DNS not resolving: NXDOMAIN

Also searched as: nxdomain

Updated 9 October 2026

Short answer

NXDOMAIN is DNS's way of saying "that name does not exist", not "it's down" or "it's slow". Either the address is mistyped, the domain has expired or was never registered, there's no record for that particular subdomain (such as www or app), or the domain's nameservers aren't answering for it properly. Look up the exact name in public DNS to see which.

What's the problem

The browser shows DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, "server IP address could not be found", or an app fails with ENOTFOUND or "Name or service not known".

Why it happens

  • A typo in the address or in a configuration file.
  • The domain expired or isn't registered.
  • No record for that subdomain, for example www.example.com has no record even though example.com does.
  • Nameservers moved, and the new DNS provider doesn't have your records.
  • A local cache still holding an old "doesn't exist" answer after you fixed it.

How to fix it

  1. Check the spelling of the exact name that fails.
  2. Look it up in public DNS (for example with an online DNS checker or nslookup) to confirm it's NXDOMAIN for everyone, not just you.
  3. Check the domain is registered and not expired.
  4. Add the missing record for that subdomain at your DNS provider.
  5. If nameservers changed, make sure all your records exist at the new provider.
  6. Clear local caches (restart the browser, or flush your computer's DNS cache) after fixing.

What Preventionlabs checks

One click runs the full report on your domain. For this problem it shows your DNS: nameservers, addresses, DNSSEC, and records pointing at services that no longer exist; your domain's registration and expiry date; whether your site loads, how fast, and where its redirects go. With Cloudflare connected, it also shows DNS changes in the last 7 days.

Run your free report

Your first report is free, no card needed. Then A$50 a month, up to 10 domains. Read-only: it never changes anything.

Sources

  1. IETF: NXDOMAIN: There Really Is Nothing Underneathstandard (RFC 8020)This document states clearly that when a DNS resolver receives a response with a response code of NXDOMAIN, it means that the domain name which is thus denied AND ALL THE NAMES UNDER IT do not exist.

Related

Domain not working Check three things in order: the domain hasn't expired, its nameservers are the ones you expect, and its DNS records point at your current host. DNS error A DNS error means the name couldn't be turned into an address. Check whether it fails everywhere or only on your network, then check the domain's records. Nameserver error The nameservers listed for your domain aren't answering correctly. Usually they don't match your DNS provider, or the provider doesn't have your domain set up. DNS propagation: how long it takes A record change reaches everyone within its TTL, often minutes to hours. A nameserver change can take up to 24 hours. Here's how to check and speed it up.
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