You know how frustrating it can be if you’ve ever encountered the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error while browsing. This error typically means that your browser cannot resolve the domain name into an IP address, preventing you from accessing a website. Computers have IP addresses assigned to communicate with other computers on the network. As IP addresses can be challenging to memorize, we often turn to easy-to-remember domain names to reach specific computers on a network. The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as a digital phone book with names correlating to domain names and phone numbers translating to IP addresses. A DNS shows which domain points to which IP address to reach that particular server.
In this guide, we’ll explain what could cause the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error and what you can do to try and resolve it. This common issue can typically be fixed quickly with just a few steps.
Table of Contents
Troubleshooting ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED
- Network Issues – Problems with your internet connection
- Cached DNS or Browsing Data – Corrupt cached data can prevent proper name resolution
- DNS Issues – Incorrect DNS settings or unresponsive DNS servers
- Firewall or Antivirus Interference – Security software may block name resolution
- Misconfigured Settings – Incorrect network or proxy settings
Network Issues
Starting from your network, you can quickly check if you can access other websites or browse the internet. If you have problems doing so, you have network connectivity issues.
You can try resetting your router by powering it off and unplugging it from the power source. Then, wait one minute before plugging the router back in and powering it on.
When you reset the router, it loads the correct configuration, which can help you fix any network connectivity issues.
Flush the DNS Cache
Sometimes, a corrupt or outdated DNS cache can cause name resolution errors. To clear the DNS cache, you can follow these steps:
On Windows:
- Press Windows + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
- In the command prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns - You should see a confirmation message: “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”
For macOS:
- Open the Terminal.
- Enter the following command:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder - Enter your password when prompted and press Enter.
After flushing the DNS cache, try reloading the website.
Change DNS servers
The default ISP DNS servers on your computer can sometimes be unreachable, slow, or have other issues that may prevent them from resolving the websites you are trying to reach. You can change the DNS servers to public, well-known DNS servers by following these steps, depending on the computer’s OS.
Windows
- Open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on your active connection and select Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
- Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
o Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)
o Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4 - Click on OK, then Close
macOS
- Go to System Preferences > Network.
- Select your active network and click Advanced.
- Go to the DNS tab, click the + button, and add:
o 8.8.8.8
o 8.8.4.4 - Click OK and Apply.
Firewall and Antivirus issues
Firewall and antivirus issues
Sometimes, firewall settings falsely identify the website as a threat. To reset the firewall settings on your computer, follow these steps:
- Click on Start, type Control Panel, and hit Enter.
- In the Control Panel, select System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
- On the left sidebar, click Restore Defaults.
- In the “Restore Defaults” window, click the Restore defaults button.
- Confirm the action when prompted.
If using Antivirus software, check if the website has been flagged as unsafe. If it has, remove it from the blocked websites list. You can also temporarily disable the firewall and check again if you can access the website. Do not forget to enable the Firewall again after testing.
Misconfigured browser settings
Google Chrome and other browsers store data about the websites you visit, using this cached data to load the pages faster when you visit them again in the future.
You can clear the Google Chrome cached data by following these steps.
- Once you open the Google Chrome browser, click the three dots icon on the right.
- Then click on Settings
- In the left sidebar, click Privacy and Security.
- Select Clear browsing data.
- In the pop-up window, choose the Time range:
- Last hour, Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, Last 4 weeks, or All time.
- Check the boxes for:
- Cached images and files.
- Optionally, include Browsing history, Cookies, and other site data.
- Clear Data:
- Click the Clear Data button.
To quickly test whether the issue is caused by the Google Chrome browser, you can also try opening the website from other browsers.
Conclusion
If you encounter the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error in your browser, follow the steps to eliminate the issue causing it. Check your internet connection for any issues, flush the DNS cache, and change the DNS servers to public DNS servers. If the issue still persists, check your browser and clear the cached data. In the case a website is blocked, check your firewall or antivirus settings.
If you’re unsure how to resolve this issue or don’t have the time, you can always ask to get your site migrated for free to one of our enterprise Linux servers. Our Linux admins will handle any migration and optimizations and fix the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error for you.