Your DNS Server Might Be Unavailable – What To Do

DNS, or Domain Name System, has been playing an essential part in internet functionality since 1985. Simply put, DNS is the web’s phonebook. When DNS trouble strikes, connectivity to the internet is made impossible, and you know how frustrating this can get, whether you’re looking to get some work done or simply to relax online.

One of the most common errors that occur here reads: “Your DNS server might be unavailable.” This alert means that there’s something wrong with your DNS, and so you won’t be able to use the internet until the issue is fixed.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common solutions that may help you fix your DNS problem.

Restart Your Router

Routers tend to overheat and cause issues in general, so the first order of business would be to check your router. Essentially, you can just restart it manually by holding the power button (assuming there is one on your router). However, just to be safe, it’s more effective to unplug every single cable from your router, wait 10-15 minutes, and plug everything back in. This should give the device enough time to cool off and resume working normally.

If this helps, chances are that your router keeps overheating and that the same mistake may well occur again. Unfortunately, this likely means that you’re going to need to get a new router. Check your internet provider’s policy and contact them if they were the ones who installed the router for you. If you’ve bought your own unit, browse the web and find a new, better device that has anti-overheating measures.

Change the Web Browser

If you’ve restarted your router and the problem still persists, it might come from software issues. The most basic thing to try is giving a new browser a go. This is exactly why Microsoft Edge can’t be uninstalled from your PC. If your browser of choice is making it impossible to connect, you won’t be able to download a new browser from it. But you might still be able to do a web search in Microsoft Edge.

If that’s the case for you, the problem is easy to fix. Uninstall your usual browser, download its latest version using Edge, and reinstall it. After doing this, things should be back to normal. If the browser is still causing problems, it might be time to consider switching to a different browser.

Deactivate Your Firewall

Windows Firewall is like a TSA agent. It protects you against potential threats, but this sometimes means you have to deal with awkward assumptions and lots of delays.

Spoken less metaphorically, the Windows Firewall is a powerful tool from Windows that makes sure that your computer is safe from outside (online and offline) malware threats. Sometimes, it can cause issues by marking a particular non-malicious software as malware, which can easily lead to the DNS problem in question.

If this is the case, pull up the Control Panel and deactivate the Firewall temporarily. If the error has stopped occurring, try creating an exception for the website/software in question.

Windows Firewall frequently causes similar problems, but they are easily solved by creating exceptions. This will make sure that your PC remains safe from the threats while allowing the apps and websites that you deemed harmless through the firewall.

Flush Your DNS Cache

1. Open up Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt. 
2. Now, type in ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter.

Restart Your Computer

A number of errors can cause your DNS server to appear unavailable to your computer’s network card or wireless adapter. Restarting your computer will cause the OS to purge and reset various temporary files, etc. that may have become corrupted.

Select Another DNS Server

If none of the above solutions worked, it’s time to choose another DNS server. If you aren’t computer-savvy or a technician, you likely have never done this before, but you have nothing to worry about. The problem and its solution are easy to understand.

The DNS server address of the internet provider in question is used automatically. This server, however, can be slow and easy to overload. What you need to do is replace your provider’s DNS with any server of your choice. Here’s how to do it.

Using the Router to Change the DNS Server

You can use your router’s settings to change the DNS server. Open your browser and do the following:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run program, type “cmd” and press Enter. 
2. Enter “ipconfig” in the Command Prompt (cmd) and press Enter.
3. Copy the numbers under Default gateway onto the clipboard (use the Ctrl + C command).
4. Paste these numbers into the address field in your browser and hit Enter.
5. Use your relevant access information to log in.
6. Choose Internet in the menu and then navigate to Account information.
7. Find the DNS server
8. Select Use other DNSv4 servers.
9. To use Google’s DNS server, write 8.8.8.8. and 8.8.4.4. in the boxes next to Preferred DNSv4 server and Alternative DNSv4 server.

Using Windows Tools to Change the DNS Server

In order to change the DNS server on your computer by using Windows, you’ll first need to access the network connection properties in the Control Panel.

1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections and find the internet adapter that’s in use.
2. Right-click it and then click Properties.
3. Select Internet protocol version 4 and click Properties.
   
4. Follow the instructions in step 9 from above.

Contact Your Provider

Follow these steps if you need your internet back urgently. But if it doesn’t work, or if the problem keeps coming back, you should call your provider. Tell them about your problem, and follow their instructions.

Did this article help you out? If yes, which method did you go with? Have you ever fixed your DNS with a different approach? Let us know in the comment section below and join in on the discussion.