How to Clear Host Cache in Chrome (DNS Cache)

In the digital landscape, DNS (Domain Name System) plays a pivotal role in translating user-friendly domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. Over time, Chrome builds a cache of these DNS records to speed up subsequent visits to websites. However, this cache can sometimes lead to connectivity issues, such as outdated entries or incorrect resolutions. Clearing the host cache in Chrome can resolve these issues, improving your browsing experience. This article provides a detailed guide on how to effectively clear the DNS cache in Chrome, along with insights into when and why this action is necessary.

Understanding the DNS Cache

The DNS cache stores records of previously visited websites, allowing your browser to quickly retrieve the corresponding IP addresses without needing to query a DNS server every time. While this enhances performance, several scenarios can arise where clearing the DNS cache becomes essential:

Website Changes: If a website has changed its server IP address, your browser may still attempt to access the old address stored in the cache, resulting in connectivity issues.

Privacy Concerns: Clearing the cache can help protect your privacy by removing traces of your browsing history.

Troubleshooting Connectivity Issues: If you experience problems accessing certain sites, flushing the cache can often resolve the issue by forcing new DNS queries.

How to Clear the DNS Cache in Chrome

Clearing the DNS cache in Chrome is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few simple steps. Here’s how:

Method 1: Using Chrome Settings

Open Chrome: Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer.

Access the Chrome Settings:

Click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner of the window to open the menu.

Select Settings from the dropdown.

Go to Privacy and Security:

In the left sidebar, click on Privacy and security.

Choose Clear browsing data.

Select Cached Data:

In the pop-up window, select the Advanced tab.

Check the box next to Cached images and files. Ensure that Browsing history and Cookies and other site data are unchecked if you only want to clear the DNS cache.

Clear Data:

Set the time range to All time to clear all cached data.

Click on the Clear data button.

Method 2: Using Chrome Net Internals

For a more targeted approach, you can use Chrome’s built-in Net Internals tool to flush the DNS cache:

Open Chrome: Ensure Google Chrome is running.

Access Net Internals:

Type chrome://net-internals in the address bar and press Enter.

Flush the DNS Cache:

In the left sidebar, click on DNS.

Look for the Clear host cache button. Click it to flush the DNS cache.

Verifying the Cache Has Been Cleared

To ensure the DNS cache has been successfully cleared, you can verify it by checking the DNS cache again:

Open Net Internals Again: Type chrome://net-internals in the address bar.

Check DNS Entries: Click on DNS in the left sidebar and review the cache entries. If the cache is clear, there should be no entries listed.

Conclusion

Clearing the host cache (DNS cache) in Chrome is a crucial maintenance task that can significantly improve your browsing experience. By removing outdated entries and ensuring accurate DNS resolutions, users can avoid connectivity issues and enjoy smoother access to their favorite websites.

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