Windows: DNS Server Unavailable (Fixed)

Internet is a mother of knowledge; you can explore any information and there is no limitation to it. Whatever information you seek to find using keywords on any Internet browser’s search bar is forwarded by your network hardware (Wi-Fi router or modem) and then on a DNS server. This server is then decoded the domain name into a particular language or sequence and returns a corresponding protocol which is known as IP address. However, when the DNS server fails to work then we cannot able to access the internet from that particular web browser.

Many people are victimized with these consequences, they are not able to access the internet showing a message as “DNS server not responding” or “DNS server unavailable”. This can frustrate you especially when you want to access the internet on an urgent basis. But don’t you worry as we have got you all covered up. Just follow the troubleshooting guide that we have managed to provide you that will help you to fix the “DNS server unavailable“ error.

In This Article show

Troubleshooting DNS Server Unavailable Error

It’s uneasy to identify what makes the DNS server not work due to multiple reasons. But fixing the error is somewhere easy if the issue is not on large scale. Try out all the methods mentioned below and stick to the one which will work for you. Else, move onto the next troubleshooting method.

Switch to Different Browser

If you are not able to access the internet on that particular browser and getting a DNS server unavailable error. It is advised to use another browser, see if you can be able to use the internet over there. Also, update the browser on the latest version, outdated browser version might be causing the issue. If this doesn’t work then move onto the next method.

Disable Firewall

A firewall can be the culprit of the issue, it might be blocking the requirement to run the internet browser. Try to disable the firewall to see if this works. Here’s how to disable the firewall:

Step 1: Visit Settings and open Control Panel.

Step 2: In the security window select System and Security, and then select Firewall.

Step 3: On the left navigation bar, select Turn Windows Firewall On or Off.

Step 4: Select the option, Turn Off Windows Firewall (Not Recommended).

Step 5: Click on the OK button.

Now try to check if this works.

Disable Antiviruses

If disabling the firewall does not help you, then also consider disabling your antivirus program. Also, check whether you are using two antiviruses at the same time, if so then only keep one as it leads to DNS issues. It’s good that an antivirus can be able to detect and remove malware items but too much security can also cause DNS errors, if that’s the case then consider using another security software.

Perform a hard reset on router or modem

Hard reset is also known as power cycling the hardware. Here, your router or modem might be causing the issue with the DNS server. Turn off your router or modem, and unplug the power cables. Wait for 20-30 seconds and then re-plug the power cable into the router or modem, and turn them on.

See if this works, if it’s still showing DNS server unavailable error then it simply means that you need to change the DNS server settings.

Flush your DNS in Windows

Here, we will flush the system’s DNS using a command line in Command Prompt. Follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Press Windows + R key to open the Run box.

Step 2: Type cmd and press Enter.

Step 3: When the command prompt appears, type the following commands individually and press enter after each command.

 ipconfig /flushdns

 ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

This will flush your DNS settings, just close the command prompt and restart the system.

Change the DNS in Windows

Here, we will change the DNS settings in Windows.

Step 1: Press Windows + R key to open the Run box.

Step 2: Now type ncpa.cpl and press enter. (You can also search Network connection in Windows search bar).

Step 3: Now select the adapter that is currently being used, and click on Properties.

Step 4: In the next window, tick on the IP version (v4 or v6), and click on the Properties button.

Step 5: In the next window, we will be using Google’s DNS, select Use the following DNS server addresses option and keep the following DNS:

Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Altrnate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

And press OK, restart your computer to see that the DNS server unavailable issue has been resolved.

Conclusion

At this point, the DNS server unavailable issue should be get resolved and you should be able to access the internet without any issue after changing the DNS settings. But the issue still tends to exists then surely it is your internet connection fault, contact your ISP (Internet service provider).

That’s it for now, hope this helps! Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Till then stay tuned for more info.

See next: (Solved) Second Monitor Not Detected in Windows 10