Fixing the Server IP Address Could Not Be Found DNS Error
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- Verify URL: Check for typos or incorrect domain extensions like .com vs .net that prevent successful DNS lookups.
- Network Power Cycle: Restart your router and modem to refresh the local DNS cache and restore internet routing.
- Disable Routing Tools: Turn off VPNs, proxies, or security filters that may interfere with your browser ability to find site IPs.
- Reset DNS Settings: Switch your device DNS configuration back to automatic to resolve errors caused by unreachable manual entries.
Problem Description
The message Server IP Address Could Not Be Found appears when your browser cannot find the website’s address on the internet. The page may stay blank, show an error screen, or keep loading without opening the site. This can happen on one website while other sites still open normally. It can also happen on many sites at the same time, depending on what is causing the DNS error. The problem may appear after switching Wi-Fi, using a new router, or changing network settings.
Common Causes
- Temporary internet drop: the connection looks on, but the network is not reaching the internet.
- Wrong URL or typing mistake: one incorrect character leads to a site that cannot be found.
- DNS server not responding: name lookup fails, so the browser cannot get an IP address.
- Router or modem issue: the local network works, but routing to the internet fails.
- Wi-Fi network requires sign-in: a captive portal blocks normal browsing until sign-in is done.
- VPN or proxy interference: traffic is routed through a service that cannot resolve the site.
- Security software or DNS filter: filtering blocks DNS requests and makes sites look missing.
- Device DNS settings changed: manual DNS values are wrong or not reachable.
- Browser cache issue: the browser keeps a bad lookup result and repeats the failure.
- Website DNS outage: the site’s DNS records are not reachable for some users.
Step-by-Step Solutions
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Confirm the site address and test another website. In the address bar, retype the domain name slowly and check for missing dots, extra spaces, or wrong endings like .com vs .net. Then open a well-known site to check whether the problem is only on one site or across many sites.
If only one site fails, keep the browser open and continue to the next steps. If many sites fail, focus on network and DNS checks first.
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Restart the connection and remove simple network blocks. Turn Wi-Fi off and on, or disconnect and reconnect to the network from your device’s Wi-Fi menu. If you are on a public network, open the network sign-in page if it appears, since some networks block browsing until sign-in is complete.
After reconnecting, reload the page and check whether the error changes to a normal loading screen. If it still fails, move to the router and DNS steps.
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Restart your router or modem to refresh DNS and routing. Unplug the router or modem power cable, wait about 20 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for the internet light to stabilize. Keep your device connected to the same network while the router comes back online.
After the restart, reload the same site and check if the browser can find the address now. If the issue returns quickly, continue to DNS setting checks.
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Turn off VPN, proxy, or filtering apps and test again. If you use a VPN app, disconnect it using the VPN app screen, then try the website again. If your device uses a proxy, open your Wi-Fi network details and confirm proxy is set to off or automatic, not a manual value you do not recognize.
If the site loads with VPN off, the DNS error was caused by the VPN route or service. Re-enable it later and check whether the error comes back.
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Reset DNS-related settings on the device. On Windows, open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi or Ethernet, open the connected network, and check the DNS section for manual entries. On iPhone, open Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the connected network, and check Configure DNS for manual DNS values.
Set DNS back to automatic if it is manual, then reconnect to the network and reload the page. If the error happens only on one device, this step is often the key check.
Technical Notes or Limitations
DNS is the system that turns a website name into a numeric address that networks can route to. If DNS fails, your device cannot locate the site even when the internet connection is otherwise working. Some networks use filtering DNS, which can block certain domains and make them appear missing. Browser cache can keep a previous failed lookup for a short time, so a fix may not look immediate until you reload or restart the browser. If the website’s own DNS is having an outage, the error can continue on multiple devices and networks until the site fixes it. If only one network shows the issue, the router, ISP DNS, or local filtering is often involved.
Summary of Fixes
Check the address and test whether one site or many sites are failing. Then reconnect the network, restart the router, and temporarily disable VPN or proxy routing. If needed, switch DNS settings back to automatic and retry the site.
Related Internal Link
For another type of web access error with different symptoms, see 404 Not Found vs. 502 Bad Gateway: What They Mean for You.

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