DNS is what turns a website name into the server address your browser connects to. Browsers and operating systems remember recent lookups so repeat visits are faster, but stale DNS cache can keep a site broken after it moves servers or changes records. Clearing DNS cache forces a fresh lookup.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari on Windows or Mac when a website will not load, shows an old server, or reports a cannot-find-server style error. Safari does not keep a separate browser DNS cache, so flushing the operating system cache covers it.
Clear Chrome or Edge internal DNS cache
Chrome and Edge use nearly the same internal diagnostics page.
- Open a new tab.
- In Chrome, enter chrome://net-internals/#dns. In Edge, enter edge://net-internals/#dns.
- Press Enter.
- Click Clear host cache.
- Close the tab and reload the problem site.
There may be no dramatic confirmation message. The cache is cleared when you click the button.
Clear Firefox internal DNS cache
Firefox has its own networking page for DNS cache.
- Open a new Firefox tab.
- Type about:networking#dns in the address bar.
- Press Enter.
- Click Clear DNS Cache.
- Reload the website.
Flush DNS at the operating system level
This covers every browser, including Safari.
- On Windows, open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run ipconfig /flushdns and wait for the success message.
- On Mac, open Terminal.
- Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
- Enter your Mac password if prompted, then reload the site.
More control
Try another DNS provider
If browser and operating system cache clearing do not help, your router or internet provider may be holding old DNS data. Temporarily switch the device DNS server to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 and test again.
Windows requires administrator access
If ipconfig /flushdns returns an error, reopen Command Prompt as administrator. Without admin rights, the command may not complete properly.
DNS cache is not browser data
Flushing DNS does not delete passwords, cookies, history, saved files, or cached images. It only clears remembered address lookups.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help – Network diagnostics and DNS troubleshooting (2025)
- Mozilla Support – Websites do not load: troubleshoot and fix error messages (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Flush and reset the DNS client resolver cache (2025)