How to Fix “Error Name Not Resolved”: A Comprehensive Guide

Encountering the “Error Name Not Resolved” message can be frustrating. It essentially means your computer can’t translate a website’s domain name (like google.com) into its corresponding IP address (like 142.250.185.142). This prevents you from accessing the website. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various troubleshooting steps to resolve this issue.

Understanding the “Error Name Not Resolved” Error

Before diving into the fixes, it’s helpful to understand what causes this error. The most common culprits include:

  • DNS Server Issues: Your computer relies on DNS (Domain Name System) servers to translate domain names to IP addresses. If these servers are down or misconfigured, the error occurs.
  • Incorrect DNS Settings: Your computer might be using outdated or incorrect DNS server addresses.
  • Network Connectivity Problems: A problem with your internet connection can prevent your computer from reaching the DNS servers.
  • Firewall Interference: Your firewall might be blocking DNS requests.
  • Browser Cache Issues: Corrupted data in your browser’s cache can sometimes cause DNS resolution problems.
  • Router Problems: Your router might be malfunctioning or have incorrect DNS settings.
  • Local Hosts File Modification: An incorrect entry in your computer’s hosts file can override DNS settings.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix “Error Name Not Resolved”

Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolving this error:

1. Check Your Internet Connection

  • Verify Connectivity: Ensure your internet connection is active. Try accessing other websites. If you can’t access any website, the problem is likely with your internet connection itself.
  • Restart Your Modem and Router: Unplug your modem and router, wait for 30 seconds, and then plug them back in. This often resolves temporary connectivity issues.
  • Check Network Cables: Make sure all network cables are securely connected to your computer, modem, and router.

2. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Corrupted browser data can interfere with DNS resolution. Here’s how to clear your cache and cookies in popular browsers:

  • Chrome: Go to chrome://settings/clearBrowserData, select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”, and click “Clear data”.
  • Firefox: Go to about:preferences#privacy, under “Cookies and Site Data”, click “Clear Data”. Select “Cookies and Site Data” and “Cached Web Content”, and click “Clear”.
  • Edge: Go to edge://settings/clearBrowserData, select “Cached images and files” and “Cookies and other site data”, and click “Clear now”.

3. Flush DNS Cache

Your computer stores a local DNS cache to speed up website access. Clearing this cache can resolve issues caused by outdated or corrupted entries.

  • Windows: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run the command ipconfig /flushdns.
  • macOS: Open Terminal and run the command sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
  • Linux: Open Terminal and run the command sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches (on systems using systemd-resolved) or sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart.

4. Change DNS Servers

Using public DNS servers like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS can often resolve DNS resolution problems.

  • Windows:
    1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
    2. Click on your active network connection.
    3. Click “Properties”.
    4. Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”.
    5. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
    6. Enter the following DNS server addresses:
      • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)
      • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS)
      • Or:
      • Preferred DNS server: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS)
      • Alternate DNS server: 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare DNS)
    7. Click “OK” and close all windows.
  • macOS:
    1. Go to System Preferences > Network.
    2. Select your active network connection.
    3. Click “Advanced”.
    4. Click the “DNS” tab.
    5. Add the following DNS server addresses by clicking the “+” button:
      • 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS)
      • 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS)
      • Or:
      • 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS)
      • 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare DNS)
    6. Click “OK” and “Apply”.

5. Disable Firewall Temporarily (Use with Caution)

Your firewall might be blocking DNS requests. Temporarily disable your firewall and try accessing the website again. If this resolves the issue, you need to configure your firewall to allow DNS traffic.

Warning: Disabling your firewall can expose your computer to security risks. Re-enable it as soon as you’ve finished troubleshooting.

6. Check Your Hosts File

The hosts file maps domain names to IP addresses. An incorrect entry in this file can override DNS settings.

  • Windows:
    1. Open Notepad as administrator.
    2. Open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
    3. Look for any entries related to the website you’re trying to access. If you find any, comment them out by adding a # symbol at the beginning of the line.
    4. Save the file.
  • macOS/Linux:
    1. Open Terminal.
    2. Run the command sudo nano /etc/hosts.
    3. Look for any entries related to the website you’re trying to access. If you find any, comment them out by adding a # symbol at the beginning of the line.
    4. Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter to save the file.

7. Update Network Adapter Drivers

Outdated or corrupted network adapter drivers can cause connectivity issues.

  • Windows:
    1. Open Device Manager.
    2. Expand “Network adapters”.
    3. Right-click on your network adapter and select “Update driver”.
    4. Choose “Search automatically for drivers”.

8. Check Your Router’s DNS Settings

Your router might be using incorrect DNS servers. Access your router’s configuration page (usually by typing its IP address in your browser) and check the DNS settings. You can usually find the router’s IP address on a sticker on the router itself or by running ipconfig in Command Prompt (Windows) or netstat -nr | grep default in Terminal (macOS/Linux). Change the DNS settings to use Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).

9. Contact Your ISP

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, the problem might be with your internet service provider (ISP). Contact your ISP for assistance.

Conclusion

The “Error Name Not Resolved” error can be caused by various factors. By systematically following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the problem, restoring your access to the internet. Remember to proceed methodically and retest after each step to see if the issue has been resolved.