How to Fix DNS Server Not Responding on Windows 11 and 10

Rebuild the Windows network stack, switch to reliable public DNS, clear browser caches, and isolate VPN or virtual-adapter conflicts.

The “DNS server not responding” message means Windows cannot translate a domain such as example.com into the numerical IP address needed to reach it—even when the network icon still looks connected.

Common Causes

A frozen router DNS service.
Corrupted Winsock or TCP/IP state.
An overloaded ISP resolver.
A VPN, antivirus, or virtual adapter overriding DNS routes.

Step 1: Reset DNS and the Network Stack

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart Windows after the commands finish.

Step 2: Use a Public DNS Resolver

Press Win + R, enter ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
Open the active adapter’s properties.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4.
Enter a preferred and alternate DNS pair, then validate settings.

Step 3: Clear Browser DNS State

Chrome and Edge maintain caches separate from Windows. Clear the browser host cache, close every browser window, and reopen it. You can also refresh NetBIOS state:

nbtstat -R

Step 4: Isolate Virtual Adapters and VPNs

Temporarily disconnect VPN software and disable unused vEthernet, TAP, VirtualBox, or VMware adapters. Re-enable them one at a time after testing.

DNS Provider Comparison

Provider	Primary	Secondary	Strength
Cloudflare	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1	Fast, privacy focused
Google	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4	Global availability
Quad9	9.9.9.9	149.112.112.112	Malicious-domain blocking
OpenDNS	208.67.222.222	208.67.220.220	Filtering options