If you are having problems accessing some websites or apps, one way to solve it is by flushing the DNS cache on your computer. How you do that depends on the device you are using because it will vary from Windows to Mac and from Chrome OS to Linux. In this article, we will show you how to flush DNS cache in Windows 11. We will also tell you all about DNS cache and how flushing it can help fix random connectivity issues.

If you are experiencing connectivity issues even after deleting the temporary files and clearing the app cache on your Windows 11 computer, the underlying problem might be with the way the network is configured. To correct it, you will need to flush the DNS resolver settings in your computer. Best practice dictates that you also restart your modem and router to clear out all cached DNS settings. With that said, let’s get started:

  • What is DNS Cache and Why Should You Care?
  • Steps to Flush DNS Cache in Windows 11
  • Method 1: Flush DNS Cache Using Command Prompt
  • Method 2: Flush DNS Cache Using Windows PowerShell
  • Method 3: Flush DNS Cache Using Run Command
  • Method 4: Flush DNS Cache Using a Batch File
  • Clear DNS Cache in Chrome

Note: This tutorial focuses on flushing DNS cache in Windows 11. For other platforms, check out how to flush DNS cache in Android and clear DNS cache on macOS devices.

DNS cache is a file that includes the hostnames and IP addresses of the websites you have visited on your computer. As the name suggests, it caches the webpage, which results in the site loading faster the next time you open it. The caches are located in the client computer, as well as in the servers of the ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Steps to Flush DNS Cache in Windows 11

Note: This guide only deals with clearing your DNS cache. To change your DNS service provider, check out our detailed tutorials on how to change DNS settings on Windows.

  • First, open a Command Prompt window in Admin mode. To do that, search for “cmd” (without quotes) in the Windows search bar and select Run as Administrator.

Another way to flush the DNS cache on Windows 11 PCs is by using PowerShell. Here’s how you do that:

  • In the PowerShell window, copy + paste the following command and press Enter: Clear-DnsClientCache. This will clear the DNS cache of your Windows 11 computer instantly.

You can also clear the DNS cache straight from the Run dialog box without opening either the Command Prompt or PowerShell. This is probably the easiest way to clear DNS cache on Windows computer, and here’s how it works:

Finally, if you would rather automate the process of flushing the DNS cache on your Windows PC, you can create and use a batch file for the purpose. So, download this batch file and run it to clear the DNS cache in Windows 11.

Clear DNS Cache in Chrome

Some Windows apps, including Google Chrome, have DNS caches of their own. It is separate from the DNS cache stored by your operating system. In these cases, you will have to clear the DNS Cache of these applications as well. For Google Chrome, this is how you do it:

Flushing DNS cache may sound like a ton of tech jargon, but it’s an easy undertaking, as you now know. There are multiple ways to flush the DNS cache in Windows 11 PCs, including using the Command Prompt, the PowerShell, and the Run command. So go ahead, flush the cached DNS data on your Windows 11 computer to fix any underlying connectivity issues and improve your privacy. Once you do that, check out some of our other DNS-related articles, including the best DNS servers you can use and the difference between VPN and DNS.