Does this sound familiar? It’s the start of a new day. You’ve just had your morning coffee and you’re ready to start browsing the web on your Mac. You open up your Macbook with a sense of anticipation. You type in your favorite web address, hit enter, and a white page pops up displaying the following error: “Dns_probe_finished_bad_config”.
Your head drops in disgust and you roll your eyes as you begin the painstaking task of fixing this annoying problem. You almost feel like marching back to the kitchen for another cup, but you decide to stick it out and get your internet up and running again.
This is a pretty common error, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating! Thankfully, there are a number of quick, easy steps you can take to solve the problem.
HOW TO FIX DNS PROBE FINISHED BAD CONFIG ERROR
Below we will list the possible causes, before taking you step-by-step through the simple process to resolve this issue. After you have read this article and applied the steps, your Mac will be firing on all cylinders again!
DNS PROBE BAD CONFIG SOLUTIONS
You might be accessing a non-responsive DNS server or using an invalid DNS configuration. A DNS server converts a web address, for example, protractor.net, to a numerical IP address, such as 192.171.204.40. You can connect to an IP address without any delay because the need for DNS resolution is avoided. Here are two specific reasons why you might be getting this error:
1. You have specified two or more DNS servers in the Network Preference section, but the first server is incorrect or not responding. In this case, your browser is slow because the browser is trying to connect to the first DNS, which is unresponsive.
2. You have not specified a DNS server, and automatic DNS discovery is not provided on your network. In this case, there is simply no DNS server for your browser to connect to so your website is unable to load.
Ok, enough about what might be causing the problem – we want it fixed! Luckily for us, it’s a pretty straightforward process and you can get your Mac’s browser up and running again quicker than you can say “DNS Probe Finished Bad Config” Without further ado, here is how to get the problem sorted.
CHANGE DNS SERVERS
Changing or even adding new DNS servers will allow us to solve the problem and get the internet connection up and running properly again. Just follow the process outlined below.
To change your DNS servers, follow these seven simple steps:
1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences, then click Network
2. Select the interface that you’re using to connect to the Internet, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi
3. Click the Advanced button
4. Click the DNS tab
5. Locate the DNS Servers section, then click the Add (+) or Remove (-) button to add or remove the IP address of a DNS server.
6. For IPv4 use DNS: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4
7. Click Apply and OK.
Note: You may need to close any open windows for the changes to take effect.
If you have correctly followed the steps outlined above, the issue should be solved and you should no longer be getting that annoying error message when you try to browse the web. Instead, your websites should load in quick time and your day will be back on track!
In addition, you can check with your network administrator or Internet Service Provider to make sure your DNS information is correct. If you only have one DNS address, you can request a second one to use if/when the first one becomes non-responsive. If you are able to add a second DNS, this may reduce the likelihood of the problem occurring again, by providing a backup DNS in case the first one becomes unresponsive.
CONCLUSION
If for some reason this didn’t solve the issue and you’re still receiving the error, you may need to contact Apple Mac Support or your Internet Service Provider directly for further information. If this article was helpful or if you have any other questions, let us know if the comments section below. Thanks for reading and happy surfing!
