20 Mar Windows 11 DNS Server Not Responding? Here’s How to Fix It!

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Introduction

Encountering a “DNS Server Not Responding” error on your Windows 11 PC can be frustrating, but it’s a common issue that many users face. This error typically occurs when your computer is unable to connect to the DNS server to resolve domain names into IP addresses.

The good news is that resolving this error is usually straightforward. One of the first steps you can take is to check your network connection and ensure that it’s working properly. You can also try restarting your router or modem to see if that resolves the issue.

If the problem persists, you can try flushing your DNS cache, which can sometimes fix DNS-related issues. To do this, open Command Prompt as administrator and type “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to reset your TCP/IP stack or check your DNS settings. However, these are more advanced steps that may require assistance from IT professionals.

Understanding the Issue

When you encounter a “Windows 11 DNS server not responding” error, it means that your computer is unable to communicate with the DNS server to resolve domain names. The Domain Name System (DNS) is like the internet’s phonebook, translating domain names (like google.com) into IP addresses (like 192.168.1.1) that computers can understand. Without DNS, you’d have to remember the IP addresses of every website you visit, which would be impractical.

The DNS server error can occur due to various reasons, such as network issues, incorrect DNS settings, or problems with the DNS server itself. It’s a common issue that many Windows 11 users encounter, but fortunately, it’s usually easy to fix.

In the next sections, we’ll explore some basic troubleshooting steps that can help you resolve the DNS server error and get back online. These steps include checking your network connection, verifying your DNS settings, flushing the DNS cache, resetting the TCP/IP stack, and disabling proxy settings. By following these steps, you can often resolve the DNS server error and get back to browsing the web without any issues.

Basic Fixes for Windows 11 DNS Server Not Responding

1. Check Your Network Connection

If you’re facing a “Windows 11 DNS server not responding” error, start by checking your network cables to ensure they’re properly connected and undamaged. Sometimes, simply restarting your router and modem can resolve the issue by refreshing the connection. These basic steps can often fix the DNS server error and get you back online quickly.

2. Verify DNS Settings

If you’re experiencing a “Windows 11 DNS server not responding” error, check your DNS settings in Windows 11 to ensure they are correct. You can also consider switching to a public DNS server like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS for better reliability. Public DNS servers can sometimes offer faster and more reliable DNS resolution, which may help resolve the DNS server error on your Windows 11 PC.

3. Flush DNS Cache

If you’re encountering a “Windows 11 DNS server not responding” error, you can try flushing your DNS cache to resolve the issue. To do this, open Command Prompt as administrator and type the command “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter. Flushing the DNS cache can help clear any outdated or incorrect DNS information, which may be causing the DNS server error on your Windows 11 PC.

4. Reset TCP/IP Stack

If you’re facing a “Windows 11 DNS server not responding” error, you can try resetting the TCP/IP stack using Command Prompt. To do this, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

1. “netsh int ip reset”
2. “netsh winsock reset”

These commands can help reset the TCP/IP stack and Winsock catalog to their default settings, which may resolve the DNS server error on your Windows 11 PC. After running these commands, restart your computer to apply the changes.

5. Disable Proxy Settings

If you’re encountering a “Windows 11 DNS server not responding” error, one possible fix is to check your proxy settings. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “inetcpl.cpl” into the Run dialog box and press Enter. This will open the Internet Properties window.
3. In the Internet Properties window, go to the Connections tab and click on the LAN settings button.
4. In the LAN settings window, make sure that the “Use a proxy server for your LAN” option is unchecked. If it’s checked, uncheck it and then click OK to save your changes.
5. Close the Internet Properties window and restart your computer to apply the changes.

Checking and unchecking the proxy server settings can sometimes resolve DNS server issues, so it’s worth trying if you’re experiencing this error on your Windows 11 PC.

Conclusion

Dealing with a “Windows 11 DNS Server Not Responding” error can be quite frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of important work or trying to browse the internet. However, by following some basic troubleshooting steps, you can often resolve the issue and get back online quickly.

First, check your network connection to ensure that your Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection is working properly. Sometimes, simply restarting your router or modem can fix the problem. If that doesn’t work, you can try verifying your DNS settings in Windows 11. Ensure that your DNS server addresses are correct and consider switching to a public DNS server like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS for better reliability.

Another common fix is to flush the DNS cache, which can help clear out any outdated or incorrect DNS information. To do this, open Command Prompt as administrator and type the command “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter.

If these basic fixes for Windows 11 DNS server not responding don’t resolve the issue, you may need to reset the TCP/IP stack or disable proxy settings. However, if you’re not comfortable performing these steps yourself, consider seeking assistance from IT professionals who can help diagnose and fix the problem.

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Bytagig is dedicated to providing reliable, full-scale cyber security and IT support for businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups in a variety of industries. Bytagig works both remotely with on-site support in Portland, San Diego, and Boston. Acting as internal IT staff, Bytagig handles employee desktop setup and support, comprehensive IT systems analysis, IT project management, website design, and more. Bytagig is setting the standard for MSPs by being placed on Channel Future’s NexGen 101 list.