Have you come across any error that prevents you from accessing the internet? Are you also the one experiencing the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error? If yes, then you have landed in the right place. The said error usually irritates you and keeps you from accessing internet services.
Seeing this error frequently can be frustrating, but it is resolvable as well. When your system is unable to connect with the primary DNS server set by your internet service provider, it triggers the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error. Today, in this article, we have compiled multiple fixes that would help you in getting rid of it. Have a look.
What triggers the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error?
The following reasons can trigger the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error:
- Inappropriately configured settings
- A proxy server
- Old network drivers
- Inappropriate Adapter settings
- DNS server temporarily unavailable
- Conflict with the network setting
Methods To Fix Windows Can’t Communicate With The Device or Resource Error
FIX 1: Change the Adapter settings:
Due to your Adapter settings, it is possible that the communication between Windows and Device resources would get bothered. Some easy modifications can help fix and let you get rid of the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error.
- Go to the desktop search bar, type Control Panel, and open the relevant search result.
- On the Control Panel window, navigate to Network and Internet and select the option View network status and tasks below.
- Next, click on Change Adapter Settings, locate your current network connection, right-click on it, and select Properties from the submenu.
- From the properties window, under the Networking tab, tick the checkbox located before the option Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click on the Properties
- Now, on the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties window, go to the General tab and click on the circular button located before the following options:
Obtain an IP address automatically
Obtain DNS server address automatically
FIX 2: Edit the hosts’ File:
The host file can also trigger the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error. It is advisable to edit them and resolve the error completely. For doing so,
- Access to your system’s folder and then navigate to the following path,
Windows (C:) > Windows > System32 > drivers > etc
- Now locate the Hosts file and open it using Notepad.
- Select everything that is available in the File and then delete it completely. For doing so, press Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + C, and then press the Delete key.
- Now go to the top left corner, navigate to File and then click on Save.(For file type, choose All Files).
Once done, open the relevant page, try to reconnect the internet, and check whether the issue is resolved or if it persists.
FIX 3: Update your Drivers:
Old and Outdated drivers can cause multiple issues, including the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error. Here we recommend you to update them manually (you can also update it via a third-party application). For doing so,
- Launch the RUN prompt by pressing WINDOWS + R
- In the empty text box, type “devmgmt.msc” and then click on OK.
- Now on the Device Manager window, expand the Network adapters section.
- Here right-click on your audio driver and select the Update driver option from the submenu.
- After that, click on the option Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If there are any Driver updates available, it will auto-download and install it into your system.
- Once done, restart your PC and then try to connect to your internet. Check whether the issue is resolved or not.
FIX 4: Clear Your DNS Cache:
Cache data, when piled up, can often keep you from accessing various services and result in errors. Similarly, the “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error can also occur due to the same. For marking out this possibility, consider clearing your DNS cache. For doing so,
- On the desktop search bar, type “cmd”, and open Command Prompt, and make sure you open it by selecting the Run as Administrator option.
- On the Command Prompt window, type ipconfig/flushdns and then press Enter.
- Once the process is done, it will flash the “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache” message.
- Finally, try to connect with the internet now and check whether the issue is resolved or not.
FIX 5: Move to Public DNS:
If clearing the DNS cache does not help in your case, we recommend moving to a Public DNS. For doing so,
- From the Windows search bar, open Control Panel.
- On the next window, click on Network and Internet and then select the Network and Sharing Center option.
- On the next window, navigate to the right-pane menu, select the option Change Adapter Settings.
- After that, locate your network, right-click on it, and select Properties from the submenu.
- From the properties window, under the Networking tab, tick the checkbox located before the option Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click on the Properties tab.
- Now navigate to the General tab and click on the circular box located before the option Use the following DNS server addresses.
- Here set the Preferred DNS server with numeric: 8.8.8.8 and then click on OK.
- Now close the current windows and try connecting your internet server. Check whether the said issue is resolved or if it persists.
FIX 6: Reset the connection settings:
This solution is one of the advanced amongst all and would work even when various of the above fails.
- On the desktop search bar, type “cmd”, and open Command Prompt, and make sure you open it by selecting the Run as Administrator
- On the Command Prompt window, type or Copy + Paste the following commands and press Enter after each of them:
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
- Once done, close the Command Prompt window and restart your PC. Now test your internet connection and check whether you are able to connect it successfully or not.
Internet is undoubtedly one significant help in today’s time, and when it doesn’t support, it can create a problem for many. The “Windows can’t communicate with the device or resource” error can keep you from using the internet, leaving your work in the middle. However, with the fixes mentioned above, you get along with it quickly.
These were some of the fixes that will resolve the communication issue between your primary DNS server and your operating system. Apart from them, you can also try to perform a Windows update and run a malware scan. If you have any queries or feedback, please write down the comment in the below comment box.
