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If Windows 11 says the DNS server is unavailable or not responding, first check whether other devices on the same network can get online. If they also fail, the problem is more likely with the router, network, or DNS service than with this PC. If only this PC is affected, work through Windows diagnostics, clear its DNS cache, and reset network settings only if simpler checks do not help.
1. Find out whether the problem affects one device or the whole network
Test a phone or another computer using the same Wi-Fi or wired network. If that device also cannot reach websites, focus on the network or upstream service; changing settings on one Windows PC is unlikely to solve a network-wide fault. If other devices work, continue on the affected PC.
Reconnect the PC to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. If appropriate for your network, restart the router as a general connectivity check. Microsoft recommends comparing another device and checking the connection before moving on to Windows-specific repairs: Fix Wi-Fi connection issues in Windows.
2. Run Windows diagnostics and check the connection details
In Windows 11, open the Get Help app and run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. Also check whether the PC has an IP address and whether a DNS server is listed. Open Command Prompt and run:
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ipconfig /allLook at the active network adapter’s details. If Windows shows an address in the 169.254.x.x range when the router is expected to assign addresses automatically, the PC may not have obtained an IP address from the router. That is an IP-assignment problem, not necessarily a DNS failure.
If a DNS server address is listed, you can try to reach it, but treat a ping result only as a clue: a failed ping does not conclusively prove the server is down, and a successful ping does not prove DNS lookups are working. Microsoft’s troubleshooting guide covers inspecting IP and DNS details as part of diagnosing connection problems.
3. Clear the Windows DNS cache
A stale local resolver entry can interfere with name lookups. To clear the cache, open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
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ipconfig /flushdnsWindows should report that the DNS Resolver Cache was flushed. This removes cached DNS information on the PC; it does not repair an unavailable router, an upstream DNS service, or a broader network connection fault.
4. Reset Windows networking if the basic checks fail
If the connection is still broken, Microsoft documents this command sequence. Run each command in order from an administrator Command Prompt:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns
These commands reset network configuration state, release and renew the IP address, and clear the DNS cache. Check the connection afterward. If the PC is managed by an employer or school, or uses static network settings, follow the administrator’s guidance before resetting it.
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5. Change DNS settings only when there is a reason to
Windows 11 supports manually entered preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. To edit them, open Settings > Network & Internet, select the active connection, and edit its IP or DNS settings. Microsoft documents the manual DNS fields and related options in Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteBefore changing a setting, record the current configuration so you can restore it. A workplace, school, VPN, content filter, or parental-control service may depend on the current DNS configuration. The available evidence does not establish one public DNS provider as universally faster, safer, or more reliable, so changing providers is not a guaranteed fix.
Understand the DNS over HTTPS options
Windows 11 also offers DNS over HTTPS (DoH), which sends DNS queries over an encrypted HTTPS connection. Depending on the configuration, DNS encryption can be off, enabled with an automatic template, or enabled with a manual template. The setting can also allow fallback to unencrypted DNS if encrypted DNS is unavailable, or prevent the query from being sent without encryption.
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This is a choice about DNS transport and fallback behavior, not a repair for every DNS outage. If a network administrator or service requires a particular configuration, do not override it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Check the Hosts file when only certain sites fail
If most websites work but particular hostnames do not, a custom entry in the Windows Hosts file may be directing those names somewhere other than normal DNS resolution. Microsoft explains the file and how to restore its default state in How to reset the Hosts file back to the default.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Editing a system file is an advanced step. Make a backup before changing it, and use Microsoft’s instructions rather than deleting entries at random.
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7. Consider the network-adapter driver as a later recovery step
If the connection remains broken after the checks above—especially if the problem began after an update—Microsoft suggests considering removal and restart of the network-adapter driver. Have the correct driver available first. If the PC is offline, Microsoft describes downloading the driver on another computer and transferring it with a USB flash drive, then installing it on the affected PC.
Use the adapter manufacturer’s driver and instructions where needed. Driver recovery is a later step, not a routine first fix for a DNS message.
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