How to Fix the "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN" Error?

There are few things more frustrating than sitting down to work, browse, or stream, only to be met with a stark white screen and a confusing error message. If you are using Google Chrome, one of the most common culprits is the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error.

It sounds technical and intimidating, but don’t panic. This error rarely means your computer is broken or that the website you are visiting is gone forever. In most cases, it is a simple miscommunication between your computer and the internet’s address book.

In this guide, we will explain exactly what this error means and walk you through the most effective methods to fix it, ranging from simple quick fixes to slightly more advanced solutions.

What Does "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN" Mean?

To understand the fix, it helps to understand the problem.

The Internet relies on DNS (Domain Name System). Think of DNS as the phonebook of the internet. Humans remember domain names (like google.com or facebook.com), but computers rely on IP addresses (complex strings of numbers like 192.168.1.1) to locate servers.

When you type a URL into your browser, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to look up the IP address associated with that name.

• DNS_PROBE: Your browser sent out a search party (probe) to find the website.
• FINISHED: The search is over.
• NXDOMAIN: This stands for Non-Existent Domain.

Essentially, your browser is saying, "I looked for this website in the phonebook, but I couldn't find an entry for it."

This usually happens for one of three reasons:

1. The website actually doesn't exist (you typed the name wrong).
2. Your computer is caching old, incorrect information.
3. Your internet provider's DNS server is temporarily down or slow.

Let's get into the solutions, starting with the easiest.

Fix 1: The "Turn It Off and On Again" Approach

Before diving into settings, we need to rule out the basics. Often, the error is caused by a temporary glitch in your router or modem.

1. Restart your Computer: Sometimes, the operating system just needs a reboot to clear out temporary network glitches.
2. Restart your Internet Router: Unplug your router from the power source, wait about 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait for all the lights to stabilize and try accessing the website again.

If this worked, it was likely a temporary IP conflict. If not, move on to the next step.

Fix 2: Release and Renew Your IP Address

This is one of the most successful fixes for the NXDOMAIN error. This process clears out your current IP configuration and requests a fresh one from your router.

For Windows Users:

1. Click the Start button and type cmd.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
3. In the black window that appears, type the following commands one by one, hitting Enter after each line:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

For Mac Users:

1. Open System Preferences > Network.
2. Click Advanced > TCP/IP.
3. Click the button that says Renew DHCP Lease.

Once you have done this, restart your browser and try the website again.

Fix 3: Change Your DNS Servers

By default, you use the DNS servers provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). While generally fine, ISP DNS servers can sometimes be slow, unreliable, or overly aggressive with filtering.

Switching to a public DNS server, like those provided by Google or Cloudflare, is often faster and can instantly fix NXDOMAIN errors.

How to change DNS on Windows:

1. Open the Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click on Change adapter settings on the left side.
3. Right-click on your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
4. Find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) in the list, highlight it, and click Properties.
5. Select the circle that says Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Enter the following for Google Public DNS:

• Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
• Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

Click OK and close the windows.

How to change DNS on Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences (the Apple icon) > Network.
2. Select your connection and click Advanced.
3. Click the DNS tab.
4. Click the + button and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
5. Click OK and then Apply.

Refresh your browser. If the error was caused by your ISP’s DNS struggling to find the site, it should load immediately now.

Fix 4: Clear Chrome’s Host Cache

Even if you flush your computer's DNS (as we did in Fix 2), Google Chrome keeps its own internal DNS cache. We need to ensure Chrome isn't holding onto the "error" version of the website.

1. Open a new tab in Chrome.
2. In the address bar, copy and paste this command: chrome://net-internals/#dns
3. You will see a button labeled Clear host cache. Click it.

This doesn't give you a "success" message popup; it just clears the data silently. Once clicked, try visiting the website again.

Fix 5: Reset the Windows "Hosts" File

This is a slightly more advanced step. Every computer has a "Hosts" file—a local file that can manually override DNS settings. Sometimes, malware or accidentally changed settings can block specific websites here.

1. Click Start, search for Notepad, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
2. Go to File > Open.
3. Navigate to this location: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\
4. Change the file type dropdown from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to "All Files".
5. Select the file named hosts and open it.

You will see a file with some text about IP addresses. Look for the website you are trying to visit. If you see a line like 127.0.0.1 example.com (where example.com is the site giving you the error), delete that entire line.

Save the file and close it.

Summary

The DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error is essentially a navigational error—your browser knows where it wants to go, but the map is broken.

To recap, here is your checklist for fixing it:

• Restart your router and computer.
• Flush your DNS using the Command Prompt.
• Change your DNS servers to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).
• Clear Chrome’s internal cache.

In 99% of cases, one of these steps will get you back online. If you have tried all of these and the site still won't load, the issue is likely on the website owner's end (such as an expired domain), and there is nothing left to do but wait for them to fix it.