Sometimes, when you have an Internet connection problems flushing Windows DNS cache can solve some issues.
That’s because if you can no longer access a certain website that you have visited before, you might need to flush the DNS resolver cache to remove the old records.
In fact, flushing the DNS resolver cache can help you resolve DNS related problems in Windows 10:
- When the IP address of certain site changes.
- Bad results are cached.
- DNS cache is corrupted or broken.
Now, let’s see how to flush DNS resolver cache.
How to Flush and Reset the DNS Cache Using Windows Command
STEP 1: At first, Press Windows key and R at the same time to invoke Run window.
STEP 2: Then, input cmd in the empty box and click OK.
STEP 3: Now, type the following command ipconfig /flushdns to clear DNS cache files on your computer and press Enter. Note: Be sure there is a space before the slash.
STEP 4: After that, a command box will appear on the screen and the DNS cache will be cleared.
Flush and Reset the DNS Cache Using Windows PowerShell
STEP 1: Right-click Start button to open the menu.
STEP 2: Choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) to run PowerShell as administrator.
STEP 3: Type the command clear-dnsclientcache and press Enter.
That’s all about DNS resolver cache and how to flush it. Hope this video will be helpful when you need to flush DNS cache.
What is the DNS Resolver Cache?
A DNS (Domain Name System) resolver cache is a temporary database, maintained by Windows, that contains records of all your recent visits and attempted visits to websites and other Internet domains.
Every time you visit a website by its name (such as nechstar.com), the browser initiates a request out to the Internet, but it’s redirected to the DNS server to find the IP address of that website. After that, you can access the website. This process is called name resolution and is it one of the jobs of DNS. But it takes time.
That’s where DNS cache comes into play. The DNS resolver cache is used to speed up the name resolution process before the request is sent out to the Internet.
What does flushing DNS cache do?
Flushing the DNS resolver cache can help you resolve DNS related problems in Windows 10:
When the IP address of certain site changes. The old IP address is still recorded in the DNS cache, so your computer might not be able to access the site.
Bad results are cached. Spoofing and poisoning the DNS cache is nothing new, that is why some bad results might be cached and you cannot visit the site again.
DNS cache is corrupted or broken. Sometimes happens the DNS cache is corrupted or broken and you cannot access the webpage, although the page exists on the internet.
Frequently Asked Questions about DNS Cache
After you clear the DNS cache on your computer, it removes and deletes all the invalid records. So, next time you access any website, you will get the newest version of it.
However, your router has a DNS cache as well, and after you clear DNS on your computer, you should also reboot your router to clear its temporary memory.
How to see your current DNS Cache
When you want to see your current Windows DNS cache, just follow these simple steps:
STEP 1: Select the Start button.
STEP 2: Type “cmd” and select command prompt (use right-click to run it as admin).
STEP 3: Type “ipconfig /displaydns” (use space before the slash) and hit Enter.
STEP 4: You will see a very long output. Inspect all entries if you want.
You can also use Windows PowerShell instead of the command prompt to see your current DNS cache. Open it and use the command Get”>-DnsClientCache to see the results.
What Are the Benefits of Flushing DNS?
- Hide search behavior
- Security against manipulation
- Solve technical problems
Does Flushing DNS Speed Up The Internet?
Your computer keeps a list of websites and IP addresses you have visited and saves it in DNS resolver cache to create faster connections with these previously accessed websites and addresses. When some of these data is corrupted or broken, it may slow down your access to these websites or even give you a page not found an error. In fact, this will not lead to a slower internet connection, but it could slow down your online browsing.
Does Reboot Flush DNS?
To flush the DNS resolver cache in Windows 10, you have to use ipconfig /flushdns command in the command prompt. Rebooting your computer doesn’t clear the DNS cache. However, rebooting (restart) is used as an effective method to erase the DNS cache of your router.
Can I view the data in the DNS Resolver Cache?
Yes. The process for viewing your DNS cache in Windows 10 is simple. Open your command prompt and enter the following command: ipconfig /displaydns or use the PowerShell and use the command Get-DnsClientCache to view the data.
