chrome://net-internals/#dns – Best Ways to Clear DNS Cache on Chrome & on Any Device

The DNS cache is a temporary database maintained by the operating system that contains records of all the recent visits and attempted visits to websites and other internet domains. The purpose of the DNS cache is to speed up the loading of websites by reducing the amount of time it takes to look up IP addresses. However, sometimes the DNS cache can become corrupted, resulting in errors when trying to access certain websites. In such cases, it may be necessary to clear the DNS cache.

One way to clear the DNS cache is to use the chrome://net-internals/#dns page in the Google Chrome browser. This page provides a simple and easy-to-use interface for clearing the DNS cache. To access this page, simply type chrome://net-internals/#dns into the address bar of your Chrome browser and press Enter. Once on the page, you can click the “Clear host cache” button to clear the DNS cache.

It is important to note that clearing the DNS cache can result in slower website loading times for a short period of time, as the browser has to look up IP addresses for websites that were previously stored in the cache. However, clearing the DNS cache can also help resolve issues with accessing certain websites, making it a useful tool for troubleshooting internet connectivity problems.

What is the DNS Cache?

The DNS cache is a temporary database stored on a computer or network device that contains information about recently accessed domain names and their corresponding IP addresses. The purpose of the DNS cache is to speed up the process of resolving domain names to IP addresses by reducing the time it takes to query DNS servers for this information.

When a user types a domain name into a web browser, the browser first checks its DNS cache to see if it already has the IP address for that domain name. If the IP address is found in the cache, the browser can immediately connect to the website without needing to query a DNS server. This can significantly reduce page load times and improve the user experience.

However, if the IP address for a domain name changes or if the cache becomes corrupted, the browser may not be able to connect to the website. In this case, the DNS cache must be cleared or flushed to force the browser to query a DNS server for the correct IP address.

The chrome://net-internals/#dns tool is a useful resource for clearing or flushing the DNS cache on Google Chrome. By accessing this tool, users can quickly and easily clear the DNS cache, allowing them to connect to websites without any issues.

What exactly is DNS cache Flushing?

DNS cache flushing is the process of clearing out the stored DNS information on a device. DNS (Domain Name System) is responsible for translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses that computers can understand. When a user visits a website, the DNS information is stored in the device’s cache memory to speed up the loading process for the next visit.

Flushing the DNS cache can be helpful in resolving issues related to DNS, such as outdated or incorrect information. It can also be useful in situations where a website has moved to a new server or IP address, and the device’s cache still has the old information.

To flush the DNS cache on Google Chrome, users can utilize the chrome://net-internals/#dns URL. Once the URL is entered, the user can click on the “Clear host cache” button to clear the DNS cache. Additionally, users can click on the “Flush socket pools” button to clear the socket pools, which can also help resolve network-related issues.

It is important to note that flushing the DNS cache can temporarily slow down the browsing experience as the device needs to re-fetch the DNS information for each website. However, in most cases, this is a small price to pay for resolving DNS-related issues.

Clear DNS Cache on Chrome

Clearing the DNS cache on Chrome can help resolve issues related to DNS resolution, such as incorrect or outdated IP addresses. Here are a few methods to clear the DNS cache on Chrome:

Method 1: Using chrome://net-internals/#dns

1. Open your Chrome browser and type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.
2. Click on the “Clear host cache” button to clear the DNS cache.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter to clear the DNS cache.

Method 3: Using a Chrome Extension

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for DNS Flusher.
2. Install the DNS Flusher extension.
3. Click on the DNS Flusher icon in the Chrome toolbar to clear the DNS cache.

It is important to note that clearing the DNS cache may temporarily slow down your browsing experience as Chrome will need to re-resolve the IP addresses of websites. However, clearing the DNS cache can help resolve issues related to DNS resolution, such as incorrect or outdated IP addresses.

Clear DNS Cache on Firefox

To clear DNS cache on Firefox, follow these steps:

1. Open Firefox and type “about” in the address bar.
2. Click on the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
3. In the search bar, type “network.dnsCacheExpiration” and press Enter.
4. Double-click the “network.dnsCacheExpiration” preference to edit it.
5. Change the value to “0” and click “OK” to save the changes.

This will clear the DNS cache on Firefox and force the browser to perform a new DNS lookup for every website you visit. It is important to note that clearing the DNS cache may slow down your browsing experience temporarily, as the browser has to perform additional DNS lookups.

If you want to automate the process of clearing the DNS cache on Firefox, you can use an extension like DNS Cache. This extension automatically clears the DNS cache every time you close Firefox, ensuring that your browsing experience remains fast and reliable.

Overall, clearing the DNS cache on Firefox is a simple process that can help improve your browsing experience. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your browser is always using the most up-to-date DNS information for every website you visit.

Clear DNS Cache on Safari

Clearing the DNS cache on Safari is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in just a few steps. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Safari and click on the “Safari” menu in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Select “Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
3. Click on the “Advanced” tab.
4. Check the box next to “Show Develop menu in menu bar.”
5. Close the Preferences window.
6. Click on the “Develop” menu in the menu bar.
7. Select “Empty Caches” from the drop-down menu.

This will clear the DNS cache on Safari, which should help resolve any issues you may be experiencing with slow or unresponsive websites. It’s a good idea to clear the cache periodically to ensure that Safari is running smoothly.

Note that clearing the cache will also remove any saved login credentials and other website data, so you may need to re-enter your login information after clearing the cache.

In addition to clearing the DNS cache on Safari, it’s also a good idea to clear the cache on other browsers and devices you may be using. This can help ensure that you’re getting the most up-to-date information from websites and prevent any issues that may arise from outdated or corrupted data.

Clear DNS Cache on Opera

Clearing the DNS cache on Opera can be a bit tricky as there is no built-in option to do so. According to Opera’s Senior Developer, Yngve Nysæter Pettersen, the DNS cache in Opera is set to 10 minutes and there’s no means to clear it. However, there are a few workarounds that can be used to clear the DNS cache on Opera.

One option is to clear the entire browser cache, which includes the DNS cache. To do this, click on the Opera menu button (three horizontal lines) in the upper-left corner of the browser window and select “Settings”. In the left-hand menu, select “Privacy & Security” and then click on “Clear browsing data”. In the pop-up window, select “All time” under “Time range” and check the box next to “Cached images and files”. Finally, click on “Clear data” to clear the browser cache, including the DNS cache.

Another option is to use the command-line interface to clear the DNS cache. To do this, open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac) and type the following command:

ipconfig /flushdns

This command will flush the DNS resolver cache, which includes the DNS cache used by Opera. Once the command is executed, the DNS cache will be cleared and any cached DNS entries will be removed.

It’s worth noting that clearing the DNS cache may slow down browsing temporarily as DNS lookups will need to be performed again for each website visited. However, this is a normal process and should not cause any long-term issues.

Clear DNS Cache for Your Android

Clearing DNS cache on an Android device can be useful when you encounter slow browsing or connectivity issues. Fortunately, Chrome on Android has a built-in feature that allows you to clear the DNS cache with ease. Here is how to do it.

1. Open Chrome on your Android device and type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.
2. Tap on the “Clear host cache” button to flush the DNS cache on your Android device.
3. If you want to clear the socket pools, follow these steps:
   • Tap on the “Sockets” tab.
   • Tap on the “Flush socket pools” button.
4. Confirm that the DNS cache has been cleared by visiting a website.

Note that clearing the DNS cache on your Android device may cause a slight delay in loading web pages as it will take time to rebuild the cache. However, this delay should only be temporary.

In addition to the steps above, you can also clear the DNS cache on Chrome for Android by following the steps below:

1. Open Chrome on your Android device.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Tap on “Settings” and then on “Privacy.”
4. Tap on “Clear browsing data” and select “Cached images and files.”
5. Tap on “Clear data” to clear the DNS cache.

By following these simple steps, you can clear the DNS cache on your Android device and improve your browsing experience.

Clear DNS Cache on Your Apple iPhone

Clearing the DNS cache on an Apple iPhone can help resolve network issues and improve browsing speed. Here are some methods to clear DNS cache on an iPhone:

Method 1: Use Airplane Mode

One of the quickest ways to flush the DNS cache on an iPhone is to enable Airplane Mode for a few seconds and then disable it. This method works by disconnecting the device from the network and then reconnecting it, which forces the device to refresh the DNS cache.

To enable Airplane Mode, swipe down from the upper right corner of the screen to access Control Center, and tap the Airplane Mode icon. Wait for a few seconds, and then tap the icon again to disable Airplane Mode.

Method 2: Reboot Your iPhone

Another way to clear DNS cache on an iPhone is to reboot the device. This method works by shutting down the device and then restarting it, which clears the cache and refreshes the network settings.

To reboot an iPhone, press and hold the power button until the “slide to power off” slider appears. Slide the slider to the right to turn off the device. Wait for a few seconds, and then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears.

Method 3: Network Settings Dump

If the above methods do not work, users can try dumping the network settings on their iPhone. This method resets the network settings to their default values and clears the DNS cache.

To dump the network settings on an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Enter the device passcode if prompted, and then tap Reset Network Settings to confirm.

Overall, these methods can help clear DNS cache on an Apple iPhone and improve network performance.

Clearing or Flushing out DNS Cache on MS-Windows 7/8/10/11

DNS cache is a temporary database that stores information about previously visited websites. It helps in speeding up the website loading time by reducing the DNS lookup time. However, sometimes, the cached information may become outdated or corrupted, leading to website loading issues. In such cases, clearing or flushing out the DNS cache may help. Here’s how you can do it on MS-Windows 7/8/10/11:

Using Command Prompt

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “cmd” and press Enter to open the Command Prompt window.
3. Type “ipconfig /flushdns” and press Enter.
4. Once the command is executed successfully, you will see the message “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

Using Windows PowerShell

1. Press the Windows key + X to open the Power User Menu.
2. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list.
3. Type “Clear-DnsClientCache” and press Enter.
4. Once the command is executed successfully, you will see the message “DNS Client cache successfully cleared.”

Using Control Panel

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click on Change adapter settings.
5. Right-click on your network adapter and select Properties.
6. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
7. Click on the Advanced button.
8. Select the DNS tab.
9. Click on the Clear button to clear the DNS cache.

By following any of the above methods, you can clear or flush out the DNS cache on MS-Windows 7/8/10/11 and resolve website loading issues.

Clearing/Flushing out DNS Cache on Linux

To clear or flush DNS cache on Linux, there are a few methods that can be used. One of the most popular methods is to use the dnsmasq application, which provides a DNS cache and a DHCP server. Here are the steps to flush the dnsmasq DNS cache:

1. Open the terminal and type the following command to restart the dnsmasq daemon:

   sudo killall -HUP dnsmasq
   

   This command sends the SIGHUP signal to the dnsmasq daemon, which tells it to reinitialize and clear its DNS cache.

2. Another method to flush DNS cache on Linux is to use the systemd-resolve command. Here are the steps:

   sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches
   

   This command flushes the DNS cache of systemd-resolved, which is a system service that provides DNS name resolution to local applications.

It is important to note that the above methods may not work on all Linux distributions. In some cases, the DNS cache may be stored in a different location or managed by a different service. Therefore, it is recommended to check the documentation of your Linux distribution or consult a Linux expert for more information.

In conclusion, clearing or flushing out DNS cache on Linux can be done using various methods, including the dnsmasq application and the systemd-resolve command. It is important to choose the appropriate method based on the Linux distribution and the DNS cache management system used.

Flushing out DNS cache on Apple macOS

Flushing out DNS cache on Apple macOS is an important task that can help fix network issues and improve the browsing experience. Here are a few steps to flush DNS cache on macOS:

1. Open the Terminal app on your Mac. You can do this by searching for “Terminal” in Spotlight or by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
2. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
3. You will be prompted to enter your admin password. Type your password and press Enter.
4. Once the command is executed, the DNS cache on your Mac will be cleared.

It is important to note that flushing out DNS cache on macOS may cause a slight delay in browsing speed as the system has to rebuild the cache. However, this delay is usually temporary and the browsing speed should return to normal after a few minutes.

In addition to the above method, there are other ways to flush DNS cache on macOS, including using third-party apps or manually deleting cache files. However, these methods can be more complex and should only be used by advanced users.

Overall, flushing out DNS cache on Apple macOS is a simple and effective way to fix network issues and improve the browsing experience.

How to verify DNS flushed or not

After following the steps to clear or flush DNS cache on Chrome using the chrome://net-internals/#dns URL, you may want to verify if the DNS cache has been successfully cleared or not. There are a few ways to do this.

Using Command Prompt

One way to verify if the DNS cache has been flushed on a Windows computer is by using the Command Prompt. To do this, open the Command Prompt and type the following command:

ipconfig /displaydns

This will display the DNS cache. If the cache is empty, it means that the DNS cache has been successfully flushed.

Using Chrome Developer Tools

Another way to verify if the DNS cache has been flushed is by using Chrome Developer Tools. To do this, open Chrome Developer Tools by pressing F12 or by right-clicking on a webpage and selecting “Inspect”. Then, click on the “Network” tab and reload the webpage. If the DNS cache has been flushed, you should see a new DNS lookup for the webpage.

Summing up

In summary, clearing or flushing the DNS cache on Google Chrome can be done easily by following the steps outlined in this article. Users can either use the chrome://net-internals/#dns page or the command prompt to clear the DNS cache.

Using the chrome://net-internals/#dns page is straightforward, as users only need to click on the “Clear host cache” button to clear the DNS cache. Additionally, users can also clear the socket pools by clicking on the “Flush socket pools” button.

Alternatively, users can use the command prompt to clear the DNS cache system-wide by typing “ipconfig /flushdns” and pressing enter. This command will delete the DNS cache and refresh the DNS resolver cache.

It is recommended to clear the DNS cache periodically to ensure that the browser is not using outdated DNS information. This can improve browsing speed and security, especially when visiting new websites or when troubleshooting network issues.

Overall, clearing the DNS cache on Google Chrome is a simple and effective way to maintain a fast and secure browsing experience.

FAQs About DNS Cache Management

DNS cache management is an essential part of maintaining a fast and efficient browsing experience. Here are some frequently asked questions about managing DNS cache on Chrome using chrome://net-internals/#dns:

Q: What is DNS Cache?

A: DNS cache is a temporary storage of domain name system (DNS) information. It is used to speed up the browsing experience by reducing the time it takes to look up IP addresses. When a user visits a website, the browser checks the DNS cache to see if it has the IP address of the website. If it does, the browser can skip the time-consuming process of looking up the IP address and connect directly to the website.

Q: Why do I need to clear DNS Cache?

A: Clearing DNS cache can help improve browsing speed and resolve connectivity issues. Over time, DNS cache can become cluttered with outdated or incorrect information, leading to slower browsing speeds and connectivity issues. Clearing the DNS cache can help resolve these issues by forcing the browser to look up the latest DNS information.

Q: How often should I clear DNS Cache?

A: The frequency of clearing DNS cache depends on how often the user visits new websites. If the user visits new websites frequently, clearing DNS cache once a week may be beneficial. However, if the user visits the same websites repeatedly, clearing DNS cache may not be necessary as the DNS information will likely still be stored in the cache.

Q: How do I clear DNS Cache on Chrome using chrome://net-internals/#dns?

A: To clear DNS Cache on Chrome using chrome://net-internals/#dns, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome Browser and type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar.
2. Click on the “Clear host cache” button to clear DNS cache.
3. To flush socket pools, type chrome://net-internals/#sockets in the address bar and click on the “Flush socket pools” button.

It is important to note that clearing DNS cache will not delete any browsing history or personal data. It only clears the temporary storage of DNS information.