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The “DNS server not responding” error means your device could not resolve a domain name through DNS. It does not, by itself, mean WordPress is broken. The cause may be on your device or network, with the domain or its DNS settings, or at the hosting provider. Start by checking whether the problem follows one network or happens everywhere; then verify the domain’s status, who manages its DNS, and whether its website records match your host’s instructions.

What the error means—and what it does not

DNS translates a domain name into the information a browser needs to reach a service. WordPress runs after the browser has reached the server. If the browser cannot resolve the domain, the failure occurs before the WordPress application loads; a plugin or theme is therefore not the first thing to troubleshoot. WordPress documents application failures such as database connection errors separately from domain and DNS configuration issues (WordPress common errors).

The message does not identify a single cause. It could involve a local network or resolver, the domain’s status or nameserver delegation, a DNS record, or the hosting provider. A DNS resolution error is also different from a WordPress page that loads but reports a database error or times out.

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First, determine where the failure occurs

Try another network

Open the site using mobile data or another Wi-Fi network. WordPress.com recommends this check when a site appears to be down (Why is my WordPress.com site down?). If it works on another network, focus first on the original network or the resolver configured on it. If the same domain fails across networks, prioritize the domain, its DNS configuration, and the host. This comparison narrows the possibilities but does not prove the precise cause.

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Note what changed

Think back to any recent nameserver, A-record, or CNAME changes, a domain transfer, or a move to a new host. A recent change makes the domain’s delegation and records especially important to verify. For a WordPress.com domain, check the domain area of the Hosting Dashboard for its displayed status or error guidance. For a domain registered elsewhere, check its status with the registrar. WordPress.com lists domain and DNS configuration errors among causes of custom-domain problems (Troubleshoot WordPress.com domain name errors).

Find the provider that controls the live DNS records

Before editing anything, identify the domain’s current nameservers and which provider manages the DNS zone. Nameservers indicate where the domain’s DNS is hosted and managed, as WordPress.com explains in its nameserver guidance. That provider might be the registrar, WordPress.com, your hosting company, or a separate DNS service.

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Edit records at the authoritative DNS provider—the provider whose nameservers are in use—not automatically at the company where WordPress is installed or where the domain was purchased. If a domain uses a third-party DNS provider’s nameservers, changing records in the registrar’s panel may not affect the live zone.

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Check the website records against your host’s instructions

At the authoritative DNS provider, compare the website’s relevant records with the exact values supplied by your current host. The required targets depend on the host and setup, so there is no universal A-record, CNAME, or nameserver value to apply. WordPress.com notes that A records can point a domain to a host when that host does not use nameservers (Manage DNS Records for a WordPress.com Domain).

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  • Save or export the existing DNS configuration before making changes.
  • Change only the records your host says are needed; do not guess an IP address or replace the whole DNS zone.
  • Keep in mind that DNS records can support email and other services as well as the website. Changing nameservers or removing existing records without preserving the setup can disrupt those services.

WordPress.com’s domain connection guidance covers connecting an existing domain; follow the instructions for your specific provider and configuration rather than copying a target intended for another setup.

Allow time for changes to take effect, then verify

After an intentional DNS change, check the provider’s records and the domain’s nameserver status rather than making repeated speculative edits. WordPress.com says DNS changes can take up to 72 hours to take effect across the internet (Manage DNS Records for a WordPress.com Domain, guidance last reviewed August 19, 2026). This is an estimate, not a guarantee that every change takes that long.

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If the expected change window passes and the domain still does not resolve, ask the registrar or DNS provider to check domain status, delegation, and zone records. Ask the host to confirm the correct website targets and whether there is a server-side issue.

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If WordPress reports a loopback or scheduled-task failure

A message from WordPress Site Health about a loopback request or scheduled task is not the same as a visitor’s browser being unable to resolve your site. A loopback is a request WordPress makes back to its own site. Follow WordPress’s normal plugin and theme troubleshooting guidance first; if the request still fails, its loopback documentation recommends contacting the host about DNS, firewall, SSL, or HTTP-authentication settings that may block the request.

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