How do you Clear the DNS Cache on Your Computer?

In today's world, saving time while searching online is essential. The DNS system (Domain Name System) is vital to your internet browsing experience. A domain name is converted into an IP address, which is used to identify computer networks. Nevertheless, this cache may occasionally become obsolete or damaged. This may result in websites not loading correctly or being unable to access specific sites. In such cases, clearing your DNS cache can help solve such issues.

This blog post explains how to clean the DNS cache on diverse operating systems to enhance the browsing experience.

What is DNS Cache?

Recognizing the DNS cache's feature is critical before studying how to flush it. The DNS cache contains records about the IP addresses of servers of web pages that you have recently accessed. Whenever you type a URL to access a website, your computer stores the IP address of that website in the DNS cache for faster access. This procedure accelerates loading times and minimizes bandwidth consumption.

Yet, you may face difficulties accessing a website if its IP address changes or the cached data is incorrect. Refreshing your DNS cache prompts your computer to fetch new data from the DNS server, solving these problems.

Why Clear Your DNS Cache?

Here are some key reasons why you might need to clear your DNS cache:

Website Access Issues

If you face problems accessing a website or the error message displayed is 404 Not Found, the DNS cache can be cleared as it updates the saved IP addresses.

Changing Hosts

This will allow your computer to access a new IP address if a website has changed its hosting company and you are still using the old one.

Privacy Concerns

Frequently clearing your DNS cache can enhance privacy by eliminating records of the websites you have accessed.

Performance Improvement

In some cases, clearing the cache can improve overall network performance by eliminating outdated entries.

How to Clear Your DNS Cache?

Clearing DNS Cache on Windows

Clearing the DNS cache is easy for Windows server users and can be done by following the steps shared below:

Steps:

1. Tap on the Start button or press the Windows key.

2. Type cmd in the search bar.

3. Right-click on Command Prompt

4. Select Run as Administrator.

5. In the Command Prompt window, type:

ipconfig /flushdns

5. Press Enter. You should see a message stating:

Windows IP configuration successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

This confirms that your DNS cache has been cleared successfully.

Clearing DNS Cache on macOS

For macOS users, clearing the DNS cache can be done by following the steps shared below:

Steps:

1. Open Finder

2. Navigate to Applications > Utilities.

3. Launch Terminal.

4. Depending on your macOS version, write one of the following commands:

For macOS, Ventura and Monterey

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

For macOS Big Sur and earlier:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

4. Press Enter, then enter your administrator password when prompted.

After executing these commands, no output will confirm success; however, your DNS cache will be cleared.

Clearing DNS Cache on Linux

Linux server distributions may vary in how they manage DNS caching depending on which service is used (e.g., systemd-resolved, nscd).

Steps for Ubuntu

1. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

2. Type the following command:

sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

3. Press Enter and enter your password if prompted.

For other distributions using nscd, you can use:

sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart

Clearing DNS Cache on ChromeOS

If you're using ChromeOS, you can clear its internal DNS cache through Chrome's net-internals page.

Steps

1. Open a new tab in Chrome.

2. Enter chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar

3. Press Enter.

4. Click on Clear host cache.

This action clears Chrome’s internal DNS cache without affecting other applications.

Clearing Browser-Specific Caches

Apart from clearing your system's DNS cache, it may also be beneficial to clear browser-specific caches:

For Google Chrome

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.

For Firefox

Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data > Clear Data.

For Safari

Go to Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Remove All.

To Sum it Up!

DNS cache clearing is one of the easiest & most effective ways to improve internet connection speed. It improves performance and enhances privacy. By following the instructions in this manual, you can guarantee that you consistently obtain current data from internet servers and have a more seamless online interaction.

Remember that clearing your DNS cache can fix various problems. Nevertheless, it is crucial to regularly update your operating system and applications to maintain performance enhancements and improve security.

FAQs on DNS Cache

What is DNS Cache, and why does it affect my browsing experience?

DNS Cache temporarily stores information about recent website visits, where domain names are translated into IP addresses. This helps load websites faster. However, if the cache becomes outdated or corrupted, it can cause websites to load incorrectly. Clearing the DNS cache lets your system fetch fresh data, ensuring better browsing and fewer errors.

Why should I clear my DNS cache regularly?

Clearing your DNS cache helps resolve common issues like outdated IP addresses, privacy concerns, and website loading errors. If you are encountering consistent 404 errors, it is advantageous for a website to switch servers. Frequently clearing the cache can also delete any record of your browsing activities, enhancing privacy and potentially boosting network efficiency.

I cleared the DNS cache, but I still have trouble loading websites. What should I do?

After clearing your DNS cache, try clearing your browser's cache if the problem persists by:

- Navigate to Settings in Chrome,

- Proceed to Privacy and Security

- Locate the option to Clear Browsing Data

- To clear data on Firefox,

Go to Options

Move to Privacy & Security

Navigate to Cookies and Site Data

Go to Clear Data

This guarantees that all stored information is updated to improve the browsing experience.

Does clearing the DNS cache improve internet speed?

Clearing the DNS cache can enhance browsing speed. It resolves slow website loading or connectivity issues caused by outdated or corrupted cache entries. It enables your system to retrieve the latest web IP addresses, leading to smoother and more dependable connections. However, it won’t significantly impact if the cache is already up to date.