Windows11 - DNS Drops Out/Fails Regularly: Troubleshooting

Are you experiencing issues with your DNS on Windows 11? Don't worry, you're not alone. In this article, we'll go over some common causes and solutions for DNS drops and failures on Windows 11.

What is DNS?

DNS, or Domain Name System, is a system that converts human-readable domain names (such as google.com) into IP addresses (such as 142.250.74.46) that computers can understand. When DNS fails, you may have trouble accessing websites, or you may experience slow internet speeds.

Common Causes of DNS Drops and Failures

There are several reasons why DNS may drop or fail on Windows 11. Some of the most common causes include:

• Incorrect DNS server settings
• DNS server not responding
• DNS cache corruption
• Firewall or antivirus software blocking DNS requests
• Network adapter or driver issues

Troubleshooting DNS Drops and Failures

Now that we've covered some common causes of DNS drops and failures, let's go over some steps you can take to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Before you begin, make sure you have administrative privileges on your computer.

Step 1: Check DNS Server Settings

First, let's check your DNS server settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Network Connections
2. Right-click on your network connection and select Properties
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties
4. Make sure Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically are selected. If not, select them and click OK to save the changes.

Step 2: Flush DNS Cache

If your DNS cache is corrupted, you may experience DNS drops and failures. To fix this, you can flush your DNS cache. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key + R and type cmd to open the Command Prompt. Press Enter.
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter to flush the DNS cache.

Step 3: Check Firewall or Antivirus Software

If your firewall or antivirus software is blocking DNS requests, you may experience DNS drops and failures. To fix this, you can check your firewall or antivirus software settings. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key + I and select Update & Security
2. Select Windows Security and then Firewall & network protection
3. Check the settings to make sure DNS requests are not being blocked.

Step 4: Check Network Adapter and Drivers

If your network adapter or drivers are causing issues, you may experience DNS drops and failures. To fix this, you can check your network adapter and drivers. Here's how:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager
2. Expand the Network adapters category.
3. Right-click on your network adapter and select Properties.
4. Select the Driver tab and check for any updates or issues.

DNS drops and failures on Windows 11 can be frustrating, but they're usually easy to fix. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to troubleshoot and fix the issue. If you're still experiencing issues, you may want to consider contacting a professional for further assistance.

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