How to Fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NO_INTERNET in Chrome

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Ankit Kumar
Windows 11NetworkWi-FiFixTroubleshooting

The Problem

Chrome (or Edge) refuses to load any website and shows the error DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NO_INTERNET — even though your Wi-Fi says connected, and sometimes other apps like Spotify or games still work fine.

DNS is the system that turns a website name (google.com) into a server address. This error means your browser asked your DNS server to look up a name and got no answer. The cause is almost always on your side: a stale DNS cache, a broken DNS server setting, a misbehaving router, or a VPN/antivirus interfering with lookups. That means you can usually fix it in a few minutes.

Quick Checks Before You Start

  1. Try another device on the same Wi-Fi. If everything fails there too, restart your router first (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in).
  2. Using a VPN or proxy? Disconnect it and test — VPNs that crash leave DNS pointing at a dead server.
  3. Try another browser. If Firefox works but Chrome doesn't, clear Chrome's own cache: see clear browser cache and cookies.

Step 1: Flush the DNS Cache

Windows caches DNS answers, and a corrupted cache keeps serving dead results.

  1. Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin).
  2. Run these commands one at a time: 
    ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
  3. Also clear Chrome's internal DNS cache: paste chrome://net-internals/#dns into the address bar and click Clear host cache.
  4. Reload the page.

Step 2: Change Your DNS Server

If your ISP's DNS server is down or unreliable, switch to a public one — this is the single most effective fix.

  1. Open Settings (Win + I) > Network & internet.
  2. Click your active connection (Wi-Fi > your network properties, or Ethernet).
  3. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit.
  4. Choose Manual, turn on IPv4, and enter:
    • Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google)
    • Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1 or 8.8.4.4
  5. Click Save and reload the page.

Step 3: Restart the DNS Client Service

  1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, press Enter.
  2. Find DNS Client in the list.
  3. If its Restart option is greyed out (normal on Windows 11), reboot the PC instead — that restarts it.

Step 4: Reset the Network Stack

Deeper corruption in Windows networking components causes persistent DNS failures.

  1. In Terminal (Admin), run: 
    netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
  2. Restart your PC.
  3. Still broken? Use the full reset: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now. This reinstalls all network adapters — you'll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords.

Step 5: Rule Out Antivirus and Router Problems

  1. Temporarily disable third-party antivirus/firewall and test. If pages load, the security suite's web-protection module is intercepting DNS — update it or adjust its settings. Related: fix Windows Firewall blocking apps.
  2. Update router firmware and, if the error hits every device, log into the router's admin page and set its DNS servers to 1.1.1.1 / 8.8.8.8 as well.

Getting "DNS server not responding" from the Windows troubleshooter instead? Same family of problem, slightly different fix order: fix DNS server not responding. Connected but no internet at all (not just browsing)? See fix "No Internet, Secured" Wi-Fi. Pages load but painfully slowly? That's slow internet troubleshooting.

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