How to Flush DNS Cache on Windows 10 and 11 [3 Easy Methods]

If you're having trouble loading a website or viewing certain pages, you should first try clearing your DNS cache. This guide will show you how to flush the DNS cache on Windows 10 and 11.

Follow these simple steps, and you should be able to fix your problem in no time!

What Is a DNS Cache and Why Would You Need To Flush It?

Windows maintains a temporary database of all successful and unsuccessful website visits, called the DNS cache.

The DNS cache is a log of past DNS lookups that are stored by the operating system or by the web browser. By saving a local copy of a DNS lookup, your OS or browser can load websites much faster by quickly retrieving the corresponding IP address. 

In most cases, your Internet Service Provider automatically configures your connection to make it simpler for you to access websites and services that you frequently use.  It’s important to keep in mind that the DNS cache will eventually clear itself due to its TTL feature, so it’s not always necessary to do it manually.

Furthermore, although a DNS cache can speed up loading times, it might also pose security risks. So, flushing it can help address connectivity issues, data privacy concerns, or security threats. 

Here are some of the common reasons why you might want to clear your DNS cache:

• 404 error appears on your screen when you try accessing sites
• You want to avoid DNS spoofing
• You can’t access a particular website
• You wish to keep your search history confidential

How To Flush DNS Cache on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Through Run

1. To bring up the Run window, press the Win+R keys.
2. Type in ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

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• A command window will display on the screen for a moment, and then the DNS resolver cache will be flushed.

Through the Command Prompt

1. Type cmd into the Windows search bar.
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt, and then select Run as Administrator.
3. Type "ipconfig /flushdns" and hit Enter to execute the command.

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4. Restart your PC.

• You should see a message confirming that the DNS resolver cache has been flushed.

Through PowerShell

1. To open Windows PowerShell in Administrator mode, go through the Start menu search or use Run.
2. You can open PowerShell by pressing Win+R , typing “powershell” into the Run window, and pressing Enter.
3. To clear your DNS settings, open Windows PowerShell and type in Clear-DnsClientCache. Then, press Enter and wait for a few seconds.

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• Flushing the DNS cache will clear all current data so that new data can be generated the next time you go online.
• If the prior methods don’t work, you can try restarting your router. 

Through Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Enter "chrome://net-internals/#dns" into the URL bar 
3. Click the Clear Host Cache button

Bottom Line

Following the simple steps explained in this guide, you’ll be able to flush DNS on Windows 11 and Windows 10 easily. By flushing the DNS cache, you can resolve the specific issues you might be experiencing with your network connection.