ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED: 6 Proven Methods to Fix It

The is used to find the IP address of the domain name of a specific site. It makes browsing the web possible, especially with over a billion websites on the Internet.

However, there may be times when the system cannot find the IP address, leading to DNS ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error. This article will explain what it is, why this error occurs, and how to fix the error through six effective methods.

Error codeERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVEDType of error
DNSVariantsNET::ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED
This site cannot be accessedCaused data
Network settings
DNSSEC activated
Misconfigured firewall or antivirus software
Browser settings

What causes ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED?

The ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error occurs when your computer or browser cannot find the IP address that hosts the domain name you want to visit.

To understand in detail how the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error occurs, you need to know how DNS works. When you write a web address like .comyour computer sends a DNS request to obtain the IP address of the web server that hosts the web pages.

The lookup process can be quick if your browser or Internet service provider has already stored the IP address in its cache files. If it doesn’t find the corresponding address in the DNS entries, it will go through the DNS domain name resolution process to get the IP address.

Sometimes the web page may have been moved to another IP address, but the system still caches the old address. The browser will get the stale address from the cache, so the domain name cannot be resolved, and the error message will be triggered.

That said, other possible causes of DNS not resolving the domain name include network settings, browser or Internet settings, and the DNSSEC application.

6 Ways to Fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED on Windows, Mac and Linux

Important! Before proceeding, check the domain name on the to see if it hasn’t expired or been suspended.

Since there are several possible causes, we will explain the six methods to solve the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error one by one. They include simple solutions, such as clearing the browser’s cache and data, and more technical ones, such as modifying the file hosts and disable DNSSEC.

1. Clear the DNS cache on your device

One of the most common causes of the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error is an outdated cache, so it’s best to start by flushing your operating system’s DNS cache.

The method of flushing DNS differs depending on operating systems (we have a full tutorial for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux). In essence, it’s as simple as using the Windows command prompt or the terminal on Linux and macOS to run a command.

We recommend periodically flushing and refreshing the DNS cache to prevent security vulnerabilities such as DNS spoofing and behavioral tracking.

2. Check Google Chrome settings

The Navigator Google Chrome it also stores DNS data to increase page load speed on new visits. However, a stale entry in the DNS cache could trigger the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error message if the site has moved to a different IP address.

Clear the host cache in Google Chrome by following these steps:

Open Google Chrome and type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the browser’s address bar and tap enter.
click on Clear host cache.

We also recommend clearing your Google Chrome browser cookies periodically. This is because browser cookies can block your Internet DNS, causing the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error message.

Another Google Chrome setting worth checking out is the page preload service. This feature preloads website resources related to sites you’ve already visited, including DNS preloading.

The main goal is to improve the user experience as the preconfigured page will load faster. However, this function is also known to cause the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error.

Therefore, it is better to disable the prediction service to prevent the error from occurring. Also, preloading pages uses Internet bandwidth and takes up local resources.

Follow these steps to do it:

Click the three dots in the top right corner of the Google Chrome window and select Setting.
click on security and privacy.
Choose Cookies and other site data.
Scroll down and find the preload pages for faster browsing and searching. Turn off the switch.

3. Reset the firewall and DNS server addresses

A firewall or security software can block internet connections and cause the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED DNS error, especially if you have mistakenly misconfigured it. A quick fix is to reset your firewall settings.

Follow these steps to do it on a Windows computer:

Right click on the windows icon and then select Search.
Write Control Panel and click the result to open it.
Choose Security system.
click on Windows Defender Firewall.
Choose Restore defaults.
Click the button Restore defaults.

Another possible cause of the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error is that the DNS server is not working properly. Therefore, when trying to access the site, the DNS query cannot be resolved.

In this case, using one of the following DNS server addresses of Cloudflare’s public servers should resolve the issue.

DNS serverIPv4IPv6Google8.8.8.82001:4860:4860::8888Google8.8.4.42001:4860:4860::8844CloudFlare1.1.1.12606:4700:4700::1111CloudFlare1.0.0.12606:4700:4700::1001

To do this, you must configure the DNS server of your computer. Here are the steps to change the DNS address on a Windows computer:

Open the control Panel.
go to Network and Internet -> Center network and sharing.
Then go to Change adapter settings.
Right-click on the network adapter you use to connect to the Internet and select Properties.
Double click on the Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or in the Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
Enter the address of the public DNS server for the preferred DNS server and the alternate DNS server. Use IPv4 and IPv6 as appropriate.

If you’re using macOS, here are the steps to follow:

open the System preferences and select Net.
click on Advanced and open the tab .
Click the button + to add a new DNS server.
Write to one of the public DNS servers.
click on To accept. A warning message will appear, press Apply.

If you are using the Linux operating system, you will have to use the terminal to change the DNS address.

Press CTRL+T to open the terminal.
DNS server settings are stored in the file /etc/resolv.conf. Use the following command to open it with the text editor Elder brother:
sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
Type the following command to define the DNS server. Substitute the IP addresses for the servers you want to use:
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameservers 8.8.4.4
Save and close the file by pressing CTRL+X and then Y.
Type the following command to make the file unmodifiable:
sudo chattr +i /etc/resolv.conf
Restart the computer.

4. Modify your hosts file

There is a file on your computer hosts containing the domain names and their IP addresses. When you visit web pages, the computer first looks in the file of hosts to find a matching domain name and IP address. The system will only send a DNS request if no match is found.

Add the web IP address to the file hosts can fix browsing problems caused by DNS. It is also useful to find out the source of the error. If you can access the website after adding the domain name and its IP address to the hosts file, the problem came from your end.

In short, look for the file hosts in the Windows system folder and open it with the memo pad. As for Linux and macOS, use the terminal and a text editor to open and edit the file.

5. Try another Internet connection

Problems with internet connections and WiFi router can be another reason for the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error.

There are two tests you can do to confirm this. The first is to access the site again using a different, stable connection.

For example, create a mobile hotspot from your phone and use it to connect your computer to the network. Revisit the site and see if it loads normally. If that’s the case, there’s a chance that your previous internet connection is the root cause of the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error.

Another option is to add multiple devices to the same Internet connection and use them to open the same website. If the error is displayed on all devices, then the Internet connection must be the main problem.

Turn off the router and unplug the power. Wait at least 30 seconds before reconnecting the power and turning on the router again.

Please note that it takes a while for the router to become fully functional. Wait for the Internet light to turn green before connecting your computer to the network and trying again.

6. Disable DNSSEC for your domain

If the error persists and you have already tried all the above methods, check the domain in WHOIS to see if DNSSEC is enabled and fix the problem.

It is an additional layer of protection that uses cryptographic signatures. While it protects access to DNS records from unauthorized users, it can also prevent the domain from propagating properly, thus triggering the error.

If that’s the case and it’s not your domain or website, there’s not much you can do other than report the DNS ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error to the website owner. However, if it’s your domain or website, please disable DNSSEC from your domain account.

If you use , disable DNSSEC by accessing your domain’s configuration panel.

Sign in to your account.
click on domains at the top of the page, and select the domain you want to set up.
Choose DNS/Nameservers.
open the tab DNSSEC. If there is a DNSSEC record listed, delete it.

conclusion

The ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error occurs simply because the system cannot find the correct IP address or the computer is storing old and outdated information.

The main method to fix the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error is to clear the cache data.

However, there are other ways to solve this problem, as there may be other contributing factors. Here is a summary:

Clear the DNS cache in the operating system.
Inspect Google Chrome browser settings and clear history, cookies, and…