Fixing the “Server IP Address Could Not Be Found” Error

Few things are as frustrating as encountering the “Server IP Address Could Not Be Found” error when trying to access a critical website, whether it’s your personal blog or a client’s e-commerce platform. This common issue, often tied to DNS misconfigurations, network glitches, or browser settings, can disrupt both user access and site management. For website owners on ava.hosting’s high-performance VPS or dedicated servers, proper DNS setup and reliable hosting can minimize these errors. For example, if your ava.hosting-hosted site is inaccessible due to a DNS issue, switching to a public DNS like Google’s can quickly restore connectivity. This guide provides clear, actionable steps to troubleshoot and resolve this error, ensuring seamless browsing and site management with ava.hosting’s robust infrastructure.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Before diving into advanced troubleshooting, ensure your internet connection is active and stable. Restart your router and modem, reconnect to Wi-Fi, or try accessing another website to determine if the issue is network-related.

2. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies

Over time, browsers store cached data and cookies that may interfere with loading web pages. To clear them:

  • In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Delete browsing data

  • Select Cached images and files and Cookies and other site data.

  • Click Clear data, then restart your browser.

3. Restart Your DNS Client Service

A misconfigured or unresponsive DNS client service can cause this error. To restart it:

  • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
  • Scroll down and find DNS Client.
  • Right-click it and choose Restart.

Restart DNS Client (mDNSResponder) on macOS

Open Terminal

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  • dscacheutil -flushcache → clears the local DNS cache.
  • killall -HUP
  • mDNSResponder → restarts the DNS client service.

You’ll be asked for your admin password.

Verify DNS is Working

After restarting, you can test DNS resolution with:

nslookup google.com

4. Flush and Renew DNS Cache

A corrupted DNS cache can prevent a website from loading. Flushing it can help:

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Type the following commands and press Enter after each:
    ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
  3. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

5. Change Your DNS Servers

Switching to a public DNS like Google DNS or Cloudflare can improve connectivity.

  • Open Network and Internet Settings.
  • Navigate to Change adapter options.
  • Right-click your network and select Properties.
  • Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and choose Properties.
  • Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:
    • Preferred DNS Server: 8.8.8.8
    • Alternate DNS Server: 8.8.4.4
  • Click OK and restart your connection.

6. Disable Proxy or VPN Settings

If you’re using a proxy or VPN, it may interfere with your network connection.

  • Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
  • Turn off Automatically detect settings and Use a proxy server.
  • If using a VPN, disconnect and try accessing the site again.

7. Check Your Hosts File

The Windows hosts file can block certain websites. To check it:

  • Open Notepad as administrator.
  • Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
  • Ensure the website you are trying to visit is not listed.
  • If found, delete the entry and save the file.

8. Reset Network Settings

If the issue persists, resetting network settings may resolve it:

  • Open Command Prompt as administrator.
  • Type the following and hit Enter:
    netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
  • Restart your computer and try accessing the website again.

Conclusion

The “Server IP Address Could Not Be Found” error, often caused by DNS or network issues, can disrupt access to critical websites. By systematically checking your connection, clearing caches, or switching DNS servers, you can resolve the issue quickly. For website owners, ava.hosting offers tools to prevent such errors through robust DNS management and uptime monitoring. For instance, switching to Cloudflare DNS on your site can bypass resolution failures, while a VPS upgrade ensures greater control. With these steps you can maintain a seamless, uninterrupted online experience for yourself and your users.