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How to Fix Your Windows 7 Network

Setting up and maintaining your home PC network is easier than ever before with Windows 7 –but that’s not saying much. Many networking issues still aren’t easily fixed from Windows 7’s control panels. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of common networking problems and their quick fixes.

Reset Your IP Address

If your system’s connection to a network is unreliable, or you’re getting IP address conflict error messages, try renewing your IP address. First, click on the Start button, navigate to the Command Prompt ( Start Menu, Applications, Accessories, Command Prompt ), right-click it, and select Run as Administrator from the menu. Then type ipconfig /renew , and press Enter . That should do it.

Renewing a system’s IP address using the ipconfig utility will renew its lease on an IP address and restore its connection to a network.

Flush Your DNS Cache

Whenever you type a URL into a Web browser, your PC asks your domain name service server (DNS server) to translate that URL into an IP address, and caches that information. That cache can occasionally become outdated or corrupt, which can cause Internet connection problems. To clear your DNS cache, open the Command Prompt with Run as Administrator, type ipconfig /flushdns , and press Enter.

Restarting a Windows 7 system will also flush its DNS cache, but if any applications (malware, perhaps) are altering the cache, flushing manually could help.

Reset Your Broadband Modem and Router

Your broadband modem’s connection to the Internet will occasionally become unreliable, and restarting it can fix that. The same trick also occasionally works for the connection between a router and a broadband modem.

To reset your broadband modem and router, disconnect their power cables and leave the modem and router off for 30 seconds. Don’t just press the power buttons–that can occasionally put modems or routers into standby mode rather than totally killing the power. Next, reconnect the modem’s power cable to restore its power. Wait a few moments for the modem to renegotiate its connection to the Internet and establish a solid link; then plug in the router. Once the router has completely booted up, follow the steps outlined earlier to renew your system’s IP address. You should then be good to go.

Configure Wireless Security

The vast majority of wireless broadband routers available today ship with their wireless security features disabled. This makes it easy for novice users to set up a wireless network in their homes or offices, but it also leaves your network vulnerable to prying eyes.

Although the exact procedure necessary to enable wireless security will vary from router to router, in general the steps required to access the pertinent options will be similar.

Assuming your router/gateway’s IP address is 192.168.1.1 and you’re connected to the network, open a Web browser on a system that is phsyically wired to your network and type 192.168.1.1 into the address field. You’ll then be prompted to enter the necessary credentials to access your router’s configuration menus (consult the manual for your router’s default username and password if you didn’t set them yourself. And if you didn’t set them yourself, change them right away to prevent unwanted tampering).

To prevent unwanted users from accessing your wireless network, be sure to enable some sort of Wi-Fi security.

Once logged into the router, you’ll see a number of tabs or links to various control panels. Click on the Wireless tab or Wireless Security tab. On the resulting screen, you should see an area where you can set the Security Mode, with options like WEP, WPA, WPA2, and others listed. If you have relatively current wireless devices that support the standard, we recommend enabling WPA2 Personal on your home network because it offers stronger encryption that other methods. If your devices don’t support WPA2 , try WPA, or as a last resort WEP (the weakest available encryption method). You’ll then have to set the encryption type (TKIP or AES; either one is fine) and then define a wireless password or key. Make the password/key something that would be difficult to guess and include letters, numbers, and special characters. Save the settings and reboot the router; at least a basic level of Wi-Fi security should now be in place.

Open and Forward Ports

Some applications require that certain network ports be opened and forwarded to the correct PC for some of their functions to operate across the Web. Game servers are a great example: If the correct network ports aren’t opened and requests on those ports aren’t forwarded to the correct PC, inbound traffic on them will never make it through your firewall.

As always, though the exact process necessary to forward ports will vary, the steps required to access the pertinent options within any router will be similar. Check out our guide to port forwarding for more information.

In our example, incoming UDP and TCP traffic on ports 8888 – 8889 will be forwarded to the computer with IP address 192.168.1.115.

Connect your PC to the network, open a Web browser and type your router’s IP address (usually 192.168.1.1; check your manual to be sure) into the address field. Log in with your name and password, then find the NAT (Network Address Translation), Firewall, or Port Forwarding menu.

You’ll need to create a ruleset that tells your router which protocol to use (UDP, TCP, or both), defines the port range you want to forward, and specify to which IP address the traffic on those ports should be forwarded to. For example, if the machine running the application you are troubleshooting has an IP address of 192.168.1.115, put that string into the IP address field. Save the settings to enable the rule, then reboot the router to finish the job.

Put a System in a DMZ

Sometimes port forwarding isn’t enough and you’ll have to give a system unfettered access to the Internet. In those cases, the machine can be placed in a network DMZ, or demilitarized zone. Putting a system in a DMZ means all of its ports will be accessible from the Internet; such a situation is very dangerous, so don’t take that step unless it is absolutely necessary.

Let’s assume that your router IP address is indeed 192.168.1.1 and that you’re connected to the network. Open a Web browser and type 192.168.1.1 into the address field. Log in to your router and find the NAT (Network Address Translation), Firewall, or DMZ menu (the DMZ options will be under a menu with one of those names).

When you’re on the DMZ configuration menu, you’ll need to enable the DMZ and specify the IP address of the system you’d like to place in the DMZ. Enter the IP address, save the settings, and reboot the router; that system should now be in the DMZ.

Update Network Drivers

Like any other peripheral in a Windows PC, the network controller requires drivers to operate. Those drivers tell the operating system how to use a device and occasionally need to be updated to resolve issues or add new features and capabilities.

Updating network drivers in Windows is usually done in one of three ways: through the Windows Update software, by downloading and running an executable installer, or by manually choosing a driver through Device Manager. When possible, use the first method: Updating a driver through Windows Update is easy and automatic. Unfortunately, manually installing a driver through Device Manager is a bit more complex.

If you’ve downloaded a driver for your network interface card from the manufacturer’s website and the file contains nothing but some .inf or other nonexecutable files, you’ll need to manually install it using Windows Device Manager. To do so, click on the Start button and type Device Manager in the search field. Press Enter to open the Device Mananger, find Network Adapters in the list of devices in the system, right-click on your network controller, and select Update Driver Software from the menu.

In the new window that opens, click on the Browse my computer for driver software button; then click on the Browse button and navigate to the folder where you placed the newer driver you downloaded. Click the Next button, and the driver should install automatically.

Disable or Add Exclusions to Windows Firewall

Windows 7’s built-in firewall constantly asks you to allow or deny an application’s access to your network. If you’ve mistakenly blocked an application and want to unblock it (or the other way around) you’ll have to manually change some settings in the Windows Firewall control panel.

You can block or allow a program’s access through the Windows Firewall in the Allowed Applications control panel.

Click on your Start button, type Allowed Applications in to the search field, and press Enter. In the resulting window, all of the applications installed on the system that were flagged by Windows Firewall will be listed. If there is an application communicating through the Firewall that you now want to block, click the Change Settings button at the top of the screen, then scroll through the list of programs until you find the application, and disable it from accessing the Internet over Home/Work or Public networks. Conversely, if you’d like to allow a program that was previously blocked, find it on the list, and select the appropriate boxes next to the entry.

Scan Your Network for Attached Devices

With so many connected devices now on the market, there may come a time when you want to scan your entire network to see exactly what devices have obtained IP addresses and are consuming resources. Your router may be able to check the status of connected clients, or you could use a third-party application that will more comprehensively scan an entire range of IP addresses to find and obtain information on the connected devices.

Many free utilities are available that will scan a network, but we’re partial to one called Angry IP Scanner . Simply download and run the executable–the program doesn’t even need to be installed. Enter the IP range you’d like to scan, click the Start button, and a few minutes later you’ll have a list of every active IP, what the ping time was for the device, its hostname, and which ports it has open. Right-clicking on an active device in the list will reveal more details; it will also allow you to ping the IP address and connect through a Web browser or FTP client.

Diagnose Internet Connection Issues

Finally, one problem that may be beyond your immediate network: Is your Internet connection unstable–and you can’t figure out why? A couple of utilities built into Windows 7 may help. Ping and tracert (traceroute) can help you find out if your Internet issues are with your home network or with your ISP–or somewhere in between.

The ping tool can be used to continually ping an IP address to check for connectivity problems.

Performing a continuous ping on a known good website (we like to use google.com) will allow you to constantly monitor a connection and see if packets are being lost or the connection is dropping. Open a Command Prompt window ( Start, All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt ), type ping google.com –t , and press Enter. Your system will then start continually pinging the Google website. If the connection is stable and reliable, you shouldn’t see any errors, just replies from the IP address with ping times and other data. If, however, if the connection between your PC and Google is broken for whatever reason, ping will report that there was no response from the server.

Tracert is another useful tool that will list the route and measure transit delays of packets across a network. To use Tracert, open a Command Prompt window and type tracert google.com . This will essentially map out the path from your PC to a Google server, listing the IP addresses of the servers and switches in between. Usually your packet’s first few hops will start in your home network, then go through your ISP’s network, and then eventually find their way to google.com. If the packet doesn’t make it out of your network, the problem is inside your network; if it doesn’t get past your ISP’s network hubs, your ISP probably has a network outage or equipment failure (yes, a busted Internet connection isn’t always your fault).

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How to Fix the “DNS Server Not Responding” Error on Windows and Mac

You can’t visit a website without first accessing a Domain Name Server (DNS) . In the process, you might be met with a message such as “DNS server not responding.” This means that the decentralized naming systems responsible for turning hostnames into IP addresses failed to respond.

There are a variety of reasons these types of DNS errors can occur. Fortunately, most of them have simple resolutions. In fact, fixing the issue could be as easy as restarting your computer or changing web browsers.

In this post, we’ll explain what the “DNS Server Not Responding” message means and some common causes for it. Then we’ll walk you through several solutions for how to fix it, both on Windows and macOS devices.

Let’s get started!

What Does “DNS Server Not Responding” Mean?

A DNS is a naming system that takes alphanumeric domain names (or “hostnames”) and turns them into numeric IP addresses. Essentially, DNS servers act as translators .

When you input a web address into your browser , it is forwarded to a DNS server from your router, where it’s then dissolved and returned as an IP address. However, if the DNS server is unable to properly complete this name resolution process, the end result is usually a message indicating that the DNS server is not responding.

“DNS Server Not Responding” means that your browser was unable to establish a connection to the internet. Typically, DNS errors  are caused by problems on the user end, whether that’s with a network or internet connection, misconfigured DNS settings, or an outdated browser. They can also be attributed to a temporary server outage that renders the DNS unavailable.

Therefore, it’s possible that you might be able to resolve the problem simply by switching browsers. In other cases, you may need to disable connections, change DNS servers, or flush the DNS cache.

How to Fix the “DNS Server Not Responding” Error in Windows and macOS (11 Methods)

Now that you understand what this message means and are familiar with some potential causes, it’s time to get to work resolving it. Let’s take a look at eleven potential ways you can fix “DNS Server Not Responding” on Windows and Mac devices.

1. Switch to a Different Browser

The first step is to troubleshoot the issue by testing your DNS connections. Fixing this problem might be as simple as switching or updating your web browser.

How Do I Switch to a Different Browser?

To do this, try accessing the web from a different browser. For example, if your default browser is Safari or Google Chrome, visit the desired website from Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge instead.

If switching browsers works, you’ll likely need to update your default browser to the latest version or uninstall and reinstall it. However, if you still see the “DNS Server Not Responding” message, you can rule out your browser as the source of the issue.

2. Connect With a Different Device

If your browser is not the problem, maybe your current device is. That is why it might be interesting to connect to a second device and access the site you’re unable to see.

How Do I Connect to a Different Device?

Grab your phone and try to access the site you’re having trouble with using the same network as before.

Still getting the “DNS Server Not Responding” error? Then this might indicate that your router is the issue here.

Not so sure about it? Connect to the site using your mobile data. If it works, you’ll have the answer that the problem is in fact on your end and not on the site’s end.

3. Start Your Computer in Safe Mode

If your operating system is not functioning properly, it can result in the “DNS Server Not Responding” error message. Therefore, you may want to try booting your Windows device in Safe Mode to see whether this resolves this issue.

Doing so will limit the files and resources used for running Windows, and can be an effective way to troubleshoot problems.

How Do I Start My Computer in Safe Mode?

To start your Windows 10 computer in Safe Mode, first select the Windows button , and then hover over the Power icon :

Next, while you’re holding down the Shift  key, select Restart :

In the window that appears, click on Troubleshoot > Advanced . Under Advanced options , select Start-Up Settings , followed by Restart . More options will appear. You can press 4 or 5 to Enable Safe Mode  or Enable Safe Mode with Networking  respectively. Your computer will then restart in Safe Mode.

If you’re using Windows 7 or earlier, you can restart it in Safe Mode by going to Power > Restart . Then, while it’s booting up, hold down the F8 key .

The process is similar on macOS devices.

While the machine is restarting and booting up, hold down the Shift key . Once the Apple logo appears, you can release it. Your device will then start in Safe Mode.

Once your computer is in Safe Mode, try to access the website again. If there doesn’t seem to be a network connection issue, the source of the problem may be a third-party software or installation, such as an antivirus application.

4. Temporarily Disable Your Antivirus Software and Firewall

If switching browsers doesn’t resolve the “DNS Server Not Responding” issue, the next step is to temporarily deactivate your firewall . Antivirus software and firewalls are critical for safeguarding your devices, but they can sometimes cause issues that interfere with network connections.

How Do I Temporarily Disable My Antivirus Software and Firewall?

For Windows users, you can do this by going to your control panel and navigating to Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings .

Mac users can find this option by navigating to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall .

Once your firewall is deactivated, try visiting the website again from your browser. If this resolved the issue, you might consider switching antivirus programs or reconfiguring the settings of your existing application. Either way, remember to reactivate your firewall once you’re done.

5. Disable Secondary Connections

If disabling your antivirus software or firewall didn’t do the trick, another potential solution is to disable any secondary connections available on your device. You want to make sure that only the connection you’re currently using is active.

How Do I Disable Secondary Connections?

To do this in Windows, type “Network connections” into the search box of your desktop taskbar. Next, click on View network connections :

This will bring you to the Network Connections  page. Any connections you’re not currently using will have a red ( X ) next to them. Right-click on one, and then select Disable :

Repeat this for any other connections that are not currently active. When you’re done, restart your browser and try visiting the website again.

If you’re using a macOS, you can do this by clicking on the Apple icon, then navigating to System Preferences > Network . Your connections will be listed on the left side of the window.

To disconnect or disable one, select it, and then click on the ( – ) sign at the bottom of the window.

6. Disable the Windows Peer-to-Peer Feature

If you’re using Windows, and disabling your firewall or secondary connections hasn’t resolved the “DNS Server Not Responding” error message, there’s one more option you can try: the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) feature. Note: This is something you’ll only find in Windows 10.

This feature helps preserve your device’s download bandwidth. Essentially, it lets you download a Windows update one time, then use your device to spread or share the updated version across other computers included in your local network.

Unfortunately, it can also sometimes interrupt DNS processes. Therefore, it’s worth disabling to see if this resolves the error message you’re currently facing.

How Do I Disable the Windows Peer-to-Peer Feature?

To do so, click on the  Windows icon , followed by the Settings (gear icon)  >  Update & Security :

In the window that opens along the left-hand side, select Delivery Optimization :

Next to the ‘Allow downloads from other PCs’ option, toggle the switch to disable it:

When you’re done, restart your computer and try accessing the website again. If this doesn’t work, don’t worry. We still have more solutions to try.

7. Restart Your Router

The next troubleshooting step is to restart your router. Doing so will flush your router’s cache and could be the solution for resolving the “DNS Server Not Responding” message.

How Do I Restart My Router?

Most modems come with a power button that enables you to quickly power them off. After a minute or so, turn your modem back on and wait for it to re-establish a connection. Once it does, check to see whether you’re able to access the internet from your browser.

Note that sometimes simply restarting the router isn’t enough. You may want to reboot it by unplugging it entirely, and then waiting at least 30 seconds before plugging it back in and powering it on again.

8. Install Updated Network Adapter Drivers on Your Computer

Another reason you may be seeing the “DNS Server Not Responding” message is if your current Windows network adapter driver is old or outdated. If this is the case, getting a new adapter driver or updating yours may be the solution you need.

How Do I Install Updated Network Adapter Drivers?

There are a couple of ways to update your network adapter driver. One is to do it manually , which you should only do if you are at least somewhat familiar working with drivers. Alternatively, you can do it using an automated tool such as Driver Easy  or Snappy Driver Installer (SDI) :

Either of these solutions will automatically recognize your system and locate the appropriate drivers for you to use with it. We recommend this method because it eliminates the risk of human error, such as downloading or installing the wrong driver on your device.

Once you download SDI  and finish installing the updated drivers, restart your computer. Then try reconnecting to the internet, to determine whether this resolved the issue.

9. Flush Your DNS Cache and Reset Your IP

If you’ve eliminated your browser, antivirus software, and router as the source of the issue, it’s time to turn your attention to your DNS settings. As with the router cache, it may be that your DNS needs to be cleared before it can properly make a connection to the internet, or your IP might need a reset.

How Do I Flush the DNS Cache and Reset My IP?

If you’re using Windows, start by typing “cmd” into the search field along the taskbar, and then selecting the Command Prompt app:

In the window that opens, enter “ipconfig/flushdns” (no quotations), and hit Enter :

When the process is finished, it will display a message letting you know that the DNS cache was successfully flushed. Repeat this process for the following commands:

If you’re using a Mac device, you can flush your DNS cache by opening the Terminal application (press the Command  + Space  keys, and then type “Terminal” into Spotlight). In the Terminal application window, enter the following:

Press the Enter  key. There won’t be a success message as there is on Windows devices. However, simply running this command will flush the DNS cache. For further guidance, you can refer to our full guide on how to flush your DNS cache  in Windows, Mac, and Chrome.

10. Disable IPv6

IPv6 is the latest Internet Protocol version that helps route traffic between networks and the internet. Unfortunately, it may also be behind the “DNS Server Not Responding” message you’re currently seeing.

Therefore, another potential solution to try is disabling IPv6 on your computer.

How Do I Disable IPv6?

To do this in Windows, open your Network Connections control panel , then right-click on your current connection. In the drop-down menu, select  Properties :

Under the Networking  tab of the panel that opens, scroll down until you see Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6):

If it’s selected, unselect the box, then click on OK . Refresh your browser and try connecting to the internet again.

To disable IPv6 in macOS, you first need to determine what network interface you’re using. To do this, open the Terminal application , then issue the following command:

If you want to disable IPv6 for a wireless connection, you would use the following command:

For an Ethernet connection, you would use:

Then hit the Enter  key, and refresh your browser to see if the issue is resolved.

11. Change the Default DNS Server on Your Windows Computer

Another solution you can try in order to fix “DNS Server Not Responding” in Windows is to change your default DNS server. To do this in Windows 7, 8, or 10, the first step is to access your network connection properties.

How Do I Change the Default DNS Server?

Start by clicking on the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of the task bar. In the search field, type “Network connections”, and then select View network connections  in the menu that appears:

Next, choose the internet adapter you’re currently using (WLAN for wireless network connections or LAN for ethernet cable connections). Right-click on the internet adapter, followed by Properties :

In the window that opens, choose Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4 ), and then click on the Properties  button:

To manually assign a different DNS server address, select Use the following DNS server addresses  and input the address of an alternative server:

For example, you can enter Google’s DNS server, which is “8.8.8.8”, under Preferred DNS server . Then you can add “8.8.4.4” under Alternative  DNS server , and hit OK .

If you’re running macOS, you can locate these settings by clicking on the Apple icon followed by System Preferences :

Next, select the  Network  icon. Choose your current network, and then click on the Advanced  button:

Under the DNS  tab, click the (+)  button next to “IPv4 or IPv6 addresses”, and hit Enter :

After you enter the new DNS information, click   on OK  followed by Apply . Restart your web browser, and then visit the website you were trying to access. You should find that the “DNS Server Not Responding” issue is now resolved.

Trying to access a website only to be met with a “DNS Server Not Responding” message can be both frustrating and concerning. While there are a variety of reasons this error may occur, the good news is that most have simple resolutions.

As we discussed in this article, there are 11 potential solutions you can use to fix a “DNS Server Not Responding” message, in both Windows and macOS:

• Switch to a different browser, and if necessary, update your default browser to the latest version.
• Connect With a Different Device
• Start your computer in Safe Mode.
• Temporarily disable your antivirus software and firewalls.
• Disable secondary connections.
• Disable the Windows Peer-to-Peer feature.
• Restart your router.
• Install updated network adapter drivers on your computer.
• Flush your DNS cache and reset your IP.
• Disable IPv6.
• Change the default DNS server on your computer.

Suggested reading: How to Fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG Error Code . How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error Code

Related Articles

How to Fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG Error Code (7 Solutions)

How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN (Desktop & Mobile)

What Is DNS? Domain Name System Explained

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DNS Server Not Responding (4 Easy Solutions)

Suddenly you cannot access any websites through the Internet. Then you try to troubleshoot the network problems on your Windows. It tells you the DNS server not responding is the culprit. You may see one of these:

“ The DNS server isn’t responding . Your computer appears to be correctly configured, but the device or resource (DNS server) is not responding .”

If this problem occurs, don’t worry. Follow this guide to fix it.

Try these fixes

If you’d like to know why you can’t browse the Internet due to the ‘DNS server not responding , you can go to read the reason part . Otherwise, follow along with the solutions directly.

• Correct your DNS server address
• Clear your DNS cache and reset your IP
• Update your network adapter driver
• Restart your modem and router

Bonus Tip: Try using VPN to fix the connection problem.

Note:  The screens shown below are from Windows 10, but all the methods also apply to Windows 11/8/7.

Solution 1: Correct your DNS server address

The DNS server not responding error could be probably caused by an incorrect DNS server address . So you can follow these to correct your DNS server address:

1) On your keyboard, press the  Windows logo key  and  R  at the same time to invoke the Run box.

Restart your computer and try to access the website you want to go to again and see if it succeeds.

Solution 2: Clear your DNS cache and reset your IP

There may be problems with your DNS server if its cache is getting full. To see if that’s the case, try clearing the DNS cache and resetting the IP address.

Note: Click  Yes  when prompted by the User Account Control.

Then restart your computer and try to access the website you want to visit again and see if it succeeds.

Solution 3: Update your network adapter driver

Your DNS server won’t respond if the network adapter driver is outdated.  You can update your network adapter driver manually or, if you’re not confident playing around with drivers, you can do it automatically with  Driver Easy .

Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.

You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money-back guarantee ):

1) Download   and install Driver Easy.

After updating your network adapter driver, please restart your computer. Try to access the website you want to go to again and see if it succeeds.

Solution 4: Restart your modem and router

If your modem or router doesn’t work properly, the DNS server could stop responding, either.  You can restart your modem and router if you have one to solve the problem.

2) Try to access the website you want to go to again and see if it succeeds.

Why can’t I access websites when the DNS server not responding? 

First, let’s figure out what a DNS server is. DNS ( Domain Name System) server helps to translate the website address into the IP address for your browser to connect to.

For example, when you want to access our website: www.drivereasy.com on Chrome, the DNS server translates it into our public IP address:  144.217.68.24 for Chrome to connect to. 

So you may know if there’s any wrong with your DNS server, you cannot access any website on your browser. No exception that if your DNS server stops responding, you cannot access the websites through the Internet.

Hopefully, this article has helped you fixed the problem. Feel free to comment below with your own experiences and share with your friends or colleagues if they’re experiencing the same problem.

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As a technical writer for Driver Easy, April writes articles related to various tech issues, including Windows computer problems and game errors. She's never happier than when her articles help people solve their problems - whether they're Windows errors and blue screens to network errors and faulty hardware. As a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), she focuses on Windows system problems and daily tips and tricks. When she's not writing, she likes reading literary novels and poetry.

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How to fix dns server not responding windows 7.

Are you having problems with your DNS server not responding on Windows 7? You may be experiencing internet connection issues, slow loading of websites, or other networking problems. Don’t worry, this issue is usually easy to fix. In this article, we’ll provide you with the step-by-step instructions you need to resolve the DNS server not responding error on Windows 7. So, if you’re ready to get your internet connection back up and running, let’s get started!

Fix DNS Server Not Responding Windows 7 – Step by Step Tutorial:

• Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box.
• Type ncpa.cpl in the Run box and click OK.
• Right-click on your active network connection and select Properties.
• Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to open the Properties window.
• Select the radio button next to Use the following DNS server addresses.
• In Preferred DNS server type 8.8.8.8 and in Alternate DNS server type 8.8.4.4 .
• Click OK to save the changes.

Introduction to Dns Server Not Responding Windows 7

DNS server not responding windows 7 is a common issue that can be caused by various factors. It is a problem related to the Domain Name System (DNS) of your Windows computer. It can result in slow loading of websites and other online services, or it can even prevent you from connecting to the Internet at all. In this article, we will discuss the causes of this issue and how it can be resolved.

Potential Causes of DNS Server Not Responding Windows 7

There are several potential causes of DNS server not responding windows 7. The most common are incorrect DNS settings, a corrupt DNS cache, or a misconfigured router or firewall. Additionally, a virus or malware infection can also cause this issue.

Incorrect DNS Settings

Incorrect DNS settings can cause the DNS server not responding windows 7. If the DNS settings are incorrect, the computer will not be able to properly resolve domain names to IP addresses. To check if this is the cause of the issue, you can try changing the DNS settings to public DNS servers such as Google’s public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).

Corrupt DNS Cache

A corrupt DNS cache can also cause the DNS server not responding windows 7. This can happen if the DNS cache has become outdated or corrupted. To fix this issue, you can try flushing the DNS cache by running the command “ipconfig /flushdns” in the Command Prompt.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix DNS Server Not Responding Windows 7

Once you have identified the potential cause of the issue, you can try the following troubleshooting steps to try and fix DNS server not responding windows 7.

Restart the Computer

The first step is to restart the computer. This can help to reset any settings or configurations that may be causing the issue.

Disable Antivirus and Firewall

If the issue is caused by a virus or malware infection, then you can try disabling your antivirus and firewall temporarily. This can also help to resolve any conflicts that may be occurring between the software and the DNS server.

Disable the Network Adapter

If the issue is related to the network adapter, then you can try disabling it. To do this, go to the Device Manager, find the Network Adapter and right-click on it. Then, select the “Disable” option.

Reset the Router and Modem

If the issue is related to the router or modem, then you can try resetting them. To do this, unplug the power cable from the router or modem and leave it unplugged for a few minutes. Then, plug the cable back in and wait for the device to restart.

Run the Network Troubleshooter

Finally, you can try running the network troubleshooter. This will attempt to detect and resolve any network-related issues that could be causing the issue. To run the network troubleshooter, go to the Control Panel, select “Troubleshooting” and then select “Network and Internet”.

DNS server not responding windows 7 can be a frustrating issue to deal with, but thankfully it can be resolved by following the steps outlined in this article. If you are still having trouble resolving the issue, then you should contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for further assistance.

Few Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. what is a dns server.

Answer: A Domain Name System (DNS) server is a type of server that is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses. It is used by computers to locate and connect to websites and other services on the internet. The DNS server is like a phone book for the internet, storing records that map domain names to the associated IP address.

Q2. How can I fix a DNS server not responding error on Windows 7?

Answer: To fix a DNS server not responding error on Windows 7, you can try restarting your computer, resetting the DNS cache, flushing the DNS cache, or changing your DNS server settings. You may also need to update your network adapter drivers or reset the TCP/IP settings on your computer.

Q3. What is the command to flush the DNS cache?

Answer: On Windows 7, the command to flush the DNS cache is “ipconfig /flushdns”. This command will clear the DNS cache and help resolve any issues with DNS lookups.

Q4. How can I reset the TCP/IP settings on my computer?

Answer: To reset the TCP/IP settings on a Windows 7 computer, you can open the Command Prompt (cmd.exe) and type in the command “netsh int ip reset reset.log”. This command will reset the TCP/IP settings on the computer and help resolve any issues with internet connectivity.

Q5. How can I update my network adapter drivers?

Answer: To update your network adapter drivers on Windows 7, you can go to the Device Manager, select the Network adapters category, right-click on your network adapter and select “Update Driver Software”. This will open the Update Driver Software wizard, where you can either search for and install the latest drivers from the internet or browse your computer for the drivers.

Q6. What is the difference between a hard reset and a soft reset?

Answer: A hard reset is a complete reboot of a system, which will clear out all data and settings that have been stored in memory. A soft reset is a restart of the system without wiping out all data and settings. A soft reset is typically used to resolve minor issues or glitches that have occurred on a system.

How to fix dns server not responding on windows 10/7/8 | Wifi or Wired Connection | 2022

In conclusion, fixing DNS server not responding Windows 7 can be a daunting task. However, with the right steps, it can be done quickly and easily. This includes resetting the DNS cache, flushing the DNS, changing the DNS server, or resetting the network adapter. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your Windows 7 machine is running optimally and that your DNS server is responding quickly and efficiently.

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DNS Server Not Responding: How To Fix Error In Windows

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Are you suddenly unable to access the internet? Checked your router is turned on?

The first thing to do would be to run the Window Network Diagnostic tool to troubleshoot the problem.

After executing the Windows Network Diagnostics tool to diagnose this problem, the tool might show you the following error message:

“Your computer appears to be correctly configured, but the device or resource (DNS server) is not responding.”

Or if it doesn`t give the above message, it might provide you with one that is closely similar to the error text below:

“The DNS server isn’t responding.”

Tips to fix DNS server not responding error in Windows .

If you`re experiencing this problem, you don’t need to worry, because the dns error is readily fixable.

“DNS server not responding error” is a common issue that occurs on many Windows computers.

The issue disallows a PC to access the Internet, regardless of the router.

So if you`ve seen any of these messages above, which often occur in Windows 7, Windows 8, 8.1, and Windows 10, it might be a problem that relates to the configuration of your computer, hence why the server is not responding.

Table of Contents

Can You Use Your Phone if Disconnec... Please enable JavaScript Fixing “DNS Server not Responding” Error

In this post, I will show you 6 ways to solve the DNS server not responding error, depending on what situation your PC is in.

It isn`t a must you try all the fixes below, work your way down the list until you bump into one that works for you.

It is usually as simple as fixing the dns cache .

How To Fix “DNS Server Not Responding” Error In Windows

• Solution 1: Fix the network address
• Solution 2: Reset DNS settings
• Solution 3: Update Your Network adapter driver
• Solution 4: Rollback the network adapter to an older version

Solution 5: Enter MAC Address Manually

• Solution 6: Restart your Router or Modem

All the above fixes are very straightforward and easy to follow.

Let`s start from the basis.

Solution 1: Fix Network Address

First, the “DNS not responding” error might be a result of incorrect DNS server address. To correct the DNS server address, here is a step-by-step procedure to get it set back.

• Click on the Start button and key in Run to access the Run app. Alternatively, you can press the Windows logo key and R simultaneously to open the Run box directly.

• Feed-in Control and hit the Enter button to open the control panel
• Navigate through to Network and Sharing Centre and click on it
• On the Network and Sharing Centre windows, select the Change adapter settings on the top left.

Tip: You can quickly access this section by pressing Windows + R and then fill out “ncpa.cpl” without the quotes and press Enter.

•  Next, right-click on your network adapter (Local Area Connection, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi) and select Properties.

• Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 and hit the Properties button
• Set your default DNS to be Google’s DNS.

The preferred and alternate DNS server of Google’s DNS is 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, respectively.

If you don’t want to use Google’s DNS, you can use OpenDNS: OpenDNS address: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 Or pick any of these third-party DNS servers.

• Remember to check the box, “Validate settings upon exit” before clicking on the OK button.

Alternatively, you can fix the Network Address Manually. And here`s a straightforward guide on how to go about it:

• Open a Command Prompt by pressing Windows + R and type cmd or cmd.exe and then press Enter.
• In the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig /all and then press Enter.

• You will see a physical address as the image above. Write it down!
• Next, go back to the Network and Sharing Center. Right-click on your adapter and choose Properties.
• Click on the Configure button and choose the Advanced tab.
• In the Advanced tab, find the Network Address and enter the physical address you have seen in the previous step, without dashes. Then click on the OK button.

For example, if your physical address is BE-4C-C4-DB-A9-C0, you will type BE4CC4DBA9C0.

• Finally, restart your Windows computer, and the problem will be solved.

Solution 2: Reset DNS Settings

Here is the second method to fix the DNS server not responding error on your Windows PC.

Use this solution when the first method can’t help you to solve the problem.

Tip: You can also use both methods to fix this issue. There will be no harm to your computer at all.

Step 1: Open a Command Prompt program by pressing Windows + R on your keyboard, type “cmd.exe” and press Enter.

Step 2: Perform all commands below, one by one:

• ipconfig /flushdns -> Enter
• ipconfig /registerdns -> Enter
• ipconfig /release -> Enter
• ipconfig /renew -> Enter
• netsh winsock reset -> Enter

Step 3: After finishing, you can reboot your computer. The problem should be gone after restarting.

Solution 3: Update the Network Adapter Driver

Yes, an old network adapter driver might be the cause of the “DNS server isn`t responding” connect issue . Checking if your driver is up-to-date and compatible with your current operating system might be another solution. And here is the procedure to readily check if your network driver is up-to-date:

•  Press the Windows key + X  keys to open the Power User menu and select Device Manager
•  Expand Network adapters.
• Select the name of your Network Adapter Driver, right-click on it, and select Update Driver Software
•  Hit the Search automatically for updated driver software option.
•  Execute the on-screen instructions and click Close to complete the task.

In some cases, Windows updates may lack new drivers available. In such situations, head over to your computer manufacture support website to download the latest driver.

Assumedly, you can`t connect to the internet. Thus, you require another computer with an internet connection, and then save the driver on an external drive and manually install it on your computer.

Here`s an in-depth guide to walk you through the manual installation procedure from the external drive.

NOTE: This process works after downloading the Network driver update from a computer with internet access.

•  Use the Window key + X keys to open the Power User menu and select Device Manager
• Expand Network Adapters
• Select the name of your adapter, right-click it, and choose Update Driver Software
•  Click the Browser My computer for device software option
•  Hit the Browse button and select the driver folder you downloaded
•  Hit the Next button
•  Execute the on-screen instruction and hit the “ Close” option to complete the update.

After step 7, restart your computer and confirm if your PC has internet access.

Solution 4: Roll Back the Network Driver to Previous Version

In some instances, the “DNS do not respond” error can be a result of a recent driver update release for a network adapter, which isn’t compatible with the operating system you`re using.

In such cases, returning the Network adapter driver to an older version might work excellently. To roll back to an older version, here are steps to get it through:

•  Press the Windows key + X to access the Power User menu and select Device Manager.
•  Select the name of your adapter, right-click it, and select Properties .
• Next, hit the Drive tab
• Then, click the Rollback driver button. (If this option is grayed out, then it means your system lacks a previous version to roll back to.)
• Then restart your computer to complete the process.

Once you have completed the process, open your web browser to confirm if you have access to the internet.

A Media Access Control address (MAC) of a device is a distinctive identifier appointed to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer of a network segment.

Manufacturers of network interface controller are the one who assigns Mac Addresses they store the address in its hardware such as the card`s read-only memory or other firmware mechanisms.

Entering the MAC address manually can fix the “DNS SERVER not responding error.”

However, it`ll first requires you to locate it using an elevated Command Prompt. Here is the step-by-step procedure to find your Mac Address:

• First, key in cmd on the search box and right-click on the Command Prompt app.
• Next, select Run as an administrator. The User Account Control prompt will ask you if you want to allow the Command Prompt to make changes to your computer, select yes to access cmd with administrative privileges.
• Type in ipconfig /all once the cmd windows open. It will open a list of information about configuration.
• From the list, look for “ physical address “and take note of it as you`ll need it on the next step.

Now you have your Mac address. The next thing is to configure your network connection manually. Configuring network connection manually

• Right-click on the Start menu (The Windows logo on the bottom left of your screen) and select Network Connections.  Similarly, you can head over to Settings and choose “ Network & Internet.”
• In the Network and Internet setting window, select the type of your connection on the left pane, for instance, Wifi or Ethernet, and hit the Change adapter options.
• Next, right-click on your connection and select Properties from the drop-down menu.
• On the Properties windows, select Client for Microsoft Network,  which is the default selection and click on Configure
• Then, select the Advanced tab and navigate to Network Address under Property.
• Next, select Value on the right pane and enter your MAC address, which you noted earlier.
• Hit the OK tab below the pane to save the changes. Check if the procedure above fixes the “DNS server is not responding error.

Solution 6: Restart Your Router or Modem

In some cases, modem or router may operate faultily, so that the DNS server could stop responding. And when that is the case, a simple execution like restarting your modem or router might solve the problem.

Updated: I have received several emails from users that tell me that their firewall has blocked the internet connection. That could be a reason why you see this DNS error on your computer.

To diagnose and troubleshoot this issue, you should disable your Windows firewall (or any third-party firewall programs).

I hope this short guide can help you to solve the DNS server not responding error on your Windows computer.

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