Understanding the Common Causes

Before diving into the solutions, it helps to know what's happening behind the scenes. This error essentially means your browser couldn't find the website you requested. Think of it like a mail carrier who can't find an address because the address book is wrong or unreadable. Here are the most frequent culprits:

• DNS Resolution Failure: The DNS is the internet's phonebook. It translates human-friendly domain names (like junkangworld.com) into computer-friendly IP addresses. If your device can't get a correct response from the DNS server, it can't find the site.
• Outdated DNS Cache: Your computer and browser store a local copy of recently visited website addresses to speed up loading times. If this cache becomes corrupted or outdated, it can point your browser to the wrong location.
• Firewall or Antivirus Interference: Overzealous security software can sometimes block legitimate websites, mistakenly flagging them as a threat.
• Local Network Issues: Problems with your router, Wi-Fi connection, or even a faulty Ethernet cable can prevent a successful connection.

3 Proven Fixes to Get You Back Online

Let's work through the solutions, starting with the easiest and most common fix and moving to more technical, powerful ones.

Fix 1: Clear Your Browser's Cache and Data

This is the first and simplest step you should always take. A corrupted browser cache is a very common cause of this error. Clearing it forces your browser to fetch a fresh copy of the website from the internet, bypassing any outdated or bad data stored on your device.

For Google Chrome:

1. Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
2. Go to More tools > Clear browsing data...
3. In the new window, select the Advanced tab.
4. Set the time range to All time.
5. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. You can uncheck everything else.
6. Click Clear data.

For Mozilla Firefox:

1. Click the three horizontal lines (the hamburger menu) in the top-right corner.
2. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
3. Scroll down to the Cookies and Site Data section and click Clear Data...
4. Ensure both boxes are checked and click Clear.

After clearing the cache, close and reopen your browser, then try accessing the site again. If the error persists, it's time to move on to the next fix.

Fix 2: Flush Your DNS Cache and Reset Network Settings

If clearing the browser cache didn't work, the problem might lie in your operating system's DNS cache. Flushing the DNS cache removes all the saved DNS lookups, forcing your computer to ask the DNS server for new, correct information. At the same time, resetting your network configuration (TCP/IP) can resolve underlying connectivity conflicts.

For Windows:

1. Press the Windows Key, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

After running these commands, you must restart your computer for the changes to take full effect.

For macOS:

1. Open Terminal (you can find it in Applications > Utilities or by searching with Spotlight).
2. The command varies slightly by macOS version, but for modern versions (Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, and newer), the command is:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

You will need to enter your administrator password. Restart your Mac afterward to be safe.

This fix is highly effective for errors like dns_probe_finished_nxdomain as it directly targets the system's DNS resolution process.

Fix 3: Change Your DNS Server to a Public Resolver

Sometimes, the problem isn't on your end but with the DNS server provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISP DNS servers can sometimes be slow, unreliable, or have filtering that causes issues. Switching to a trusted public DNS server like Google's or Cloudflare's can often fix the problem and even speed up your browsing.

Here are the addresses for two of the most popular public DNS providers:

• Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

How to Change DNS on Windows 11:

1. Go to Settings > Network & internet.
2. Click on your active connection (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Hardware properties.
3. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit.
4. Change the setting from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
5. Turn on IPv4.
6. In the Preferred DNS box, enter 8.8.8.8 (for Google) or 1.1.1.1 (for Cloudflare).
7. In the Alternate DNS box, enter 8.8.4.4 (for Google) or 1.0.0.1 (for Cloudflare).
8. Click Save.

How to Change DNS on macOS:

1. Go to System Settings > Network.
2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details...
3. Go to the DNS tab.
4. Click the + button under DNS Servers and add 8.8.8.8.
5. Click + again and add 8.8.4.4.
6. Click OK.

After changing your DNS servers, it's a good idea to flush your DNS cache again (Fix #2) to ensure your system starts using the new servers immediately.

Comparison of Fixes: Which One is Right for You?

To help you decide where to start, here’s a quick comparison of the three proven fixes.

Still Stuck? Quick Additional Checks

If you've tried all three fixes and are still seeing the error, here are a few more things to check before calling for help:

• Restart Your Router: The classic "turn it off and on again" works wonders. Unplug your router for 60 seconds, then plug it back in.
• Check the URL: A simple typo in the web address is a surprisingly common cause.
• Disable VPN or Proxy: If you are using a VPN or proxy server, disable it temporarily to see if it's interfering with your connection.
• Temporarily Disable Your Firewall: Turn off your antivirus or firewall software for a moment and try the site again. If it works, you'll need to add an exception for that website in your firewall's settings. Remember to turn it back on immediately afterward!