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DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN: What It Means and How to Fix It

Chrome couldn't find an IP address for the site because DNS answered that the name doesn't exist. Usually a typo, an expired domain or a DNS problem on your side.

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN

Your browser asked DNS for the website's address and was told the name doesn't exist (NXDOMAIN). Without an address, the browser can't connect.

Quick checks

  • Check the address for typos, especially in the domain ending (.com vs .co).
  • Open the same site on your phone using mobile data. If it fails there too, the problem is the site or its domain, not you.
  • Look the name up with a public resolver: `dig +short name @1.1.1.1`. If it also says the name doesn't exist, the domain itself is broken or expired.
  • Try another site. If every site fails, your DNS or connection is the problem.

Fixes on Mac

  1. Flush the DNS cache

    1. Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities).
    2. Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and enter your password. It prints nothing when it works.
    3. Reload the page.

  2. Clear Chrome's own DNS cache

    1. Open chrome://net-internals/#dns and click Clear host cache.
    2. Open chrome://net-internals/#sockets and click Flush socket pools.

  3. Switch to a public DNS server

    1. Open System Settings › Network, select Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) and click Details.
    2. Choose DNS, click + and add 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8. Remove old entries with −.
    3. Click OK and reload the page.

  4. Check for a VPN, proxy or hosts-file entry

    1. Disconnect any VPN or content blocker and try again.
    2. Run grep -v '^#' /etc/hosts in Terminal and look for a line with the site's name.
    3. Check System Settings › Network › Details › Proxies and turn off proxies you don't use.

Fixes on Windows

  1. Flush DNS and reset the network stack

    1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
    2. Run ipconfig /flushdns, then ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew.
    3. Run netsh winsock reset and restart the PC.

  2. Change the DNS server

    1. Open Settings › Network & internet, choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then your network's Hardware properties.
    2. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit, choose Manual, turn on IPv4 and enter 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.

Other devices

  1. Android

    1. Turn Wi-Fi off and on, or switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
    2. Under Settings › Network & internet › Private DNS, try Off or one.one.one.one.

  2. iPhone and iPad

    1. Settings › Wi-Fi › tap ⓘ next to your network › Configure DNS › Manual, and add 1.1.1.1.
    2. Or toggle Airplane Mode on and off to reset connections.

Still not working?

If a public resolver like 1.1.1.1 also returns NXDOMAIN, the domain doesn't resolve for anyone. It may have expired, its DNS records may be missing, or its name servers may be misconfigured. Check its registration with the whois lookup. If it's your own domain, confirm the A record exists at the DNS host listed in its NS records.

If the site works everywhere except your network, your router or a network filter (parental controls, a corporate DNS filter, Pi-hole) may be blocking it. Restart the router, or check its filtering settings.

See what’s happening

LightAtom's connections view shows each app's connections with the domain names behind them; a name that never appears suggests the lookup failed.

Frequently asked questions

What does NXDOMAIN stand for?

Non-existent domain. It's the DNS response code (RCODE 3) a resolver returns when the name you asked for doesn't exist. Chrome shows it as DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN after its own check confirms it.

Is DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN my fault or the website's?

If the site fails on every network and when looked up through 1.1.1.1, it's the website's domain. If it works on mobile data but not your Wi-Fi, the problem is your DNS settings, router or a filter on your network.

Why do I get NXDOMAIN on only one website?

Usually a typo, an expired or brand-new domain, or a block on your network (ad blockers, Pi-hole, parental controls). New domains can also take a little while to appear everywhere.

Does flushing DNS on a Mac delete anything?

No. It only clears cached name lookups, which macOS rebuilds automatically as you browse. It's completely safe.

What is the Safari version of this error?

Safari shows “Safari can't find the server”. Firefox says “Hmm. We're having trouble finding that site”. The causes and fixes are the same.

Related errors and tools

Related

LightAtom team

The people who build LightAtom, a network monitor for macOS.