Are you running into DNS errors when you try to load a website or connect to your network? The Domain Name Server (DNS) is a server that translates website's addresses so that your browser can connect to them. Occasionally, you can lose connection to the server, through either corrupt settings or problems on the server's end. If you are having difficulties connecting, see Step 1 below to learn how to troubleshoot your problems.
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Part 1 of 3: Verifying Your Connection
1
Connect another device to the network. Before you begin trying to solve the issue, it will help to know where the issue is occurring. You can narrow down the problem by performing a few quick tests. Connect another device to your router, either wired or wirelessly.
You can use another computer, or a smartphone or tablet. Anything that accesses the internet will work to test.
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2
Try to access a webpage from the second device. If you are still receiving DNS errors, then the problem lies in your router or with your ISP. If you can connect to the website, then the problem is coming from the first computer.
3
Power cycle your modem and router. Unplug your modem's power cable as well as your router's power cable. Allow them to sit unpowered for at least 30 seconds so that any residual charge is released and the memory is cleared. Reconnect your modem, and wait for it to fully connect. After it has powered on completely, reconnect the power cable to your router and allow it to boot up. This could take up to a minute.
Once you have power cycled both devices, try connecting to a website again. If the problem still persists, move on to the next section.
4
If you're using an mobile device you can go to >settings>mobile data and reset the configurations.
Part 2 of 3: Troubleshooting the Computer
1
Try a different browser. This is one of the quickest ways to test your DNS connections. Download a different free browser such as Firefox or Chrome and attempt to connect to the internet. If the issues persist, then the problem is likely not with the browser, but with some other setting on the computer.
If the issues are resolved, then you can try troubleshooting your old browser. Oftentimes the issue stems from the proxy settings. Follow this guide to access the proxy settings for the browser you use, and be sure to set them back to Automatic.
2
Disable any extra connections. Occasionally, Windows will install extra connections that you won't normally use. For best connectivity, you should only have the connections that you use regularly enabled. To open your Network Connections window, click the Start menu or press the ⊞ Win button and search for "ncpa.cpl".
Look for extra connections. You should see a list of all your connections. The most common cause for DNS issues is the existence of "Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter". IF you see this, right-click it and select "Disable".[1]
Test your connection again. Wait a few moments and then open your browser again. Try to visit a website. The DNS may take a few moments to load, but if the webpage appears then the problem has been solved. If not, move on to the next step.
3
Flush your DNS. Sometimes your DNS cache gets outdated and needs to be manually flushed. This can be done from the Command Prompt.
To open the Command Prompt, press ⊞ Win+R and type cmd.
Type ipconfig /flushdns. Wait for the command to process and then restart your computer.
Test the connection again. If the problem still persists, move on to the next step.
4
Change your DNS server. You can manually enter an alternative DNS server to attempt to connect to instead. To do so, open the "ncpa.cpl" window again and right-click on your active connection. Select "Properties".[2]
In the Networking tab, scroll down until you find the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" entry. Click it to select it and then click the Properties button.
Click the "Use the following DNS server addresses" option.
Enter 208.67.222.222 into the "Preferred DNS server" field
Enter 208.67.220.220 into the "Alternate DNS server" field.
These are DNS servers maintained by OpenDNS, an open-source DNS service.
5
Try connecting in Safe Mode. Rebooting your computer into Safe Mode will only load the essential files for Windows, which will allow you to determine if another program or service such as your antivirus is causing the connection issues.[3]
You can try disabling your antivirus first and seeing if that fixes the issue. If so, then you should uninstall your antivirus and install a new one.
Reboot your computer and hold down the F8 key while it is booting up.
Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list of options.
Test the connection. If you are able to successfully connect to the internet, then the problem lies with a program running on your computer. Examine the startup files and disable programs until you find the culprit.
Part 3 of 3: Troubleshooting the Router
1
Plug your computer directly into your modem. If you are using a router to create a home network, disconnect your computer from it and plug an ethernet cable directly into your modem's Ethernet port.
Attempt to load a webpage. If you are still receiving DNS errors, then the problem likely lies with the ISP. Contact them and inquire about connecting to the DNS servers.
If you can connect to a web page, then the problem stems from your router. Reconnect your router to your modem and connect your computer back to the network to continue troubleshooting.
2
Enter in alternate DNS servers. You can change your router's settings so that it attempts to manually connect to alternate DNS servers. This can tell you if your ISP's DNS server may be faulty.
Open your router's configuration page. This is different for every router, but essentially you will need to enter your router's IP address into your browser's address bar. See this guide for more details.
Open the Internet section. Find the subsection marked "Domain Name Server (DNS) Address".
Set it to manually use DNS servers that you enter.
Enter the OpenDNS server information (Primary - 208.67.222.222, Secondary - 208.67.220.220) or Google DNS server information (Primary - 8.8.8.8, Secondary - 8.8.4.4).
Click Apply or Save Changes. Your router will take a few moments to apply the changes.
Test it out. Open up a new browser window on your computer and attempt to connect to a website. If you are able to connect then your ISP is most likely having DNS issues.
3
Reset your router. Sometimes the settings on your router might get corrupted, and the easiest way to fix them is to simply reset your router to default settings. This will reset your wireless network settings and any port forwarding information.
To reset your router, use a paperclip or other pointy object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router.
Reconfigure your router. After it has been reset, you will need to reconfigure your wireless network (if you were using it). Any admin passwords and accounts will be reset as well.
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