How to Fix the DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG Error
DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG means Chrome could not look up the site’s address because your DNS settings look wrong. The fault is almost always on your device or network, not the website, so a few local checks clear it fast.
What the error means
Your browser tried to match the site name to an IP address and the DNS step failed because the settings or cached records look invalid. “Bad config” points at your device or router – a stale cache, a wrong DNS server, or a network glitch – rather than the site itself.
Quick fixes to try first
- Restart your router and device to clear temporary network faults.
- Flush your DNS cache to drop invalid records.
- Renew your network address. On Windows run
ipconfig /releasethenipconfig /renew. - Switch to a public DNS server – Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8). See what a public DNS server is.
- Turn off any VPN or proxy and try again.
If it still fails
Test the site on another device or on mobile data. If it loads elsewhere, the problem is your first device or network – reset its network settings. If a single domain fails everywhere, the issue may be that domain’s DNS; a related message is DNS server not responding, and ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED covers the lookup side.
On JetHost hosting
This error is almost always local, but if a domain you host with us won’t resolve for anyone, open a ticket and we’ll check the DNS zone. For managing records yourself, see how to manage DNS records at JetHost.
JetHost Experts Tip
Flush the DNS cache and switch to 1.1.1.1 in one go. That single pair of steps clears the large majority of “bad config” errors without touching anything else.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is a DNS settings or cache problem, not hardware. Flushing the cache and switching DNS server fixes most cases.
Chrome names the error this way, but the underlying DNS issue can affect other browsers too. The fixes are the same across all of them.
No. Cloudflare and Google run fast, reliable resolvers. Many people find pages load quicker after switching.
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Need more help?
Still blocked by DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG for a domain you host with us? Open a ticket through Client Area → Support Tickets and we’ll check the DNS zone.
