When you type https://www.soulitasoap.com or any domain proper name into your browser'due south address bar, your browser asks a particular blazon of server where to notice the site.

These servers — known equally DNS servers — are dedicated to answering any and all Domain Name System (DNS) queries.

You can think of the DNS equally the address volume of the World Wide Web. Information technology contains the IP address for every site on the internet. Browsers demand that information to communicate with origin or CDN edge servers to admission the original website (or cached versions of that site).

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In this post, we'll discuss:

  • the purpose of a DNS server
  • what a primary DNS server is
  • what the "DNS Server Isn't Responding" error means and how to resolve information technology
  • best DNS server options
  • how to look up your DNS server

What is the purpose of a DNS server?

The purpose of a DNS server is to translate what a user types into their browser into something a calculator tin can understand and use to locate a website. In other words, its purpose is to convert a domain proper name such as world wide web.example.com into an IP address such equally 71.232.101.120.

Thanks to DNS servers, people don't have to memorize circuitous IP addresses like 216.58.217.206, which is Google'southward IP address. They only accept to memorize www.google.com.

This translation process — formally known equally DNS resolution — requires multiple hardware components. The most important is known as the chief DNS server.

What is a primary DNS server?

A primary DNS server is the first touchpoint for a browser asking where to detect a site. The server contains what's called the controlling zone file. This file contains the DNS information for the asking domain, including its IP address also as administrator contact information and components similar Time to Live. Time to Live — or TTL — specifies a period of time (in seconds) in which the DNS record for a site remains valid in a local cache.

Once the master DNS server returns the IP accost of the requested domain to the browser, the query is resolved.

If the server is unavailable — due to a power outage, cyberattack, hardware malfunction, or other reason — then the browser asks a secondary DNS server. This server will contain a contempo copy of the same DNS record.

While secondary DNS servers are non mandatory for a DNS system to piece of work, they are recommended — and even required by some domain registrars — for this reason.

DNS Server Isn't Responding

Sometimes when y'all type in a domain name into your browser'due south address bar, you lot'll be met with an fault bulletin that says something like "DNS server isn't responding." That ways that the DNS server failed to respond.

In that location are a variety of reasons a DNS server may be unable to properly complete the resolution process. It could be a problem with your net connexion, or your DNS settings. It could be that your browser is outdated. Or it might be a problem on the server'southward side — similar a temporary power outage.

The good news is at that place are several ways to effort to resolve this error. Permit's accept a look at a few.

i. Try another spider web browser.

Your commencement pace should exist ruling out that your browser is causing the error. If you first attempted to visit the site on Google Chrome, endeavor Safari or Firefox.

If you're able to resolve the error past switching browsers, then bank check that you're using the latest version of your preferred application. As an example, Chrome will show you lot whether an update is bachelor in the top right corner of the browser window.

Update button in Google Chrome browser

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2. Deactivate your firewall temporarily.

If you lot tin can't resolve the DNS server error bulletin by switching or updating your browser, and then the side by side step should be ruling out your firewall as the cause.

While firewalls are important for keeping your calculator or device safe, they can interfere with your network connection and crusade issues, including the "DNS server isn't responding" error.

Temporarily deactivating them is easy, besides. If your device runs on Windows, and so navigate to your control panel and click Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings. On this settings folio, you can deactivate your firewall. If your device runs on Mac Bone, so simply navigate to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall to conciliate it.

Turning off firewall in Mac OS can help resolve DNS server isn't responding error

Once you've deactivated your firewall, try visiting the same website from your browser. If the spider web page loads successfully, and then yous've identified the firewall as the problem. In that case, you can either reconfigure the settings of your existing antivirus programme or switch to a new one.

Whether or not the error is resolved, don't forget to reactivate your firewall before moving onto the side by side footstep.

iii. Restart your router.

If you tin't resolve the DNS server error bulletin past turning off your firewall, then the next step is ruling out your browser.

To start, simply try restarting your router past clicking the power button twice. This will flush your router's cache, which can resolve the "DNS server isn't responding" fault. Once you've turned the router back on and re-established an internet connectedness, try visiting the same website from your browser. If the web folio loads successfully, then you lot're all done! If not, a reboot is in order. Simply pull out the power plug and wait around xxx seconds earlier plugging it back in. Then wait until your device has re-established an internet connection and try to visit the site over again.

4. Flush your DNS enshroud and Reset Your IP

If the problem isn't your browser, firewall, or router, then it could be your DNS settings. Specifically, information technology could be your DNS cache, which stores IP addresses and other DNS records of frequently visited domains in order to fulfill DNS queries more rapidly. Flushing your DNS enshroud  can help resolve the DNS error bulletin.

There are several ways to do and so, depending on the operating system of your device. If you're using the latest version of Mac Bone, then start by opening Finder. Then click Applications > Utilities > Terminal and type in the following command: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.

Type in command in Terminal to flush DNS in Mac OS X 10.11-10.15 to resolve DNS error

Once you enter your password, you should see a bulletin confirming that the DNS cache has been reset. You can and so try to visit the website once again in your browser.

For a consummate guide on flushing DNS for Windows and other operating system, check out our post Flush DNS: What It Is, How to Do It & Why You Should .

Best DNS Servers

Your internet service provider selects your DNS servers. Virtually people use these assigned servers — but they don't have to. If y'all'd like more than speed or security, then you can effort an alternative. Here are some of your best options.

1. Cloudflare DNS

listing page of one of best DNS servers Cloudflare DNS

Cloudflare DNS is an enterprise-grade DNS service that offers some of the fastest response times, 100% uptime, and built-in mitigation against DDoS attacks. With an average DNS lookup speed of 11ms, Cloudflare is the fastest DNS service in the earth. It also has data centers in over 200 cities so it offers 100% uptime and unparalleled redundancy. Finally, in addition to built-in DDoS protection, Cloudflare offers one-click DNSSEC to protect your awarding from DNS attacks.

Cloudflare besides offers a costless, public DNS service for those on a budget.

2. Google Public DNS

listing page of one of best DNS servers Google Public DNS

Google Public DNS is a free, global DNS resolution service designed to exist used equally your master DNS server for faster web browsing experiences. This service implements several methods for speeding upward DNS lookup times, inclduing provisioning servers, load-balancing, providing global coverage, and preventing DoS and amplication attacks which can burden DNS servers. Nevertheless, Google Public DNS, does not block or filter out unwanted sites — information technology is purely a DNS resolution and caching server.

3. Open up DNS

listing page of one of best DNS servers Open DNS

Used by over ninety million people, Open DNS is one of the most popular costless DNS services. It combines the all-time of borth worlds, offer speed and security. It offers fast web browsing and 100% uptime thanks to its global data centers and peering partnerships. It as well offers spider web filtering controls and pre-configured protection to foreclose your device (or your family'southward devices) from accessing unwanted sites.

iv. Quad9

listing page of one of best DNS servers Quad9

Quad9 is a gratuitous service designed to provide more security and privacy than your default Internet Service Provider'southward DNS configuration. When your calculator sends a DNS query, the Quad9 server checks a constantly updated list of threats to block lookups of malicious domain names. In addition to protecting your computer confronting malware, phishing, spyware, and botnets, this tin can improve performance and guarantee your privacy.

5. Comodo Secure DNS

listing page of one of best DNS servers Comodo Secure DNS

Comodo Secure DNS is a cloud-based DNS service that offers visibility, command, and protection. Comodo offers iii packages. Private and businesses that make less than 300,000 DNS requests per month tin utilize the complimentary package. This provides protection against phishing, malware, and other threats, web filtering for more than than eighty content categories, a spider web access policy protetion, and real-time visibility for all connected devices. The premium packages tin handle more requests per month and offer more advanced functionality similar DNS traffic encryption.

6. NeuStar UltraDNS Public

listing page of one of best DNS servers NeuStar UltraDNS Public

NeuStar UltraDNS Public is a global DNS infrastructure that offers multiple levels of service. The showtime level is like to the Google Public DNS: it's a free DNS resolution and caching service that can quickly resolve DNS queries. For protection confronting malicious domains and spider web filtering for over a dozen content categories, you'll have to upgrade to the other levels.

My DNS Server

If y'all want to know what DNS server (or servers) your computer is using, and so you tin look it up. You have a few options. The easiest is to visit http://www.whatsmydnsserver.com/ and click the What's My DNS Server? Button.

What's my DNS server homepage

However, if you're actively experiencing a DNS error or can't connect to this site for some other reason, then there are other ways y'all can look up which DNS servers your device is using. Let's walk through the procedure for Windows and Mac users below.

If y'all're on Windows 10 or 8.1, click the Outset button. It'south the Windows logo in the lesser left corner. Then select Command Prompt. Type ipconfig /all and striking Enter.

Type ipconfig/all in Windows 10 Command Prompt to check your DNS servers

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You'll go lots of information returned to yous, including a list of DNS servers represented past Ipv4 or Ipv6 addresses. Yous'll typically run into multiple servers listed.

If you're on Mac, click System Preferences. Then click Network. Select the network connection yous want to check from the left-mitt bill of fare. Click the Advanced button, so click the DNS tab. Y'all'll typically encounter several servers listed.

DNS tab of Network in Mac OS System Preferences shows DNS servers

Getting the Best of Your DNS Server

A DNS server allows y'all to communicate with your reckoner and so you tin can visit different places on the spider web. Information technology's important to understand how to troubleshoot DNS server errors and what your all-time service options are so you lot get the fastest and most reliable web browsing experiences.

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Originally published Mar ane, 2021 7:00:00 AM, updated Dec 03 2021