Fix “Server DNS Address Could Not Be Found” Error In Google Chrome

Rick Akura on
In this guide, you will learn the Top 6 Methods to Fix the “Server DNS Address Could Not Be Found” Error In Google Chrome. Let's get started.

Google Chrome users are familiar with the feeling of running into errors while browsing. One of these errors is shown with the message “Server DNS address could not be found” accompanied by a generic error screen. If you don’t know how to fix this issue, don’t worry — we’re here to help.

server DNS address

In this article, you can see the best methods to quickly get rid of this error and improve your browsing experience. We know how frustrating it can be to not be able to surf the internet the way you want to. This is why our methods are easy and quick to execute, making troubleshooting a short process.

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What is the “Server DNS address could not be found” error?

Most of the time this error appears due to a few reasons. If one or more of the following things occur, you’ll most likely see the “Server DNS address could not be found” message pop up on your screen:

  • The website you’re trying to visit is currently down. In this case, there’s not much you can do. Try to alert the owners and report the error. Once they’re aware of the issue, they can start to work on restoring the website.
  • Your DNS server is down or poorly configured. The DNS server you use might be having issues. In this case, we recommend changing your DNS by following our steps below.
  • Your local cache is returning an old IP address. If your local files are not configured to your new IP address, they can potentially cause this error to appear. In this case, simply follow our methods below to fix your local files.

Now that the causes are clear, let’s start troubleshooting.

Method 1. Delete all the files in your ‘etc’ folder

delete all files in etc folder

                        (Drivereasy)

 

If you suspect that the issue is caused by local files, you should clear out a specific folder on Windows. Follow the guide below to know what exactly you need to do.

  1. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the following folder:
    C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc 
    Tip: You can copy and paste this location into the address bar of your File Explorer for quicker access.
  2. Select all of the files (such as hosts, networks, protocol, etc.) and delete them. Go to your desktop and empty your Recycling bin to permanently erase the files.
  3. Restart your computer and check if the error occurs again while using Google Chrome.

Method 2. Clear Google Chrome’s host cache

host cache on Google chrome

Google Chrome’s host cache may be corrupt or full, which causes you to be unable to visit websites. This is a common issue that can be fixed in a couple of steps.

  1. Open Google Chrome and paste the following line into your address bar:
    chrome://net-internals/#dns
  2. Click on the Clear host cache button. Check if the Server DNS address could not be found error still appears after clearing the host cache.

Method 3. Change your DNS server

A quick fix to this issue is changing your DNS server. Doing so, you can go around limitations and might even get a better internet speed on your device. Here are the steps to quickly change your DNS server to a well-known, fast, and public DNS.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
  2. Type in “control” and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the classic Control Panel application.
  3. Click on Network and Internet, then choose Network and Sharing Center.
  4. From the menu on the side, click on the Change adapter settings link. This is going to open a new window.
  5. Right-click on the connection you’re currently using and select Properties.
  6. Scroll down and click on Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Click on the Properties button.
  7. Select Use the following DNS Server addresses.
  8. Type 1.1.1.1 into the first row, then 1.0.0.1 into the second row. This will change your DNS to the popular 1.1.1.1 server, which you can read more about by clicking here.
  9. Click OK to apply your changes. Try using Google Chrome and see if the error is resolved after modifying your DNS server.

Method 4. Flush your DNS

If your DNS is outdated, you can manually clear its cache to potentially fix the issues this causes. The method is simple and involves using the Command Prompt. Keep it in mind that you might be required to use an administrator account to perform this method.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
  2. Type in “cmd” without the quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the classic Command Prompt application.
  3. Paste in the following command and press the Enter key to execute it:
    ipconfig /flushdns
  4. Close the Command Prompt and check if Google Chrome still shows you the Server DNS address could not be found error.

Method 5. Renew your IP address

If flushing your DNS wasn’t enough on its own, you may try to reset your TCP/IP. Again, this requires the Command Prompt and potentially administrative permissions.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
  2. Type in “cmd” without the quotation marks and press the Enter key on your keyboard. This will launch the classic Command Prompt application.
  3. Paste in the following commands in order, pressing the Enter key after each line:

    ipconfig /release

    ipconfig /all

    ipconfig /flushdns

    ipconfig /renew

    netsh int ip set dns

    netsh winsock reset

  4. Close the Command Prompt and check if Google Chrome still shows you the Server DNS address could not be found error.

 

Method 6. Restart the DNS Client Service

reset dns client service

In some reports, the cause of this browser error is the DNS Client Service. You can attempt to restart this service to see if the error is fixed afterward. 

  1. Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
  2. Type in “services.msc” and click the OK button to launch Services. This might take a moment to fully load.
  3. Scroll down until you find the DNS Client Service service. Right-click on it and select the Stop option from the context menu.
  4. Wait a few minutes and right-click on the service again, then select Start. This will restart the service and possibly fix your Google Chrome error.

Method 7. Update your network adapter driver

In this method, we will be using the integrated Device Manager to find a new, updated driver.

  1. Press and hold the Windows key, then press R. This will launch the Run application.
  2. Type in “devmgmt.msc” without the quotation marks and hit the OK button to open the Device Manager.
  3. Expand the Network adapters section by clicking on the arrow icon. Next, right-click on your network adapter driver and select Update Driver.
  4. Click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
  5. If Windows can find an updated driver, it will automatically download and install the update to your computer.
  6. After the installation is complete, restart your computer and check if Google Chrome still displays the Server DNS address could not be found error.

We hope that this article has helped you resolve the Server DNS address could not be found error in Google Chrome. Enjoy browsing the internet uninterrupted!

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Tags: How To