Windows cannot communicate with the device or resource (primary DNS server)

The error “Windows cannot communicate with the device or resource (primary DNS server)” occurs when the computer cannot connect to the primary DNS server configured by your Internet service provider. This error message appears in the network diagnostic that runs when you cannot connect to the Internet.

This error message can be due to several reasons, as the IPv4 or IPv6 configuration is not configured correctly, you are running a proxy server, there is a conflict with your network settings or the DNS server you are trying to access. temporarily unavailable. We are going to review all the work solutions present, starting with the simplest and moving towards more complex solutions.

Note: try disabling proxy servers before starting with the solutions listed here. What's more, if you are using restricted internet in any institution (college, college, etc.), it is better to follow the guidelines they give you, as they have their own internet setup compared to the unrestricted internet we use in our homes.

Solution 1: change IPv4 and IPv6 settings

Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is a protocol for use in packet-switched link-layer networks (for example, Ethernet). IPv4 provides an addressing capacity of approximately 4,3 billion addresses. Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) it is more advanced and has better features compared to IPv4. Has the ability to provide an infinite number of addresses.

We will try to change your computer settings and see if this solves the problem. This is the most common solution to solve this problem and, mostly, resolve the error message instantly.

1. Press Windows + R, type »control panel» in the dialog box and press Enter.

2. Once in the control panel, click on the subtitle »Network and Internet«.

1. Please select “Center network and sharing” in the next window where you are.

1. Here you will find the network you are connected to. Click on the network present in front of »Connections» as shown in the following screenshot.

1. Now click on »Properties» present at the bottom of the small window that appears.

1. Double click on »Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4)«. Set both options to »Obtain an IP address automatically» and »Obtain DNS server address automatically«.

1. Press OK to save changes. Now click on »Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP / IPv6)»Perform the same steps as mentioned in the previous step.

2. Press OK to save changes and exit. Now check if you can connect to the internet properly.

Solution 2: use command prompt to reset connection settings

We can try another solution that forces your computer to delete the IP and DNS settings. These settings may be corrupted or not configured as expected. We can try restarting them and see if this fixed the problem. Please note that your administrator has access to follow this solution.

1. Press Windows + R, scribe “symbol of the system” in the dialog, right-click the application and click “Execute as an administrator”.

2. Once on the elevated command line, run the following commands one by one.

ipconfig / flushdns

ipconfig / registerdns

ipconfig / release

ipconfig / renovate

1. Close the command line after running the workarounds and restart your computer. Now check if the problem in question has been resolved.

Solution 3: reinicie TCP / IP

If you get this error message, your Internet Protocol or TCP may / IP are corrupted. TCP / IP is one of the main components required by the Windows operating system to successfully connect to the Internet. In this situation, even if you are physically connected to the internet or the link works, will not be able to send the packages. We will try to restart TCP / IP of your computer and we will see if it works.

We can achieve our goal by downloading a tool from Microsoft and running it on the affected computer.. Please note that you will need another device with an active internet connection.

1. Head to the official Microsoft website and download the utility.

1. Double-click the downloaded file, click on »Next» and follow the instructions on the screen.

Alternatively, You can perform the same function by opening an elevated command line and executing the command »netsh int ip reset«. You can also define any specific path for the log file to be created by running »netsh int ip reset c: resetlog.txt«. Remember to restart your computer after performing this operation and check if the problem in question has been resolved.

Solution 4: reset your network device drivers

The possibility that you have the wrong drivers installed is almost ignored when this error occurs. Windows automatically updates all driver updates using Windows Update. The current driver installed on the computer may not be compatible or appropriate for the computer. It is also possible that it is damaged. We can try rolling back the drivers and see if this solves the problem.

1. Press Windows + R, type »devmgmt. msc »and hit Enter.

2. Once in Device Manager, expand network adapters and locate your hardware. Right-click and select »Uninstall«.

1. Windows may display a UAC confirming your actions. Press Yes and continue. After uninstalling the driver, right-click on any empty space and select »Scan for hardware changes«. Now Windows will automatically detect your hardware and install the default drivers. Restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

If the rollback drivers don't work, we can try to install the latest drivers. You should go to the manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers in an accessible location. Make sure to download the drivers according to your system specifications.

1. Open device manager, right-click on your Ethernet hardware and select »Update Driver Software«.

2. Select the second options »Search my computer for driver software«. Locate the driver you downloaded and install it accordingly. Restart your computer and check if the adapters work as expected.

Solution 5: reboot the modem and router

Your internet router may be saved with incorrect settings. Or that some recent configuration has caused it to not work correctly. Of course, you should first try to restart the router and check, but if that doesn't work, we can try restarting the router (hard reset) manually and see if our situation improves.

1. Take your router and flip it so that all ports are in front of you.

2. Look for any button labeled »reset» on its back. Most routers do not have these buttons, so don't accidentally reset them to factory settings, instead, you should use something thin like a pin to push into the hole that says “restore”.

1. Restart the router and reconnect the computer to the Wi-Fi network. Launch Steam again and see if the problem is fixed.

Note: It should be noted that after manually restarting the router, will not have any SSID (password) and your Wi-Fi name will be set as the default (something like TPlink121). What's more, any internet settings that your internet provider has set will be removed. Do not use this method unless you know those settings or your router works as a plug and play. It can be very painful to call the provider and ask for guidance to get the Internet working again, so always keep this factor in mind. All connected devices will be disconnected and you will have to reconnect all devices one by one.

Solution 6: Google DNS Settings

If all the above methods don't work, we can try to change your DNS manually. We will use Google DNS and verify if the connection problem disappears. If that is not the case, you can revert the changes using the same method we implemented them.

1. Navigate to the Properties of your Internet hardware using the same guidelines given in the solution 1.

1. Double click on »Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4)»So that we can change the DNS server.

1. Click »Use the following DNS server addresses:»To make the following dialogs editable. Now set the values ​​as follows:

Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8

Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

1. Press OK to save changes and exit. Now restart your computer and see if this solved your problem.

Note: You can also use this method to configure other DNS servers provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Ask them to give you a list of the DNS servers that have been deployed on the network and try to enter them accordingly. What's more, if none of the solutions works, there may be a problem with the network you are using. Contact your network administrator or ISP.