What should I do if the DNS server does not respond and how can I fix it?

Every user knows how it is hurt when the connection to the Internet is lost. It seems that everything is in order with a computer or a router, but when diagnosing problems the system writes "The DNS server does not respond". What to do in this case, not everyone knows. And before deciding to fix the problem, you first need to find out what the failure might be related to.

What is a DNS server?

First, let's take a quick look at what a DNS server is. As you know, every computer or server connected to the Internet has its own unique IP address (if it is static and does not change). But you will not memorize such a huge number of digital combinations for access to a certain resource.

Using a DNS server allows you to "bind" the address to a domain name. Therefore, the address bar contains information in the form of a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. It's enough to remember even the name of the resource, and through DNS, when you enter the address, you will be redirected to the bound IP. Only here and such services can sometimes fail. Next, we will consider what to do if the DNS server does not respond, but for now a few words about possible problems.

Possible causes of faults and main types of faults

In general, the errors themselves can be conditionally divided into two big categories: problems from the provider or visited resource and failures related to improper settings of the user computers.

In the first case, something to do to correct the situation is meaningless, because, as already understood, nothing depends on the user here. Another thing is when mistakes arise due to "rally" or deliberate modification of network settings in the operating system. And here there can be quite a lot of reasons. But among the most common are the following:

• Short-term failures in OS or router operation;
• Blocking by the protection system;
• Incorrect DNS settings in the settings of the protocol used;
• Incorrect DNS settings on the router;
• Disabled DNS client status;
• Cache overflow and errors of other network parameters;
• Exposure to viruses.

The DNS server of the resource does not respond: what should I do?

As for short-term failures, which are actually quite common, no computer system is insured against them.

Suppose that during diagnostics the system displays a message stating that the DNS server is not responding. What to do? WiFi seems to be working, but there is no Internet access. First, you should check the connection from another device (at least from your mobile phone). If there is a connection, then it's in the computer terminal itself. In this case, you just need to perform a full reboot.

If the connection is not present on all devices, it may be the case in the router. For him, you need to reset the settings (reboot). However, using the Reset button, which is usually located on the rear panel, is not recommended (although you can hold it for a few seconds). It is best to completely disconnect the router from the mains for about 10-15 seconds, then turn it on again. Some users advise to make a trip for a period of 15-20 minutes, but I think this is unnecessary. It may very well be that after the reboot the access will be restored.

Unlocking

Sometimes an installed antivirus and even a built-in Windows firewall can block DNS. In this case, for starters, you need to temporarily disable the anti-virus protection and try to open a site.

If everything is fine (and the resource is safe), it should be added to the list of exceptions.

The same goes for the firewall. First you need to disable it, but if its use is extremely necessary, you need to add at least a used browser to the new exception rule. In the end, the browser itself can be changed to another one. Perhaps the reason is just in it.

Manual configuration of the DNS server in the IP protocol

However, as practice shows, very often errors are associated with incorrect settings. Suppose the ByFly DNS server does not respond. What to do in this case? The solution is to change the DNS settings.

You can do this in the "Network and Sharing Center" section of the "Control Panel", where the menu for changing network adapter settings is selected. Here you need to find the currently used IP protocol (usually IPv4) and go to its properties.

In most cases, in the fields of the preferred and alternative servers, the parameters received during connection will be indicated. For starters, you can set up an automatic address for the DNS server.

If this does not help, you can use open combinations like Google services, which consist, for example, of four eights and four fours, two eights and two fours, etc. Variations suffice. This method almost always helps.

The DNS server is not responding. What to do? Router and its settings

But these were just network parameters. What if there are incorrect parameters on the router? After all, in this case, too, an error message will be issued, and the user will again start to wonder what to do if the DNS server does not respond.

You'll have to look at the settings of the router by going into them from any browser by entering the address indicated on the nameplate from the bottom (as a rule, it starts with the combination 192.168, and the last two digits, depending on the model, can be either 0.1 or 1.1).

Now you need to use the WAN partition. Actions are similar to what was done in the IP settings. If nothing is specified in the address fields, the addresses are assigned automatically. There is nothing easier, rather than prescribe in them the combinations specified in the protocol settings.

Checking the status of the DNS client

But the above actions may not have the proper effect. What should I do if the DNS server does not respond, in this case? One of the solutions may be to check the service itself (it may have been stopped for some reason).

To do this, go to the appropriate section using the "Run" console (Win + R) and register services.msc in it. Here you should find the DNS client service and look at its status. If the client is deactivated, double click on the settings menu, press the power button, and in the launch type set "Automatic".

Updating the Network Card Drivers

Rarely, of course, but you can meet problems with network card drivers. What should I do if the DNS server does not respond, and the fault is the driver? Just update them.

This is done from the "Device Manager", which can be called from the administration section, "Control Panel" or from the "Run" menu with the devmgmt.msc command. Through the PCM, the driver update string is simply selected. If the user has a non-standard network adapter, it is better to download the latest driver from the manufacturer's website, using the VEN and DEV identifiers (it's best to use the longest line in the description).

However, in order not to bother yourself, you can install automated utilities like Driver Booster, DriverPack Solution or something else. The update after scanning and confirmation will be done automatically and without user intervention.

Additional Actions

Finally, if all of the above actions do not have the desired effect, you can try to clean the DNS cache and reset all configuration settings.

To do this, the command console is started (mandatory on behalf of the administrator), and the following commands (without punctuation marks) are registered in it:

• Ipconfig / flushdns;
• Ipconfig / registerdns;
• Ipconfig / renew;
• Ipconfig / release.

After all these commands are executed, the computer system does not need to be restarted in principle. But for the sake of faithfulness, it's worthwhile to produce a restart.

Viruses

All described solutions can be completely ineffective only because the system has firmly established some malicious virus or malicious code, which by its own actions changes its settings spontaneously. In the event that DNS failures are not associated with any of the above-described reasons and are not observed by either the provider, the resource, or the user, a complete in-depth scan of the system will be required.

The regular anti-virus does not work, so it's best to use utilities like Kaspersky Rescue Disk, which perform a check before the OS starts (they need to be written to a removable media and booted from it, setting the appropriate priority in the BIOS settings).