How to clear the local DNS cache in Window 7, 8 and 10?

Internet-enabled computers have unique numerical IDs (IP addresses) other computers use to communicate with them. Domain Name System brilliantly solves the stress of memorizing those long IDs by creatively devising means to match them using easy-to-remember words.

So, instead of using IP addresses, users can type a domain name,and DNS works behind the scene to resolve the domain name to the proper IP address.

When the browser finds the IP address on a DNS server, your computer caches the information. It saves the cached data in the local DNS cache for subsequent visits instead of querying DNS servers for a domain’s IP address anytime you visit.

Purging local DNS cache helps you see an updated version of a website after DNS changes, resolve DNS errors and protect yourself against malicious hack attacks.

Let’s quickly learn how—for Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Windows 7

Follow these steps to clear the local DNS cache on Windows 7.

Click the search button and type cmd on the search bar. Right-click the ‘cmd’ prompt and click ‘Run as Administrator.’

At the command prompt, type ipconfig /flushdns, leaving space between ipconfig and the trailing slash (/).

How to clear the local DNS cache in Window 7, 8 and 10?, Windows 7

Hit the Enter key, and you’ll get a message saying, “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

How to clear the local DNS cache in Window 7, 8 and 10?, Windows 7 2

That’s it for Windows 7.

Windows 8 and 10

To clear the local DNS cache for Windows 8 and 10, press the Windows key and R (Win+R) on your keyboard to open the Run Windows.

Type cmd on the bar and press the Enter key or click the ‘OK button.

How to clear the local DNS cache in Window 7, 8 and 10?, Windows 8 and 10

At the command prompt, type ipconfig /flushdns and press the Enter key to execute the command.

How to clear the local DNS cache in Window 7, 8 and 10?, Windows 8 and 10 2

You’ll also get a message saying, “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

Wrapping It Up

Clearing local DNS cache on Windows computers is not as difficult as it sounds. As you could see, this article just made it effortless. Try it now on your computer by following the steps here.

You could check out this article to learn more about local DNS cache, why flushing it matters, and how to clear DNS cache in macOS, Linux computers, and Chrome browsers.

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Rado
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Working in the web hosting industry for over 13 years, Rado has inevitably got some insight into the industry. A digital marketer by education, Rado is always putting himself in the client's shoes, trying to see what's best for THEM first. A man of the fine detail, you can often find him spending 10+ minutes wondering over a missing comma or slightly skewed design.