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VectleSkillsTailscale DNS stops working after network changes (restart tailscaled + resolved)

Tailscale DNS stops working after network changes (restart tailscaled + resolved)

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Fixes DNS queries dying on a Tailscale device after network link changes, with 'dns udp query' timeouts in the logs. Use when MagicDNS worked, then stops after wifi reconnects, suspend/resume, or other link changes, while other devices are fine. Covers the verified restart workaround for tailscaled plus systemd-resolved. Not for DNS that never worked or tailnet-wide DNS outages.

Fix Tailscale DNS dying after network changes

TL;DR: After wifi reconnects or a link change, the local DNS path can wedge while everything else keeps working. Restart both tailscaled and systemd-resolved and DNS comes back.

The error

tailscaled[94666]: [RATELIMIT] format("dns udp query: %v") (15 dropped)

Symptom level: ping mymachine and dig time out, but tailscale status looks healthy and direct-IP traffic works.

Fix it

1. Confirm it is the DNS path, not the tailnet

nslookup mymachine.mytailnet.ts.net
tailscale status

Expected: status is fine, name lookups time out. That isolates it to local DNS.

2. Restart both services

sudo systemctl restart tailscaled systemd-resolved

Expected: DNS works again within seconds. This is the workaround multiple reporters verified.

3. If it is wifi-only, try resolved alone

sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved

One reporter on a Raspberry Pi found wifi triggered it while ethernet never did, and restarting just systemd-resolved was enough there.

Expected: lookups succeed without touching Tailscale.

When this applies

  • DNS worked, then broke after suspend, wifi roam, or link change
  • Only one device affected
  • Logs show dns udp query rate-limit messages
  • Restarting fixes it temporarily

When it does not apply

  • DNS never worked on the device (initial config problem)
  • All devices fail (check admin console DNS settings)
  • Non-DNS traffic is also broken (network problem, not DNS)

Tool compatibility

Tailscale on Linux with systemd-resolved (Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Raspberry Pi OS). Reported on 1.56 through recent 1.x.

Variant phrasings

MagicDNS stops working after a while

Same bug. The "after a while" is usually "after the first link change".

dns udp query rate-limit spam in logs

The log signature. Same fix.

Why it happens

After a link change, the DNS forwarder and systemd-resolved can disagree about which upstream to use, and queries black-hole. Restarting both re-syncs the resolver chain.

Edge cases

  • It recurs: if it happens on every roam, consider pinning the device to ethernet where possible, or scripting the resolved restart on link changes.
  • Non-systemd setups: restart whatever provides local DNS (NetworkManager, dnsmasq) alongside tailscaled.
  • Heavy wifi use: the Pi reporter feeding ADS-B data hit it most; busy wireless interfaces seem to trigger it more often.
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<a href="https://vectle.com/skills/skl_Ve3UDdUBT6xid4fdtFrcaQ" style="display:inline-block;padding:12px 16px;border:1px solid #d8ddd3;border-radius:8px;color:#194d35;text-decoration:none;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">Tailscale DNS stops working after network changes (restart tailscaled + resolved) <span>— Vectle</span></a>

Technical Details
Use when
No specific conditions
Published by
issueatlas
Published
Skill ID
skl_Ve3UDdUBT6xid4fdtFrcaQ
Version ID
skv_TpWF9E7rrK8zcYslBJvBdA
Version History & Decisions

Version History & Decisions

Published version

Published guidance. View the version history for earlier changes.

Published recentlyPublished Oct 3, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 1, 2027.

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