How to Fix “DNS Address Could Not Be Found” on Android (4+ easy)

Many Android users encounter the frustrating “DNS could not be found” or it is directly the reaons why site can’t be reached in Android error when trying to access websites or use internet-dependent apps. This tutorial aims to help you resolve this widespread networking issue.

When your Android device can’t resolve DNS (Domain Name System) queries, it fails to translate domain names into IP addresses, effectively cutting off internet access for affected apps and services. This problem can occur even when your device shows it’s connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data

When I encountered the “DNS address could not be found” error on my Android device, I tried several advanced troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. In my experience, these methods can help you address deeper and more complex problems causing this error.

How I Fixed This site can’t be reached in Android

Clear browsing history: Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of your browser.
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data.
Select “Browsing history” and “Cached images and files.”
Tap on “Clear data” and wait for the process to complete.

Use secure DNS: Tap on the three vertical dots at the top right corner of your browser.
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Use secure DNS.
Select “Choose another provider” and tap on the “Customize” dropdown.
Choose “OpenDNS” from the list.

Choose network manually: Go to your phone’s Settings > SIM card and mobile networks.
Choose your service provider under the “Mobile network” option.
Tap on “Mobile networks” and turn off the “Automatically select network” toggle switch.
Tap on “Next” when the “Choose network manually” prompt appears.
Tap on “OK” for a couple more prompts and select your desired network.
Use a VPN: Install a reliable VPN app like Turbo VPN from the Google Play Store.
Open the app and tap on the carrot icon to connect to a server location.
Tap on “OK” when the connection request prompt appears.
Let the VPN connect you to the site you were unable to reach

If none of these fixes work, you may need to try additional troubleshooting steps or contact your internet service provider for further assistance.

Advanced Troubleshooting Steps

1. Change DNS Settings for Mobile Data

First, I changed my DNS settings for mobile data using a reliable DNS-changing app like DNS Changer or 1.1.1.1 by Cloudflare. These apps create a VPN tunnel to modify DNS settings for mobile networks, which worked well in my case.

2. Update Network Configuration

Next, I updated my network configuration.

• Reset Network Settings:
  • Go to Settings > System > Reset options > Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth.
  • This reset all my network settings, including Wi-Fi passwords, mobile settings, and Bluetooth connections.

• Check APN Settings:
  • Ensure my Access Point Name (APN) settings were correctly configured for my carrier.

3. Advanced Wi-Fi Configuration

For advanced Wi-Fi configuration, I assigned a static IP address.

1. Go to Settings > Connections > Wi-Fi.
2. Long-press on the connected network and select Modify network.
3. In the Advanced options, change the IP settings to Static.
4. Assign an IP address manually within the range of my router, set the Gateway to the router’s IP, and use Google’s DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).
5. If you have access to your router settings, I recommend increasing the DHCP lease time to ensure stable connections.

Comment: “on your phone you may change the dns settings as follows: go to settings -> wlan, long tap the matching network and select ‘change network’. scroll down and mark ‘advanced option’. change the ip setting to ‘static’, scroll down and add your prefered dns servers.” – Reddit

4. Use Alternative DNS Services

I also suggest using alternative DNS services apart from Google’s DNS. In my case, I tried:

• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
• OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
• Quad9: 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112

5. Advanced System Adjustments

If your device is rooted, you can make advanced system adjustments by directly editing the resolv.conf file to permanently set custom DNS servers. Use a file manager with root access to navigate to /etc/ and edit resolv.conf, adding your preferred DNS servers in the format nameserver 8.8.8.8.

6. Inspect Installed Apps

I also inspected my installed apps to identify any conflicting ones, especially VPNs and security apps that could alter DNS settings. I uninstalled or disabled these apps temporarily to check if they were causing the issue. Additionally, I used a reputable mobile security app to scan for and remove any malware that could be altering my DNS settings.

7. Network Analysis Tools

Network analysis tools like PingTools or Net Analyzer helped me diagnose network issues, including DNS problems. These tools provided detailed insights into my network performance and configuration. For more advanced analysis, I used Wireshark (which requires rooting) to capture and analyze network packets and identify where DNS requests were failing.

8. Router and ISP-Specific Solutions

I also checked for router and ISP-specific solutions.

• Update Router Firmware:
  • Ensure my router firmware was up-to-date.
• Contact ISP:
  • Contact my ISP to check for any known DNS issues or restrictions. Some ISPs offer alternative DNS servers for their customers, so it’s worth asking.

9. Proxy and VPN Configurations

Regarding proxy and VPN configurations:

• Check Proxy Settings:
  • Ensure my proxy settings were set to None unless I needed to use a specific proxy server.
• Configure VPN Correctly:
  • When using a VPN, ensure it was configured correctly and consider switching to a different VPN provider to see if it resolved the DNS issue.

10. System-Wide DNS Management

For system-wide DNS management, I installed DNS Over HTTPS (DoH) apps like Intra or Nebulo, which encrypt DNS queries and can circumvent DNS issues caused by ISPs or other local network restrictions.

11. Developer Options and Debugging

Lastly, I used developer options and debugging tools.

• Enable DNS Over TLS:
  • Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS and select a secure DNS provider’s hostname, such as dns.google for Google or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com for Cloudflare.
• Use ADB Commands:

Use ADB commands to debug network configuration and DNS settings:

adb shell
dumpsys netd

By following these advanced steps, I successfully addressed the “DNS address could not be found” error on my Android device. I hope my experience and recommendations help you resolve this issue on your device as well.

Conclusion

The “DNS address could not be found” error can be frustrating, but hopefully, these troubleshooting steps helped you get back online. Remember, restarting your devices, checking your connection, and flushing the DNS cache are often all you need to fix the problem.