Google Chrome is a widely used web browser known for its speed and reliability. However, like any software, it can encounter errors that disrupt your browsing experience. One common error you might come across is “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.”
This error can be perplexing, preventing you from accessing websites. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the meaning of the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error in Chrome, its significance, potential causes, and effective solutions to help you resolve this issue and continue browsing the web smoothly.
Contents
- 1 Understanding the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error
- 2 Common Symptoms of the Error
- 3 Possible Causes of the Error
- 4 How to Fix DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain in Chrome
- 5 Conclusion
- 6 FAQs on the “DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain” Error
- 6.1 1. What is the “DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain” error?
- 6.2 2. Why does the “DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain” error occur?
- 6.3 3. How can I fix the “DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain” error?
- 6.4 4. How do I flush and renew DNS settings?
- 6.5 5. What DNS servers could I switch to if I’m having issues?
- 6.6 6. How do I change my DNS server settings?
- 6.7 7. Could firewall or security software settings cause this error?
- 6.8 8. What should I do if none of the standard fixes work?
- 6.9 9. How can I prevent the “DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain” error in the future?
- 6.10 10. Is the “DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain” error a sign of a virus or malware?
Understanding the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error
Before we dive into the details, let’s break down the error message itself:
- “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” is an error message in Google Chrome that indicates a problem with the Domain Name System (DNS) resolution for a specific website.
Now, let’s explain each part:
- “DNS” stands for Domain Name System, a crucial part of internet infrastructure responsible for translating human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
- “PROBE” suggests that Chrome is actively trying to query the DNS for the website you’re attempting to visit.
- “FINISHED” indicates that the DNS lookup process has concluded.
- “NXDOMAIN” is a DNS response code that means the domain does not exist, or there is no DNS record associated with it.
In simpler terms, the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error occurs when Chrome cannot find the DNS information it needs to access a particular website, suggesting that the domain may not exist or is currently unreachable.
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Common Symptoms of the Error
When you encounter the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error in Google Chrome, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Error Message: The primary symptom is the appearance of the error message in Chrome, typically displayed on a page with a message like “This site can’t be reached” or “Hmm, we can’t reach this page.”
- Inaccessible Websites: You won’t be able to access the specific website that triggered the error.
- Other Websites May Work: Other websites might still work fine, indicating that the error is specific to a particular domain.
Now that we understand the symptoms, let’s explore the potential causes of the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error.
Possible Causes of the Error
To effectively troubleshoot and resolve this error, it’s crucial to identify its underlying causes. Here are some common reasons behind the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error in Google Chrome:
- DNS Configuration Issues: Problems with your DNS settings, such as misconfigured DNS servers or incorrect network settings, can lead to DNS resolution failures.
- Incorrect URL: Typing an incorrect or misspelled URL in the address bar can result in this error.
- DNS Server Problems: Temporary issues with your DNS server or the DNS server of the website you’re trying to access can cause this error.
- Firewall or Security Software: Overly restrictive firewall or security software settings can block DNS requests and lead to DNS resolution failures.
- Router Issues: Problems with your router’s DNS settings, firmware, or connectivity can affect DNS resolution.
- Website Unavailability: The website you’re trying to access may be temporarily down or no longer exist, resulting in the error.
Now that we’ve identified the potential causes, let’s explore the solutions to fix the “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” error:
How to Fix DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain in Chrome
DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain error has been faced the most by the users using Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and even in Mac or Android Phones and with Browser and maybe sometimes in other internet browsers as well.
There are those few methods and steps that would help and guide some users through the solutions.
Method 1 – Change the TCP/IP4 Proxy Settings
Sometimes changing the network settings mostly of TCP/IP4 Proxy settings might help in solving the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.
The following steps would help the user do follow the method correctly:
Step 1 – Firstly, the user has right-clicked on the windows and select the network connections option in it.
Step 2 – After that, the user has to right-click on the Active Network that the user is using at the time.
Step 3 – Then they have to find and select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
Step 4 – After that, a new window will open up where the user has to check and change the use and alternate the DNS addresses to preferred ones below, and then the user has to press Enter.
Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
Step 5 – Finally, the user has to click OK and save all the changes.
Method 2 – Reset the Winsock Program
Winsock is a program interface and one of the supporting programs as well. It is programmed to handle the input and output requests for Internet applications in the Windows systems of the user’s computer.
So, if this program does any misconfigurations, it can result in DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error. Therefore, the user can solve their problem by Resetting the Winsock.
The resetting process of Winsock is straightforward, fast and efficient. Many users around the globe were able to solve their problem.
The following steps would help the users to follow the solution:
Step 1 – The user first has to open the Run dialog box [they can do so by pressing the Windows key and the R key together. After that the user has to type CMD, to find and select the Command Prompt.
Step 2 – Once the user finds it, they have to right-click on it and select Run as administrator option.
Step 3 – After that, the application would open, and then the user has to type down the following commands in the box, and then the user has to press Enter.
netsh Winsock reset
Step 4 – The user has to wait for the computer to process the command and then once the process is over, they then have to restart their computer and see if the problem is solved or not.
Method 3 – Reset Chrome Flag Settings
This method is one of the most influential and proofed ways tried by many users online. There are steps that would help the user to conduct the method themselves:
Step 1 – The user has to type the following URL in the address bar:
Chrome://flags/
Step 2 – Then the user has to press Enter and let the Browser load the page.
Step 3 – After that, a setting page would open, and on the right side of the window, the user would find a reset and default option. They have to click that option.
Step 4 – The last step would reset their settings to default. The user can try to access the web, which is using the Chrome browser and check if the problem has been solved or not.
Method 4 – Restarting the DNS Client
Sometimes the old tricks can work magic on some very tricky problems. The old trick of closing and restarting of the application can work as a solution for this DNS_Probe_Finished_NXDomain Error too.
The following steps would help the user to follow the method correctly:
Step 1 – The user first has to open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows and the R key together. After that, the user has to type services.msc, and then the user has to click on OK
Step 2 – In front of the users, a new window would open, which would display the list of services. The user has to scroll down to find the service that has the name of DNS client.
Step 3 – Once the user finds that service, then they have to right-click on it and select the option of restart from all the other options from the pop-up list that appears after the right-click.
Step 4 – Once the user selects the restart option from the list. The DNS client service would restart itself. And after that happens, the user has to wait for a few minutes the user can surf the internet and then the user has to check if the solution had solved their problem or not.
Method 5 – Using Command Prompt
The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NO_INTERNET error can be solved by other commands as well. There have been many commands to renew flush or even release DNS settings. There are high chances that one command would not work to solve the error.
But that would not mean that another command would not work for solving the issue. The user can always try out different commands to solve their problem.
There are some other commands that would help the user to solve their problems. The following steps would enable the user to apply the command in their computer:
Step 1 – The user first has to open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key and the R key together. After that the user has to type CMD, to find and select the Command Prompt. Once the user sees it, they have to right-click on it and select Run as administrator option.
Step 2 – After that, the command prompt application will open.
Step 3 – After that, the user has to type the commands given below one by one, so each command is applied properly. And after each command, the user has to press enter to for applying each command correctly. The commands are as followed:
ipconfig /release ipconfig /all ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /renew netsh int ip set DNS netsh Winsock reset
Step 4 – After applying all the commands, the user has to restart their computer. And check if their problem of DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error has been solved or not.
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