How to clear the DNS cache on macOS and Windows – Guide
Macs typically use DNS caching to quickly direct users to the right websites. However, if the cache becomes corrupted, it can lead to 404 errors and slow loading times. To fix this issue, users can clear their Mac’s DNS cache, which may take a while as the computer searches its phone book for the correct address. To speed up this process, Macs save some of these entries for future access.
If clearing your browser cache didn’t solve the issue, you may need to try clearing your DNS cache. Here’s how to do it from the command line on Windows and macOS.
Free DNS cache on a Mac
Mac users can quickly flush their DNS cache by opening Terminal (Command + Space, then search for “Terminal” and press Enter) and entering the command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder” (for macOS Lion to Big Sur).
Computer users can clear their DNS cache by running the command “sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder”.
Users of OS X 10.10.1, 10.10.2 and 10.10.3 must run a specific command to ensure their system is up-to-date.
The command line utility “discoveryutil” can be used to clear the DNS and mDNS caches, respectively, by running the commands “udnsflushcaches” and “mdnsflushcaches”.
If the problem persists, check the affected site to see if it has been fixed. If not, additional troubleshooting may be necessary.
Free DNS cache on Windows
Windows users can quickly and easily release their DNS by running the Command Prompt as an administrator and entering the command “ipconfig /release”. This works on all Windows machines, from XP to the latest version.
Clearing the DNS resolver cache may resolve an issue with a website not loading. If successful, the command prompt will report “DNS resolver cache was successfully cleared”. If this does not work, the site may be down, there could be Wi-Fi issues or a network issue on the user’s side that needs to be addressed. Remote troubleshooting is also an option if it is someone else’s computer.
Final note
We’ve created a guide to help you clear the DNS cache on macOS and Windows. If you have any questions, please reach out to us. We’d also appreciate it if you shared this article with your friends.
