What does DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN mean?

It means the resolver could not find a valid DNS answer for the domain name. This often happens when the domain is expired, the zone has no record, or nameserver delegation is broken.

Can NXDOMAIN appear right after I add a new record?

Yes. If the name previously did not exist, negative caching can keep returning NXDOMAIN until caches expire across recursive resolvers.

How do I verify whether the domain itself is still active?

Use RDAP to check expiry, hold status, and nameserver delegation, then confirm DNS records with DNS Lookup and Propagation.

DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN Fix Checklist

How to diagnose NXDOMAIN errors by checking DNS records, nameserver delegation, resolver cache, and domain registration state.

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Problem

Your browser shows DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, or the domain appears to not exist at all.

Symptoms

Browsers return NXDOMAIN-style errors instead of loading the site.
Public DNS lookups return status: NXDOMAIN or no usable answer.
Some networks can resolve the domain while others still fail.

Top 3 Causes

The authoritative zone has no usable record - A, AAAA, or CNAME records are missing or were removed.
Nameserver delegation is incorrect - The registrar points to different nameservers than the zone you actually manage.
Negative caching or propagation delay - Recursive resolvers still cache the old NXDOMAIN answer.

Diagnose with DechoNet

DNS Lookup to verify whether A, AAAA, NS, and SOA answers exist at all.
DNS Propagation Check to compare resolver responses and see whether NXDOMAIN is still cached globally.
RDAP / WHOIS to confirm the domain is not expired, on hold, or delegated to the wrong nameservers.

Resolution Checklist

Confirm the registrar nameservers match the authoritative DNS provider you intend to use.
Check that at least one valid A, AAAA, or CNAME record exists in the authoritative zone.
Verify propagation against multiple public resolvers such as 8.8.8.8 and 1.1.1.1.
If the name was previously missing, allow one full negative-cache TTL window before assuming propagation is broken.
If RDAP shows expiry, hold, or deletion-related status, resolve that state with the registrar first.

When to Escalate

Contact the registrar if RDAP shows expiry or hold flags.
Contact the DNS hosting provider if registrar delegation is correct but the authoritative zone still returns no answer.
If NXDOMAIN persists across many resolvers for an extended period, also inspect DNSSEC and zone publication status.