your device cannot translate domain names into IP addresses. Causes range from router/modem failures and incorrect DNS settings to outdated network drivers or blocked port 53. Wi‑Fi networks may also block encrypted DNS traffic when DNS over HTTPS (DoH) is enabled but the router does not support it (Surfshark).

Common network hardware failures

• Faulty router or modem: power cycling resolves most temporary hardware glitches (Private Internet Access)
• Loose Ethernet cables or poor Wi‑Fi signal can cause intermittent DNS timeouts
• Overloaded router memory: reboot clears temporary ARP and DNS caches

Misconfigured firewall or antivirus software

• Firewalls sometimes block UDP port 53, preventing DNS queries from leaving the device (Surfshark)
• Antivirus real‑time scanning can interfere with DNS resolution on Windows

Corrupt DNS cache on your device

• A corrupted local DNS cache causes stale or incorrect mappings (Private Internet Access)
• Flushing the cache (ipconfig /flushdns) removes these entries and forces a fresh lookup

ISP-side DNS outage

• Your ISP’s DNS servers may be temporarily down or overloaded (Surfshark)
• Switching to a public DNS server like 8.8.8.8 bypasses the ISP infrastructure

The pattern: the error is rarely a single cause. Hardware, software, and network‑side failures overlap, so a step‑by‑step approach works best.

How do I fix the DNS server isn’t responding on Windows 10 or 11?

These five steps cover the most effective fixes on Windows, all sourced from official Microsoft documentation and verified guides.

Restart your router and modem

• Unplug both devices, wait 30–60 seconds, then plug them back in (ManageEngine)
• This clears the router’s DNS cache and forces a fresh connection to your ISP

Flush DNS cache using ipconfig /flushdns

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns (Private Internet Access)
• Then run ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew to obtain a new IP address (YouTube troubleshooting guide)
• Flushing removes corrupted cache entries that cause resolution failures

Change DNS server to Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4)

• Go to Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings
• Right‑click your connection → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)
• Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Private Internet Access)

Disable IPv6 temporarily

• In network adapter properties, uncheck “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” (Surfshark)
• IPv6 conflicts can cause DNS timeouts when IPv4 is the primary protocol

Update or reinstall network adapter drivers

• Open Device Manager → Network adapters → right‑click your adapter → Update driver
• Download the latest driver from your manufacturer’s website (YouTube troubleshooting guide)
• Outdated drivers are a common cause of Windows‑only DNS issues

What this means: the Windows toolchain (ipconfig, netsh, adapter settings) gives you control over every layer of DNS. Most cases resolve with the first two steps alone.

How to fix DNS server not responding on Mac, mobile, or gaming consoles?

Each platform has its own method for flushing DNS and changing servers. Here’s a platform‑by‑platform breakdown.

Mac: flush DNS using sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

• Open Terminal and run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder (DNS Robot)
• This clears the macOS DNS resolver cache and stops lingering entries

Android: change DNS in Wi‑Fi settings

• Go to Settings → Wi‑Fi → long‑press your network → Modify network
• Expand “Advanced options” → set IP settings to “Static” and enter 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 (DNS Robot)

iPhone/iPad: renew DHCP lease under Wi‑Fi settings

• Settings → Wi‑Fi → tap the (i) icon next to your network → tap “Renew Lease”
• To change DNS, go to Configure DNS → Manual and add 8.8.8.8 (DNS Robot)

PS5/PS4: set DNS manually to 8.8.8.8

• Settings → Network → Set Up Internet Connection → choose your connection → Manual
• Enter primary DNS 8.8.8.8 and secondary 8.8.4.4 (DNS Robot)

General: restart the device and router

• A full power cycle (device + router + modem) resets all network stacks (Private Internet Access)

The implication: the device that fails holds the answer — its DNS cache or adapter setting needs the correction, not the router.

Is 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 safe, and what are the alternatives?

Google Public DNS is free and widely used, but privacy‑conscious users have several alternatives.

Google Public DNS security and privacy policy

• Google logs anonymized query data (no IP addresses after 24 hours) for performance analysis (Private Internet Access)
• It is safe for general use and supports DoH and DoT

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1: privacy‑focused alternative

• Cloudflare does not log IP addresses and supports DNS over HTTPS (DNS Robot)
• Recommend for users who prioritize privacy over speed

Quad9 9.9.9.9: blocks malicious domains

• Quad9 automatically blocks known malware and phishing domains (DNS Robot)
• Great for families or security‑focused users

Cisco OpenDNS 208.67.222.222 for parental controls

• Offers category‑based filtering (adult content, social media) along with DNS resolution (DNS Robot)

The trade‑off: Google DNS is fast and reliable but logs some data; Cloudflare and Quad9 offer stronger privacy and security guarantees at comparable speed.

How to fix “this network is blocking encrypted DNS traffic” warning?

This warning appears when a device tries to use DNS over HTTPS (DoH) but the network does not support it. Disabling DoH makes the system fall back to plain DNS over UDP port 53.

Disable DNS over HTTPS in browser settings

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Security → Use secure DNS → Off
• Firefox: Settings → Network Settings → Disable DNS over HTTPS
• Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Security → Disable “Use secure DNS”

Switch to a DNS server that supports encrypted queries

• Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Quad9 9.9.9.9, both of which natively support DoH (DNS Robot)

Update router firmware

• Router manufacturers increasingly add DoH support; a firmware update may resolve the conflict (Surfshark)

Use a VPN to bypass network restrictions

• A VPN encrypts DNS queries within its tunnel, bypassing local network policies (Surfshark)

The catch: the blocking network dictates the fix — disable DoH for speed, use a VPN for security.

How can I prevent DNS server not responding errors in the future?

Prevention is mostly about setting a reliable DNS server and keeping your network stack up to date.

Set a static DNS server like 8.8.8.8

• Switching from your ISP’s DNS to a public resolver reduces dependency on potentially unstable infrastructure (Private Internet Access)

Keep router firmware and device drivers updated

• Firmware updates fix known bugs that cause DNS timeouts (Surfshark)

Use a reliable external DNS service for redundancy

• Configure a secondary DNS server (e.g., 8.8.4.4) so queries still resolve if the primary fails (Private Internet Access)

Regularly flush DNS cache manually

• Once a month, run ipconfig /flushdns on Windows or the equivalent on Mac to clear stale entries (DNS Robot)

Check for ISP outages before troubleshooting

• Visit downdetector.com or your ISP’s status page to see if it’s a regional outage (Surfshark)

The implication: prevention costs five minutes of setup. A static DNS server and occasional cache flush eliminate 90% of recurrent DNS errors.

Step-by‑Step Fix Summary

These six steps are the most effective workflow, ordered by success rate.

1. Restart your router and modem – unplug for 30 seconds (ManageEngine)
2. Flush DNS cache – use ipconfig /flushdns on Windows or sudo dscacheutil -flushcache on Mac (Private Internet Access)
3. Change DNS server – set to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 on your device or router (Private Internet Access)
4. Disable IPv6 – uncheck TCP/IPv6 in network adapter properties (Surfshark)
5. Update network drivers – check Device Manager or manufacturer website (YouTube troubleshooting guide)
6. Reset network settings – Windows 10/11: Settings → Network & internet → Network reset (ManageEngine)

For Telus customers experiencing persistent DNS issues, the Telus Technical Support Phone Number page provides direct assistance for ISP-side outages. If you’re troubleshooting router login credentials, the TD Easy Web Login Guide offers step-by-step access instructions for managing your account settings.

Clarity: what we know and what’s still open

Confirmed facts

• Flushing DNS cache clears corrupt entries and resolves many errors (Private Internet Access)
• Google DNS 8.8.8.8 is free, safe, and widely available (Private Internet Access)
• A router restart resolves the majority of temporary DNS failures (ManageEngine)

What’s unclear

• Why some home networks block encrypted DNS traffic is not universally documented by ISPs (Surfshark)
• Whether Microsoft will permanently remove the “network is blocking encrypted DNS traffic” warning remains unannounced

Expert perspectives

“Flushing DNS cache using ipconfig /flushdns is the first step we recommend for any Windows DNS error.”

Private Internet Access (VPN provider) – DNS troubleshooting guide

“On macOS, clearing the DNS resolver cache with dscacheutil removes stale entries that block domain resolution.”

DNS Robot (network tools) – cross‑platform DNS fixing

“Disabling IPv6 in network adapter properties is a common fix when the DNS server not responding error occurs on Windows only.”

Surfshark (cybersecurity company) – DNS error guide

For a home user or IT support specialist, the path forward is clear: start with a router restart and a DNS cache flush; if that fails, switch to a public DNS server like 8.8.8.8 and disable IPv6. Most errors resolve within five minutes. For the one‑computer‑only scenario, focus on that device’s network adapter settings and driver version – the answer is almost always software, not the router.

For a more comprehensive walkthrough, you can refer to this detailed DNS troubleshooting guide that covers additional device-specific steps.

Frequently asked questions