How to Fix “Server IP Address Could Not Be Found” in Google Chrome

You type a domain name, press Enter, and Google Chrome shows “This site can’t be reached” with the line “server IP address could not be found.” This error occurs when your browser can’t turn the website’s name into an IP address. The good news: you can usually fix it in a few minutes.

This guide explains what the “server IP address could not be found” error means, its common causes, and 11 fixes for Windows and macOS. Start with the quick checks and work your way down. Most people are back online before step 5.

What the Error Means

Every website lives on a server with a numeric IP address. You type a name like example.com, and the Domain Name System (DNS) looks up the matching IP address for your browser. Think of DNS as the internet’s phone book.

When DNS fails to find the address, Chrome can’t connect, so it shows this error message. You may also see the code DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN under it. Microsoft Edge and other browsers show similar messages for the same problem.

Common Causes of the Error

The error may come from your device, your network, or the website itself. Here are the common causes:

• A typo in the domain name
• The website or DNS servers are down, or there’s an outage at your ISP
• Outdated or corrupt data in your DNS cache or Chrome’s host cache
• Wrong DNS settings, proxy settings, or a manual static IP address
• A DNS Client service that stopped working on Windows
• Outdated network drivers or a network adapter malfunction
• A VPN, firewall, or security app interfering with DNS

Quick Checks Before You Start

Run these three checks first. They take a minute and tell you where the problem is.

1. Check the address. One wrong letter in the domain name is enough to trigger the error.
2. Try another website. If other sites load, the issue is likely with the website you’re trying to reach. If none load, the problem is on your side.
3. Try another device on the same Wi-Fi. If your phone loads the site but your computer doesn’t, focus on your computer’s settings. If neither works, look at your router or ISP.

Which Fix to Try First

How to Fix the “Server IP Address Could Not Be Found” Error

1. Restart Your Router and Computer

A simple restart clears a lot of hiccups. Turn off your router, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Restart your computer while the router reconnects. This refreshes your internet connection and gets a fresh IP address from your router.

2. Clear Chrome’s Host Cache

Chrome keeps its own DNS cache, called the host cache. If it holds an outdated record, Chrome keeps looking in the wrong place.

1. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Click Clear host cache.
3. Go to chrome://net-internals/#sockets and click Flush socket pools.
4. Reload the site.

3. Clear the DNS Cache on Your Computer

Your operating system also stores DNS records. Clearing it forces your computer to look up fresh addresses.

On Windows:

1. Right-click the Start menu and choose Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns at the prompt and press Enter.
3. You’ll see “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

On macOS:

1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities.
2. Type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press Enter.
3. Enter your Mac password when asked.

4. Renew Your IP Address and Reset Network Settings

Clearing the DNS cache and IP lease together often resolves the issue on Windows. In an admin prompt, run these commands one at a time:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset

Restart your computer after the last command. On macOS, open System Settings > Network, select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, click Details > TCP/IP, and click Renew DHCP Lease.

5. Change Your DNS Server

Your ISP’s DNS server may be slow, overloaded, or down. Switching to a public DNS server is one of the most reliable ways to fix the error.

On Windows:

1. Open Settings > Network & internet, and select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
2. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
3. Turn on IPv4 and enter a preferred DNS server, such as 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google), with 1.0.0.1 or 8.8.4.4 as the alternate.
4. Save and reload the site.

On older Windows versions, open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click your adapter, open Properties, and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

On macOS: go to System Settings > Network > your connection > Details > DNS, click +, and add the same addresses.

6. Set Your Computer to Obtain an IP Address Automatically

If you once set a static IP or DNS address by hand and your network has changed since, your computer may be pointing at an address that no longer works. In the same IPv4 properties window from Fix 5, select Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically. This lets your router’s DHCP server handle the configuration.

Use either this fix or Fix 5 for DNS, not both at once. If public DNS fixed the problem, keep it.

7. Restart the DNS Client Service (Windows Users)

Windows uses the DNS Client service to resolve domain names. If it stops, every lookup fails.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find DNS Client in the list.
3. Check that its status is Running and its startup type is Automatic.

On recent versions of Windows, the restart option for this service is often greyed out. In that case, restarting your computer restarts the service too.

8. Update Your Network Drivers and Run the Troubleshooter

An outdated network adapter driver can cause random DNS errors.

1. Right-click the Start menu and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your adapter and choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers.

After you update your adapter, run the built-in troubleshooter. On Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run the network troubleshooter. On macOS, keep the operating system up to date through System Settings > General > Software Update, since macOS updates include network fixes.

9. Check Your Proxy Settings and Clear Browsing Data

A leftover proxy server setting can block Chrome from reaching DNS.

1. On Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Turn off Use a proxy server unless your workplace requires it. On macOS, check System Settings > Network > your connection > Details > Proxies.
2. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data. Select cookies and cached files, and delete them.

Clearing browsing data also removes old site data that can conflict with the page you’re trying to access. Not sure how a proxy differs from a VPN? Our guide on proxies vs. VPNs explains it.

10. Disable Your VPN, Firewall, or Antivirus Temporarily

Security software protects your device, but a misconfigured app can block DNS requests. Turn off your VPN, firewall, or antivirus for a minute and reload the page. If the site loads, update the app or check its DNS settings, then turn it back on. Don’t leave your protection off.

11. Wait if the Site or Your ISP Has an Outage

Sometimes nothing on your side is wrong. The site’s server may be down, or your ISP may have a DNS outage. Check the site’s social media pages or an outage tracker, or contact your ISP. If only one site fails for everyone, you’ll need to wait until the site owner fixes it.

Can a VPN Help With DNS Errors?

Yes, in some cases. When you use a VPN, your device sends DNS requests through the VPN’s own servers instead of your ISP’s. If your ISP’s DNS server is down or returning bad results, a VPN can get you back online while they fix it.

A VPN also encrypts your connection, so your ISP and others on public Wi-Fi can’t see the websites you visit. That’s a useful cybersecurity and privacy boost on hotel or café networks. You can check which DNS servers your device uses right now with our free DNS leak test, and learn more in our guide to what a VPN does.

Planet VPN works on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and in browsers like Google Chrome. Pick your platform on the download page and connect in a couple of clicks.

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Planet VPN is a free VPN with core features and no catch. You don’t pay with money. You watch a short ad, and you get reliable encryption that protects your data on any network. Premium adds more server locations and removes the ads. See what’s included in each option on the plans page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “server IP address could not be found” mean?

It means your browser couldn’t get the IP address for the domain name you typed. The DNS lookup failed, so Chrome doesn’t know which server to connect to. The cause can be your device, your network, your ISP, or the website itself.

How do I fix “server IP address could not be found” in Chrome?

Start by restarting your router and computer. Then clear Chrome’s host cache at chrome://net-internals/#dns and flush your system’s DNS cache. If the error stays, switch to a public DNS server like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 and check your proxy settings.

Why does the error appear on only one website?

The site may be down, its domain may have expired, or your computer may have an outdated DNS record for it. Clear the DNS cache, try the site on another network, and check whether others report an outage.

Is DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN the same error?

Yes. Chrome often shows DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN under the “server IP address could not be found” message. NXDOMAIN means the DNS server reported that the domain name doesn’t exist or couldn’t be resolved.

Can a VPN cause this error?

It can. A VPN with incorrect DNS settings, or one that loses its connection, may stop domain names from resolving. Disconnect the VPN and reload the page. If the site loads, reconnect to a different server or update the app.

Will changing my DNS server affect my internet speed?

Usually it won’t slow you down, and a fast public DNS server can make websites start loading a little quicker. DNS only handles the address lookup, not your download speed.