Windows 10 DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Error: Getting Websites to Load Again

You type a website address and Chrome replies that the site can’t be reached, with DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN at the bottom. The Windows 10 DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error can affect one YY PAUS site or nearly all of them.

NXDOMAIN means “non-existent domain.” The DNS service your PC uses could not find an address for the name you typed.

If the website really exists and works on other devices, the problem lies with the DNS lookup on your PC or network.

These fixes are quick and safe for beginners.

Why This Happens

The lookup fails for these reasons:

• The website address was mistyped.
• The DNS cache on the PC or in the browser holds outdated information.
• The internet provider’s DNS server is having trouble.
• The hosts file, a VPN, or security software is redirecting or blocking the name.

If the error appears for one site only, check the spelling and whether the site works on a phone using mobile data.

Start With These Basic Checks

Clear stored information first.

1. Check the address carefully, including the ending, such as .com or .co.id.
2. Restart the router and the PC.
3. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run ipconfig /flushdns.
4. In Chrome, type chrome://net-internals/#dns and select “Clear host cache.”
5. Disconnect any VPN and test again.

Many cases clear up as soon as old cached entries are removed.

Going a Step Further

Change DNS and check for redirection.

1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, right-click your connection, and choose Properties.
2. Select Internet Protocol Version 4, choose Properties, and enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, or 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, as DNS servers.
3. Run services.msc and make sure the DNS Client service is running.
4. Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts in Notepad and check for unexpected lines mentioning the site.
5. Run netsh winsock reset and restart if pages still fail.

If the hosts file contains entries you did not add, a malware scan is a good idea.

A Word of Caution

Use only well-known public DNS services. When editing the hosts file, open Notepad as administrator and remove only lines you understand. If your workplace provides its own DNS for internal sites, changing it may stop those sites from working.

Wrapping Up

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN is a name lookup failure, not a broken internet connection. Flush the caches, switch to a reliable DNS server, and check the hosts file. Most websites load normally again within minutes.

If only one website keeps failing after all of this, the site’s own domain may have expired or moved. Checking it on a phone using mobile data, away from your home network, confirms whether the problem is yours or theirs.