How to Fix an Error ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED on Android Devices?

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The “This webpage is not available: ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED” error can appear on Android devices in the Google Chrome browser. You can also face it in third-party apps from the Google Play Store or Chrome on iOS, Windows, and macOS. In most cases, the error is related to problems with a DNS server or DNS-server connection.

Unfortunately, in most situations, users can do little to nothing to fix the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error. Still, you can try a few things to fix the situation. Let us show you a few things that might help you solve the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error on Android and other devices.

What Does the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED Error Mean?

The error ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED on Android devices means that the operating system or the app cannot convert a DNS address to the correct IP address. In other words, when you type “google.com” into a browser, DNS “translates” google.com to an IP address and then locates and connects to a website.

Many things cause DNS-related issues and the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error on Android or other devices. It can be the DNS server address, problems with your wireless network adapter, settings on your device, your ISP, or something else. The error can also happen regardless of your Internet connection.

How to Fix ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED?

As it usually goes with troubleshooting Internet-related problems, begin with the simplest options. Here are a few things you should try to fix the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error:

• Check typos. Make sure you have entered the correct website address. It is google.com, not ggogle.com. A simple typo in the website address can cause the error. And since modern browsers autofill websites in the address bar, Chrome may try to enter the wrong address every time you start typing.
• Restart. The best and the most popular advice. Always try to restart your device if you experience network issues. Restart your smartphone and router.
• Do other sites work? Try to open another webpage. This will help you determine whether your Internet is down or just a single website misbehaves.
• Do other devices work? If you are connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi access point (router), check whether the error also appears on other devices (those connected to the same network). If there is an error on all devices, most likely there is a problem with the access point settings (try restarting your Wi-Fi router), the provider’s DNS server is unavailable, or it is a server-side issue.
• Is the hardware OK? Check the Internet cable or call your ISP.
• Check VPN or proxy. Try connecting to the Internet without proxies or VPN.

How to Fix the error message ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED on Android?

Now let us show you a few more specific things you can try to fix the error on your Android smartphone.

Solution 0. Flush DNS Cache on Android

The target website may have moved to a new IP and the local DNS cache on your device still store the old IP address. In this case, you can flush your local DNS cache.

You can use built-in Chrome tool to clear DNS cache on your Android device:

1. Open Google Chrome browser;
2. Navigate to the following URL:
   Chrome://net-internals
3. Tap on the “Clear host cache” to flush the DNS cache in Chrome and clear cached data;
4. Then you can use the input field to check if your domain name is resolved on Android.
   

Solution 1: Change the DNS Server Settings for Your Internet Connection

By default, your Android device gets its IP (Internet Protocol version 4 or 6) and DNS server settings from your Wi-Fi router or mobile network, which generally hands out IP Addresses to devices on the network. This means that name resolution requests from your device will be sent to the DNS servers which are set by your ISP or access point administrator.

If the specified DNS servers are not available, or filtering certain DNS queries from clients, your device will not be able to resolve certain domain names and you will get an ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error in your browser.

You can use free tool such as Network Info II to view your current DNS settings on an Android device. You can install the app from Google Play.

1. Run the Network Info II app;
2. Go to Network tab;
3. Check the DNS1 and DNS2 values. These are the addresses of the DNS servers that your phone uses.

In our case, the Android device is configured to resolve DNS addresses through our access point (Wi-Fi router) with an IP address 192.168.13.1. If this device is misconfigured, or it is filtering DNS requests, you will not be able to open some websites.

We recommend you change the DNS server settings for your Internet connection. Try setting one of Google’s public DNS servers as preferable DNS.

You can set static DNS settings for your device using new Private DNS Feature (available on Android 9 Pie and newer). Private DNS uses DNS-over-TLS to provide security and privacy for your DNS queries.

In order to enable DNS-over-TLS, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS. Select Private DNS and enter dns.google as the hostname, then tap Save.

Or you can use the following DNS server addresses for CloudFlare DNS. Specify 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com here instead of 1.1.1.1.

On older versions of Android, the only way to change DNS server addresses is to manually set them for each of your network connections (both cellular and Wi-Fi):

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
2. Long press your Wi-Fi network, then go to the menu Modify this network. You might need to open advanced settings.
3. Change “IP settings” to “Static”.
4. Set the static IP for the DNS1—8.8.8.8 and DNS2—8.8.4.4 (on different versions of Android, the path and the names of the menu items may differ).
   
5. Restart the device.
6. Try to open the website in a browser or launch an application.

Solution 2: Try to Turn off Preloading Pages in Chrome Settings

Users often complain that page preloading causes the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error, so we recommend you to turn off this feature temporarily and check if this resolved the problem on your device. Follow the instructions below:

1. Open Chrome and go to Settings. Tap the button with three dots in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. Go to Privacy. Turn off the Preload pages for faster browsing and searching option.
   
3. Restart Chrome and check if the error occurs again.

Solution 3: Issues with Antivirus Software

Whacky antivirus or other security software can cause the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED message. Third-party antivirus can conflict with the default security software on your smartphone. That once happened with the Secure Web app when users tried connecting to intranet sites. If you have some security software installed, try disabling it and check if the error has gone.

Solution 4: Boot Your Android Device in the Safe Mode

Another thing you should try is to boot your Android device in Safe Mode. If the error does not appear in Safe Mode, then most likely the problem is in a recently installed application. Often some cleaners, Internet boosters, or anti-malware apps can cause such an error.

Solution 5. Reset Network Settings on Android

Try to reset all network settings on your Android device to the default ones:

1. Open the Settings app on your smartphone;
2. Go to the System or General management section;
3. Select Reset options;
4. Then click Reset network settings or Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth
5. Tap Reset settings and confirm the reset with your device’s PIN or password.

Solution 6: Restore Your Chrome App to Factory Version

The issues with Chrome that broke Secure Web and cause ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error are widely known. You can fix them as described below, but keep in mind that the problem can repeat again after another Chrome update:

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Find Chrome and open it.
3. Tap on the Disable button. Your device will ask for confirmation Replace this app with the factory version. Confirm the action and wait for uninstalling (keep in mind, that all the data will be removed and it will clear browsing data!).
   
4. Now enable your Chrome again and check if the error appears again.
5. Also, update Chrome to the latest version from the Google Play Store.

Hint. On rooted Android devices, you also need to check the entries in the hosts file. On Android it is located here: /system/etc/hosts. By default, it should only contain the entry:
localhost 127.0.0.1
If there are any other entries in the file, remove them.

Frequently asked questions

What does the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error mean on my Android device?

This error signifies that the device or the app couldn’t convert a DNS address to the correct IP address. Various factors, such as DNS server issues, device settings, your ISP, or even internet connection problems, could cause this error.

What can I do to fix the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error on my Android device?

You can try various strategies like checking for typos in the website address, restarting your device, and confirming if the issue persists on other websites or devices.

How do I flush DNS cache on my Android device?

You can use the built-in Chrome tool to clear the DNS cache. You can do this by navigating to Chrome://net-internals on your Google Chrome browser and tapping on the “Clear host cache” option.

How can I change the DNS Server Settings for my internet connection?

You can alter the DNS server settings through Android’s new Private DNS feature or manually set them for each of your network connections. The specific steps to do this can vary depending on your Android version.

What other specific solutions can I try to resolve this error on my Android device?

You can try turning off page preloading in Chrome settings, disable any third-party antivirus or security software, boot your device in Safe Mode, reset network settings, or restore your Chrome app to the factory version.

Why might I still be encountering the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error even after trying the solutions listed?

This could be due to issues with Chrome updates or problems with the hosts file in rooted Android devices. You might need to update Chrome to its latest version or check the entries in the hosts file to resolve the error.

Can the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error also occur on other devices?

Yes, it can appear on any device that uses the Google Chrome browser or third-party apps from the Google Play Store. This includes devices running on iOS, Windows, and macOS.

Can a VPN or proxy affect the occurrence of ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error?

Yes, using a VPN or proxy could potentially trigger the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error. You might want to try connecting to the internet without them to see if the error persists.

How can I ensure that the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error does not reoccur?

Maintaining your device’s network settings and regularly updating Chrome can help prevent the recurrence of this error. Also, you should refrain from downloading unnecessary third-party antivirus or other security software that might conflict with your device’s default security settings.

Wrapping Up

Fixing the ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED error on Android and other devices can be a challenge to troubleshoot. However, several methods can address this issue, ranging from simple steps such as checking for typos in website addresses and restarting your device to more technical approaches like flushing the DNS cache, altering the DNS server settings, and booting your device in Safe Mode.

Remember, maintaining your device’s network settings and regularly updating Chrome can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering this error. Also, avoid unnecessary third-party antivirus or security software that might conflict with your device’s default security settings.