How does flushing dns help

URL Name. Detailed Instructions. Choose your computers operating system to see detailed instructions: Windows 10, 8 and 8. Windows From Home, tap or click the Desktop tile. Right-click the Start button the Windows logo in the lower-left. Choose Command Prompt Admin. When asked whether to allow Command Prompt to make changes to your computer, select Yes.

Note: If you are asked for an administrative login, you will need to contact your system administrator. Type "netsh winsock reset" and press Enter. Restart the computer. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator. The various — partially optional — components include the following:.

The DNS cache contains IP addresses for the respective domains or hosts as well as additional information specifying it — such as the validity period of the record or the appropriate protocol group. For example, an entry for the domain www. As mentioned earlier, it makes sense to clear the DNS cache regularly.

There are three reasons in particular that you should take action and set the DNS register to zero with a DNS flush, regardless of the actual validity period of the individual records:.

You can display the DNS cache currently stored on your system at any time. As a user of Windows 7, you can run a DNS flush via the command prompt.

Then start the command line tool by clicking or pressing enter. When you press enter, Windows clears the DNS cache.

The command prompt is also your tool for a DNS flush on Windows 8. First, open the start menu via the home button and then search using the magnifying glass symbol. Start the flushing process by pressing enter.

A command line message will inform you of the success of the DNS flush. The command prompt works in the same way on Windows 10, and the procedure hardly differs from that of Windows 7 and 8: in the first step, use the search function to look for the command line application cmd.

If the process has functioned as desired, then the command prompt confirms the success of the flush process. The different distributions only offer a function to store DNS information locally with the use of appropriate applications like nscd n ame s ervice c aching d aemon , pdnsd, dns-clean, or dnsmasq.

If you use one of these services for caching, you have to control it from the terminal in order to clear the cache. To clear the DNS cache from dnsmasq , dns-clean , or ncsd , though, you need to completely restart the respective service:. As opposed to the Microsoft systems, though, the command for resetting the cache varies from version to version. Its presence indicates that some sort of problem is occurring with your internet connection. This phenomenon can be the result of many different causes.

In addition to network problems, routers, Windows Firewall, and the web browser are also taken into account when troubleshooting. Translating domain names to IP addresses is one of the central services on the internet. Your computer sends daily requests to the domain name system DNS without you knowing. But ask yourself today: What is DNS? DNS spoofing — also known as DNS cache poisoning — is an attack in which bad actors gain access to your DNS cache and alter the information in order to redirect you to the wrong sites.

In some cases, they will redirect you to a fraudulent website that resembles its intended destination so that you enter in sensitive information, like your online banking login information. In that case, the DNS information on your computer may not get updated right away and you could end up seeing a error or an outdated version of a site when you try to visit.

You can clear DNS cache at any time. When you think of tracking user behavior on the internet, you probably think of cookies — but the DNS cache can reveal your search history as well. These steps should also work for Windows 8. Click the Start button. Image Source. To open the command prompt console, you could also simply press the Windows and R keys at the same time and enter cmd.

You may see a popup asking if you want to allow Command Prompt to make changes to your computer. If you do, select Yes. The process for flushing your DNS cache on Window 7 is nearly identical to that of later versions. Find Command Prompt. Right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. However, the message at the end varies and may require admin intervention. But you will need to know what version for step 6 since the command prompt varies.

In the Terminal window, type in the one of the following commands based on your software version:. Google Chrome is not an operating system of course, but it does keep a DNS cache of its own. Depending on the service, you can either clear the cache or restart the service. In the Terminal window, type in the one of the following commands based on the service your Linux system is running. The service might stop, then start again before sending a confirmation message that the cache was successfully reset.

It can help prevent phishing schemes or other attacks on your computer, direct you to the most up-to-date versions of your most frequently visited sites, restore your internet connection, and keep your data private. The best part is how easy the process is. Following the steps above can help you perform a DNS flush quickly and easily, no matter what operating system your computer has. That way, you can move onto your other website development tasks.

Originally published Feb 19, AM, updated November 02 Logo - Full Color. Contact Sales. Overview of all products. Marketing Hub Marketing automation software.