Practical guide

How to Flush the DNS Cache in Windows

DNS translates website names into network addresses. Flushing the local cache can help after a stale lookup, but it does not fix every internet problem.

What to do

  1. Confirm the connection works for other services and note the exact site or name that fails to resolve.
  2. Open Command Prompt. Run ipconfig /flushdns and wait for Windows to report that the DNS resolver cache was flushed.
  3. Close and reopen the browser, then test the site again. Compare with another device on the same network if available.
  4. If name resolution still fails, check the router or provider status and record any browser or Windows error for further troubleshooting.

Checks and limitations

  • Do not run commands copied from unknown websites; this command only clears a local resolver cache.
  • A DNS flush will not repair a disconnected Wi-Fi link or a provider outage.