Experiencing a ‘DNS server not responding’ error can be incredibly frustrating as it blocks access to your WordPress site.
This widespread issue can arise from various factors, including network connectivity problems or incorrect DNS configurations.
With extensive experience in resolving different WordPress errors, we have acquired valuable insights into the most frequent issues and the simplest, most effective solutions.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of troubleshooting and resolving the ‘DNS server not responding’ error in WordPress with ease.
What Does the ‘DNS Server Not Responding’ Error Mean in WordPress?
The ‘DNS server not responding’ error is one of the most prevalent issues encountered by WordPress users.
This error stops you from accessing your website, making it challenging to diagnose the problem. Many newcomers may wonder if the issue is isolated to them or if others are experiencing it as well.
The ‘DNS server not responding’ error indicates that your browser failed to connect to the hosting servers of the website.
This error typically happens when a DNS provider is down, there are firewall conflicts, network issues, or problems withyour internet modem or router.
In this guide, we will explore several effective methods to troubleshoot and resolve the ‘DNS server not responding’ error on your WordPress website.
- Verify Your Internet Connection
- Switch to a Different Web Browser or Use Incognito Mode
- Temporarily Disable Your Firewall or Antivirus Software
- Update Your DNS Server Settings
- Clear Your DNS Cache
1. Verify Your Internet Connection
The ‘DNS server not responding’ error may occur if your internet connection is down. First, ensure that you are connected to the internet.
If your Wi-Fi appears to be connected but the error persists, try restarting your internet connection by turning your computer off and on again.
Alternatively, unplug your router from the power source, wait for at least one minute, and then plug it back in.
After doing this, check your WordPress blog to see if the error has been resolved.
2. Switch to a Different Web Browser or Use Incognito Mode
This error may sometimes arise due to issues with your default web browser.
To fix the ‘DNS server not responding’ error, try accessing your WordPress site using a different browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
If you’re encountering the ‘DNS server not responding’ error in Google Chrome, try accessing your website using Mozilla Firefox instead.
You might also consider opening the page in a private browsing window, such as Chrome’s Incognito mode. If the website loads in the other browser, the issue likely lies with your default web browser.
In this situation, clearing your browser’s cache may resolve the issue. If that doesn’t work, consider reinstalling the browser.
3. Temporarily Disable Your Firewall or Antivirus
Firewall and antivirus software are essential for protecting your computer from harmful threats.
However, these programs can sometimes mistakenly block safe websites due to overly strict settings or internal issues.
To determine if the ‘DNS server not responding’ error is caused by this software, temporarily disable your firewall and antivirus programs.
If you’re using Windows, you can easily disable these programs by selecting the ‘Settings’ app from the Start menu.
Once the Settings window opens, click on the ‘Privacy and Security’ option in the sidebar.
From there, select the ‘Windows Security’ option.
You will be taken to a new screen where you need to select the ‘Virus and Threat Protection’ option from the menu.
Next, toggle the switch for ‘Microsoft Defender Firewall’ to the Off position.
For Mac users, navigate to System Preferences » Security and Privacy from the Apple menu.
This will open the ‘Security and Privacy’ window.
Click on the ‘Firewall’ tab and turn off the firewall from there.
You have successfully disabled the antivirus and firewall on your computer.
After turning off the firewall, check your webpage to see if the issue has been fixed.
4. Update the DNS Server Address
The ‘DNS server not responding’ error can occur if the DNS server provided by your internet service provider is down or has incorrect settings.
To resolve this, consider switching to a reliable public DNS server like Cloudflare or Google Public DNS, which are both free to use.
If you’re using Windows, open the Windows Search Box from the taskbar and type ‘ncpa.cpl‘ to access the Network Connections settings.
Navigate to your current internet connection, right-click on it.
From the menu that appears, choose the ‘Properties’ option.
You may be prompted to enter an administrator password. If you lack the necessary permissions, please reach out to your IT department or system administrator.
The ‘Properties’ window will now be displayed.
Locate and double-click on ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)’ from the list to open a new window.
In this window, check the box for ‘Obtain an IP address automatically’ and then select the ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’ option.
Next, enter the DNS address you received from the public DNS servers and click the ‘OK’ button at the bottom.
For instance, Cloudflare’s public DNS address is 1.1.1.1, while Google’s public DNS addresses are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
Now, restart your computer and check your website to see if the issue has been resolved.
If you are using a Mac, click on the Apple icon in the toolbar and select ‘System Preferences.’
In the window that appears, click on ‘Network’ and then select the ‘Advanced’ button.
Next, open the ‘DNS’ tab, where you will find a ‘+’ button in the bottom-left corner.
Clicking this option will add a new DNS server with the address 0.0.0.0.
Next, enter the desired numbers for the preferred DNS server you wish to use.
For instance, Cloudflare’s public DNS is 1.1.1.1, while Google’s public DNS addresses are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
After that, simply click the ‘OK’ button to return to the previous popup.
Now, click the ‘Apply’ button to save your changes.
Next, visit your website to verify if the error has been resolved.
5. Clear Your DNS Cache
Similar to your browser, your computer also stores the IP addresses of the websites you visit to avoid repeated lookups.
However, the DNS cache can become outdated, potentially leading to the ‘DNS server not responding’ error on your site.
This issue may arise when you change your site to a new domain or switch to a different WordPress host.
Flushing your DNS cache can help eliminate the ‘DNS server not responding’ error. For detailed instructions, refer to our guide on clearing your DNS cache on Mac, Windows, and Google Chrome.
We trust this guide has provided you with effective solutions to resolve the ‘DNS server not responding’ error in WordPress. Additionally, you might find our articles on regaining access to the WordPress admin panel and addressing excessive DOM size in WordPress helpful.
If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel for more WordPress video tutorials. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
