Facing Dns_Probe_Finished_Bad_Config Error? Here’s What You Need To Do

You must have encountered a DNS-related error at least once while using your Windows or Mac device. Whenever the dns_probe_finished_bad_config error appears on the screen, you cannot access the internet on your device. This can be quite a frustrating issue as much of our work depends on the internet.

Your web browser becomes inaccessible and you fail to visit any website. If you are facing this error message, then you need not worry. It is quite a frequent network connection issue that you can solve through some simple tricks.

This issue can occur regardless of what web browser you are using. Similarly, it is also not any website-specific. This error indicates that your device has a faulty DNS configuration. 

What Triggers dns_probe_finished_bad_config Error?

Before we proceed to the solutions to resolve this error, it’s crucial to learn and understand the factors responsible for this error. This DNS-related error message pops up when you have any one of the following issues on your device: 

1. This error can occur when someone or something alters the network settings on your router device. Users have reported that many applications often tend to change the router’s network settings.
2. Any defects with the firewall settings of your antivirus can also lead to all sorts of DNS-related errors.
3. Moreover, sometimes a browser plug-in can sabotage and alter your IP address or your DNS address. 

Smart Tips to Resolve dns_probe_finished_bad_config Issue:

Although this DNS-related error is quite frequent, it is not at all unsolvable. Thankfully, there are certain easy troubleshooting tips using which you can easily get rid of this issue. Here are some quick solutions with which you can bypass dns_probe_finished_bad_config error.

Tip 1: Restart your Router and Computer

One of the most effective ways to fix this error is to restart your router device. It doesn’t matter whether you encounter this error on your Android smartphone, Windows or Mac PC. You simply need to give your router a restart. 

All you need to do is to turn off your router, wait for some time and then turn it back on again. Once you are done, make sure to restart the computer or smartphone device as well. After restarting both the devices, connect to your home network with WiFi or LAN. 

Finally, to check whether the error still exists or not, visit any website on your web browser. If the issue persists, then move on to the next solution. 

Tip 2: Get Rid of Temporary Files

It is noteworthy that your browser often tends to save certain temporary files on your device. These saved temporary files help you to improve the browser experience. However, these files can also lead to the dns_probe-finished_bad_config error message. 

Therefore, to get rid of this error message, you must delete the temporary files on your device. Here’s what you need to do:

On Windows:

If you are a Windows user, then you have to follow these instructions to delete the temporary files on your device:

1. At first, press the ‘Windows’ key and the ‘R’ key at the same time. Now, in the resulting Run dialog box, type ‘%temp%’. Make sure to omit the quotation marks. 
2. Alternatively, you can also access the Run dialog box by clicking on the ‘Start’ option and choosing the ‘All Programs’ option. 
3. After you type ‘%temp%’, hit the Enter button. 
4. Now, you will get to see the temporary files listed one by one. After this, delete these files.

On Mac:

For Mac devices, you can delete the temporary files through these simple steps:

1. Begin the process by clicking the Shift+CMD+G keys all at the same time. This will lead to the open a dialog box on your Mac device.
2. After this, type ‘~/Library/Caches’ in the search field. Be careful enough to enter the text without the quotes. 
3. With this, you will find all the temporary files present on your Mac device. 
4. Now, all you need to do is to select all the files and delete them altogether. 

Permanently getting rid of the temporary files can help you to successfully bypass the dns_probe_finished_bad_config error message. If the error message still appears, then you must try other solutions.

Tip 3: Alter the DNS Address of your Network

According to some users, you can resolve this error code simply by modifying the DNS address of your network. Follow these instructions to change the DNS address: 

Step 1

At first, tap on the ‘Start’ button and then search for the ‘Open Network and Sharing Center’ option. Once you find the option, click on it. In case you are using Windows 8 or 10, then you can search ‘Network and Sharing’ to find the necessary settings.

Step 2

Now that you are in the ‘Network Settings’ page, select the ‘Change Adapter Settings’ option. Thereafter, the Network Connection settings will come up on your screen. Simply right-click on this option and choose the ‘Properties’ option. 

Step 3

After this, click on the ‘Internet Protocol Version 4( TCP/IPv4)’ option and go to its Properties. Thereafter, a new dialog box appears where you will be able to alter the DNS server address. Here, change the DNS server address to 8.8.8.8. Moreover, inside the alternate DNS server box, type 8.8.8.4. 

Step 4

Once you have changed the DNS server address accordingly, save the changes that you made. Finally, open your browser and visit any website to check if the error still exists. 

In case the issue remains unsolved, then move on to the next solution. 

Tip 4: Remove Cookies and Cached Data

It is needless to say that web browsers tend to save cookies and cached data to improve your browsing experience. However, sometimes, the cached data might get corrupt leading to many DNS-related issues. Therefore, to bypass this error message, you have to clear out the cookies and the cached data from your device. Here’s how you can do it:

1. First, open your web browser and then click on the ‘Settings’ option. 
2. Now, search for the ‘Browsing data’ or ‘History’ option and click on it. In case you are using Chrome, Firefox or the Opera browser, you have to click on the ‘Browsing data’ option.
3. After this, delete the cookies and the cached data from the list. 

After clearing out the cached data and cookies, make sure to check if the error message still appears on the screen. 

Tip 5: Flush the DNS 

So, you have tried all the above solutions but failed to successfully remove the dns_probe_finished_bad_config error message. In such a situation, you must try flushing the DNS and then renew your IP address. When you go for DNS flushing, the existing DNS gets deleted. Thereby, DNS flushing enables you to rectify any defects or faults in the already existing DNS settings. 

To successfully flush DNS, you must carefully go through the following steps: 

Step 1

Begin by pressing the ‘Windows’ key and the ‘R’ key together. This will allow the Run dialog box to come up on your screen. Alternatively, you can also open the Run dialog box by clicking on the ‘Start’ option and then choosing ‘All Programs’. 

Step 2

When the Run dialog box appears, type ‘cmd’ and hit the Enter button. Now, the Command Promot window will come up. In this window, you have to type the following commands: 

1. netshintip reset
2. netshwinsock reset
3. ipconfig /flushdns
4. ipconfig /renew

Do press the Enter button after typing each of the commands in the Command Prompt.

Step 3

After this, make sure to restart the computer device. Now, launch the web browser and try to visit any of your favorite websites. The error message will hopefully not appear again. 

Wrapping Up

To sum up, the internet is a highly useful tool for much of our professional and personal work. If you face any issue with the DNS, you won’t be able to access the web browser or the internet. Follow the above-mentioned solutions if you are facing a dns_probe_finished_bad_config error. These solutions are not only simple but also proven to be highly effective.