Flush DNS: Clear Your Cache On Windows, Mac, And More

Sep 9, 2025 by Square 54 views

How to Flush DNS (Clear the Cache) in All Major Operating Systems

Having trouble accessing your favorite websites? Don't worry, guys! One of the most common solutions to website errors and connectivity issues is flushing your DNS cache. Think of your DNS cache like a phone book for the internet. It stores the IP addresses of websites you've visited, so your computer can quickly access them the next time. But sometimes, this information can become outdated or corrupted, leading to problems. In this guide, we'll show you how to flush your DNS cache on all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, so you can get back to browsing smoothly.

Why Flush Your DNS Cache?

Before we dive into the how-to, let's quickly cover why flushing your DNS cache is so important. When you type a website address (like google.com) into your browser, your computer needs to find the corresponding IP address (a numerical address like 172.217.160.142) to connect to the server hosting the website. Your computer first checks its DNS cache to see if it already knows the IP address. If it does, it can connect to the website quickly. However, there are several reasons why you might need to clear your DNS cache:

Outdated Information: Website IP addresses can change. If the IP address stored in your cache is no longer correct, you won't be able to access the website.
DNS Cache Poisoning: Although rare, your DNS cache can be corrupted by malicious attacks, redirecting you to fake websites.
General Connectivity Issues: A corrupted or overloaded DNS cache can sometimes cause general internet connectivity problems.
Privacy Concerns: Your DNS cache stores a history of the websites you've visited. Flushing it can help protect your privacy.

So, if you're experiencing website errors, slow loading times, or other internet-related issues, flushing your DNS cache is a simple and effective troubleshooting step you should definitely try. It's like giving your computer's internet phone book a refresh!

Flushing DNS on Windows

Alright, Windows users, let's get started! Flushing your DNS cache on Windows is a straightforward process that can be done through the Command Prompt. Here's how:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- Press the Windows key, type "cmd," and right-click on "Command Prompt" in the search results.
- Select "Run as administrator."
- You'll need administrator privileges to execute the DNS flush command.
Type the Command:
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
```
ipconfig /flushdns
```
- This command tells Windows to clear the DNS resolver cache.
Confirmation Message:
- If the command is successful, you should see a message that says, "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache."
- This confirms that your DNS cache has been cleared.
Optional: Release and Renew IP Address:
- Sometimes, it's helpful to also release and renew your IP address after flushing the DNS cache. This can help ensure you're getting a fresh connection from your internet service provider (ISP).
- To do this, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:
```
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
```
- The ipconfig /release command releases your current IP address, and the ipconfig /renew command requests a new one from your ISP.

That's it! You've successfully flushed your DNS cache on Windows. Try accessing the website you were having trouble with to see if the issue is resolved. If you're still facing problems, there might be other network-related issues, but you've taken a crucial first step in troubleshooting.

Flushing DNS on macOS

Mac users, don't worry, we've got you covered too! The process for flushing the DNS cache on macOS is a little different than on Windows, as it depends on the version of macOS you're running. But don't fret, we'll break it down for you.

Open Terminal:
- You can find Terminal in the /Applications/Utilities folder or by searching for it using Spotlight (Command + Spacebar).
Determine Your macOS Version:
- Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select "About This Mac."
- Note your macOS version number. This is important because the flush DNS command varies depending on the version.

Enter the Appropriate Command:

Here are the commands for different macOS versions:

macOS Ventura:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS Monterey:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS Big Sur:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS Catalina:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS Mojave:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS High Sierra:
```
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
```
macOS Sierra:
```
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
```

macOS El Capitan:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS Yosemite:

sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache
sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches

macOS Mavericks:

sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache
sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches

macOS Mountain Lion:

sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache
sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches

macOS Lion:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

macOS Snow Leopard:
```
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
```

Copy and paste the command corresponding to your macOS version into Terminal and press Enter.

Enter Your Password:
- You'll be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Enter. Note that you won't see the password as you type it – this is a security feature.
Confirmation (No Message):
- Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't display a confirmation message. However, if you entered the command correctly and your password was accepted, the DNS cache has been successfully flushed.

Now that you've cleared your DNS cache on your Mac, give those websites another try. Hopefully, you'll be browsing without any issues!

Flushing DNS on Linux

Linux users, we haven't forgotten about you! The process for flushing DNS on Linux can vary depending on the distribution you're using, as different distributions use different DNS services. However, we'll cover the most common scenarios.

Open Terminal:
- This is your command-line interface, similar to Command Prompt on Windows or Terminal on macOS.
Identify Your DNS Service:
- The most common DNS services on Linux are systemd-resolved, nscd, and dnsmasq. You'll need to determine which one you're using to use the correct flush DNS command.
- systemd-resolved: This is the default DNS resolver on many modern Linux distributions, including Ubuntu 16.04 and later, Fedora, and Debian.
- nscd (Name Service Cache Daemon): This is an older DNS caching service that may be used on some systems.
- dnsmasq: This is a lightweight DNS forwarder and DHCP server that is often used on home networks and embedded systems.
Enter the Appropriate Command:
- Here are the commands for different DNS services:
  - systemd-resolved:
```
sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches
```
  - nscd:
```
sudo service nscd restart
```
    or
```
sudo /etc/init.d/nscd restart
```
  - dnsmasq:
```
sudo service dnsmasq restart
```
    or
```
sudo /etc/init.d/dnsmasq restart
```
- Enter the command corresponding to your DNS service into Terminal and press Enter.
Enter Your Password:
- You'll likely be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type it in and press Enter.
Confirmation (Varies):
- The confirmation message, if any, will vary depending on the command and your system. Some commands may not display a message, but if the command executes without errors, the DNS cache has been cleared.

Now that you've flushed your DNS cache on Linux, try accessing the websites that were giving you trouble. If you're still experiencing issues, you might need to investigate other network settings or consult your Linux distribution's documentation.

Additional Tips and Troubleshooting

Flushing your DNS cache is a great first step, but sometimes it's not enough to solve all your connectivity problems. Here are some additional tips and troubleshooting steps you can try:

Restart Your Browser: Sometimes, your browser itself can cache DNS information. Restarting your browser can help ensure you're using the most up-to-date DNS settings.
Restart Your Computer: A simple restart can often resolve a variety of technical issues, including DNS-related problems. It's always worth a try!
Restart Your Router: Your router also has a DNS cache. Restarting it can help clear any outdated information. Simply unplug your router for 30 seconds, then plug it back in.
Change Your DNS Servers: By default, your computer uses the DNS servers provided by your ISP. However, you can switch to public DNS servers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1). These public DNS servers are often faster and more reliable than ISP-provided servers.
Check Your Firewall Settings: Your firewall might be blocking DNS traffic. Make sure your firewall is configured to allow DNS queries.
Check Your Hosts File: The hosts file is a text file on your computer that maps hostnames to IP addresses. If there are incorrect entries in your hosts file, they can override DNS settings. You can usually find the hosts file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts on Windows and /etc/hosts on macOS and Linux.
Contact Your ISP: If you've tried all the above steps and you're still having problems, it's possible there's an issue with your ISP's DNS servers or your internet connection in general. Contacting your ISP's technical support is the best course of action.

So, there you have it, guys! You now know how to flush your DNS cache on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This simple yet powerful technique can help you resolve a wide range of website errors and connectivity issues. Remember, it's like giving your computer's internet phone book a fresh start. If you encounter any website problems, flushing your DNS cache should be one of the first troubleshooting steps you take. Happy browsing!