Clearing your DNS (Domain Name System) cache can help resolve various internet connectivity issues, such as website loading problems or outdated IP addresses. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to clear the DNS cache on different operating systems and popular web browsers.

What is DNS Cache?

DNS cache is a temporary database maintained by your operating system or web browser that stores the IP addresses of recently visited websites. This cache helps speed up the loading process of frequently accessed sites by eliminating the need to query the DNS server each time you visit a website. However, sometimes the cached DNS information can become outdated, leading to connectivity issues. Clearing the DNS cache ensures that your system fetches the most up-to-date IP addresses from the DNS server.

Clearing DNS Cache on Windows

Windows 10 and 11

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “cmd” and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
  3. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
    ipconfig /flushdns
  4. You should see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache has been successfully flushed.

Windows 7, 8, and 8.1

  1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “cmd” and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
  3. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
    ipconfig /flushdns
  4. You should see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache has been successfully flushed.

Clearing DNS Cache on macOS

  1. Open the Terminal app (you can find it in Applications > Utilities or by using Spotlight search).
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  3. Enter your administrator password when prompted and press Enter.
  4. The DNS cache will be cleared, and you should see the Terminal prompt reappear.

Clearing DNS Cache on Linux

The process of clearing the DNS cache on Linux may vary depending on the distribution you’re using. Here are the commands for some popular distributions:

Ubuntu and Debian

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

CentOS and Fedora

  1. Open the Terminal.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    sudo systemctl restart nscd

Clearing DNS Cache in Web Browsers

Google Chrome

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. In the address bar, type the following and press Enter:
    chrome://net-internals/#dns
  3. Click on the “Clear host cache” button.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
  2. In the address bar, type the following and press Enter:
    about:networking#dns
  3. Click on the “Clear DNS Cache” button.

Microsoft Edge

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.
  2. In the address bar, type the following and press Enter:
    edge://net-internals/#dns
  3. Click on the “Clear host cache” button.

Safari

Safari uses the operating system’s DNS cache, so clearing the DNS cache on macOS (as described earlier) will also clear Safari’s DNS cache.

Conclusion

Clearing your DNS cache is a simple yet effective troubleshooting step when facing internet connectivity issues or website loading problems. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily clear the DNS cache on your operating system and web browser, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date DNS information. If you continue to experience issues after clearing the DNS cache, there might be other factors at play, such as network configuration problems or issues with the website itself. In such cases, it’s best to consult with your network administrator or the website’s support team for further assistance.

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