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Full Fix: Nslookup works but ping fails on Windows 10/11
7 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
In this article, we’re going to discuss instances when thenslookupcommand works onWindows 10, butpingfails.
In case you’re not familiar, these are twocommandsthat advanced users might useto obtain a domain name or IP address details, and today we’re going to show you how to fix this issue.
Similar problems reported by users are:
How do I fix ping failures on Windows 10?
1. Check your antivirus
According to users, ifnslookupworks butpingfails, the problem might be related to your antivirus.
Several users reported issues with Kaspersky and its firewall feature. The solution would be to disable this tool and check if that solves the issue.
Of course, the problem doesn’t have to be related only to Kaspersky, but to other antivirus tools as well.
Additionally, in some instances, the only way to fix this problem might be to remove your antivirus.
If the issue doesn’t appear afterward, perhaps you should consider switching to a differentantivirus solutionbest suited to work in silent mode.
Various leading antivirus systems now integrate a game mode that suspends notifications and scans when in full-screen mode.
The most practical solution is to keep your system secure while enabling the antivirus’s routine actions to perform as usual, but you need it to function silently.
2. Use Command Prompt
After running thesecommands, check if the problem is resolved.
3. Update your drivers
Another possibility is that the issue is related to yourdrivers, which might be outdated.
Of course, you can fix the issue simply by downloading the latest drivers and installing them.
To do that, you just need to visit your network adapter’s website and download the latest drivers for your model. After you download and install the latest drivers, the problem should be resolved.
If this method seems a bit complicated to you, perhaps you should consider using third-party tools such asOutbyte Driver Updaterand update your drivers with just a single click.
The tool will scan your system as soon as you launch it, and then offer a list of all vulnerable drivers that need updating, plus recommended software.
You can safely pick from the respective list, as the tools are compatible with your device.
4. Restart the DNS Client service
If you can’t stop the service, the problem is the dependent services.DNSClient service depends on certain services, and until those services are stopped, you won’t be able to stop theDNSClient service.
To find out on which servicesDNSClient depends on, do the following:
This might be a bit complicated solution, especially if you need to disable depending services, but as long as you carefully follow the instructions, you should be able to manage.
5. Add a dot after the searched domain
This is an unusual workaround, but it worked for some users. If nslookup works but ping fails, perhaps you can fix the problem simply by adding a dot after the domain.
For example, if you previously usedping windowsreportcommand, try usingping windowsreport.commandand check if that works.
6. Restart the DNS Cache service
As we previously mentioned, sometimes these kinds of issues can occur due to certain services. Most likely, theDNSCache service is the culprit, and in order to fix it, you just need to restart it.
To do this quickly, just follow these steps:
After running these twocommands, theDNSCache service will restart and the problem should be resolved.
7. Change the IPv4 settings
After doing that, the problem should be resolved and everything will start working again.
8. Switch to Google DNS
After doing that, check if the problem is still there. Bear in mind that switching to the Google DNS might slow down yourInternet connectiona bit.
9. Check your hosts file
If the problem is still there, the issue can be your hosts’ file. If nslookup works but ping fails, it’s possible that the hosts’ file was edited by malware or another application, and that can cause this and similar problems to appear.
To fix the problem, it’s advised to check this file and make sure that everything is in order. Basically, if you see the website you’re trying to ping on the list, it means that the hosts’ files were modified.
Simply remove the entries pointing to the website you’re trying to ping and you’re good to go. If you don’t know how to do that, you can alwaysreset the hosts’ fileand that should fix the problem.
10. Disable IPv6
In case you’re not familiar, there are two types ofIP addresses,IPv4andIPv6. The latter is the newer standard, but if you aren’t specifically usingIPv6, perhaps you can disable this feature.
As it turns out, several users reported that the ping issues were related toIPv6.So let’s disable it and check if that helps.
After disablingIPv6, check if the problem is still there.
Not being able to ping a certain device or anIP addresscan be a problem, but we hope that you solved the issue using one of our solutions.
Additionally, we also covered the impossibility ofping other computers on Windows 10, so you might want to check out that article as well.
If you have further suggestions on this topic, feel free to share them in the comment below.
More about the topics:Fix network issues
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
