How to Fix “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” Error? (2024 Full Guide)

The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error can happen while you’re surfing the web and keep you from getting to some websites. This is a DNS problem which means the domain name you are trying to reach could not be resolved. Even though this problem can be annoying, there are a few things you can do to fix it and get back to the websites you want to visit.

What Causes the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error?

The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error can occur due to various reasons. Here are some common causes:

Misspelled URL: One of the most common causes is a simple typo in the URL you entered. Double-check the URL to ensure it is correct.
DNS Server Issues: If the DNS server you are using is experiencing problems or is misconfigured, it can result in the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.
Internet Connectivity Issues: If you are experiencing issues with your internet connection, such as a weak or unstable connection, it can lead to DNS errors.
Firewall or Security Software: Sometimes, your firewall or security software may block access to certain websites, resulting in the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.
Expired or Unregistered Domain: If the domain you are trying to access has expired or is not properly registered, you may encounter this error.
VPN Interference: If you are using a VPN (Virtual Private Network), it can sometimes interfere with the DNS resolution process and cause the error.

How to Clear Cache to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN in Browsers?

First things first, before we get into the solutions, let’s address one try this step: clearing your browser cache. Clearing the cache can help resolve various browsing issues, including DNS-related errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. So it might solve your problem in a heartbeat! Here’s how to clear the cache in popular web browsers:

Google Chrome

Go to the Chrome menu, select “More tools,” then “Clear browsing data.” Choose the time range and the types of data you want to delete, including “Cached images and files.” Click “Clear data” to clear the cache.

Mozilla Firefox

Click the Firefox menu, select “Options,” then “Privacy & Security.” Scroll down to the “Cookies and Site Data” section and click “Clear Data.” Check the box next to “Cached Web Content” and click “Clear.”

Microsoft Edge

Click the three-dot menu, select “Settings,” then “Privacy, search, and services.” Under the “Clear browsing data” section, click “Choose what to clear.” Check the box next to “Cached data and files” and click “Clear.”

Safari

Go to the Safari menu, select “Preferences,” then “Advanced.” Check the box next to “Show Develop menu in menu bar.” From the Develop menu, choose “Empty Caches” to clear the cache.

How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error on Desktop

Now, let’s look at some different ways to fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error on desktop:

Check the URL

The first thing you need to do is make sure you typed the right URL. Please check the address again to see if there are any typos or misspellings. Check to see if the website can be reached right now by doing a quick search on a search engine.

Perform a Search for the Website

In case you can’t get to the page directly, try using a search engine to look for it. This can help you get to the page without using DNS and get around any problems.

Restart Your Browser

The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error can sometimes be caused by short-term problems with your computer. You can fix these problems by restarting your browser. Close the browser all the way and open it again to see if the problem still exists.

Restart Your Device

Often, all it takes to fix networking problems, like DNS failures, is to restart your device. If you get the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, restart your computer or other device and try again.

Reboot Your Router

If the DNS error persists, try rebooting your router. Take your router’s power cord out of the wall, wait a second, and then plug it back in. This can help refresh the router’s settings and resolve any temporary issues.

Disable Your VPN

It might help to briefly turn off your VPN to see if that fixes the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. VPNs can sometimes mess up DNS resolution, which can make it hard to join.

Turn off the VPN and try to get to the page again to see if you get the error.

Disable Your Security Software

Sometimes, firewalls and security software can stop people from getting to some websites, which can cause DNS problems.

Turn off your firewall or other protection software for now and see if the problem goes away. After fixing the problem, don’t forget to turn on the protection again.

Release and Renew Your IP Address

Releasing and renewing your IP address can help resolve network-related issues. Here’s how you can do it on Windows:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “cmd” and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

Type the following instructions into the instructions Prompt and press Enter: ipconfig /release
After the release is done, type the next command and press Enter: ipconfig /renew
Wait for the IP address to be renewed and check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

Restart the Windows DNS Client Service

Restarting the Windows DNS Client service can help resolve DNS-related issues. Here’s how you can do it:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
To open the Services box, type “services.msc” and press Enter.
Scroll down and locate the “DNS Client” service.

Right-click on the “DNS Client” service and select “Restart.”
Wait for the service to restart and check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

Change DNS Settings on Your Device

Changing the DNS settings on your device can sometimes help resolve DNS-related issues. Here’s how you can do it on Windows:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “ncpa.cpl” and press Enter to open the Network Connections window.
Right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties.”

In the Properties window, select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on the “Properties” button.
Select the option to “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the following DNS server addresses:

Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8

Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

Click “OK” to save the changes and check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

Set DNS on Your Router

You can change the DNS settings for all of your network devices by changing the settings on your router. The exact steps will rely on the type of router you have, but in most cases, you can use a web browser to get to the router’s settings. Find the DNS settings in the router’s setup and type in the main and backup DNS server addresses that your ISP or a public DNS service like Google DNS gives you (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).

Check Local Hosts File in Windows and Mac

DNS problems can sometimes be caused by the local hosts file on your computer. An IP address is linked to a domain name in this text file. This file can cause the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error if it has wrong information in it. Here’s how to look at the hosts file:

Windows:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type “notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts” and press Enter.
The hosts file will open in Notepad. Look for any entries related to the website you are trying to access.

If you find any incorrect entries, delete or comment them out by adding a “#” at the beginning of the line.
Save the changes and check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

Mac:

Open the Terminal application.
Type “sudo nano /private/etc/hosts” and press Enter.
You will be prompted to enter your password. Enter your password and press Enter.

The hosts file will open in the Nano text editor. Look for any entries related to the website you are trying to access.
If you find any incorrect entries, delete or comment them out by adding a “#” at the beginning of the line.
Press Control + X to exit Nano, and when prompted to save the changes, press Y and Enter.
Check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error on Mobile (Android & iOS)

If you are experiencing the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error on your mobile device, such as Android or iOS, you can try the following solutions:

Android:

Go to the “Settings” on your Android device.
Tap on “Wi-Fi & Internet” or “Connections,” depending on your device.
Tap on the Wi-Fi network you are connected to.
Tap and hold on the network name until a context menu appears.
Select “Modify network” or “Manage network settings.”
Tap on the checkbox next to “Show advanced options.”
Change the IP settings to “Static.”
Enter the IP address, gateway, and DNS server addresses provided by your internet service provider or a public DNS provider.
Save the changes and check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

iOS:

Go to the “Settings” on your iOS device.
Tap on “Wi-Fi.”
Tap on the (i) icon next to the Wi-Fi network you are connected to.
Tap on “Configure DNS.”
Select “Manual” and tap on “Add Server.”
Enter the DNS server addresses provided by your internet service provider or a public DNS provider.
Tap on “Save” and check if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.

How to Know if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error is Solved?

After applying one or more of the solutions mentioned above, it is important to verify if the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is solved successfully. Here are some steps you can take to confirm:

Open your web browser and try accessing the website that previously triggered the error.
If the website loads without any issues and you can browse other websites as well, it indicates that the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is resolved.
Perform a few additional searches and navigate to different websites to ensure that the error is not occurring consistently.
If you can access websites normally and the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error does not reoccur, you have successfully resolved the issue.

In Closing

If you get the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, check the URL, do a search, restart your browser or device, restart your router, turn off VPN or security software, release and renew your IP address, change DNS settings, check the local hosts file, and confirm domain registration. The error can also be fixed by clearing the browser’s cache and making changes to the network settings. You can get through the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN problem and get back to the websites you want to visit if you do all the steps we mentioned in this blog post.

FAQs

What does the error message ‘DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN’ mean?

The error message ‘DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN’ indicates that the DNS server was unable to resolve the domain name you are trying to access. It means that the requested domain does not exist or could not be found in the DNS records.

In what ways do other browsers display the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error?

Other browsers may display the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error in slightly different ways. Here are a few examples:

Mozilla Firefox: “Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site.”
Microsoft Edge: “Hmmm… can’t reach this page.”
Safari: “Safari can’t open the page because Safari can’t find the server.”

Are VPNs a source of DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN errors?

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) can sometimes interfere with DNS resolution and cause DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN errors. If you are using a VPN and experiencing this error, try disabling the VPN temporarily to see if it resolves the issue. If the error disappears after disabling the VPN, you may need to adjust the VPN settings or contact your VPN service provider for further assistance.

Also Read: How to Fix the PR_CONNECT_RESET_ERROR on Firefox?