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OverviewCommon CausesSigns You May SeeHow to ResolveVerify DNS RecordsConfirm NameserversAllow DNS PropagationClear Local DNS CacheCheck Global DNS PropagationWhen to Contact Support
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Cause: DNS Lookup Failure

Edited

Overview

A DNS Lookup Failure occurs when a domain cannot be resolved to an IP address. This commonly happens during DNS propagation or when DNS records are missing, reset, or misconfigured.

DNS-related issues can cause websites to appear unreachable, load inconsistently, or return DNS errors across different locations.

Note: This is not a BionicWP hosting issue.

Common Causes

  • Recent DNS record updates (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.)

  • Nameserver (NS) changes

  • DNS propagation still in progress

  • High TTL (Time-To-Live) values delaying updates

  • ISP-level DNS caching

  • DNS records reset after domain renewal

  • Domain expiration or grace/hold period

  • DNS hosting not renewed with the domain

  • Registrar or provider purging DNS entries after expiration

Signs You May See

  • Website not loading

  • “DNS not found” or NXDOMAIN errors

  • DNS lookups returning no records

  • Site loads in some locations but not others

  • Monitoring alerts reporting DNS Lookup Failure

How to Resolve

Verify DNS Records

  • Confirm required records exist:

    • A-record (website)

    • CNAME (if applicable)

    • MX records (email)

    • Any required TXT records

  • Re-add any missing or deleted records

Confirm Nameservers

  • Ensure the domain is using the correct nameservers

  • Some registrars automatically revert to default nameservers after renewal

Allow DNS Propagation

  • DNS updates can take 15 minutes to 24–48 hours depending on TTL

  • Higher TTL values result in slower propagation

Clear Local DNS Cache

  • Windows: ipconfig /flushdns

  • macOS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

  • Clear browser cache or try incognito mode

  • Test from a different network or mobile data

Check Global DNS Propagation

  • Use online DNS tools to verify resolution from multiple locations

  • Confirm records are visible globally and not limited to one region

When to Contact Support

Contact support if:

  • DNS records appear missing and you cannot locate previous settings

  • You need help reconstructing required DNS records

Contact your domain registrar if:

  • More than 24–48 hours have passed and the domain still does not resolve

  • The domain is expired or in a hold/grace period

  • DNS hosting was not renewed with the domain

Provide the domain name and any recent DNS or renewal changes to speed up resolution.

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