The browser says “this site can’t be reached” and, in small print, DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN (or ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED, which is almost the same). NXDOMAIN stands for “non-existent domain”: DNS answered that this name does not exist. It is not the site that is down, nor the server: the browser never even found out where to go.
The question that sorts everything is this: is the error only yours, or everybody’s? Open the address on your phone using mobile data (outside your network). If it opens, the problem is in your computer, your network or your internet provider. If it fails there too, the problem is in the domain.
If it only fails on your network
| Cause |
How to confirm and fix |
| A stale DNS cache on the computer |
On Windows, ipconfig /flushdns; then close and reopen the browser. On other systems, restarting the network usually does it. |
| Your provider’s DNS does not know the name yet |
Switch the computer’s DNS to a public resolver (for example 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1) and try. If it now opens, it is the provider’s resolver, still holding the old answer in its cache. |
| A filter: VPN, antivirus, parental control or ad blocker |
Switch it off for a minute. These filters answer “does not exist” on purpose for the addresses they block. |
| A line in the hosts file diverting the name |
Whoever tested a migration is sometimes left with a forgotten line. See testing a migrated site before you change the DNS. |
If it fails for everybody
| 1 |
Reread the address, letter by letter. A swapped letter, a wrong extension (.net instead of .com) or an extra “www” are enough. It is the commonest cause.
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| 3 |
See where the DNS is. The nameservers must be the ones you want, and the zone must hold the records. See how to check a domain’s DNS.
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| 4 |
Confirm the name has a record. The domain opening without “www” and giving NXDOMAIN with “www” is a classic: the www record is missing. See DNS records explained.
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Do not renew, or change nameservers, blindly. If the domain worked and stopped, before changing anything find out what changed: the domain expired, someone edited the zone, or it is your network. Changing at random makes it worse and hides the cause.
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Ask from outside with one command: nslookup yourcompany.com 8.8.8.8 asks a public resolver directly. If it answers with an address and your computer does not, the domain is fine and the problem is local. If it answers “Non-existent domain”, the problem is the domain’s.
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Fails on every network? Send us the domain and what the WHOIS lookup and nslookup tell you.
Open a support ticket
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