DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on Windows

The Windows DNS Client service caches negative answers, so a fixed record can keep failing on that machine long after it works elsewhere.

Why it happens on Windows

The Windows DNS Client service caches negative answers, so a fixed record can keep failing on that machine long after it works elsewhere.

The fix on Windows

Run `ipconfig /flushdns` in an elevated prompt, then `nslookup yourdomain.com 1.1.1.1` to bypass the local resolver and confirm the record now exists.

If that didn't fix it

Windows has its own failure mode, but DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN has a wider set of causes. The most common one overall is: The A or CNAME record for the hostname does not exist.

Add the missing record at the DNS provider. Remember that the apex and www are separate records.

Check your own domain

The DNS lookup queries public resolvers directly and shows the A, AAAA, CNAME and NS records that actually exist — which instantly separates 'record missing' from 'my resolver is stale'.

Frequently asked questions

Why does DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN happen on Windows?

The Windows DNS Client service caches negative answers, so a fixed record can keep failing on that machine long after it works elsewhere.

How do I fix DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN on Windows?

Run `ipconfig /flushdns` in an elevated prompt, then `nslookup yourdomain.com 1.1.1.1` to bypass the local resolver and confirm the record now exists.

What does DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN mean?

The DNS lookup completed and the authoritative answer was 'this name does not exist'. Either the record is genuinely missing, the domain lapsed, or a recent DNS change has not propagated to the resolver you are using.