How to fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN | Liquid Web

Don’t worry – there are several steps you can take to resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN problem. The following solutions are listed from easiest to most complex, so it’s best to follow them in order:

A simple restart of the computer and router can often resolve the error. This process resets your network hardware and can often clear up any temporary issues affecting your DNS resolution.

Browser cache and cookies can sometimes cause conflicts with DNS resolution. Clearing them can help resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. 

Here’s how to do it from a Chrome browser:

1. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of your browser.

1. On the left, click on Privacy and security.

1. Click on Clear browsing data.

1. Check all three boxes to clear the browsing history, cookies and other site data, and cached images and files, then click the Clear data button. Make sure to change the time range to All time.

The steps to clear cache and cookies on other browsers, like Firefox and Safari, are very similar.

Correct DNS settings are essential for proper domain name resolution. Here’s how to check and update your DNS settings on Windows, macOS, and Linux:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.

1. Click on Network and Sharing Center.

1. On the left pane, click on Change adapter settings.

1. Right-click the network interface connected to the Internet (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), and select Properties.

1. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and then click on Properties. Check that both Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically options are selected.

1. Alternatively, you can select the Use the following DNS server addresses option and enter the address of the DNS server you’d like to use, then click “OK.”

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on Network.
3. Select your network connection from the left panel (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
4. Click on the Advanced button.
5. Go to the DNS tab, where the DNS servers will be listed in the DNS servers box.
6. To add a new DNS server, click on the + button and add the IP address of the DNS server you want to use.
7. To remove a DNS server, select the IP address you want to remove and then click –.

1. Open the terminal.
2. Display the contents of the resolv.conf file, which is a configuration file used by the DNS resolver in Linux-based systems, by running the following command:

cat /etc/path_to_resolv.conf_file

1. Edit the resolv.conf file with a text editor to add the DNS server addresses you want to use. For example, you can execute the following to open the resolv.conf file with the nano text editor:

sudo nano /etc/path_to_resolv.conf_file

1. Look for the line that starts with #DNS= and remove the # symbol at the beginning if it’s there.
2. Add your DNS server addresses separated by a space. There are three approaches to this step (change 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the DNS server addresses you want to use:
3. For newer versions (using systemd-resolved):

1. If you’re running an older Linux version, add a line for each DNS server you want to use using the nameserver directive. For example: 

1. For recent versions of CentOS and Fedora, NetworkManager might be managing the DNS configuration. In that case, you should use NetworkManager’s configuration instead of directly modifying /etc/resolv.conf. You can use the nmcli command-line tool to manage NetworkManager settings:

sudo nmcli connection modify <connection-name> ipv4.dns "8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4"
sudo nmcli connection up <connection-name>

Replace <connection-name> with the name of your active network connection (either Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

If you’re using a VPN or have active antivirus software, you may want to temporarily disable them to see if they’re causing the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. The process may vary depending on your operating system (OS), but the general steps are:

1. Click or right-click the VPN service icon in your system tray (bottom-right or top-right).
2. Most VPN services have a disconnect or stop option in the right-click context menu. If this isn’t the case, you may need to access the settings within the VPN application itself.
3. Click on the option to disconnect or stop the VPN service.

1. Find the antivirus icon in your system tray.
2. Right-click the antivirus icon.
3. In the context menu, look for options like disable, quit, stop, or something similar. If these options aren’t available, you may need to open the antivirus software dashboard to disable it.

The hosts file plays a key role in DNS resolution. If this file is misconfigured, it can cause the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. To check the local hosts file and rule out any issues related to it, follow these steps:

1. Open the “hosts” file on your computer:

1. For Windows, the file is located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. You’ll need administrative privileges to modify this file.
2. For macOS and Linux, the file is located at /etc/hosts. You’ll need root privileges to modify it.

1. Look for any entries related to the domain you are trying to access. If you find an entry that maps the domain name to an IP address, it could be causing the issue. You can remove or comment out (by adding a # before the entry) the line to revert to a DNS-based resolution for that domain.
2. Save the changes (if any) to the hosts file.

Resetting the network configuration can often help resolve the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error by clearing any incorrect settings. Here’s how to reset your network configuration on Windows, macOS, and Linux:

1. Run the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the following commands one after the other and press Enter after each one:

1. Close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

1. Click on the Apple menu and go to System Preferences.
2. Click on Network.
3. Choose your active network connection (like Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the list and click the Advanced button.
4. Click on the TCP/IP tab.
5. Select the Renew DHCP Lease button.
6. Click on the DNS tab.
7. Select the + sign to add a DNS and type in 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google’s DNS).
8. Click on OK and then Apply to save your changes.

1. Open the terminal.
2. Type the following commands one after the other and press Enter after each one:

sudo systemctl stop NetworkManagersudo systemctl stop systemd-networkdsudo systemctl stop systemd-resolved
sudo systemctl disable NetworkManagersudo systemctl disable systemd-networkdsudo systemctl disable systemd-resolved
sudo apt-get install --reinstall network-manager network-manager-gnomesudo apt-get purge nplan netplan.io
sudo rm -f /etc/netplan/*.yamlsudo rm -f /etc/netplan/*.ymlsudo ln -s /run/systemd/resolve/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf
sudo systemctl enable NetworkManagersudo systemctl start NetworkManager

1. Flush DNS (like on Windows) by installing nscd (Name Service Cache Daemon):

sudo apt-get install nscd
sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart

Incorrect network settings can lead to a loss of internet connectivity. If you’re unsure about any of these steps, it’s recommended to consult with someone experienced with network settings, like Liquid Web’s team of experts. Otherwise, proceed with caution and at your own risk.

Selecting a reliable and high-performance VPS hosting provider is crucial in preventing issues like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN. A good hosting provider ensures your website is available and performs well and handles complex server-side configurations, including DNS management.

When choosing a VPS hosting provider, consider the following key features:

• High uptime and performance —The hosting provider should guarantee high uptime, ensuring your website is always accessible.
• Security and compliance — Your hosting provider should adhere to the highest security standards and comply with relevant regulations to protect your data.
• Customizable hosting plans — The ability to customize your hosting plan allows you to choose the resources that best fit your needs.
• Expert support — A good hosting provider offers expert support to quickly resolve any issues, including DNS-related errors.