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January 12, 2024

How to Fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED in WordPress (Step by Step)

Are you seeing the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ error in WordPress?

You may see this error message when you try to navigate to a website, but it doesn’t load. This happens when the IP address for the domain name you typed can’t be found.

In this article, we will show you how to easily troubleshoot and fix the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ error in WordPress.

How to Fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED in WordPress

What Causes the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ Error in WordPress?

The internet uses a domain name system, or DNS, to make it easier to navigate around the internet. While every website is identified by a unique set of numbers called an IP address, DNS lets you simply type in a domain name that’s easier to remember.

The IP address associated with that domain name will be automatically looked up (or resolved) on a DNS server, and then you will be taken to that address to view the website.

For example, when you type in the domain name wpbeginner.com, a DNS server identifies that the required IP address is 104.18.10.41, and then you are automatically taken to that location to view our website.

The ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ error is displayed when something goes wrong with that process and an IP address can’t be found for the domain name you typed.

Without an IP address, your browser won’t be able to find or display the website. If it is your own WordPress website, then you will be unable to add new content, install security updates, and make other important changes.

Depending on the exact situation and the web browser you are using, you may see a similar error message such as:

This site can’t be reached
Unable to reach the site
Could not find the IP address of the server
Failed to load resource
The web page is not available

A number of issues can cause these error messages, so you will need to troubleshoot the error to fix it. While there may be a problem with the website, this error message is often caused by incorrect settings on your own computer.

Luckily, the error message might suggest a few things you can try, such as checking your internet connection and firewall and DNS configuration.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how to fix ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ in WordPress. We recommend starting with the first troubleshooting step since it’s the easiest and then working your way through our guide:

Check Your Internet Connection
Clear Your Browser Cache
Clear Your DNS Cache
Temporarily Disable Your Firewall and Antivirus Software
Change the DNS Server Used by Your Computer
Disable DNSSEC for Your Website Domain
Contact Your WordPress Hosting Provider
Expert Guides Related to Domain Names and DNS

1. Check Your Internet Connection

This error is often caused by a problem on your own computer. So, let’s start with the simplest fix and make sure that you are actually connected to the internet. You might like to visit Google.com and perform a search to make sure your connection is working.

If you can’t access Google or other websites, then the problem is with your internet connection, not the website you are trying to access.

You should make sure that the cables are plugged into your modem and router correctly. You should also try restarting your internet connection by disconnecting your modem and router from the power supply and turning them back on after at least one minute.

If you still see the same error message when trying to visit the website, then you can move on to the next step.

2. Clear Your Browser Cache

Your web browser keeps a temporary copy of everything it downloads to save time when it needs to reaccess those files. This is your browser cache.

The cache can become outdated if the website content has changed after you first accessed it. It can also become corrupted over time. When this happens, you will need to clear the browser cache so that the files are downloaded from the website again.

This can sometimes resolve DNS-related issues, such as the error message you are seeing.

Thankfully, it’s easy to clear the browser cache. For example, in Google Chrome, you simply click on the three-dotted icon in the upper-right corner. Now you can click on ‘More Tools’ and then ‘Clear Browsing Data….’

How to clear the browser cache in Google Chrome

You will need to check the box next to ‘Cached images and files’ on the popup window. Google Chrome will clear the entire cache by default.

With that in mind, you might like to open the ‘Time Range’ dropdown so that it deletes the cached data only from the time period you’ve been seeing the error message.

Fixing the site can't be reached error in WordPress

Make sure you only check the boxes for the data you want to delete. For example, it’s a good idea to delete cookies and other site data, but if you want to keep your browsing history, then you will need to uncheck that box.

When you are ready, click on ‘Clear data’, and Google Chrome will empty the browser cache.

If you are using a different browser, then please see our beginner’s guide on how to clear the browser cache in any browser.

Now, you can try revisiting the website to see if you are still seeing the error message.

3. Clear Your DNS Cache

Besides caching the content of the websites you visit, your computer also stores their IP addresses. This saves time since the browser doesn’t have to look up the same IP address multiple times.

However, the cached DNS information can get outdated, leading to error messages. For example, the cached IP data may be incorrect if the site has moved to a new domain name or moved to a new hosting provider.

You can clear your DNS cache to force your browser to look up the correct IP address for that domain name again.

To help you out, we’ve created a complete guide on how to clear your DNS cache for Mac, Windows, and Google Chrome.

4. Temporarily Disable Your Firewall and Antivirus Software

Antivirus and firewall plugins try to keep you safe by blocking suspicious sites. But unfortunately, they can also sometimes block websites that are trustworthy.

This can happen if your security plugin settings are too strict or the website is set up in a way that triggers the security settings.

You can test whether a firewall or antivirus program is blocking the connection by temporarily disabling the software. If the website now loads without a problem, then you know that the antivirus program or firewall was to blame.

If they are the cause of the problem, then we don’t recommend disabling the software permanently. Instead, you may be able to whitelist the website in the software’s settings so that you can access it while being protected from genuine threats.

If you need help finding these settings, then you can check the software’s official documentation, forums, and social media pages for more information.

Depending on your software license, you may also be able to ask for support by contacting the developer or their customer support team.

5. Change the DNS Server Used by Your Computer

There may be a problem with the DNS server you are using to get the website’s IP address. Many DNS servers are available, and your internet service provider (ISP) assigns one automatically. Sometimes, the server can be unavailable or have the wrong information.

You can switch to a different public DNS server, such as Google Public DNS. You should choose carefully because the DNS provider will be able to see all the websites you visit and may collect your personal information.

Changing Your DNS Server on Mac

Once you’ve decided on a DNS server, you need to add it to your settings. On Mac, you should select the ‘Apple’ icon in the toolbar and click on ‘System Preferences…’

Next, you should select ‘Network’ from the popup and then click on the ‘Advanced…’ button.

Now, you can open the ‘DNS’ tab.

Fixing the site can't be reached error by changing the DNS server

In the bottom-left corner, you need to click the ‘+’ button.

This adds a new DNS server with a default IP address of 0.0.0.0.

Now, you can go ahead and type in the IP address of the public server you want to use. For example, the IP addresses for Google’s public DNS are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

After that, make sure you click on the ‘OK’ button to save your changes.

Switching to a public DNS server to fix the site can't be reached error

This will take you back to the previous popup.

To start using your new DNS server, simply click on the ‘Apply’ button.

Now, you are ready to visit the website to see whether this has removed the error message.

Changing Your DNS Server on Windows

If you have a Windows computer, then you need to go to the Windows Search Box from the taskbar and type in ‘ncpa.cpl’ to go to the Network Connections page.

Once there, you should right-click the internet connection you are currently using.

Next, select the ‘Properties’ option from the drop-down menu. You may be asked to provide an administrator password. If you don’t know the password, then you will need to contact your IT department or computer admin.

Select the Properties option after right clicking

Now, you should see the ‘Properties’ window.

You need to double-click the ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)’ option from the list.

Double click the Internet Protocol Version option

This will open up a new window where you need to enable two settings by checking their boxes. These settings are ‘Obtain an IP address automatically’ and ‘Use the following DNS server addresses’.

Now, you can type in the DNS addresses for your public DNS server. The IP addresses for Google’s public DNS are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

Don’t forget to click the ‘OK’ button at the bottom to store your changes.

Now, you can restart your computer and visit your site to see if the error is resolved.

6. Disable DNSSEC for Your Website Domain

Sometimes, the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ error is caused by problems with the website itself. If your WordPress blog is giving this error, then there are a few things you can try to fix it.

For example, if you have enabled DNSSEC, then it may help to disable it.

DNSSEC stands for Domain Name System Security Extensions. It provides an extra layer of security by protecting your DNS records from unauthorized users.

However, it can also prevent the domain from propagating properly, and this can trigger the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ error.

You can disable DNSSEC from your web hosting account. The way you do this varies depending on your hosting provider, so we will show you how to do it using Bluehost.

In Bluehost, you’ll find the DNSSEC option in the Advanced Tools section under Domains. Simply toggle the ‘DNSSEC’ option to the off position.

If you need help disabling DNSSEC, then reach out to your hosting company for support.

And if you are still seeing the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ error after disabling DNSSEC and completing all of the troubleshooting steps in this guide, then it’s time to contact your hosting company’s support team for some expert help.

7. Contact Your WordPress Hosting Provider

If you still can’t access the website after following the steps above, then the website may be temporarily down or experiencing server issues.

If the site belongs to someone else, then there’s nothing else you can do but wait for it to become accessible again.

However, if you are encountering the ‘ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED’ when trying to access your own website, then you should contact your hosting provider for support.

They will be able to help you if there is a technical problem, incorrect settings, an unpaid bill, or some other issue responsible for your website being inaccessible.

Now that you know how to troubleshoot and fix the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED message in WordPress, you may like to see some other guides related to domain names and DNS:

We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED in WordPress. You may also want to see our complete guide to troubleshooting WordPress or our guide to the most common WordPress errors and how to fix them.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED in WordPress (Step by Step) first appeared on WPBeginner.

October 21, 2019

How to Clear Your Browser Cache in All Major Browsers (Fast Way)

When fixing common WordPress errors, one common piece of advice that you would often receive is to “clear your browser cache”.

Since you don’t need to clear browser cache for day to day internet use, most non-techy users are not familiar with the process.

In this beginner’s guide, we will show you how to quickly clear your browser cache in all major browsers, step by step. We will also explain what is browser cache and how browser caching works.

What is Browser Cache?

Browser cache is a technology used by most popular web browsers to save visited website’s data on a user’s computer. This allows the browser to quickly display a webpage on your next visit.

The logic behind it is that downloading static files from a WordPress hosting server located far away will take more time than reusing the resources from the user’s computer. This reduces the overall page load time and makes your online experience faster.

Typically browsers will not cache complete web pages unless the web developers specifically tell them to do it (via code). Instead browsers focus on static content like stylesheets, images, and JavaScript.

Why browsers cache static content?

Browser cache static content because it does not change as often as dynamic content.

For example, if you visit a WordPress website then the content of your posts and pages is more likely to change than your WordPress theme.

A typical website template includes several stylesheets, JavaScript files, and images. These files remain the same on each page, so downloading a fresh copy on every page load is simply inefficient.

This is why browsers keep a copy of these static files in a temporary storage folder on your computer, so they use that copy on your next website visit.

If you are using a WordPress caching plugin, then it may add guidelines for browsers to cache your static content along with expiration instructions for each resource type.

This improves user experience and makes the internet faster for everyone.

Why and when you need to clear browser cache?

Most popular browsers are smart about deciding which content to store in cache.

However, sometimes they are unable to figure out that the website you are viewing has changed. In that case, browsers will still load the cached version of files from local storage.

This leads you to see an outdated version of a web page, and the website may not work as intended. If you have made some changes to your website, then you may not see them appear on the live site.

This is when you need to force reload that page in other words clear your browser cache.

Force browser to refresh / reload a page (Shortcut)
Clearing browser cache in Google Chrome
Clearing browser cache in Firefox
Clearing browser cache in Internet Explorer
Clearing browser cache in Edge
Clearing browser cache in Safari
Clearing browser cache in Opera
What to do when clearing browser cache doesn’t fix the problem?

Forcing Browsers to Hard Refresh / Reload a Page

Before you clear your browser cache, you may want to try this step because it’s much faster and easier (this is what the Pros do).

Basically, when you click on the refresh button in your browser, it will load static content from browser cache. However by using a keyboard shortcut, you can force the browser to bypass cache and download a fresh version of the web page.

Simply press the following keys to force a hard refresh in your web browser.

Google Chrome on Mac: Command + Shift + R
Google Chrome on Windows & Linux: CTRL + F5
Firefox on Mac: Command + Shift + R
Firefox on Windows & Linux: CTRL + F5
Safari: Command + Option + R
Opera on Mac: Command + Alt + R
Opera on Windows: Shift + F5

Normally forcing a hard refresh will solve your problem. However if it dose not, then you need to clear your browser cache to make sure that you are seeing the live version of a web page.

Clearing Browser Cache in Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world right now. Here is how to clean the browser cache in Google Chrome.

Simply launch the Google Chrome web browser on your computer and then click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner. From the menu, you need to go to More Tools » Clear Browsing Data.

This will launch the Chrome Settings page with ‘Clear Browsing Data’ popup displayed on the screen. You need to switch to the Basic settings and then select ‘All time’ next to time-range option.

Below that, you need to check the box next to the ‘Cached images and files’ option.

You can also select ‘Clear cookies and other site data’ option. It will delete all cookies stored in your browser storage. Doing so will also log you out from all websites and end other sessions.

Next, click on the ‘Clear data’ button and Google Chrome will clear the browser cache.

Clearing Browser cache in Firefox

If you are using Mozilla Firefox, then this is how you can clear your browser cache.

First, you need to launch the Firefox web browser on your computer. After that, you need to click on the hamburger menu on the top-right corner of the screen and select the ‘Preferences’ option.

This will bring up the Firefox settings page. From here, you need to switch to the ‘Privacy and Security’ tab, and then click on the ‘Clear Data’ button.

Firefox will now ask what data do you want to clear. You need to select ‘Cached Web Content’ and click on the clear button.

Firefox will now delete cached web content from your browser storage.

Clearing Browser Cache in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer was the default web browser on Windows computers until it was replaced by the new Microsoft Edge browser.

However, many users still use it. If you are one of those users, then this is how you’ll clear browser cache in Internet Explorer.

First, you need to launch the Internet Explorer on your computer. After, that you need to click on the gear icon at the top right corner and then select Safety » Delete browsing history….

Next, you need to uncheck the option to ‘Preserve Favorites website data’, check ‘Temporary internet files’, and optionally check the ‘Cookies’ option.

Click on the Delete button to continue, and Internet Explorer will empty your browser cache.

Clearing Browser cache in Edge

Edge is the default browser on Windows 10 computers. Here is how you will clear browser cache in Microsoft Edge.

First, you need to open the Edge browser on your computer. After that, you need to click on the three-dot menu at the top-right corner of the screen and select ‘Settings’ option.

Next, you need to click on the ‘Choose what to clear’ button under the ‘Clear browsing data’ section.

This will bring up the ‘Clear browsing data’ panel. From here, you need to select ‘Cached data and files’ and ‘Cookies and website data’ options.

Click on the ‘Clear’ button and Microsoft Edge will now clear browser cache.

Clearing Browser Cache in Safari

Safari is the default browser on the Mac operating system. Here is how to clear browser cache in Safari.

First, you need to open the Safari web browser on your computer. After that. click on the History » Clear History… option from the top menu.

Safari will now ask you to select a time range. Select ‘All history’ from the ‘Clear’ dropdown menu and then click on the ‘Clear History’ button.

Safari will now delete all temporary data including cache, cookies, and all temporary website data.

If you want to empty the Safari cache without deleting cookies and other data, then you will need to enable the ‘Developer’ menu.

Simply click on the Safari » Preferences from the top menu. This will bring up the settings dialog box where you need to switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab.

This will add the ‘Develop’ menu in your web browser’s top bar. Next, you need to click on the Develop menu and select ‘Empty Caches’ option.

Safari will now only empty the browser cache without deleting cookies and other temporary data.

Clearing Browser Cache in Opera

If you are using Opera web browser, then here is how to clear your browser cache in Opera.

Fist, open the Opera web browser on your computer. After that, click on the menu icon on the top right corner of the screen and then click on the ‘Clear browsing data’ button.

This will bring up a popup on the screen. From here, first you need to select ‘All time’ next to the time range dropdown menu. After that, check the box next to the ‘Cached images and files’ option.

You can now click on the ‘Clear data’ button, and Opera will empty your browser cache.

What to Do When Clearing Browser Cache Doesn’t Work?

It depends on what you are trying to do at the moment. Let’s take a look at some common scenarios.

1. Can’t see changes you made to your website appear on the live site

The most common culprit for this usually a WordPress caching plugin. Normally, if you are logged in to WordPress, then your caching plugin would show you a non-cached version of your website.

However, due to a plugin misconfiguration, you may end up seeing a cached version of your website.

You’ll need to empty WordPress cache to see the live version. We have a detailed guide on how to clear cache in WordPress with step by step instructions.

2. I cannot log in to my WordPress website

If you are unable to log in to your WordPress website and the login page keeps refreshing, then most likely it is a WordPress settings issue.

See our detailed guide on how to fix WordPress login page refresh and redirecting issue.

3. A third party website is not updating

If you are seeing an outdated version of a third-party website while other users can see the changes, then this could happen due to a lot of reasons.

For example, the website may be temporarily down, and their CDN server is showing a cached copy of the website. It is also possible that their website firewall is not working properly, and it’s serving the cached versions to specific geographic locations.

In that case, you can try using a VPN service. This will allow you to change your IP address and visit the website from a different geographic location.

This will help you further troubleshoot and get to the bottom of the issue.

We hope this article helped you learn how to quickly clear your browser cache in all top browsers. You may also want to see our WordPress troubleshooting tips and the complete WordPress security guide to keep your website secure.