Fix Windows cannot communicate with the device or resource (Primary DNS Server)

Experiencing No Internet access, Unable to Reach Web pages, and running the network Troubleshooter results “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource (Primary DNS Server)”. That means your computer is unable to connect to the primary DNS server set by your internet service provider. Which is caused by various reasons such as your IPv4 or IPv6 settings not configured properly, you running a proxy server, a conflict with the network settings, or when the DNS server you are trying to access is temporarily unavailable and more. Whatever the reason, here we collected the best working solutions to fix can’t connect to DNS server Windows 10.

Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource

• Whenever you face any network and Internet, related problems, the first thing we recommend to restart your PC, including the network devices (Router, Switch, and modem if connected), which fixes any temporary glitch causing the issue.
• Temporarily Disable security software (Antivirus), VPN if installed and configured.
• Perform clean boot to check and make sure any third-party conflict not causing the issue.
• Run free System optimizer like CCleaner to clear junk, temp files, browser cache, and cookies and fix broken registry entries.
• Also, open the command prompt as administrator, type ipconfig /flushdns and enter key. Restart Windows and check if the Internet connection started working.

Change your adapter settings

If the issue persists, let’s try changing the network/WiFi adapter settings:

1. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl and ok
2. The Network Connections screen will open.
3. Locate your current network and right-click on it.
4. Select Properties from the drop-down menu.
5. Go to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Click on the Properties button.
6. Once in the General tab, select Obtain an IP address automatically as well as Obtain DNS server address automatically.
7. Click OK for the changes to take effect.

After changing the settings, restart your PC and check if the issue has been resolved.

Switch to Google Public DNS

If the above option doesn’t resolve the issue, try to use Google public DNS in place of the DNS server address, which most probably fixes the problem. To do this

• Again open the Network connections window using ncpa.cpl command.
• Right-click on the Active network and select Properties.
• Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
• Select Use the following DNS server addresses Radio button.
• Set the Preferred DNS server to 8.8.8.8.
• And Alternet DNS server to 8.8.4.4
• Click OK to save your changes.

Now restart your PC and check your Internet connection.

Reset Winsock and TCP/IP Configuration

If none of the previous methods have helped you, try resetting Winsock and TCP/IP configuration:

1. Open the elevated version of your command prompt.
2. Type the commands below and make sure you press Enter after each:
   Type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
   Type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.
   Type ipconfig /release and press Enter.
   Type ipconfig /renew and press Enter.
   Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
3. After the type exit to close the command prompt, and restart Windows.
4. Open a Web browser and check the Internet connection, which has started working.

Reinstall Network adapter

Again outdated, incompatible network adapter drivers also cause the problem fail to communicate with the device or resource We recommend updating or reinstalling the network driver with the latest version to do this. Since your PC doesn’t have an active internet connection to the online download and update network adapter driver Let’s perform the Reinstall option.

• Press Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc and ok
• Expand Network adapter,
• Right-click on the installed driver and select Uninstall Device.
• Click yes if asked for confirmation
• Restart Windows to completely uninstall the driver
• Most of the time on the next restart, Windows automatically installs the built-in Network driver
• If Windows fails to install, then open Device Manager, Action and select Scan for hardware changes.

Or on a different computer, Download the latest Network Adapter driver for your PC. Copy the same and run the setup.exe to manually install the driver. Restart PC and check Internet connection started working.