How to Flush and Clear Windows DNS Cache

• Windows 10
• Command Prompt
• PowerShell

Via Run dialog box 

1. Press and hold the Windows key + R to open the run dialog box
2. Type ipconfig /flushdns into the text field and click OK
3. Check to see if your problem has been resolved 

Via Command Prompt

The Run dialog box is quick and easy, but it doesn’t provide much feedback or options. If you aren’t sure whether the Run dialog box method worked or prefer some more feedback about whether the process is complete, you can use the same command in the Windows Command Prompt.

1. Click the Start button or Taskbar search field, and type command
2. Click Run as Administrator
3. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press the enter key
4. Wait for the process to finish
5. Check to see if your problem has been resolved

Via Windows PowerShell

The last method you can use to clear and flush your DNS in Windows 10 is slightly different. It uses Windows PowerShell instead of the Command Prompt, so it uses an entirely different command.

1. Right click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) 
2. If prompted for permission from User Account Control, click Yes
   1. If you are using a VCU managed computer and do not have admin rights, you will need to reach out to your desktop technician 
3. Type Clear-DnsClientCache and then press the enter key
4. Wait for the process to finish
5. Check to see if your problem has been resolved

Why Flush Your DNS Cache?

The purpose of DNS is to let you visit websites by typing a URL instead of an IP address. The point of a DNS cache is to speed up website access by making it so that your computer doesn’t have to wait for a DNS lookup every time you visit a website that you’ve already been to in the past. If this local record ends up getting corrupted, it’s out of date, or you connected to a DNS server that provided incorrect information, you may have trouble accessing websites. By clearing or flushing your DNS cache, you force your computer to check a DNS server when visiting sites because there is no longer a local record.

While Windows 10 maintains a local DNS cache that you can flush with the methods found in this article, your router may also keep a cache. If you find that flushing your DNS in Windows 10 doesn’t fix your internet connectivity problem, then rebooting your router may help.

Information adapted from: https://www.lifewire.com/flush-and-clear-windows-dns-cache-5095298#:~:text=Click%20the%20Start%20button%20or,and%20press%20the%20enter%20key