What is Flush DNS & How to Easily Clear DNS Cache

Flush DNS refers to the process of clearing the DNS (Domain Name System) cache on your computer. This cache stores information about recent domain name lookups and their corresponding IP addresses. Flushing the DNS cache can resolve various internet connectivity issues, such as website loading problems, DNS errors, and changes to DNS settings.

Why Flush DNS?

When you visit a website, your computer stores the DNS information for quicker access next time. However, sometimes this cache can become outdated or corrupted, leading to issues with accessing websites or incorrect IP addresses. Flushing the DNS cache forces your computer to retrieve the most current DNS information from the server, which can fix these issues.

How to Clear DNS Cache

On Windows 10

1. Press 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 window, type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
4. You should see a message saying, Windows IP configuration successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

On Mac OS X

1. Open Finder and navigate to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:

   sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

3. You may be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Enter.
4. Once the command executes, your DNS cache will be cleared.

On Linux

The method to clear DNS cache on Linux can vary depending on the distribution and DNS service being used. Here are common methods:

• For systems using systemd-resolved (common in recent distributions):

  sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

• For systems using dnsmasq:

  sudo systemctl restart dnsmasq

• For systems using nscd:

  sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart

After performing the steps for your operating system, your DNS cache will be cleared, and you should be able to resolve any related issues you were experiencing.