How to clear DNS cache on Windows, Mac and why you need to do it

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This procedure is optional, but in many cases it can help you solve Internet connection problems on Windows and macOS computers. For instructions on working with DNS, see the material below.

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Why do I need to clear the DNS cache?

This operation is the first priority if there are problems connecting to certain web resources. For example, if a site that has moved to a new hosting fails to load, or a substitute page is opened instead of the required page (which is caused by malware interfering with the DNS service). In addition, clearing the cache is often necessary after changing the DNS gateway (modem, router) settings.

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How to enable / disable DNS caching

In macOS, this option is always active by default, in the case of Windows, it is quite simple to switch the service to active mode or vice versa:

1. Go to Control Panel → Administration → Services;

2. Find and open the DNS client service menu;

3. On the “General” choose the type of launch. For normal operation, select the “Automatically”…

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How to clear Windows DNS cache

The easiest way to clear the DNS cache is using the command line. To do this, you need to do the following:

1. Press Win + R or select Start → Execute;

2. In the window that appears, enter “cmd” (without quotes) and press Enter;

3. In the command line that opens, enter the ipconfig / flushdns command;

4. Restart your computer (you can limit yourself to restarting the browser).

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How to clear DNS cache on Mac (macOS)

Clearing the cache in the apple operating system is also done through the command line:

1. Open the Terminal;

2. Enter the command:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

3. Press Return and enter the administrator password;
4. Wait until the end of cleaning (it usually takes a few seconds).

The above command is relevant for the latest macOS versions since High Sierra 10.13.x.

For older operating systems, you can try using an alternative option.

sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache

Using a third party DNS service

If resetting the cache did not solve the problem, then it may lie in the operation of the service itself. In this case, you should test your internet connection through a third-party service such as Google Public DNS. This is only recommended for advanced users, and the corresponding settings can be found here.