Fast-Track Your Web: How to Flush DNS Cache in Windows 10 and 11 with Ease

If you're experiencing internet problems on your Windows 10 or 11, there's a strong chance it's due to a corrupted DNS cache. Flushing the DNS cache can quickly fix this issue and get your computer back online.

Clearing your DNS cache helps enhance your privacy, fix HTTP errors, and prevent potentially harmful DNS spoofing. 

Check out the ultimate guide below to learn how to flush DNS cache in Windows 10 and 11 and fix your connection problems quickly.

How to Flush DNS Cache on Windows 10 and 11

DNS, known as the Domain Name System, is like the internet's phonebook. Its job is to translate domain names into IP addresses so web browsers can load the online content. The DNS cache keeps these translations to speed up later access to the same sites.

In Windows 10 or 11, you may encounter various issues related to the local Domain Name System (DNS) cache.

These issues include:

• Websites failing to appear 
• Internet-dependent apps malfunction
• Tools like "ping" or "nslookup" indicating the wrong locations

This guide shows you how to fix it by clearing the DNS cache or resetting it.

Maximize web performance using the following approaches to flush DNS cache:

Method 1: Clear Your DNS Cache with Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is the go-to way to clear DNS in Windows, and it's popular for good reasons. The "flush dns" command is simple, quick, and easy to recall. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Type cmd into the Windows search bar.
2. Right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
   
   
   
3. Type ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter.
   
   
   
4. After hitting the Enter, you should see a message confirming that the you “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache”

Method 2: Flush DNS Cache Using Powershell

The PowerShell (or Terminal in newer versions) is another tool you can use to flush dns win10 and win11. This method is compatible with various command-line utilities, including Windows Terminal, Windows PowerShell, and the older Command Line (cmd) utility.

If you've got to clear the DNS cache on Windows 10/11, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key + X
   
   
   
2. Choose Windows PowerShell (Admin). This will open PowerShell with administrative privileges.
   
   
   
3. Type Clear-DnsClientCache in PowerShell and press Enter.
   
   
   
4. Wait for a few seconds for the command to execute, and this should successfully clear your DNS cache.

Method 3: Easily Clear DNS Cache with Keyboard Command 'Run'

There's an even simpler way to clear the DNS cache — you don't need to deal with Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt. You can do it right from the Run dialog box. Just follow the steps below:

1. To your keyboard, press Win + R to open the Run command box.
   

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2. Type “ipconfig /flushdns” and hit Enter.

Method 4: Speed Up Web Access by Flushing Browser DNS Cache

Sometimes, clearing the DNS cache on your browser can also help resolve browsing issues. DNS cache isn't only stored by your OS like Windows; your web browser might also hold onto DNS records. 

Luckily, you can clear the cache on your browser as well. Just open your chosen browser and follow the steps below.

Chrome

Some Windows apps and browsers, like Google Chrome, come with DNS caches. These caches are separate from the ones your OS handles. 

So, apart from clearing the DNS cache for your OS, you should also clear Chrome's DNS cache. Follow the steps below to do it:

1. Press Ctrl + T to open a new tab.
2. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the URL bar and press enter.
   
   
   
3. Click Clear host cache to wipe the local DNS cache.

Edge

In 2020, Microsoft Edge made a change to improve itself by moving to Chromium. This boosted its stability and performance. 

The steps to clear its DNS cache are similar to Chrome because it now shares the same browser engine. Just repeat the following:

1. Open a new tab.
2. Click the URL bar and type edge://net-internals/#dns.
   
   
   
3. Press enter to open DNS settings.
4. Click Clear host cache to flush Edge's DNS cache.

To Cap It All Off

Flushing your DNS cache has numerous benefits, including:

• Safeguarding your computer against phishing attacks.
• Ensuring you access the latest versions of frequently visited sites.
• Restoring your internet connection.
• Maintaining your privacy.

The clearing  process is remarkably simple. Following the outlined steps, you can swiftly perform a DNS flush on any operating system. This lets you quickly resume your website development tasks and help improve your internet browsing experience.