A Complete Guide to Clearing DNS Cache: Mac, Windows, and Chrome

Have you ever faced trouble accessing the most recent version of a website? Clearing your DNS cache can help resolve such issues. The DNS cache stores information about a website’s IP address, enabling your browser to quickly locate it. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide simple instructions on clearing the DNS cache on your Mac, Windows, and Chrome devices. By doing so, you will be able to refresh the DNS records on your device and troubleshoot any website-related problems you may encounter.

Understanding DNS Cache

The DNS cache is similar to an address book stored on your computer. It contains information about the Domain Name Server (DNS) of every website you visit. DNS is a technology that connects domain names to their corresponding IP addresses. By storing this information in a local DNS cache, your browser can access websites faster.

When you enter a website address in your browser, it first checks the local DNS cache. If the information is available, your browser uses it to visit the website. However, if the information is not present in the local DNS cache, your browser retrieves it from other DNS servers on the internet. This ensures that your browser always takes the shortest route to locate a website.

Why Clear DNS Cache?

While the DNS cache system is efficient, there are instances where it can cause problems. For example, when you move a WordPress site to a new domain or host, the DNS information on your computer may not update promptly. As a result, you may end up accessing the old website or encounter a “not found” error. Although the cache will eventually update itself, it is more convenient to clear the DNS cache immediately.

Clearing DNS Cache on Windows

To clear the DNS cache on a Windows computer, follow these steps:

1. Click on the “Start” button and select the “CMD” (Command Prompt) tool.
2. A command prompt window will appear. Enter the following command: “ipconfig /flushdns”
3. Press the “Enter” key to execute the command, and Windows will flush the DNS cache.

You can now visit the website to fetch the updated DNS information.

Clearing DNS Cache on Mac

If you’re using a Mac and want to clear the DNS cache, follow these steps:

1. Launch the “Terminal” app. You can find it in the Launchpad under the “Other” folder or by going to “Applications » Utilities” in the “Finder”.
2. In the terminal window, type the following command: “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder”
3. You will be prompted to enter your macOS account password. Enter your password and press “Enter”.
4. After executing the command, your computer will flush the DNS cache.

You can now visit the website to retrieve the latest DNS information.

Clearing DNS Cache on Google Chrome

If you primarily use Google Chrome as your browser, you’ll need to clear its DNS cache separately. Here’s how:

1. Enter the following address in the browser’s address bar and press “Enter”: “chrome://net-internals/#dns”
2. This will load Chrome’s net internal settings page. Click on the “Clear host cache” button to clear Chrome’s DNS cache.

Checking DNS Changes Propagation

When you make DNS changes, such as transferring your domain registration or moving your WordPress website to a new host, it takes time for these changes to propagate across the internet. The propagation period can last from a few hours to a couple of days.

To check how your DNS changes are propagated worldwide, you can use online tools like DNS Checker. Simply enter your domain name, and it will display the DNS information from different locations around the world. If all locations indicate the same IP address with a green checkmark, it means your DNS changes have been successfully updated globally.

DNS Cache vs. Browser Cache

It’s important to distinguish between the DNS cache and the browser cache. While the DNS cache contains IP addresses to help your browser locate websites, the browser cache stores website data to facilitate faster page loading. If you’ve made changes to a page and cannot see them, clearing the browser cache should be your next step. You can find detailed instructions on how to clear the browser cache for all major browsers in our in-depth guide.

We hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with a clear understanding of how to clear your DNS cache on various devices. For more tips related to WordPress, don’t forget to check out our articles on improving WordPress performance and our expert picks for the best WordPress plugins to enhance your site. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials, and stay updated by following us on Twitter and Facebook.