One of the most common problems Google Chrome users may encounter is the DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error. The basic meaning of this error is that the browser cannot get information from your DNS to display the websites you are looking for. Basically, when these problems occur, you will not be able to access the internet. Fortunately, there are a number of fixes available to resolve DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error to get your web browser back to normal. In this article, we will look at all the steps you can take to fix the DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain issue:
Fix DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain Error
Depending on the device you are using, the fix for DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error will differ. Actually we will use the same fix on both Mac and Windows platforms, but the steps will be different for each platform.. So I will show you how to fix this error on both macOS and Windows machines. But before we do, let’s look at a common method you can use to fix this problem regardless of the platform you use:
1. Clearing All Browsing Data and Clearing Browser DNS Cache
Before starting a full-fledged diagnosis of your system, you can first try to fix this problem in your Chrome browser itself. The first method is to clear all your browsing data and clear the browser DNS cache and this is how you can do it:
- Open Chrome and copy and paste the following URL, then press enter.
chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
2. On this page, Click Advanced and then click the dropdown next to “Time Range” and select “All Time”.
3. Now make sure the checkboxes next to Browsing history, Download history, Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files are checked. Now, Click the “Clear data” button.
2. Restore Settings to Defaults
If the above method resolved your DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error, you don’t need to continue. However, if it didn’t, there is one more thing you can try. In this method, we will restore all Chrome settings to default:
- Copy and paste the link below into your Chrome browser’s address bar and hit enter.
chrome://flags/
2. Here, Click the “Reset All to Default” button and then click the “Restart Now” button Press the button to apply the changes.
If the above two methods can fix your problem, then good for you. If not, follow the tutorial to see who can troubleshoot your computer to fix this issue.
Fix DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain on Mac
For both Mac and Windows, we will first change your computer’s DNS settings to make sure your computer is accessing the correct DNS server. Next, we’ll clear your computer’s DNS cache to make sure your past settings don’t break the fix:
1. Change DNS Settings on Mac
Instead of using the regular DNS that came with your internet service provider or ISP, we will use Google’s DNS service to route your traffic. If you don’t want to use Google DNS, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best DNS servers you can use. However, in this tutorial we will use Google DNS:
- First, open the System Preferences panel by searching Spotlight or on your Mac. Click on the Apple Menu and then select “System Preferences…”..
2. Click Network here.
3. Now, Click on Advanced and then select “DNS”” on the next page.
4. Now, just Click the “+” button and add the following two DNS addressess. Once finished, it should look like something shown in the image below. Click “OK”.
8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
5. Finally, Click the “Apply” button at the bottom right to apply the changes.
2. Clear the DNS Cache on your Mac
If the above method does not resolve the DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error, as a last resort, you can clear your Mac’s DNS cache and do this as follows:
- Firstly, Launch the “Terminal” application by calling him in the spotlight.
2. Now, Copy and paste the following command into “Terminal”. After entering the command, Terminal will ask for your administrator password. Enter the password and press the return key.
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
3. Now, Copy and paste the following command into Terminal and press enter/return.
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
4. Restart your Mac after the commands are executed and see if the error is gone.
Fix DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain on Windows PC
Just like we changed DNS server setting and cleared DNS cache on Mac, we will do the same here. Apart from these two steps, there is an additional step that you can perform on your Windows PC. Let’s see how you can use these methods to resolve DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error:
1. Change DNS Settings on Windows PC
- Open “Control Panel” on your Windows PC and then Click on “Network and Sharing Center”.
2. Now, click on “Change adapter settings”.
3. Depending on whether you use WiFi or ethernet, Right click on the icon and select “Properties”.
4. Now, Tap to select “Internet Protocol (4 TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”.
5. Finally, Click on “Use the following DNS server addresses” and fill in the following two DNS server addresses.
8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
6. Once complete, click “OK” to apply the changes.
2. Reset the Winsock program
Winsock is the program on Windows that manages all incoming and outgoing connection requests for all internet connection. So resetting it could probably resolve your DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain error in chrome:
- Firstly, Search cmd and open command prompt and run as administrator.
2. Now, Enter the command given below and hit enter.
netsh winsock reset
3. Now wait for Windows to finish executing the command. Restart the PC.
3. Clear DNS and Other Settings in Windows
- Run the command prompt application as you did above.
2. Now, Copy and paste the following commands one by one and press enter after each. So you will copy and paste the first command followed by the enter button and then do the same for the other commands.
ipconfig /release ipconfig /all ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /renew netsh int ip set dns netsh winsock reset
3. Finally, restart your computer and check if Chrome is working.
I have successfully used these methods to fix DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain issue. So, definitely check it out and solve the error on your computer.
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Resolve DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain Error on Your PC or Mac
Above steps can help you resolve DNS_Probe_Finished_Nxdomain in Chrome. For most of you, the problem will only be solved by universal means. However, if these methods do not work, you can proceed to the next steps for Mac and PC. Check it out and let us know if you run into any issues while following these steps.
