Windows 10 keeps a local DNS cache, a list of recently looked-up website addresses and their IP addresses, so pages load faster. When a site moves to a new server, your DNS settings change, or the cache gets corrupted, that stored list can send you to the wrong place or cause errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN or “This site can’t be reached.” Clearing (flushing) the cache forces Windows to look up fresh addresses. It takes seconds and is safe.
Quick Answer
Search for cmd, right-click Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, type ipconfig /flushdns, and press Enter. You’ll see “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.” Then clear your browser’s own DNS cache or restart the browser.
When Should You Clear the DNS Cache?
- A website won’t load on your PC but works on your phone or another device.
- You see DNS errors like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED, or “DNS server not responding.”
- You changed DNS servers (for example, to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8) or edited the hosts file.
- A website recently moved hosts, and you’re seeing an old version.
- You suspect DNS spoofing or cache poisoning after malware removal.
Method 1: Command Prompt
- Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator. (Flushing often works without admin rights, but running as administrator avoids errors with the other commands below.)
- Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
- Look for Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.
To see what’s in the cache before or after, run ipconfig /displaydns. An empty or “Could not display” result right after flushing is normal.
Method 2: PowerShell
- Right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Run Clear-DnsClientCache. It completes without a message.
- Check with Get-DnsClientCache.
Method 3: Run Box
Press Windows + R, type ipconfig /flushdns, and press Enter. A black window flashes briefly and closes; the cache is cleared.
Clear Your Browser’s DNS Cache Too
Chrome and Edge keep their own DNS cache that flushing Windows doesn’t clear.
- Chrome: Go to chrome://net-internals/#dns and click Clear host cache. Then go to chrome://net-internals/#sockets and click Flush socket pools.
- Edge: Go to edge://net-internals/#dns and click Clear host cache.
- Firefox: Go to about:networking#dns and click Clear DNS Cache.
Or simply close the browser completely and reopen it.
Still Having DNS Problems? Try These
- Renew your IP address: In an admin Command Prompt, run ipconfig /release, then ipconfig /renew. Your connection drops briefly.
- Register DNS: Run ipconfig /registerdns.
- Reset Winsock and TCP/IP: Run netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset, then restart your PC.
- Change DNS servers: Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click your connection, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Properties, and enter a public DNS server such as 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google).
- Restart your router: Routers cache DNS too. Unplug it for 30 seconds.
- Use the network reset: Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset reinstalls network adapters and resets settings (you’ll need to rejoin Wi-Fi).
Using manual DNS servers you no longer need? See how to enable DHCP in Windows 10.
To switch to a different DNS provider on Windows 11, see how to change DNS servers in Windows 11.
To see which servers you use, see checking DNS settings in Windows 10.
Using a VPN? See how to fix a DNS leak.
On a newer PC, follow how to flush DNS on Windows 11.
Troubleshooting
- “The requested operation requires elevation”: Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- “Could not flush the DNS Resolver Cache: Function failed during execution”: The DNS Client service may be stopped. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and check that DNS Client is running, or restart your PC.
- Site still won’t load: The problem may be the website itself, your ISP, or a VPN. Test on another network, or check the site on a status checker.
Related: See incognito history on Windows 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to flush DNS?
Yes. It deletes only temporary lookups. The first visit to each site afterward may be a fraction of a second slower while Windows looks it up again.
Does restarting the PC clear the DNS cache?
Yes, a restart clears it, but ipconfig /flushdns is faster.
Is it the same in Windows 11?
Yes. The same commands work in Windows 11, including in Windows Terminal.
Summary
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- Run ipconfig /flushdns.
- Clear the browser’s host cache or restart the browser.
- If problems remain, renew your IP, reset Winsock, or change DNS servers.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.