DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Fix (2024)

Are you getting the ‘DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN’ error while trying to access a WordPress site?

If your answer is YES then let me tell you that you are not alone who is having the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error right now.

This error is quite common for WordPress users.

If you are trying to access a WordPress site and are greeted with a message that says ‘This site can’t be reached and followed by ‘DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN’ error then don’t panic, this issue can easily be fixed.

Since this issue has become a common error for WordPress users, I have come up with a bunch of ways to fix it.

Before I teach you multiple methods to fix the ‘DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN’ error, let’s find out the reason that causes it.

Without any further ado, let’s get started:

What is DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN?

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error usually occurs when there is an issue with your DNS (Domain Name System).

For the unversed, DNS is something that connects the domain name to the servers where your website is hosted.

Whenever you search for a website ‘isit-legit.com’, DNS will convert your request into a computer-friendly server IP address.

If the DNS is not able to locate the IP address of isit-legit.com, you will be shown the ‘DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN’ error on your browser.

There is no denying that this issue is linked to DNS but sometimes you may face this error because of a third-party tool, VPN or antivirus software installed on your PC or desktop.

So, before you apply any technical method to fix this issue, make sure you don’t have any third-party tool installed on your PC or Desktop.

Before we teach you some easy ways to fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error, let me tell you that this error looks different on each browser — Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox.

Regardless of which browser you face this issue with, we have got you covered.

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Fix

As mentioned above, we will try our best to provide as many solutions as we can to fix this frustrating DNS error.

Since each method is different from another, we will mention all of them separately.

Here are some easy methods to fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error:

1. Flush DNS Cache & Renew New IP

Windows

To flush DNS Cache on Windows, you simply need to open up a Command prompt by pressing ‘Window + R’

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Now, type ‘cmd‘ into the Open field and hit the Enter button.

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Now, you will have to type ‘ipconfig/release’ command. Once typed, hit the Enter button.

Doing this will release your current IP address.

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Once released, now type ‘ipconfig/flushdns’ and press the Enter button. Doing this will flush your local DNS cache.

Make sure you have received a message saying ‘Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache’.

Once you have successfully flushed your local DNS cache, type ‘ipconfig/renew’ and hit the Enter button.

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Pressing the Enter button will renew your IP address.

Mac

To release and renew the IP address on Mac, you will have to follow the steps written below:

Click on the Apple icon located at the top left corner of the screen and select ‘System Preferences’ from the drop-down menu.

Now, click on the Network icon and then the Advanced option. Now, go to the ‘TCP/IP’ tab and click on the ‘Renew DHCP Lease’ button.

To clear your local DNS cache on Mac, you will have to click on the Ga tab and select ‘Utilities’ from the drop-down menu and then click on Terminal.

There, you will need to enter the command — dscacheutil -flushcache. That’s it.

2. Change DNS Servers

Windows

To change DNS servers on Windows, you are required to open up a command prompt by simply pressing ‘Windows + R’.

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Once it is opened, type Control Panel into the Open Field and hit the Enter button.

You can also open the Control Panel by simply searching it on the Windows search option.

Once Control Panel is opened, go to Network and Internet and then Network and Sharing Center.

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Now, you will have to click on the Change Adapter Settings located on the left side of the screen.

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Now, right-click on your connection and select Properties.

Now, click on the Internet Protocol Version 4 option and then click on Properties.

In a new window, make sure to select ‘Use the following DNS server addresses‘ and change the existing DNS address to the following addresses:

  • Preferred DNS Server — 1 1 1 1
  • Alternate DNS Server — 1 0 0 1

Once changed, click on the OK button and restart your PC.

Mac

To change the DNS server on Mac, follow the steps mentioned below:

  • Go to System Preferences.
  • Click on the Network icon and then click on the ‘Advanced‘ option.
  • When you get into the Advanced option, select the DNS tab and add Cloudflare’s DNS server addresses.
  • That’s it.

3. Restart DNS Client Service

Restarting DNS Client Service on Windows is pretty easy.

If you don’t know how it is done then follow the steps written below:

  • First, open up Command Prompt by pressing Windows + R.
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  • Once opened, type ‘services.msc’ and press the Enter button.
  • In a new window, you will have to navigate ‘DNS Client’ option.
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  • Once navigated, right-click on it and select ‘Restart’.
  • If you are unable to click on the ‘Restart’ option then you will have to use an alternate method, which needs you to open up the Command Prompt.
  • Once opened, type cmd and hit the Enter button.
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  • In a command window, type “net stop dnscahe” and press the Enter button.
  • Now, type net start dnscache and hit the Enter button.
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  • When you apply these commands, you might encounter an error that says “The requested pause, continue, or stop is not valid for this service”.
  • There is no denying that this solution could fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error but I advise you to try this method only if the above-mentioned method did not work for you.

4. Reset Chrome Flags

Resetting Chrome Flags is the quickest way to fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.

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If you continue to face this error, I highly recommend you reset all Chrome flags.

To do so, you will have to type ‘chrome://flags’ and hit the Enter button.

In a new window, you will have to click on the ‘Reset All’ button as shown in the above picture.

Once done, restart your browser and see if the error is fixed.

5. Check Local Hosts

If you continue to encounter the same error on Windows and Mac, make sure to check your local hosts file and see whether the website that you are trying to access is in there or not.

Windows

To check your local hosts file on Windows, you will have to open up Notepad (text editor) as an administrator.

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Once it is opened, click on the File tab located at the top left corner of the screen and select ‘Open’.

Now, browser the location — C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.

Once you have successfully found the hosts file location, click on the Open button.

Make sure your local hosts file does not contain the website you are trying to access.

If the folder contains the website, make sure to remove it.

Mac

To check your local hosts file on Mac, go to Utilities and click on Terminal.

In a command window, type “sudo nano/ private/etc/hosts” and hit the Enter button.

When you do so, you will be asked to enter your administrator password.

After entering the password, check that the website you are trying to access is in the hosts folder. If it is there, remove it.

6. Disable VPN & Third-Party Tools

As mentioned above, you might be having the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error because of a VPN, Antivirus or any third-party software installed on your PC or Laptop.

If you have any third-party tool or VPN installed on your device, make sure to disable them.

Once disabled, open Google Chrome or any browser and visit the website that you have been trying to access and see if the error remains.

Restart Your Device

If none of the above-mentioned methods fixed the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error then you have no option but to restart your PC or Laptop.

This might be a very common solution to every problem but a lot of people reported to have fixed this error by simply restarting their PC or Laptop.

These were some easy ways to fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.

If you fixed this error by using a solution that we have not mentioned here, do let us know in the comment section below.

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