Flushing the DNS cache on Windows 11 isn’t rocket science, but it’s one of those things that can feel a little tricky if you don’t do it often. Basically, your PC keeps a little memory of where websites live—that’s DNS cache. Sometimes, this info gets outdated or corrupted, causing slower browsing or weird errors accessing sites. Clearing it out forces your machine to fetch fresh info, which can eliminate those annoying glitches. It’s pretty straightforward, but if something’s wrong with your network, doing this can sometimes be the quick fix that restores proper connectivity or speeds things up. Just don’t expect miracles every time; it’s one of many tools in your troubleshooting toolkit.
How to Flush DNS Cache on Windows 11
Open Command Prompt as administrator
This is step one because Windows usually wants you to have admin rights for system stuff. Hit the Windows key, type “cmd”, and you’ll see “Command Prompt” pop up. Right-click on it and select Run as administrator. If everything’s normal, you’ll get a UAC prompt—click “Yes”.
Enter the command to clear DNS cache
Once you’re in the admin Command Prompt window—no funny business needed—type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter. This command is literal magic for clearing out the stored DNS data. Weird thing is, it usually works without fuss, but sometimes a quick restart of Chrome or your browser helps it pick up the fresh DNS info better—so, if after flushing the cache you still see weird errors accessing certain sites, restart your browser or try in Incognito mode.
Look for the success message and close
If it did its job, you’ll see a message saying, “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.” Nothing fancy, but that’s your cue. If you don’t see that message, or if you’re still having issues, you might want to check other network settings or try rebooting—Windows can be a bit unpredictable sometimes. When done, just type exit and hit Enter, or click the ‘X’ to close the window. Just closing it isn’t enough sometimes—make sure you actually ran the command as admin.
Extra tips if it didn’t help
If flushing the DNS didn’t make much difference, maybe it’s time to look at your network settings or reset the Winsock catalog. That’s another fix that clears out some network configuration issues. Run netsh winsock reset in the same command window (again as admin), then restart your PC. Sometimes Windows needs multiple cleanings before everything syncs right.
Tips for Flushing DNS Cache on Windows 11
- Keep it regular: Doing this every couple of weeks isn’t a terrible idea if you notice slow loading times or access issues.
- Troubleshoot more: Still having trouble after flushing? Check your DNS server settings in Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Hardware and connection properties. Sometimes switching from automatic DNS to Google’s (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) can help.
- Clear browser cache too: DNS cache isn’t the only thing that can cause problems. Sometimes, the browser keeps old data too—clear that in Chrome or Edge, just to be safe.
- Switch networks: Moving between Wi-Fi and Ethernet? Flushing DNS can help your system adapt quicker.
FAQs
What is a DNS cache?
It’s basically a local mini-directory your PC uses to remember where websites are, so it doesn’t have to look everything up every single time. Faster, but sometimes outdated info causes trouble.
Why do I need to flush my DNS?
If you notice sites aren’t loading right, or you get weird errors like “server not found, ” clearing out that cache can fix it. Especially if DNS entries got stuck or corrupted.
How often should I do this?
No strict rules, but if you’re doing it every now and then to troubleshoot, every few weeks or whenever things act flaky isn’t a bad plan. No harm in flushing more often if needed.
Can it damage my system?
Nope. Flushing DNS doesn’t harm your computer—just resets some local info, kind of like clearing the cache on your browser.
Will it make my internet faster?
Sometimes. It clears out old info, so your system isn’t wasting time on outdated addresses. But if your problem isn’t DNS-related, it’s not going to do much.
Summary
- Open Command Prompt as an admin
- Acknowledge the User Account Control prompt
- Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter - Watch for the success message
- Close the Command Prompt
Wrap-up
Getting DNS cache issues fixed on Windows 11 is pretty much just a matter of running one command—ipconfig /flushdns. Not always the golden ticket, but it fixes a bunch of common browsing headaches. It’s quick, easy, and one of those little tricks that can save a lot of frustration. Just remember, sometimes Windows needs a bit more nudging—like resetting network settings or rebooting—so keep those options in mind if this alone doesn’t cut it.
Hopefully, this helps someone save a few hours trying to troubleshoot connectivity issues. Because of course, Windows always has to make things more complicated than they need to be, right?