Alex Ruben
How To Fix FitGirl Repack Download Error: Server Name Not Found (2025 Guide)
Encountered that annoying “Download Failed – The server name or address could not be found” message while trying to install a FitGirl Repack game? Yeah, it’s a pain when things seem to be working fine but then suddenly the installer just can’t reach the server. Usually, it’s some combo of antivirus interference, DNS hiccups, or just Windows acting weird with network stuff. This guide is meant for those who wanna get past that error once and for all. Wisely, you’ll learn how to tweak network settings, whitelist the game, and make sure your whole setup isn’t blocking the download — so you can finally play instead of troubleshooting endlessly.
How to Fix the “Server Name Not Found” in Windows
Fix 1: Flush DNS and Reset Network Settings
Why bother? Because sometimes, Windows just gets the DNS cache all tangled up, making it think the server doesn’t exist even though it’s perfectly fine. Flushing the DNS cache can clear out mislinked addresses and force your system to fetch fresh info. For some users, this clears the error after a reboot, especially if the DNS cache was corrupted or stale.
- Right-click the Start Menu icon, select Windows Terminal (Admin). If you see Command Prompt, no worries — it works too.
- Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter. This clears your DNS cache. - Next, type
netsh int ip resetand hit Enter. This resets your IP stack. - You might also want to restart your network adapter: open Network & Internet in the Settings, then go to Change adapter options. Right-click your active network and choose Disable. Wait a few seconds, then enable it again.
- Reboot your PC to see if that fixed the issue — sometimes, Windows likes to make sure you sit through a complete restart after these resets.
Fix 2: Check Your Security Software & Firewall Settings
Antivirus or firewall software can be overly cautious, especially with shady-looking installers. Temporarily disabling them can help verify if they’re causing the block. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. If disabling the antivirus clears the error, then just add an exception for your game folder to avoid repeating the process every time.
- Open your antivirus program or go to Windows Security.
- Navigate to Virus & Threat Protection.
- Click on Manage Settings and toggle Real-time Protection off (sometimes, you might see a warning, so do this short-term).
- Head over to the firewall settings in Windows: go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.
- Click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
- Make sure your installer or game folder isn’t being blocked. You can also click Change Settings, then Allow another app, browse to your game’s setup file, and add it to the allowed list.
Pro tip: if you find that the installer still can’t reach the server after these tweaks, consider disabling your VPN or proxy, if you’re using one. Sometimes, these can interfere with DNS resolution or block access to certain servers.
Fix 3: Use a Different DNS Server
Other than flushing DNS, switching to a more reliable DNS provider like Google’s (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare’s (1.1.1.1) can do wonders. People have seen this fix the server not found error, especially if their ISP’s DNS is acting up.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options.
- Right-click your active network connection, choose Properties.
- Scroll to Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click Properties.
- Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
- Input
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4, then hit OK. - Repeat for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), replacing its DNS addresses with
2001:4860:4860::8888and2001:4860:4860::8844.
Fix 4: Manually Set the Host Files
This is a more brute-force approach, but sometimes Windows’ hosts file messes with DNS resolution. If you’re desperate and keep getting server errors, it might help to add the server’s IP into your hosts file.
- Open Notepad as administrator: find Notepad > right-click, select Run as administrator.
- Open the file
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. - At the bottom, add a line with the IP address of the server and its URL, like:
123.45.67.89 servername.com. (You might need to look up the IP via tools like DNSChecker or similar.) - Save the file and restart your computer before trying again.
Fix 5: Confirm No Proxy or VPN Interference
Sometimes VPNs or proxy servers mess up DNS resolution or block certain servers. On one setup it worked, on another… still not! Disable VPNs temporarily and see if the installer can reach the server. If it does, then chances are it’s your VPN blocking some parts of the download.
- In Settings > Network & Internet, go to VPN and disable any active VPN connection.
- Similarly, check your browser or network settings for any active proxy configurations and disable them if possible.
Final thoughts
Honestly, there’s no one-size-fits-all fix, but combining DNS flushing, firewall tweaks, and DNS switching has cleared this error for a lot of folks. Sometimes, the server just isn’t reachable due to network hiccups or your system’s DNS cache, so it’s worth trying these tricks. Because it’s kind of weird, but once the network gets straightened out, the game installs smoothly and life is good again.
Summary
- Flush DNS cache with
ipconfig /flushdns - Reset network stack if needed
- Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall & whitelist game folder
- Switch to Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS
- Verify server IP info and edit hosts file if necessary
- Disable VPN or proxy during install
Wrap-up
This whole ordeal can be frustrating, but most of the time it’s just network settings or security software messing with your connection. Once those are sorted, the installer can find the server again and download the files properly. Fingers crossed this helps — worked on a bunch of setups, so maybe it’ll do the same for you. Good luck!