How to Flush DNS Cache (Windows, Mac, Chrome)

Sun-May-2024
5

Flush DNS Cache

Flushing the DNS cache is a useful troubleshooting step when you encounter issues with accessing websites, as it forces your computer or browser to clear its cache and obtain fresh DNS information. Here’s how you can flush DNS caches on Windows, Mac, and Chrome:

Windows

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

  1. Open Command Prompt: Press Win + X, then select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.
  2. Flush DNS Cache: Type the following command and press Enter:
    ipconfig /flushdns
  3. Confirmation: Once the command executes successfully, you should see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache has been flushed.

Method 2: Using Windows PowerShell

  1. Open Windows PowerShell: Press Win + X, then select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.
  2. Flush DNS Cache: Enter the following command and press Enter:
    Clear-DnsClientCache
  3. Confirmation: After executing the command, you’ll receive confirmation that the DNS client cache has been cleared.

Mac

Method 1: Using Terminal

  1. Open Terminal: You can find Terminal in the “Utilities” folder within the “Applications” folder, or simply search for it using Spotlight (Cmd + Space).
  2. Flush DNS Cache: Type the following command and press Enter:
    sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  3. Provide Password: You’ll be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Enter.
  4. Confirmation: Once done, Terminal will not display any message, but the DNS cache will be flushed.

Chrome

Method 1: Clearing Browser Cache

  1. Open Chrome: Launch Google Chrome on your computer.
  2. Access Clear Browsing Data: Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + Delete (Mac) to open the “Clear browsing data” window.
  3. Select Time Range: Choose the time range for which you want to clear data. To clear the entire cache, select “All time”.
  4. Check “Cached images and files”: Ensure that the option for “Cached images and files” is checked.
  5. Clear Data: Click on the “Clear data” button to flush the browser cache, including DNS cache.

Conclusion

Flushing the DNS cache can resolve various internet connectivity issues by ensuring your system or browser obtains fresh DNS information. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily flush the DNS cache on Windows, Mac, and Chrome, helping to resolve browsing problems effectively.