How to Resolve the “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” Error?

What is ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED?

ERR NAME NOT RESOLVED is an error in which the DNS server fails to return any information relating to the domain name. It means your browser tried to open a website, but it could not figure out where that site lives on the internet.

To explain, DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it converts the relatively easy-to-remember domain names people use into the IP addresses computers use to find and connect to servers. It just can’t connect the web browser to the site the end user is requesting.

What are the Causes?

Incorrect or Typos in URL

The most widespread causes of the error message “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” are the wrong URLs.

Every time you accidentally type in a domain name that does not exist in the virtual world or is misspelled, the DNS will fail to find an exact match for the requested domain with its IP, originating from that error.

The same case may occur when there is an error in the domain name that one tries to get; for example, one types “goggle.com” instead of the actual “google.com” or misses one of the significant components of the URL, such as the top-level domain, which can be “.com” or “.org.”

The slightest and seemingly minor error in the URL may also lead to DNS lookup failure because the web browser fails and cannot find and locate the right and intended website.

DNS Cache End Problems

One of the most common causes is related to the way DNS caching functions.

In essence, DNS caching helps optimize and accelerate the loading of every page on a given website for a specific user by saving and maintaining the mappings between domain names and their associated IP addresses that have been made previously.

Due to this, users can access the pages they wish to access more quickly. As time passes, the saved cache may become outdated or corrupted, such as when a particular website updates its server’s configuration or changes to a new IP address.

In this case, if the configuration stored in the browser’s cache does not align or proxy for the server’s current configuration, it would lead to the browser failing to resolve the domain correctly.

The failure would then finally lead to an error message being rendered to the user. However, it is also worth mentioning that, at times, the cached data gets corrupted due to network glitches or software bugs, leading to an incorrect attempt at DNS resolution.

Networking Connectivity Issues

Network connectivity issues, such as a poor Wi-Fi signal, problems with the router, or temporary ISPs, will keep your browser away from the DNS server.

When your device fails to connect correctly to the internet, it does not communicate with the DNS servers to resolve the domain name; that’s why it causes the “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” error.

This may be because of several reasons, including insecure links that lead to a loss of data transmission, a signal loss that happens without warning, a communication failure, and even modem or router appliances used in your system.

In such cases, DNS resolution fails because there is no established or working link for transmitting or receiving the DNS query information.

Read Also: How to Resolve ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED on Chrome?

Browser Cache and Cookies

Browsers also hold cache and cookies, often significantly limiting the time needed to load certain pages while preserving session data. Of course, there are exceptions, and corrupted or outdated cache and cookies sometimes occur with DNS resolution issues.

In those situations, browser behavior causes them to try to connect with a cached IP that no longer exists or may be entirely wrong.

This often comes as ERR NAME NOT RESOLVED errors. It can be problematic for users. Still, it has always been found that a simple solution usually applies, and that stands in clearing the browser’s cache and cookies.

Doing this forces the browser to resolve any new and fresh DNS information, thus ridding such an error and restoring functionality in the web browser.

DNS Server-Related Problems and Complications

Your Internet Service Provider may have technical glitches or have misconfigured the DNS server. That would mean that when the DNS server is down or slow in responding, the browser won’t be able to resolve domain names into IP addresses, thus causing the error.

Sometimes, a DNS server has regional restrictions or periods of maintenance or is just running at capacity and, therefore, fails to resolve a few domains.

Read Also: What is the Difference? DNS over TLS vs DNS over HTTPS?

Failure occurs if the DNS server cannot process the forwarded request from the browser or if there is a DNS timeout. Thus, the browser fails to load the intended website, and an error message will be visible to the user.

Ways to Fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED Error?

Check the Address

The first thing you might find when dealing with this is to ensure the correct URL is typed when the access is made.

This error mostly shows if there are typos involved, some characters missing in the address, or even HTTP:// or HTTPS// miswritten.

Double-checking the website address ensures that it is the right destination for what it tries to convey.

Furthermore, if accessing a specific custom domain, one must ensure that this domain has been set up correctly; otherwise, the DNS settings won’t be appropriate and won’t work out.

Check the Connection

Any website requires a stable internet connection to open. If the connection is unstable or gets disconnected, the browser fails to resolve the domain name. Check if your device is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile.

Run the network troubleshooter to check if there’s a problem.

• For Windows: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Network Troubleshooter;
• For Mac: Run Network Diagnostics.

You can also restore the connection by restarting your router or modem.

Next, try opening other pages to see if the problem is only with one page or if it is widespread.

Clear Cookies and Cache

Sometimes, corrupted cookies or cached files may prevent the browser from resolving the domain name.

This may be cleared by clearing the cookies and cache.

To clear cookies and cache on Chrome, follow Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.

All browsers have a similar setting in their privacy sections. Clear out the cache of your browser and then restart the browser. Sometimes, this will clear out the persistent issues from outdated or conflicting data.

Disable the Browser Preload Feature

Modern browsers have developed the ability to preload DNS queries for faster browsing speed. However, when such a feature fails, ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED occurs.

To disable the feature in Chrome, navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data and disable Preload pages for faster browsing and searching. Then, close your browser and open it again.

This tweak prevents the browser from trying to resolve domains prematurely, which can prevent errors caused by incorrect or outdated preloads.

Clear the DNS Cache

DNS caching assures that your system cleans up older or incorrect DNS records that are fetched locally so the updated details regarding the domain on a server can be again fetched via DNS servers.

This activity proves helpful to a particular website when the DNS settings have just been updated, and your device retains it for later retrieval.

Clear the DNS Cache on Google Chrome

Google Chrome maintains an internal DNS cache, which works independently of the operating system.

• To clear it, open Chrome and go to chrome://net-internals/#dns.
• You will find the Clear host cache option, which clears the DNS data stored there.

That ensures Chrome fetches fresh DNS details, and that helps solve browser-specific DNS errors.

Clear DNS Cache on Windows

On Windows, it can be accessed from the Command Prompt and opened as an administrator to execute the command:

ipconfig /flushdns

The process cleans all DNS records cached on a system so that Windows can refresh its records from the DNS servers. That is how one can get a quick-fix solution to solving domain-name resolution problems on Windows.

Change the DNS servers

Replace them with reliable public DNS ones like Google DNS – 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 or Cloudflare – 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 for better DNS resolution. The ones mentioned above are faster and better than the ones that most ISPs provide.

DNS switching ensures connection consistency, especially when the default one is not performing well.

Change DNS Servers on Windows 10

• Proceed to Network & Internet Settings in Windows 10, then click on the active network properties.
• Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then insert the preferred DNS addresses, such as 8.8.8.8 for Google DNS.
• Save changes and restart your network connection to realize the effects.

Change DNS Servers on Android

• On Android, the DNS settings can be set in the Wi-Fi network settings.
• Go to your connected Wi-Fi advanced settings, toggle the IP settings to static, and input your preferred DNS addresses.
• Use something like 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 to resolve domain names over mobile networks quickly.

Change DNS Servers on Linux

The /etc/resolv.conf file for the Linux user can be set up and configured with further optional DNS servers of their choice to point to.

For Google DNS, one of the lines will have to include nameserver 8.8.8.8 in the file.

Upon the change and saving the same, he has to get his network service restarted along with this new setting in place.

• All this keeps the system running on Linux, and it is beginning to probe for and use some more reliable and efficient DNS to resolve its domain name.

Change DNS Servers on Mac

• In MacOS, navigate to System Preferences, click on Network followed by your active connection, go to the DNS tab, add in some new server addresses with 8.8.8.8 or other Google DNS servers in the list, and then click Apply.
• This tweak strengthens the DNS lookup process; hence, connectivity-related issues associated with slow or unresponsive servers should be resolved.

Change the DNS Servers on the Router

• Updating DNS settings at the router level ensures all connected devices benefit from improved DNS resolution.
• Log in to your router’s admin panel, navigate to the DNS settings, and replace the default servers with options like Google DNS or Cloudflare.
• Save and restart the router to propagate changes across your Network.

Check the Hosts File

Your computer’s host file can also override the DNS by mapping certain domain names to connect to specific IP addresses. If there are some incorrect entries within it, they may block or misdirect access to some websites blocked or misdirected.

• Just go to the hosts’ file location: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts in Windows or /etc/hosts in Linux/Mac.
• Open that file in a text editor with administrator privileges. Find anything unusual about the site you are trying to connect to.
• Remove any dubious or outdated entries, and save the file. Then, you need to restart your browser in hopes that it will help the problem.

Check your Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Firewalls and antivirus applications are excellent ways to protect your computer and your Network. However, these sometimes cause problems when surfing particular web pages or interfere with DNS request functions.

Investigate more to ensure that your website has not yet been included under the blocking firewall or, on the side of the software installed on your system, listed in the items blocking the system’s access.

• To troubleshoot this, briefly try deactivating the application of your firewall and see if your capability to gain access to your target again is present.
• If you can browse again upon disabling said programs, this most likely calls for your whitelist to be put in place or for setting up the particular parameters of your security applications or measures.
• Finally, make sure you revert it to your protection setup to stay guarded and free from problems that may crop up after undergoing a test series.

Conclusion

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