Why clear your DNS cache?

Flushing, or clearing your computers DNS cache forces your computer to reload new DNS settings from the connected DNS server.

Clearing your DNS cache can be useful if you’re having problems viewing a website or email server, or if a website has moved to a new server/IP address.

Before you start:

  • Quit any web browser windows you have open.
  • Quit any email applications.

How to Flush DNS in Windows

  1. Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows Logo.
  2. Type cmd.cmd
  3. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  4. Click Yes on the User Account Control prompt.
  5. Enter ipconfig /flushdns
  6. Press the Enter key.

Microsoft.com “/flushdns : Flushes and resets the contents of the DNS client resolver cache. During DNS troubleshooting, you can use this procedure to discard negative cache entries from the cache, as well as any other entries that have been added dynamically.”

How to Flush DNS in Mac OS X

Tip: On Mac? Try DNS Flusher. A simple, and free DNS tool for Mac OS X. Download DNS Flusher 1.1

Mac OS X

  1. Open Terminal.
  2. Enter sudo dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press Enter.
  3. Enter your Mac password.