How Do I Flush My DNS Cache?

How do I flush my DNS cache?

Some browsers and devices store website location data in your system for quicker access with the DNS Cache. DNS Cache needs to be flushed to remove stored website location details.

A DNS cache (also called a DNS resolver cache) is a temporary database maintained by the computer’s operating system which contains records of all your recent visits (but also attempted visits) to websites and other Internet domains. DNS (or Domain Name System) is an index of all public websites and their corresponding IP addresses. When you want to visit the site and enter its name in the browser, DNS finds its IP address and directs you to this site. It also keeps the information about this visit in the cache. When you visit certain sites more often, DNS cache speeds the process by remembering the IP address of the requested site. In this situation, DNS flush is not needed because it helps you load the sites faster.

After some time, your cache becomes overloaded with information or contains bad results and simply makes mistakes. You often get the “Page Not Found” error. The real problems begin when your DNS cache becomes corrupted (or poisoned). This may happen due to technical faults or administrative accidents but it may also be a result of viruses or network attacks. Your DNS database stops working properly and, in the worst-case scenario, you may become a victim of phishing by being redirected to the website that looks like the one you wanted to go to but actually belongs to thieves who are after your money (in the case of accessing banking sites, for example).

This is the moment when DNS flush becomes necessary. DNS flush command clears, resets and erases all the entries including invalid and poisoned records. Therefore, even if previous entries were wrongly redirected or even hacked, the whole “asking for IP” process begins from the scratch and new addresses are taken from the DNS server in your network.

Here are some of the common ways to flush your DNS cache.

Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10

• Step 1: Open the Command Prompt
  • Windows XP: Click on the Start Menu and click  Run.Type in cmd and hit enter.
  • Windows Vista/7: Type cmd in the search bar and hit Enter.
  • Windows 8: Press Win key (windows logo key) and X on your keyboard. Click on Command Prompt.
• Step 2: Flush DNS
  • Type ipconfig /flushdns and hit enter.

Mac OSX

• Step 1:Open the Terminal
  • Navigate to Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal
• Step 2:Flush DNS – Type the following command and hit enter.
   
  • Mac OS X Yosemite and later
    sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  • Mac OS X Yosemite v10.10 through v10.10.3
    sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache
  • Mac OS X Mavericks, Mountain Lion and Lion
    sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  • Mac OS X Snow Leopard
    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Portable Devices

• Step 1: Close the apps
  • Close the app completely. Make sure it is not running in the background as well.
• Step 2: Restart Wifi
  • Turn off the Wifi on your device and turn it back on.
• Step 3: Open App
  • Open the app again. DNS Cache should be cleared.

iOS Devices

• Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.

TV Devices

• Step 1: Close the apps
  • Close the app completely. Make sure it is not running in the background as well.
• Step 2: Open App
  • Open the app again. DNS Cache should be cleared.

Now, your DNS cache is clear and your device is ready to be repopulated with correct addresses. If anything is wrong with the connectivity, DNS flush is usually the first step that you can take to restore proper functioning of your network. As you can see, DNS flush is usually performed on your computer or your mobile Internet-capable device. However, routers can also have a DNS cache. You can perform the DNS flush simply by rebooting your rooter to clear the DNS entries stored in its temporary memory.

For any further questions please contact Smart DNS Proxy support. We are live 24/7.