How to flush your DNS Cache

Your DNS cache stores the locations (IP addresses) of web servers that contain web pages which you have recently viewed. If the location of the web server changes before the entry in your DNS cache updates, you can no longer access the site.

How to Flush DNS cache on Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7

Follow the below steps to clear your DNS cache:

Press Windows+R key to open the Run dialog box. Type cmd in the field and click OK button.

This will open a command prompt window.

In the command prompt type, the following:

ipconfig /flushdns

You have to wait for few moments to clear the cache and you’ll see a message “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

How to flush DNS cache on Linux

Same as on Windows systems, clearing DNS is a simple process on Linux machines and the only difference will be the syntax depending on the OS you’re running.

Ubuntu Distribution: Open the terminal and run the following command

sudo service network-manager restart

Other Linux Distribution: Open the terminal and run the following command

/etc/init.d/nscd restart

How to flush DNS cache on Mac

Same as on Linux, on Mac, the command will differ depending on the OS version.

MacOS Sierra

On OS Sierra, navigate Application > Utilities > Terminal and enter the following command:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

The above provided same command will run on MacOS version 10.7, 10.8, and 10.9.

MacOS 10.10.1, 10.10.2, and 10.10.3

Navigate Application > Utilities > Terminal and enter the following command:

sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache

MacOS 10.5 and 10.6

Navigate Application > Utilities > Terminal and enter the following command:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

Updated on: 21/05/2026