How to Fix Chrome DNS and Connection Errors

Google Chrome is a widely-used browser, but users often encounter DNS and connection errors such as ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED and ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT. These issues can disrupt your browsing experience by preventing access to websites. This guide provides comprehensive solutions for resolving common Chrome DNS and connection errors across different platforms.

Quick Fixes to Try First

1. Reload the page with F5 or Ctrl+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac).
2. Check if other websites are accessible.
3. Try using a different browser to see if the issue is specific to Chrome.
4. Ensure your internet connection is active and stable.
5. Restart your router or modem.
6. Attempt to access the site using mobile data.

Windows Fixes

Flush DNS Cache

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
3. Run ipconfig /release and then ipconfig /renew.

Change DNS Servers

1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections.
2. Right-click your connection and select Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
4. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
   • Google: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4
   • Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1
   • OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220

Reset Winsock Catalog

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
3. Restart your computer.

Reset TCP/IP Stack

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run netsh int ip reset and restart your computer.

Disable IPv6 Temporarily

1. Open Network adapter properties.
2. Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).

macOS Fixes

Flush DNS Cache

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
3. Enter your password when prompted.

Change DNS Servers

1. Open System Settings > Network, click your network service, click Details, then click DNS (Apple’s steps).
2. Click + below the DNS Servers list and add 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
3. Click OK.

Renew DHCP Lease

1. Go to System Settings > Network, click your network service, click Details, then click TCP/IP (Apple’s steps).
2. Click Renew DHCP Lease.

Linux Fixes

Flush DNS Cache

• For systemd-resolved: sudo resolvectl flush-caches
• For nscd: sudo service nscd restart
• For dnsmasq: sudo service dnsmasq restart

Change DNS Settings

Edit your network settings or modify the /etc/resolv.conf file to include your preferred DNS servers.

Chrome-Specific Fixes

Clear Chrome DNS Cache

1. Navigate to chrome://net-internals/#dns.
2. Click Clear host cache.

Clear Socket Pools

1. Go to chrome://net-internals/#sockets.
2. Click Flush socket pools.

Clear Browsing Data

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac).
2. In the Delete browsing data dialog, select cached images and files and cookies, then select Delete data.

Turn Off Page Preloading

1. Go to Settings > Performance.
2. Turn off Preload pages (Google’s steps).

Reset Chrome Settings

1. Navigate to Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset settings.

Disable VPN or Proxy

1. Go to Settings > System > Open your computer’s proxy settings.
2. Ensure the proxy is off if not needed.

Check Experimental Features

1. Visit chrome://flags (see how Chrome flags work).
2. If you changed any network-related flags, select Reset all to put every flag back to default.

Android Fixes

Clear Chrome App Cache

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Chrome > Storage.
2. Tap Clear Cache.

Switch Between WiFi and Mobile Data

Try switching between WiFi and mobile data to see if the problem persists.

Reset Network Settings

1. Android can reset Wi-Fi, mobile data and Bluetooth settings. The menu name varies by phone maker, so search Settings for “reset”.

iOS Fixes

Reset Network Settings

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings (Apple’s steps). This also removes saved Wi-Fi networks and VPN settings.

Forget and Reconnect to WiFi Network

Forget the current WiFi network and reconnect to it to resolve connectivity issues.

Toggle Airplane Mode

Toggle Airplane mode on and off to refresh network connections.

Firewall and Antivirus

1. Temporarily disable your firewall to test if it’s blocking Chrome, then turn it back on.
2. Ensure your antivirus is not blocking Chrome.
3. Add Chrome to your firewall’s exception list.
4. Check corporate firewall or proxy settings if applicable.

Advanced Solutions

1. Verify if your ISP is blocking the site.
2. Use a VPN to determine if the issue is location-based.
3. Check the hosts file for incorrect entries:
   • Windows: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
   • Mac/Linux: /etc/hosts
4. Run a network diagnostics tool for further insights.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve most Chrome DNS and connection errors, ensuring a smoother browsing experience. If problems persist, consider reaching out to your network administrator or ISP for further assistance.