As a network engineer, you have been working with the various and different issues that come in networked environments. DNS (Domain Name System) problems. Of these, the DNS-related ones are most notorios and often catch engineers and end-users off balance when they occur in Google Chrome. But even with Chrome being a solid browser, DNS related issues have long bedeviled users, in situtations where devices seem to be okay but for some strange reason, specific websites just won't load.
What is DNS?
Before we talk about Chrome problems specially, we should quickly say what the DNS is. The DNS is acting like an online phonebook. When you write a web address (for instance, www.example.com),DNS is translating this to an IP number (for example, 192.168.1.1) so that computer machines can read it.
If DNS did not exist, browsers cannot open websites using just domain names. This means you must remember all IP numbers for every website which you want to use. It is really not convenient.
Common Chrome DNS Issues
When it comes to Chrome DNS Cache issues generally fall into two main categories: DNS resolution errors and DNS cache problems. Let’s explore them.
1. DNS Resolution Error
DNS resolution error happens if Chrome cannot convert domain name to the IP address. In most cases, Chrome will show you like "This site can’t be reached" or sometimes "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN" that appears on your screen.
This issue might happen because:
DNS server stops working or is not answering: When your DNS server does not work or stops responding, Chrome will fail to do a domain name resolution.
Incorrect DNS setups: Incorrect DNS settings on the devices or if you use your own DNS servers that don’t work well or are set wrong, Chrome cannot resolve website domain names.
Network connection troubles: DNS mistakes may also come from network problems like when the router is broken or the internet connection is not steady.
Sometimes, the router's settings of the network cause issues which make DNS fail quick.
2. DNS Cache Problems
Chrome caches DNS requests to speed up future searches. This is useful, but sometimes data stored in the cache may be lost or corrupted. If this happens, Chrome may try to use an old or wrong IP address for a site that results in problems with loading or bad website behavior.
In other words, your browser stores some random things about the sites you’ve visited. If that memory gets lost, you may see errors when you try to visit a site again.
How to Troubleshoot DNS Issues in Chrome
As a network engineer, troubleshooting DNS issues involves a series of steps. Below are some methods you can try to identify and solve the problem.
1. Check Your Network Connection
First, make sure to check whether it is a local network issue. For instance:
- Are there other devices or browsers having DNS issues as well? If it’s only Chrome then the problem may be specific to the browser.
- Do you have a stable internet connection? Try loading different sites and seeing if other apps are working.
- Reboot your router to combat nebulous network issues.
If everything else works well other than Chrome, then it’s time to dig in.
2. Clear the DNS Cache in Chrome
Sometimes, clearing Chrome’s internal DNS cache can help with DNS problems. This doesn’t affect other browsers or the DNS cache on your computer, but will help you with Chrome issues.
Here’s how to clear Chrome’s DNS cache:
- Open Chrome and type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.
- Tap “Clear host cache” button.
This will delete cached DNS records that may be causing issues.
3. Flush the System DNS Cache
Sometimes the system-level DNS cache might also be the culprit. You can flush this cache using the command line.
For Windows:
Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the following command:
- ipconfig /flushdns
Hit Enter. This will clear the DNS cache at the system level.
For MacOS:
Open the Terminal app.
Type the following command:
- sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Hit Enter. You might need to enter your admin password.
This clears the DNS cache for your entire system, which might help fix any lingering issues.
4. Change DNS Servers
If clearing the cache doesn’t help, try checking the DNS servers you are using. Many network problems are based on slow or unreliable DNS servers. You can switch to reputable and popular DNS providers like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS.
Here’s how to change DNS settings:
For Windows:
Open the Control Panel and go to Network and Sharing Center.
Click on Change adapter settings.
Right-click your active network connection and select Properties.
Scroll to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
Choose Use the following DNS server addresses:
Google DNS:
Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS:
Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1
Click OK to save your settings.
For MacOS:
- Open System Preferences and click on Network.
- Select the network you are on and click Advanced.
- Go to DNS tab and click + to add new DNS servers, e.g., 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare).
- Click OK and apply.
Changes in DNS servers are commonly responsible for slow or inconsistent DNS resolutions.
5. Reset Chrome Settings
If you still have any problems, try resetting Chrome to default setting. This can avoid problems with misconfigured settings or extensions.
To reset Chrome settings:
Open Chrome and type chrome://settings/reset in address bar.
Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
Final Thoughts
Problems with DNS in Chrome can be especially frustrating when you’re working on a complex issue or when you have to diagnose an issue with the network. But, a structured approach makes it much easier to identify the cause and create an effective remedy.
A few simple steps like deleting cached data or changing DNS resolvers can often solve many of the problems. If this problem persists it may be best to check across the network on DNS configuration and make sure that all systems and devices are regularly updated.
