Run Network Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot, click Internet Connections, then Run the troubleshooter, follow the on-screen instructions as it may automatically detect and fix DNS or connection problems.

The "DNS server isn't responding" error on Windows 10 means your computer can't communicate with the Domain Name System (DNS) server, which translates website names (like google.com) into IP addresses. As a result, you can't load websites even if you're connected to the internet. Here’s how to fix it step by step.

1. Restart Your Router and Computer

Before diving into technical fixes, try the basics:

• Turn off your computer and router/modem.
• Wait 30 seconds, then power on the router and wait for it to fully boot.
• Restart your PC.

This often resolves temporary network glitches.

2. Run Network Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in tool that can detect and fix common network issues:

1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. Click Internet Connections, then Run the troubleshooter.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

It may automatically detect and fix DNS or connection problems.

3. Flush DNS and Renew IP

Your PC might be holding onto outdated or incorrect DNS data. Clear it:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Press Win X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
2. Run these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

   ipconfig /flushdns
   ipconfig /release
   ipconfig /renew
   netsh winsock reset

3. Restart your computer after running the commands.

This clears cached DNS entries and resets network configurations.

4. Change DNS Server Manually

Your ISP’s DNS server might be down or slow. Switch to a public DNS like Google or Cloudflare:

1. Press Win I to open Settings, go to Network & Internet > Change adapter options.
2. Right-click your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) → Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.
4. Choose:
   • Use the following DNS server addresses
   • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (Google)
   • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4 (Google)
   • Or use Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

? Tip: You can also enable IPv6 with:

• Preferred: 2606:4700:4700::1111
• Alternate: 2606:4700:4700::1001

Click OK and restart your browser.

5. Disable IPv6 (If Needed)

Sometimes IPv6 can interfere, especially if your network doesn’t support it well:

1. In the same Properties window (step 4), uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
2. Click OK and test your connection.

You can re-enable it later if needed.

6. Update or Reinstall Network Driver

Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause DNS issues:

1. Press Win X → Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your network adapter → Update driver → Search automatically.
4. If that doesn’t help, choose Uninstall device, then restart your PC. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.

7. Temporarily Disable Firewall or Antivirus

Third-party security software can block DNS traffic:

• Turn off your firewall or antivirus temporarily.
• Test your internet connection.
• If it works, add an exception for DNS or switch to a different security suite.

Windows Defender usually doesn’t cause this issue, but third-party tools like Norton, McAfee, or Avast sometimes do.

8. Reset Network Settings

As a last resort, reset all network settings:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
2. Scroll down and click Network reset.
3. Click Reset now → confirm.

?? This removes all Wi-Fi passwords and network configurations. You’ll need to reconnect to networks afterward.

Fixing "DNS server isn't responding" usually comes down to outdated settings, ISP issues, or local configuration problems. Start with flushing DNS and changing to a public DNS server — that solves it in most cases. If nothing works, resetting the network stack often brings things back online.

Basically, it’s not as scary as it looks — just a miscommunication between your PC and the internet’s address book.

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