WordPress cURL Error 6: Could not resolve host – Solve it now

by Sharon Thomas | Feb 5, 2020

Trying to find a solution for ‘WordPress cURL Error 6: Could not resolve host’? Here’s how we fix it.

The cURL error 6 indicates that the cURL can’t resolve the hostname and it happens whenever there is a problem with the DNS server.

At Bobcares, we often receive requests to fix cURL errors as a part of our Server Management Services.

Today, let’s explore more on this error and see how our Support Engineers fix it.

What is cURL error 6?

cURL error 6 mainly occurs when the given remote host does not resolve properly. Also, it is related to the DNS, and we fix this error by resolving the DNS.

Now, let’s discuss the exact scenario of the error. Recently, one of our WordPress customers approached us with the below error message.

He confirmed that he started to receive this error after updating a plugin on the website.

How we fix the WordPress cURL Error 6: Could not resolve host?

On checking, our Support Engineers found that the error was occurring due to the WordPress plugin.We follow the below steps to fix the error.

1. First, we log in via SSH and edit /etc/resolv.conf.

vi /etc/resolv.conf

2. Next, we add Google public name servers and comment on the other nameservers.

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4
#nameserver 1xx.1xx.1xx.x
#nameserver 1xx.1xx.1xx.x

3. Then after making the changes, we restart Apache or Nginx.

service apache2 restart

This fixes the error.

But sometimes the changes we made to /etc/resolv.conf file will be erased on reboot or restart. So we make some permanent changes in resolv.conf file.

sudo apt-get install resolvconf

Then we open the file to add the nameservers.

vi /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/base

After that, we add the nameservers on the file.

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

Finally, we save the file. By adding the Google name serves will fix the WordPress cURL Error 6.

[Need assistance in fixing cURL errors? – Our Experts are available 24/7.]

Conclusion

In short, the WordPress cURL Error 6: Could not resolve host error occurs during the WordPress plugin updates and it is related to DNS. Today, we saw how our Support Engineers fix this error.

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14 Comments

Johannes Jooste on 2021-10-31 at 22:09

This worked perfectly! Thank you very much for publishing this valuable information.
Reply
Raja safety on 2022-01-29 at 11:48

Tanks You for your information. Now i know what a problem in my website.
Reply
- Brindha on 2022-04-06 at 10:55
  
  In GoDaddy we are having the shared plan. File is missing in cpanel. How to overcome this issue.
  Reply
  - Hiba Razak on 2022-07-14 at 09:48
    
    Hi,
    Please contact our support team via live chat.
    Reply
sachin on 2022-03-15 at 17:27

Hi there.

I’m having an issue which migrating from my server to Local (by Flywheel). I get the error:
Unexpected response: Error: cURL error 6: Could not resolve host: [MY LOCAL DOMAIN] (http_request_failed). You should check that the remote site is online, not firewalled, does not have security modules that may be blocking access, has UpdraftPlus version 2.10.3 or later active and that the keys have been entered correctly.

Obviously, my Local install IS online active and working correctly with it’s SSL. I’ve tried deactivating all my plugins on my Live site and starting a migration but the same curl error happens.

I’m on a MAC BigSur 11.4, Chrome Version 91.0.4472.164.

The plugin version is: 2.16.59.1

If it helps, my Live site is here: https://pythonslearning.com

Any ideas how I can fix this?

thanks – Mark
Reply
- Hiba Razak on 2022-07-14 at 10:15
  
  Hi,
  
  Our Experts can help you with the issue, we’ll be happy to talk to you on chat.
  Reply
  - shehryar on 2023-03-27 at 10:22
    
    I am facing a problem on my site https://sehatnagar.com/ which is something like:
    Your site is unable to reach WordPress.org at api.wordpress.org, and returned the error: cURL error 6: Could not resolve host: api.wordpress.org
    Reply
    - Hiba Razak on 2023-03-27 at 16:00
      
      Hi shehryar,
      Our experts can help you with the issue.we will be happy to talk to you through our live chat(click on the icon at right-bottom).
      Reply
sachin on 2022-03-15 at 17:28

This working perfect thanks for sharing .
Reply
- Hiba Razak on 2022-07-12 at 13:03
  
  Glad to know that it worked for you.
  Reply
antonio on 2024-01-11 at 23:32

I’m starting a wordpress site locally with a plagin Elementor, after updating Elementor to version 3.18.0 locally I have a cURL 6 error. To continue using Elementor I need to be connected to the internet. It’s very annoying, I went back to the previous version. Isn’t there a solution? Thank you
Reply
- Hiba Razak on 2024-05-20 at 17:48
  
  Hello,
  Please contact our support team via live chat(click on the icon at right-bottom).
  Reply
Bob Lau on 2024-10-09 at 11:01

Thanks so much! It Works!
Reply
- Krishna Priya on 2024-10-10 at 07:34
  
  Hello,
  Thank you for your feedback! We are delighted to hear that our article was helpful to you.
  Reply