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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.

November 17, 2022

How to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error in WordPress

Are you seeing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error message when trying to access your WordPress site or someone else’s?

This error message appears in Chrome when your browser cannot connect to the website you’ve requested. Other browsers use different messages to display this error.

In this article, we’ll show you how to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error in WordPress.

How to Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error in WordPress

What Is the Fix ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Error in WordPress?

The ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error is a Google Chrome error message.

It is shown when your web browser can contact a website but is unable to properly set up the connection to receive data from the site. As a result, your browser automatically resets the connection, but this stops the server from sending data to the browser.

Other web browsers use different wording when displaying this message, such as “The connection was reset.”

There are lots of common WordPress errors, but this message is vague and doesn’t tell you what to do next. The error may even stop you from visiting your own website and logging in to the WordPress admin area.

Usually, this error means that the WordPress website is working, but something is stopping the browser from accessing it. In most cases, you will only need to fix a problem with your own browser or internet connection.

With that said, let’s see how to troubleshoot and fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error in WordPress. You can follow these troubleshooting steps in order or use the quick links below.

Make Sure the Website Is Working

When you see the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET message, the problem is usually with your computer. However, in rare cases it can be caused by a problem with the website, so you should check to see if the website is actually working using IsItWP’s free uptime checker tool.

Simply visit the Website Uptime Status Checker website, then enter the URL of your own site.

The Uptime Uptime Status Checker tool will quickly check your website.

You’ll get a message letting you know if it is up or down.

If the site is actually down, then you will need to wait until it is back up to address the issue.

If it is your own site, then you should contact your WordPress hosting provider to let them know your website is down.

For more detailed instructions and to learn how to get automatic alerts when your website goes down, see our guide on how to monitor your WordPress website server uptime.

However, if the website is up and working, then the problem is with your own computer or network, and you should follow the troubleshooting steps below.

Restart Your Internet Connection

The simplest way to start troubleshotting is to restart your internet connection.

You should shut down your computer and turn off your internet modem and router. After that, you should wait for at least one minute before turning everything back on.

You can then try visiting the website again to see whether this has fixed the error.

Clear Your Browser’s Cache

Your web browser stores files and data from the websites you visit, so it doesn’t have to download them again. However, this can cause problems if the cached files become outdated or corrupt.

Luckily, it’s simple to clear your browser’s cache so that the data is downloaded again.

First, you can try reloading the page and bypassing the browser cache. If you’re on Windows, you can do this by pressing the CTRL, SHIFT, and R keys at the same time. On a Mac, it will be CMD, SHIFT, and R.

If that doesn’t work, then you need to clear the cache completely.

To do this with Google Chrome, simply click on the three-dotted icon in the upper-right corner and select ‘More Tools’ and then ‘Clear Browsing Data….’

A popup will appear. You should check the box next to ‘Cached images and files.’

Google Chrome will clear the entire cache by default. Another option is to open the ‘Time Range’ dropdown and tell Chrome to only clear content that was cached during a particular time period.

Next, you can check or uncheck any of the other options.

For example, if you only want to clear the cached files, then you can uncheck the ‘Browsing history’ and ‘Cookies and other site data’ boxes.

When you’re ready, click on the ‘Clear data’ button and Chrome will empty the browser cache. Once it’s finished, try revisiting the website to check whether you still get an error.

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

Turn Off Experimental Chrome Features

If you’ve enabled any of Chrome’s experimental features, then it’s possible that one of those may be causing the error.

To turn them off, navigate to chrome://flags/ in Chrome. After that, click the ‘Reset all’ button at the top of the page.

Turn Off Experimental Features in Chrome

Now try to visit the website. If you still see the error message, then you should move on to the next solution.

Disable Your Computer’s Firewall and Antivirus

Installing antivirus and firewall software on your computer can keep you safe by blocking malware, but sometimes they may block trustworthy websites as well.

To test whether your firewall or antivirus program is blocking the connection, simply disable that software temporarily. Then, try to visit the website that was showing the error.

If the site loads without a problem, then you’ll know that the antivirus program or firewall was to blame. If this is the case, then we don’t recommend disabling it permanently.

Instead, you should check the software’s settings to see if you can whitelist this particular website. In this way, you can access the site while still protecting yourself against hackers, viruses, and other digital threats.

If you’re not sure where to find these settings, then try checking the software’s official documentation, forums, or social media pages for more information. Depending on your software license, you may also be able to contact customer support or the developer for help.

For more tips on protecting yourself against hackers without triggering a connection error, please see our ultimate WordPress security guide.

Reset Your VPN Software

You may have installed Virtual Private Network (VPN) software on your computer to protect your privacy, keep your information secure, and visit sites that are blocked in your location.

However, you may sometimes have problems with a VPN connection, or the VPN might not recognize a website’s IP address. Some VPNs will reconnect automatically if they encounter a problem, but you may have to reconnect your VPN manually.

We recommend checking your provider’s website or documentation for instructions on how to reset your VPN.

Disable Your Proxy Server

You may also experience connection errors when using a proxy server as an extra layer of security or to cache data. You will need to disable the proxy server.

To do this on a Mac, you can start by clicking the ‘Apple’ icon in the toolbar and then selecting ’System Settings…’

Next, you should type ‘proxies’ into the search box on the left and click the ‘Proxies’ menu item.

In Mac System Settings, Search for 'Proxies'

Now you need to make sure that all the proxy settings are toggled to the Off position.

After that, you should click the ‘OK’ button to save your changes.

You can now try visiting the website to see whether you can access it without any problems.

Clear Your DNS Cache

Your computer stores the IP addresses of all the websites you visit so that the browser doesn’t have to look up the same IP address multiple times. This is called a DNS cache.

This helps websites to load faster, but the cached DNS information can get outdated. This may result in an error message, particularly if the site has moved to a new domain name or you’ve moved WordPress to a new host.

By flushing your DNS cache, you’ll get the latest information about a website, including its new domain name or address.

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

Change Your DNS Server

A DNS server is like the internet’s phone book. It lets your browser know which IP address it needs to visit when you type in a website’s domain name.

Your internet service provider assigns you a DNS server automatically. However, sometimes this server may be unavailable, or it might have the wrong information. When that happens, you’ll experience connection problems.

You can solve this problem by switching to a different public DNS server, such as Google Public DNS. You can use any public server you want, but just be aware that the DNS provider will be able to see all the websites you visit.

On a Mac, you should start by clicking the Apple icon at the top left of the screen and selecting ‘System Settings…’ from the menu. Next, you need to enter ‘dns’ in the search box at the top left of the screen and then click the ‘DNS servers’ entry.

In Mac System Settings, Search for 'DNS'

You will now see the address of your current DNS server.

Using the ‘+’ button at the bottom, you can add the two addresses for Google’s DNS servers. These are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.8.4.

You Will See the Address of Your Current DNS Server

After that, you can click the old DNS server address.

Then, use the ‘-‘ button at the bottom to remove it.

Add the Addresses for Google's DNS Servers

When you’re finished, simply click on the ‘OK’ button to save your changes.

If you’re not using a Mac, then Google offers detailed instructions for most operating systems in their documentation on how to get started with Google Public DNS.

You’re now ready to visit the website to see whether this has removed the error message.

Reset Your TCP/IP Settings

TCP/IP is a set of protocols that control how data is sent and received over the internet.

If there’s a problem with how your internet connection is configured, then renewing your TCP and IP protocol will return the connection to its default settings, which may solve the problem.

On a Mac, you need to open the System Settings app, search for TCP/IP, and then click the TCP/IP entry in the menu.

In Mac System Settings, Search for 'TCP/IP'

On this screen, go ahead and click on the ‘Renew DHCP Lease’ button.

You may need to confirm your choice by clicking the ‘Apply’ button on a popup.

On Windows, you need to open the Command Prompt and open a series of commands. You should type each command separately and press the Enter key after each one.

You can now try visiting the website to check whether the error is fixed.

We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error. You may also want to learn why WordPress is free, or check out our list of reasons why you should use WordPress for your website.