How to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN (step by step)

4 months ago

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When you see DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, the browser is telling you it could not turn the domain name you typed into a valid IP address using DNS.

This guide explains in simple steps what the error means and how to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and for website owners.

What does DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN mean?

When you enter a website address, your device asks a DNS server to translate the domain name (for example example.com) into an IP address.

If DNS cannot find a record for that domain, the browser shows the error:

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

“NXDOMAIN” means “non existent domain”. In practice, it usually means:

Your device is using broken DNS settings
The DNS cache is corrupted
The domain is misconfigured or does not exist

Common causes of DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

Some typical reasons are:

Typo in the URL
Domain has expired or is not registered
Wrong DNS server or DNS server is down
Corrupted DNS cache on your device
VPN, firewall or antivirus blocking DNS
Wrong or missing DNS records for the domain

Quick checks before deep troubleshooting

Check the URL

Make sure you typed the address correctly.
A single wrong letter can trigger DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.

Try another browser or device

Open the same site in another browser (for example Firefox instead of Chrome) or on another device.

If it works there, the problem is likely in your first browser or device.
If it does not work anywhere, the problem may be your network or the domain.

Restart your router and device

Turn off or unplug your router.
Wait 30 seconds.
Turn it back on.
Restart your computer or phone.

Many temporary DNS issues disappear after a simple restart.

Check if the website is down for everyone

Try the site from:

Your phone over mobile data
Another network (for example a hotspot)

If nobody can reach the site, the issue may be with the domain or hosting.
You can skip to the section “If you are the website or domain owner”.

How to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on Windows

Flush the DNS cache

Click Start and type cmd
Right click “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as administrator”
Run this command:

ipconfig /flushdns

You should see a message that the DNS resolver cache has been flushed
Close the window and try the website again

Release and renew your IP address

Open Command Prompt as administrator again
Run these commands one by one:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Wait for the network to reconnect
Open your browser and test the site

Change DNS servers to public DNS

Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter
Right click your active network adapter and click “Properties”
Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”
Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses”
Enter for example:
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate DNS server: 1.1.1.1
Click OK on all windows
Close and reopen your browser and test again

You can also set the same DNS servers for “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” if you use IPv6.

Restart the DNS Client service

Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter
Find “DNS Client” in the list
Right click it and choose “Restart”
Try loading the website again

How to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on macOS

Flush the DNS cache on macOS

Open “Terminal”
Run the following commands:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Enter your password if asked
Close and reopen your browser
Try the site again

Change DNS servers in macOS

Open “System Settings” or “System Preferences”
Go to “Network”
Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
Click “Details” or “Advanced”
Open the “DNS” tab
Remove any broken entries
Add for example:
- 8.8.8.8
- 1.1.1.1
Click OK and then Apply
Turn Wi-Fi off and back on
Test the website

How to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on Android and iOS

Reset the connection

On phones and tablets, DNS problems are often temporary.

Turn on Airplane mode, wait 10 seconds, then turn it off
Turn Wi-Fi off and on again
Try the site on mobile data and on Wi-Fi

If it works on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi, the problem is your router or home DNS.

Set custom DNS on Android

Steps vary by version, but in general:

Open Settings → Network & Internet (or Connections)
Go to Wi-Fi or Internet
Open your active network settings
Look for “Private DNS” or DNS settings
Set a provider such as dns.google or use manual DNS if available

Set custom DNS on iOS

Open Settings → Wi-Fi
Tap the “i” icon next to your Wi-Fi network
Tap “Configure DNS”
Choose “Manual”
Add DNS servers such as 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1
Save the changes and test the site

You can also set DNS directly in your router so all devices use the same servers.

Browser specific fixes

Clear Chrome’s internal DNS cache

Open Google Chrome
In the address bar, enter: chrome://net-internals/#dns
Press Enter
Click the “Clear host cache” button
Close and reopen Chrome
Try the site again

Adjust Secure DNS (DNS over HTTPS)

Modern browsers can use DNS over HTTPS (DoH) with their own DNS providers.

In Chrome or Edge:

Open Settings
Go to “Privacy and security”
Look for the Secure DNS or DNS-over-HTTPS section
Either:
- Use your current service provider (system DNS), or
- Choose a reliable provider like Google or Cloudflare
Restart the browser and test again

Clear browser cache and disable extensions

Clear cache and cookies for the affected site
Open an incognito or private window and try the URL
Temporarily disable:
- VPN browser extensions
- Ad blockers
- Security extensions

If the site works in incognito or after disabling an extension, that extension is likely the cause.

When DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN happens on all devices

If you see the error on many devices on the same network, the problem is probably your router or your internet provider.

Restart and reconfigure your router

Turn the router off, wait 30 seconds, turn it on again
Log in to the router admin panel (address is often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1)
In the WAN or Internet section, set DNS servers such as:
- 8.8.8.8
- 1.1.1.1
Save the settings and reboot the router if needed
Reconnect devices and test again

Contact your ISP

If:

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN appears for many websites
All devices on your network are affected
Changing DNS servers does not help

then contact your internet provider and explain that you are seeing DNS resolution errors.

If you are the website or domain owner

If many users report DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN for your domain, the problem is likely with the domain or DNS configuration.

Check if your domain is active

Use a WHOIS lookup and verify:

The domain is registered
It is not expired
It is not on hold or suspended

If the domain expired, you need to renew it with your registrar.

Verify DNS records at your DNS provider

The root domain (example.com) has an A or AAAA record pointing to your server IP
www.example.com has an A record or a CNAME pointing to the correct target
Any subdomains you use also have valid records
There are no wrong or conflicting records

Update the records if needed and save your changes.

Check nameservers and propagation

At your registrar, confirm that your nameservers match the ones from your DNS provider
Use a DNS checker tool to see if your records have propagated around the world

DNS changes can take some time to reach all users. During this period, some users may still see DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.

Security tools, VPNs and firewalls

Temporarily disable VPN and antivirus

Disconnect from your VPN and try the website
Pause your antivirus or internet security suite for a short time and test again

If the site works after that, adjust DNS or web protection settings in those tools.

Review firewall settings

On your computer, check that your firewall is not blocking your browser or DNS
On your router, look for parental controls or DNS filters that might block specific domains

Summary: Quick checklist to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

For regular users

Check for typos in the URL
Try another browser and device
Restart your device and router
Flush DNS cache
Release and renew IP address
Change to public DNS servers (Google, Cloudflare)
Clear Chrome’s DNS cache and review Secure DNS settings
Disable VPN, antivirus and browser extensions temporarily

For website and domain owners

Confirm the domain is registered, active and not expired
Check A, AAAA and CNAME records for the root domain and subdomains
Make sure nameservers at the registrar are correct
Wait for DNS changes to propagate and test from multiple networks

If you follow these steps in order, you will usually solve DNS_PROBE_FINISHED-NXDOMAIN and get your site loading again without needing deep networking knowledge.