How to Fix DNS Errors in Chrome with chrome://net-internals/#dns

If you often encounter errors like “This site can’t be reached” or “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” while using Google Chrome, the issue might be caused by a corrupted DNS cache. DNS (Domain Name System) errors prevent Chrome from translating website domain names into IP addresses.

 

Fortunately, Chrome offers a built-in diagnostic tool — chrome://net-internals/#dns — that allows you to clear the DNS cache and fix related errors instantly. Some users also refer to this tool as chrome.//net-internals, but the correct URL to access it is chrome://net-internals/#dns.

 

In this article, you’ll learn step-by-step how to use this Chrome internal page to fix DNS errors effectively, understand why they occur, and explore additional troubleshooting methods.

 

What Is chrome://net-internals/#dns (or chrome.//net-internals)?

The chrome://net-internals/#dns page (sometimes mistyped as chrome.//net-internals) is an internal network diagnostic tool built into Google Chrome.

It provides developers and users with access to the browser’s network logs, DNS host cache, and real-time connection data.

 

You can use this feature to:

 

◾ View the current DNS host resolver cache

◾ Clear outdated or invalid DNS entries

◾ Analyze how Chrome connects to websites

◾ Identify DNS lookup delays and connection errors

 

When the DNS cache becomes outdated for instance, when a website’s IP address changes Chrome may fail to load it. Clearing the cache using chrome://net-internals/#dns helps resolve this instantly.

 

Common DNS Errors in Chrome

When your DNS cache is corrupted or outdated, you may see errors like:

◾ DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN – Chrome can’t locate the domain.

◾ ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED – DNS failed to resolve the hostname.

◾ DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NO_INTERNET – No connection to DNS server.

◾ DNS_PROBE_STARTED – DNS resolution in progress.

These are typically caused by:

◾ Outdated Chrome DNS cache

◾ Faulty router or ISP DNS configuration

◾ VPN or proxy interference

◾ Network driver issues

Using chrome://net-internals/#dns (or chrome.//net-internals) helps you clear these cached entries and force Chrome to fetch updated DNS information.

 

When and Why Should You Clear Chrome’s DNS Cache?

You don’t always need to clear your DNS cache—Chrome usually manages it efficiently on its own. However, there are certain situations where flushing the DNS cache can make a big difference:

◾ When websites fail to load properly or behave unexpectedly.

◾ If the DNS cache becomes corrupted or contains outdated entries.

◾ When the IP addresses of frequently visited websites have changed, but your browser is still using old records.

◾ After modifying the DNS settings on your computer or router.

◾ To prevent potential privacy risks, such as exposing browsing history through DNS cache data.
◾ If you encounter errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN or ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED.
◾ When Chrome mistakenly flags a trusted website as unsafe or unverified.

In these cases, clearing the DNS cache helps refresh stored records, resolve errors, and ensure smoother, more secure browsing.

How to Clear DNS Cache in Chrome Using chrome://net-internals/#dns

Steps to Clear DNS Cache in Chrome

 

1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.

2. In the address bar, type chrome://net-internals/#dns and press Enter.

3. You’ll be taken to the DNS section of Chrome’s Net Internals page.

4. Look for the button labeled “Clear host cache” and click it.

5. (Optional but recommended) To make sure all old connections are refreshed:

◾ Open a new tab and type chrome://net-internals/#sockets.

◾ Click on “Flush socket pools”.

6. Once done, close the tab and reload the website you were having issues with.

 

How to Fix DNS Cache Errors on Chrome When chrome://net-internals/#dns is Not Working?

If clearing Chrome’s DNS cache via chrome://net-internals/#dns doesn’t fully resolve the problem, you can try the following solutions.

1. Flush Your System DNS Cache (Windows)

 

1. Open Command Prompt (Run as Administrator).

2. Type the command:

 

 

3. Press Enter.

4. You’ll see: “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

This command clears your system’s DNS cache, ensuring Chrome gets updated records next time.

 

2. Change Your DNS Server

Sometimes your ISP’s DNS may be slow or temporarily down. Switch to a public DNS service like Google or Cloudflare.

 

Recommended DNS Servers:

 

Google DNS:

 

Cloudflare DNS:

 

Steps:

 

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network Connections.

2. Right-click your active network → Properties.

3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.

4. Enter one of the above DNS addresses and save.

5. Restart your browser and test again.

 

3. Disable VPN, Proxy, or Firewall Temporarily

VPNs and firewalls can sometimes interfere with DNS resolution.
Try disabling them temporarily and check if the error persists.

If Chrome starts working, whitelist it in your firewall or VPN settings.

 

4. Reset Chrome Settings

If all else fails, Chrome settings may be corrupted. Resetting the browser can fix internal network configuration issues.

Steps:

 

1. Go to chrome://settings/reset.

2. Choose “Restore settings to their original defaults.”

3. Restart Chrome.

 

After this, you can again open chrome://net-internals/#dns to clear the cache for a clean start.

 

Verify If DNS Errors Are Fixed

After performing all steps:

 

◾ Open multiple websites to ensure smooth browsing.

◾ Use chrome://net-internals/#dns again to confirm no pending host entries remain.

◾ Check Chrome’s Developer Tools (F12 → Network tab) for failed DNS lookups.

 

When to Contact Your ISP

If the DNS issue persists even after clearing caches and changing DNS servers, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may be experiencing DNS outages. In such cases:

 

◾ Report the issue to your ISP.

◾ Try switching to another network or hotspot to confirm.

 

Quick Fix Summary

 

Conclusion

DNS lookup failures can disrupt your browsing experience, especially if you rely on cloud-based applications, hosting services, or online servers. Fortunately, chrome://net-internals/#dns provides a powerful way to diagnose and fix these issues. By clearing DNS cache, flushing the system’s DNS, updating server settings, and troubleshooting extensions, you can ensure seamless connectivity.

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Explore Cyfuture Cloud’s hosting solutions today and experience the reliability your business deserves!

 

          chrome.//net-internals/dns offer FAQ

 

1. What is chrome://net-internals/#dns in Chrome?
It’s a built-in Chrome tool that shows DNS-related information and allows you to flush the DNS cache. However, it’s deprecated in newer Chrome versions and may not always work.

2. Why does Chrome show DNS lookup failure errors?
A DNS lookup failure usually happens when your browser cannot translate a website’s domain name into its IP address. This can be caused by cached DNS records, DNS server issues, or incorrect network settings.

3. How do I flush DNS in Chrome using net-internals?
Go to chrome://net-internals/#dns, click Clear host cache, and relaunch Chrome. If this doesn’t work, try system-level methods like Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux).

4. Why doesn’t chrome://net-internals/#dns work anymore?
Google has deprecated the net-internals page in recent Chrome versions. Instead, you should use system-level DNS flushing commands or reset Chrome Flags.

5. How do I fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN in Chrome?

You can fix it by:

◾ Flushing your DNS cache

◾ Restarting the DNS Client service (Windows)

◾ Resetting Chrome Flags to default

◾ Switching to reliable DNS servers like Google DNS or Cloudflare

6. Can Chrome Flags cause DNS errors?
Yes. Some experimental Chrome Flags can interfere with DNS resolution and cause errors. Resetting all Flags to default often resolves the issue.

7. How do I check if my DNS cache is cleared?
On Windows, after running ipconfig /flushdns, you’ll see a message confirming the cache is cleared. On Linux, you can check with sudo systemd-resolve --statistics and see if CacheHit is reset to zero.

8. Should I use Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS if DNS lookup fails?
Yes. Switching to Google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1) often improves reliability and speed compared to your ISP’s default DNS.

9. What’s the difference between DNS flushing and restarting the DNS client service?
Flushing DNS clears cached entries immediately, while restarting the DNS Client service resets the entire DNS process, which can fix deeper issues.

10. Is flushing DNS safe?
Yes, flushing DNS is completely safe. It only removes temporary cached entries, forcing your system or browser to fetch fresh DNS records.

11. What is chrome.//net-internals/dns ?
chrome://net-internals/dns is a built-in Chrome diagnostic page that allows users to view, manage, and troubleshoot DNS cache and resolution within the browser.

 

12. Why would I use chrome.//net-internals/dns?
It is primarily used to clear the DNS cache, diagnose issues with website loading, and review DNS resolution data for troubleshooting network problems.

 

13. How do I accesschrome.//net-internals/dns?
Type chrome://net-internals/dns into the Chrome address bar and press Enter. The page will open directly in your browser.

 

14. How do I clear the DNS cache in Chrome?
Open chrome://net-internals/dns, then click the “Clear host cache” button to flush DNS records stored by Chrome.

 

15. What issues can clearing the DNS cache resolve?
Clearing the DNS cache can help fix problems like outdated website data, slow page loading, inability to access sites, and certain DNS-related browser errors.

 

16. Does clearing browser DNS cache affect the operating system cache?
No, clearing Chrome’s DNS cache only affects DNS records stored by the browser. The system (Windows, MacOS, Linux) maintains its own separate DNS cache.

 

17. Is it safe to use chrome.//net-internals/dns?
Yes, viewing and clearing the DNS cache is safe. However, making other advanced changes on the Net Internals page should be done with caution by experienced users.

 

18. Can I troubleshoot network and connectivity issues using this tool?
Absolutely. By analyzing cached DNS entries and DNS requests, you can identify issues with DNS resolutions, stale IP addresses, or network misconfigurations.

 

19. Is the tool available on mobile devices?
Yes, it works with Chrome on desktops and mobile devices, though the interface may be simpler on mobile versions.

20. What other features does chrome.//net-internals/dns offer?
You can monitor real-time DNS queries, check DNS statistics, view socket pools, and access additional network diagnostic information useful for developers and IT professionals.