How To Clear or Flush DNS Cache? (Helpful Guide)

If you are using your computer or laptop regularly, you might have flush DNS cache.

Many times as most of the people or support engineers tell you to flush it when you have some problems on your PC. Such as some websites are not opening, internet connection is not working properly, slow loading of websites, slow processing speed, etc.

So when you flush DNS cache, such type of problems on your PC get fixed automatically.

Furthermore, not all the time it works because if the problem is created by some other reason, flushing DNS cache won’t help. So let’s talk about DNS cache, and how can we clear or flush it out in more detail.

Table of Contents

What is DNS Cache?

A DNS cache is a temporary database on your PC which is operated and managed by the operating system. This database has records of all the new site visits and attempted visits to sites. The record usually includes the domain names along with their similar IP addresses.

Internet totally relies on the Domain Name System, i.e., DNS to manage an index of all the sites on the internet and their similar IP addresses. And it’s like your phone book in which you write names and their similar phone numbers.

Every site has an IP address on the internet but getting those numbers is almost impossible for us, that is where DNS (Domain Name System)comes into use. It has alphanumeric names to the IP addresses which are very easy to remember.

When DNS cache is active, you see the sites you have recently opened, are opening more immediately when you load it next time.

Purpose of a DNS Cache

The internet relies on the Domain Name System to manage an index of all public sites and their similar IP addresses. And you can think of it as a phone book.

With a phone book, we don’t have to remember everyone’s phone number. And which is the only way phones can interact: with a number.

And in the same way, DNS is used so we can simply avoid having to remember every site’s IP address, which is the only way network devices can interact with sites.

How DNS Cache Works?

Before a browser problem its requests to the external or outside network, the PC stops each one and looks up the domain name in the DNS cache database.

The database includes a list of all newly entered domain names and the addresses that DNS thought for them the first time a request was made.

The contents of a local DNS cache can be seen on windows using the command displaydns/ipconfig.

In DNS, the “A” record is the part of the DNS entry that includes the IP address for the given hostname.

And the DNS cache stores this address, the requested site name, and some other parameters from the host DNS entry.

Flush DNS Cache

So if you are finding an answer to what command can be used to clear or flush DNS cache on a windows computer or laptop. So here you will get that.

Flush DNS Cache on Windows 10

First, go to your Windows Start Search bar, and type Command Prompt. Then you will see Command Prompt. And simply Right click on Command Prompt, and then click “Run as Administrator”.
And this will start Command Prompt in Admin mode.
Then type there ipconfig/flushdns. Both work the equal. Then press enter.
And finally, the DNS cache is flushed. Then you get the confirmation message like;
Windows IP configuration
Successfully flushed the DNS resolver cache

Flush DNS Cache on Windows 8

First, press the Windows Key or hover your mouse over the bottom left corner and then click the Windows Icon.
Then start typing Command Prompt.
And then right-click the application and choose Run as Administrator.
Finally, run this (ipconfig /flushdns) command in the command line and press enter.

Flush DNS Cache on Windows 7

First of all click the Start Menu.
Then go to the All Programs.
And select Accessories and right-click Command Prompt.
Then choose Run as Administrator.
And lastly, run this (ipconfig /flushdns) command in the command line and press enter button.

This is how DNS cache on all Windows computer (10, 8, 7) is cleared or flushed. And it is very easy to do as you have seen above.

Flush DNS Cache on Browsers

If you have recently set up your filtering, or simply changed a setting, a cache clear or flush may be important before you see your filtering take effect.

So then the following table gives most easy instructions for clearing or flushing the DNS cache within common internet browsers.

Browser	Steps to Flush DNS Cache
Internet Explorer 8 and above (Windows)	First, go to the History menu, then choose Delete Browsing History, and then check all boxes (except passwords, if desired) then simply click Delete.
Google Chrome (Windows)	Firstly, open the Wrench Icon in the upper right corner and choose History and check all boxes. And then under Clear data for this time period, choose everything(except passwords, if desired) and then click Clear Browsing Data.
Mozilla Firefox (Windows)	For this simply click on Firefox at the top left of your browser, then go to the History menu, and choose Clear Recent History and check all boxes. Under Time range to clear choose everything (except passwords, if desired) and then click Clear Now button.
Apple Safari (Windows)	First, go to the Safari menu, and choose Reset Safari, then finally check all boxes and then click Reset.

Conclusion

Therefore, that’s all about how to clear or flush DNS cache. Clearing or flushing DNS cache looks like a small thing, but it fixes many problems on your computer or laptop. And for which sometimes you look for a computer expert to fix. So, either bookmark this post/guide or keep the codes with you in a notepad or remember these to use them when needed.