Some websites load fine, but others won't open at all on your Windows PC. This selective loading issue is almost always a DNS problem - here's how to fix it.

What Are DNS Issues and Why Do They Affect Only Some Sites?

You can visit Google and Facebook just fine, but when you try to access your bank's website or a specific online service, you get errors like "This site can't be reached" or "DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN." Other devices on your network can reach these sites without any problem.

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone book - it translates website names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers understand. When DNS isn't working properly, your computer can't find certain websites, even though your internet connection is fine. The selectiveness happens because different DNS servers cache different information, and corrupted or outdated cache entries affect specific sites.

Quick Fix: Flush Your DNS Cache

The fastest solution is to clear Windows' DNS cache, which often contains stale or corrupted entries:

Press Windows key + X and select "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)"
Type this command and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
Wait for the "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache" message
Try accessing the problematic websites again

This clears the local cache, forcing Windows to get fresh DNS information. If sites still won't load, continue to the more comprehensive solutions below.

🔧Detailed Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1: Change to Google or Cloudflare DNS Servers

Your ISP's DNS servers might be unreliable or missing entries for certain websites. Using public DNS servers often fixes this:

Go to Settings > Network & Internet
Click "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet" (whichever you're using)
Click on your active connection
Scroll down and click "Edit" next to "DNS server assignment"
Change from "Automatic (DHCP)" to "Manual"
Turn on "IPv4"
Enter one of these DNS server combinations:
Google DNS:
Preferred: 8.8.8.8
Alternate: 8.8.4.4

Cloudflare DNS (faster):
Preferred: 1.1.1.1
Alternate: 1.0.0.1
Click Save
Restart your browser and test the sites

Solution 2: Clear Browser DNS Cache

Browsers like Chrome and Edge maintain their own separate DNS cache:

For Chrome or Edge:

Open your browser
Type in the address bar: chrome://net-internals/#dns (or edge://net-internals/#dns)
Click "Clear host cache"
Navigate to chrome://net-internals/#sockets
Click "Flush socket pools"
Close and reopen your browser

For Firefox:

Type about:networking#dns in the address bar
Click "Clear DNS Cache"
Restart Firefox

Solution 3: Reset TCP/IP and Winsock

Corrupted network stack settings can cause DNS resolution failures:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Run these commands in order, pressing Enter after each:
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
Restart your computer
Test your connection to the problematic sites

Solution 4: Disable IPv6 (Temporary Test)

Sometimes IPv6 DNS configuration causes issues with certain websites:

Press Windows key + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter
Right-click your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
Select "Properties"
Uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"
Click OK
Restart your computer
Test if the sites now load

If this fixes the issue, you can either leave IPv6 disabled or configure proper IPv6 DNS servers in your network settings.

Solution 5: Check Hosts File for Blocks

Malware or old software can modify your hosts file to block specific websites:

Press Windows key + R, type notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts, and press Enter
If prompted for administrator permission, click Yes
Look through the file for any lines containing the websites you can't access
If you find entries for those sites, delete those entire lines
Click File > Save
Restart your browser and test

A normal hosts file should only have a few lines starting with # (comments) and one line with "127.0.0.1 localhost".

If That Didn't Work

If you're still experiencing DNS problems, try these additional steps:

Restart Your Router: Unplug it for 30 seconds to clear its DNS cache too
Disable VPN: If you use a VPN, disconnect it - VPN DNS settings sometimes conflict
Check Antivirus Settings: Some security software filters DNS requests - try temporarily disabling it
Run Network Troubleshooter: Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Network and Internet
Update Network Drivers: In Device Manager, update your network adapter drivers
Check for Malware: Run a full scan with Windows Defender or your antivirus - malware can manipulate DNS

📞When to Call a Professional

While most DNS issues can be fixed with the steps above, sometimes you need expert help:

DNS problems persist after trying all solutions and testing on multiple browsers
You suspect malware is manipulating your DNS settings
Multiple computers on your network have the same issues (might be a router problem)
You need to configure custom DNS for business or security requirements
You're experiencing other network problems alongside DNS issues

A professional can perform deeper network diagnostics, check for router configuration issues, and ensure your system is free from malware affecting network operations.

Persistent Network Problems?

If DNS issues keep coming back or you're dealing with multiple network problems, we can diagnose the root cause and implement a permanent solution - whether it's on your PC, router, or network configuration.

Expert network troubleshooting in Louisville and surrounding areas.

How to Fix DNS Issues Causing Some Sites Not to Load