DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN: where to start
DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN means a DNS lookup returned a result saying the requested name does not exist. It can involve a mistyped address, missing configuration or a local resolution problem. It does not by itself prove your website files have been deleted or that your domain is available to buy.
Before you start
- Copy the exact public address from a trusted business record and compare its spelling carefully.
- Note whether the failure affects the main domain, www or another subdomain.
- Find who controls your domain registration and DNS; these may be different providers from your website host.
What to do
Rule out an incorrect address
Type the known address into the browser’s address bar rather than following an unfamiliar email link. Check the ending and any extra characters. If www works but the main domain does not, keep both results: they are separate names and the distinction matters to the administrator.
Compare ordinary connections
Try the same public address once on your own Wi-Fi and mobile data, recording the time and error on each. Do not change the router, install a repair utility or edit network settings at this stage. Different results help distinguish local resolution from a wider issue without disrupting other business systems.
Ask for a record and account check
Ask the responsible administrator to confirm the registration is active, the authoritative nameservers are the intended ones and the required records exist. Provide the history of any recent migration. The review should protect existing email records and identify the actual discrepancy before any correction is approved.
Agree how recovery will be checked
If a record is corrected, ask when to test again and what caching behaviour the provider expects. Keep the old and new observations so the administrator can compare them. Confirm the proper website and certificate appear afterwards, then assess email independently where the same change could have affected it.
What to check
- The exact failing hostname has been identified.
- The owner has confirmed the intended provider and registration status.
- The final address resolves to the expected site, with email checked separately if relevant.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.