{"id":245740,"date":"2025-11-27T05:58:55","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T05:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/?p=245740"},"modified":"2026-02-12T19:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T19:38:23","slug":"how-to-flush-dns-cache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/how-to-flush-dns-cache\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Flush DNS Cache (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome and More)\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-highlights-nbsp\"><strong>Key highlights<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Learn how to flush DNS cache on Windows, macOS, Linux&nbsp;and&nbsp;mobile devices to fix connectivity and website loading issues quickly.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Identify&nbsp;and troubleshoot common DNS problems like outdated records, slow&nbsp;browsing&nbsp;or&nbsp;DNS propagation delays.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use simple commands such as ipconfig \/flushdns&nbsp;and&nbsp;sudo&nbsp;killall&nbsp;-HUP&nbsp;mDNSResponder&nbsp;to clear your system\u2019s DNS cache instantly.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enhance website reliability by verifying DNS changes and refreshing cached data.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resolve DNS errors faster with Bluehost\u2019s DNS management dashboard, propagation&nbsp;checker&nbsp;and&nbsp;24\/7 expert support.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your favorite website&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;loading properly or&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;seeing outdated data, it might be time to learn how to flush DNS cache.&nbsp;Ever had a website refuse to load or show the wrong page, even though your internet\u2019s fine?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s&nbsp;often your DNS cache playing tricks on you. It saves IP addresses of sites&nbsp;you\u2019ve&nbsp;visited to speed things up &#8211; but when those records go bad, your browser gets confused.&nbsp;<br>Flushing your DNS cache is like hitting \u201crefresh\u201d on your network memory &#8211; clearing outdated&nbsp;data&nbsp;so your system fetches the latest info. And the best part? It only takes a few quick commands on Windows, macOS or Linux.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide,&nbsp;we\u2019ll&nbsp;show you step-by-step how to flush DNS cache on different operating systems, including Windows, macOS&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ubuntu. This&nbsp;simple process&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;restore&nbsp;your&nbsp;browsing&nbsp;experience for&nbsp;more reliable website access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-dns-caching-nbsp\"><strong>What is DNS caching?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>DNS caching stores website IP addresses locally so your browser can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/major-bluehost-performance-updates\/\">load sites faster<\/a>. When you visit a domain, your system saves the DNS lookup results. Instead of contacting the DNS server again, it retrieves the info from the local DNS cache.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, over time, this cache can store outdated or incorrect data.&nbsp;That\u2019s&nbsp;when you need to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/dns-cache-flush\">flush DNS cache<\/a>&nbsp;&#8211; it clears old records and forces your system to fetch new ones. This helps fix issues like pages not loading, slow&nbsp;connections&nbsp;or&nbsp;redirected websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, DNS caching improves&nbsp;speed, but&nbsp;clearing it restores accuracy and prevents errors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-should-you-flush-your-dns-cache-nbsp\"><strong>Why should you flush your DNS cache?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Flushing your DNS cache can fix several common issues. Here are a few reasons why you might need to clear it:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Resolve connectivity issues<\/strong>: Sometimes, outdated&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/dns-management-add-edit-or-delete-dns-entries\">DNS records<\/a>&nbsp;can prevent websites from loading properly. Flushing the DNS cache forces your system to retrieve the most current DNS information.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fix incorrect DNS information<\/strong>: If you recently changed your DNS records (for example, moved to a new hosting provider), the cached data may still point to the old server. Flushing the cache ensures your system uses the correct IP address for your domain.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Improve website loading<\/strong>: By clearing your browser&#8217;s DNS cache, your computer&nbsp;won\u2019t&nbsp;rely on stale data. This can speed up your connection and make&nbsp;browsing&nbsp;smoother.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Resolve DNS propagation issues<\/strong>: After updating DNS settings, it can take time for changes to propagate. Flushing the cache can speed up this process, ensuring your changes are reflected&nbsp;immediately.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>In all these cases, flushing the DNS cache is a simple and effective way to restore functionality.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-nbsp-to-nbsp-check-if-your-dns-cache-needs-flushing-nbsp\"><strong>How&nbsp;to&nbsp;check if your DNS cache needs flushing?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you flush the DNS cache, it\u2019s good to know if it\u2019s actually causing the issue.&nbsp;Here are some signs your DNS resolver cache might need a refresh:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Websites&nbsp;aren\u2019t&nbsp;loading properly<\/strong>: If a website&nbsp;won\u2019t&nbsp;load or shows an error like \u201cPage Not Found,\u201d it could be due to incorrect DNS information stored in your cache.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Changes&nbsp;aren\u2019t&nbsp;visible<\/strong>:&nbsp;Flush&nbsp;your DNS cache if you\u2019ve recently updated records or moved hosts. It forces your browser to fetch the new address instead of the old one.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accessing malicious websites<\/strong>: Sometimes, DNS cache can lead you to outdated or malicious sites. Flushing the cache removes the old records, protecting your device from potential threats.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Slower website load time<\/strong>:&nbsp;When the&nbsp;DNS cache&nbsp;is full, it&nbsp;might slow down your browsing experience.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;experiencing any of these issues,&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;time to flush DNS cache on your system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-flush-dns-cache-on-different-operating-systems-nbsp\"><strong>How to flush DNS cache on different operating systems?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The steps&nbsp;for&nbsp;flushing the&nbsp;DNS cache&nbsp;depends&nbsp;on the operating system&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;using.&nbsp;Here&#8217;s&nbsp;how to do it on&nbsp;Windows,&nbsp;macOS&nbsp;and&nbsp;Linux.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-windows-flush-dns-cache-nbsp\"><strong>Windows flush DNS cache<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open Command Prompt<\/strong>: Press the&nbsp;<strong>Windows key<\/strong>&nbsp;+&nbsp;<strong>R<\/strong>, type&nbsp;cmd&nbsp;and&nbsp;press&nbsp;<strong>Enter<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Run the Command<\/strong>: In the&nbsp;<strong>Command Prompt<\/strong>, type the following command:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>ipconfig \/flushdns&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Press Enter<\/strong>: This will clear the DNS cache on&nbsp;Windows&nbsp;and&nbsp;you\u2019ll&nbsp;see a message confirming the flush was successful.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>This command removes old DNS entries and forces your system to look for updated DNS records next time you browse.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-flush-dns-cache-on-mac-nbsp\"><strong>Flush DNS cache on Mac<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The steps vary slightly based on your macOS version.&nbsp;Here\u2019s&nbsp;how to flush the DNS cache on recent versions of macOS:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open terminal<\/strong>: Use&nbsp;<strong>Spotlight search<\/strong>&nbsp;(Cmd&nbsp;+ Space) and type&nbsp;<strong>Terminal<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Run the command<\/strong>: For most recent macOS versions (Mojave, Catalina&nbsp;and&nbsp;newer), type the following command:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>sudo&nbsp;killall&nbsp;-HUP mDNSResponder<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enter administrator password<\/strong>: Type your password and press&nbsp;<strong>Enter<\/strong>. This will clear your DNS cache on Mac.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>For older versions<\/strong>: If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;using MacOS Leopard or Mountain Lion, use the following command:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>sudo&nbsp;discoveryutil&nbsp;mdnsflushcache&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-linux-flush-dns-cache-nbsp\"><strong>Linux flush DNS cache<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On Linux,&nbsp;you\u2019ll&nbsp;typically use the&nbsp;<strong>Terminal<\/strong>&nbsp;to flush the DNS resolver cache.&nbsp;Here\u2019s&nbsp;how to do it:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open terminal<\/strong>: Press&nbsp;<strong>Ctrl<\/strong>&nbsp;+&nbsp;<strong>Alt<\/strong>&nbsp;+&nbsp;<strong>T<\/strong>&nbsp;or search for&nbsp;<strong>Terminal<\/strong>&nbsp;in your applications.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Run the command<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, use:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>sudo&nbsp;systemd-resolve --flush-caches&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On older systems or if you use&nbsp;dnsmasq&nbsp;or&nbsp;nscd, the command might be:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>sudo&nbsp;service&nbsp;dnsmasq&nbsp;restart&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>With DNS and browser caches sorted on your computer,&nbsp;let\u2019s&nbsp;finish the job on&nbsp;mobile devices.&nbsp;Here\u2019s&nbsp;how to&nbsp;clear DND&nbsp;cache&nbsp;on&nbsp;iOS and Android.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-flush-dns-cache-on-mobile-devices-nbsp\"><strong>How to flush DNS cache on mobile devices?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Flushing the DNS cache on mobile devices is slightly different from desktop operating systems but just as simple.&nbsp;Here\u2019s&nbsp;how to do it on Android and iOS.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-clear-dns-cache-on-android-nbsp\"><strong>How to clear DNS cache on Android?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clear cache through browser<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open your browser (for example, Google Chrome).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to the&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;menu, then clear&nbsp;browser&nbsp;history and cache.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This will also clear the browser\u2019s DNS cache.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. <strong>Clear cache via Wi-Fi settings<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open&nbsp;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&nbsp;and go to&nbsp;<strong>Network &amp; Internet<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select&nbsp;<strong>Wi-Fi<\/strong>, then click on the network&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;connected to.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tap&nbsp;<strong>Forget Network<\/strong>&nbsp;and reconnect. This action clears the DNS cache for your current network.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use airplane mode<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Switch your phone to&nbsp;<strong>Airplane mode<\/strong>&nbsp;and then back to normal mode. This resets your network connection and can help flush any DNS cache stored on your mobile device.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-clear-dns-cache-on-iphone-ios-nbsp\"><strong>How to clear DNS cache on iPhone (iOS)?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use airplane mode<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Swipe up (or down on newer iPhones) to open the&nbsp;<strong>Control Center<\/strong>&nbsp;and enable&nbsp;<strong>Airplane Mode<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wait a few seconds, then disable it. This will reset your DNS cache.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reset network settings<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to&nbsp;<strong>Settings &gt; General &gt; Reset &gt; Reset Network Settings<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This will clear all network-related caches, including the DNS resolver cache.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Flush cache through browser<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For&nbsp;<strong>Safari<\/strong>, go to&nbsp;<strong>Settings &gt; Safari<\/strong>&nbsp;and tap&nbsp;<strong>Clear History and Website Data<\/strong>. This clears the browser&#8217;s DNS cache.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s&nbsp;find out other quick ways to force&nbsp;refresh DNS lookups &#8211; without doing a local flush.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-alternative-ways-to-refresh-dns-cache-nbsp\"><strong>Alternative ways to refresh DNS cache<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;still facing DNS-related issues after flushing your DNS cache, there are several alternative methods you can try. These methods can help resolve persistent problems like slow browsing, outdated&nbsp;data&nbsp;or&nbsp;DNS propagation delays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-restart-your-router-nbsp\"><strong>1. Restart your router<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your router stores DNS cache too. If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;facing issues with multiple devices, restarting your router can clear the router&#8217;s DNS cache. Simply turn off the router, wait for about 30&nbsp;seconds&nbsp;and&nbsp;turn it back on. This resets any cached DNS records stored in the router.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-flush-dns-through-dns-resolver-tools-nbsp\"><strong>2. Flush DNS through DNS resolver tools<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you use third-party DNS providers like Google DNS or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cloudflare.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cloudflare<\/a>, you can flush DNS through their tools. For example:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Google DNS<\/strong>: Use the following command in the&nbsp;<strong>Command Prompt<\/strong>:&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>ipconfig \/flushdns&nbsp;<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cloudflare DNS<\/strong>: Use their DNS diagnostic tool to ensure the correct DNS records are&nbsp;being resolved.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-clear-browser-cache-and-cookies-nbsp\"><strong>3. Clear browser cache and cookies<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, your browser\u2019s cache can cause DNS issues. Clearing your browser\u2019s DNS cache can resolve these problems. Follow these steps in popular browsers:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chrome<\/strong>: Go to&nbsp;<strong>Settings &gt; Privacy and Security &gt; Clear Browsing Data<\/strong>. Select&nbsp;<strong>Cached images and files<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Firefox<\/strong>: Go to&nbsp;<strong>Settings &gt; Privacy &amp; Security<\/strong>&nbsp;and clear&nbsp;<strong>Cached Web Content<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Safari<\/strong>: Go to&nbsp;<strong>Preferences &gt; Privacy &gt; Manage Website Data<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;clear&nbsp;the cache.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-switch-dns-providers-nbsp\"><strong>4. Switch DNS providers<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your DNS provider&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;resolving websites quickly or accurately, consider switching to a faster or more reliable DNS provider like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS. You can change your DNS settings in your router or operating system:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Google DNS<\/strong>: Set DNS servers to&nbsp;<strong>8.8.8.8<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>8.8.4.4<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cloudflare DNS<\/strong>: Set DNS servers to&nbsp;<strong>1.1.1.1<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>1.0.0.1<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-flush-dns-cache-using-browser-developer-tools-nbsp\"><strong>5. Flush DNS cache using browser developer tools<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For users who&nbsp;frequently&nbsp;face&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/help\/article\/guide-dns-troubleshooting\">DNS issues<\/a>&nbsp;with certain websites, using the Developer tools in browsers like Google Chrome can help. In Chrome, for example:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Press&nbsp;<strong>Ctrl + Shift + I<\/strong>&nbsp;to open Developer Tools.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to the&nbsp;<strong>Network<\/strong>&nbsp;tab and check the&nbsp;<strong>Disable&nbsp;Cache<\/strong>&nbsp;option.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Refresh the page to bypass any cached data.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These alternatives can be helpful if a standard DNS flush&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;resolve your issues. They allow you to go deeper into your system or network and ensure that the DNS records are&nbsp;up-to-date&nbsp;across all platforms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-problems-after-a-dns-flush-nbsp\"><strong>Common problems after a DNS flush<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a site owner, even after a local flush, issues can linger due to propagation delays, upstream resolver&nbsp;caching&nbsp;or&nbsp;configuration mismatches. Before we fix things in your&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;DNS and caching tools, here are the most common post-flush symptoms and why they occur.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Changes not reflecting&nbsp;immediately<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>After you flush the DNS cache, it may take some time for DNS records to propagate globally. During this period, you may still see old website versions or encounter errors like &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-404-errors\/\">404 Not Found.<\/a>&#8221; This is typically due to DNS propagation delays, which can last from a few minutes to&nbsp;48 hours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Incorrect DNS information<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you\u2019ve&nbsp;recently updated your DNS records (for example, changed the IP address or switched hosting providers), you might still see the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;website version after a&nbsp;flush. This happens if your ISP or DNS resolver&nbsp;caches&nbsp;the old records.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cDNS cache not cleared\u201d errors<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, despite running the flush DNS command, the cache may not clear due to permissions issues or errors in the command prompt. This can occur if&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;not running the command as an administrator or if your operating system&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;fully reset the cache.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Slow website loading<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Flushing the DNS cache can lead to slower load times temporarily as the system re-fetches data from the DNS server. However, this should improve once the cache is rebuilt with fresh, correct data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that&nbsp;you\u2019ve&nbsp;cleared local caches,&nbsp;let\u2019s&nbsp;fix&nbsp;what\u2019s&nbsp;left inside your Bluehost setup &#8211; records, SSL, and caching.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-troubleshooting-dns-flush-issues-with-bluehost-nbsp\"><strong>Troubleshooting DNS flush issues with Bluehost<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve&nbsp;flushed your cache, but your site still&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;behaving as expected.&nbsp;As the site owner, the next step&nbsp;is to verify your records,&nbsp;caching&nbsp;and SSL inside your&nbsp;hosting&nbsp;setup.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you host with us at Bluehost,&nbsp;our platform helps you run the following checks easily:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confirm nameservers&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Review zone records in DNS Manager&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Purge CDN and site caches&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reissue SSL if the host\/IP&nbsp;changed&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These checks align your domain,&nbsp;DNS&nbsp;and&nbsp;HTTPS&nbsp;so visitors hit the right server &#8211; fast and reliably.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-bluehost-help-you-resolve-dns-issues-nbsp\"><strong>How does Bluehost help you resolve DNS issues?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At Bluehost, we provide several tools and support options to help you resolve DNS-related issues quickly:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>DNS management in the control panel<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Bluehost users have access to a powerful DNS management dashboard. Here, you can easily manage DNS records, set TTL&nbsp;values&nbsp;and&nbsp;verify that your DNS changes are correct. This ensures that your website is always resolving correctly, especially after a DNS flush.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>24\/7 Customer support<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;having trouble with DNS changes&nbsp;not reflecting after a&nbsp;flush, our expert support team is available 24\/7. Whether&nbsp;it&#8217;s&nbsp;DNS propagation issues or more complex problems, our support team will guide you through troubleshooting and resolution steps, ensuring your website is back online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>DNS propagation monitoring<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>We provide&nbsp;DNS propagation checker&nbsp;tools to verify if your DNS changes have propagated across different regions. This tool helps you ensure that all DNS resolvers are using the updated information and that your visitors are accessing the correct website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Integrated SSL and SPF\/DKIM management<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For users experiencing issues with secure connections (SSL) or email deliverability (SPF\/DKIM), Bluehost\u2019s integrated tools make it easy to configure and troubleshoot these settings after flushing the&nbsp;DNS cache.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-advanced-solutions-for-bluehost-users-nbsp\"><strong>Advanced solutions for Bluehost users<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;a Bluehost user with more advanced needs, here are some solutions to consider:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Automated DNS updates with API<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For those using&nbsp;VPS or Dedicated Hosting, you can automate DNS updates and cache refreshes via&nbsp;API integration. This allows you to quickly propagate DNS changes without needing to manually flush the cache&nbsp;each time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Custom DNS settings<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If your website uses custom DNS records (for example, for&nbsp;load balancing or geo-targeting), Bluehost\u2019s advanced DNS settings let you configure complex records, manage multiple name&nbsp;servers&nbsp;and&nbsp;fine-tune propagation times. This is ideal for users who manage larger, more complex websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Advanced DNS caching solutions<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;using&nbsp;<strong>Cloudflare<\/strong>&nbsp;or another CDN, Bluehost seamlessly integrates with these services to further&nbsp;optimize&nbsp;DNS cache management. By combining these tools with your&nbsp;<strong>Bluehost&nbsp;Hosting&nbsp;plans<\/strong>,&nbsp;you can manage DNS caching across multiple layers of your network.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Server-side DNS caching for advanced users<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For those who want more control over their server\u2019s DNS resolver cache, Bluehost offers VPS and Dedicated hosting users&nbsp;the option to manage their own&nbsp;<strong>DNS resolver settings<\/strong>. This allows you to clear cache, configure time-to-live (TTL)&nbsp;and&nbsp;force DNS queries to go directly to the DNS server for fresh data, without waiting for propagation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" viewBox=\"0 0 1001 300\"> \n\n  <image width=\"1001\" height=\"300\" xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Dedicated-Hosting-1.png\"><\/image> <a xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/dedicated-hosting \"> \n\n    <rect x=\"85\" y=\"181\" fill=\"#fff\" opacity=\"0\" width=\"128\" height=\"63\"><\/rect> \n\n  <\/a> \n\n<\/svg>\n\n\n\n<p>By&nbsp;leveraging&nbsp;these advanced solutions, Bluehost users can gain complete control over DNS resolution and ensure their websites are always running with the most up-to-date information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts-nbsp\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Flushing your DNS cache is an essential step in resolving website loading issues and ensuring you have the most up-to-date DNS records. No matter if&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;on Windows, macOS&nbsp;or&nbsp;Linux, clearing your DNS cache can quickly fix connectivity problems.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If issues persist, we at Bluehost provide DNS management tools, expert&nbsp;support&nbsp;and seamless integrations to keep your site running smoothly.&nbsp;Don\u2019t&nbsp;let DNS problems slow you down &#8211; flush your DNS cache today and trust&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/\">Bluehost<\/a>&nbsp;to provide the reliable hosting you need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need help?&nbsp;Contact Bluehost\u2019s support team for&nbsp;assistance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs-nbsp\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764218002200\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>1. Is it safe to flush the DNS cache?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0completely safe to\u00a0flush DNS cache. It\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0delete\u00a0personal data\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0it only clears stored\u00a0DNS records, forcing your device to fetch fresh IP addresses for websites.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764218014271\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>2. How often should I flush my DNS cache?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You should flush DNS cache whenever websites\u00a0fail to\u00a0load, after changing your DNS server\u00a0or\u00a0when you notice incorrect or outdated data. Regularly clearing it can help\u00a0maintain\u00a0smooth connectivity and security.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764218027099\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>3. Does flushing DNS cache speed up internet performance?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Indirectly, yes. Clearing the\u00a0DNS resolver cache\u00a0removes broken or outdated entries, which can improve response times and ensure quicker\u00a0DNS lookups\u00a0for websites.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764218079633\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>4. Will\u00a0flushing\u00a0DNS log me out of websites?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No.\u00a0Flushing DNS cache\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0affect browser cookies or login sessions. It only resets the stored\u00a0domain name\u00a0to\u00a0IP address\u00a0mappings.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764218096569\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>5.\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0the difference between DNS cache and browser cache?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A\u00a0DNS cache\u00a0stores website address lookups, while a\u00a0browser cache\u00a0stores website files like images and scripts. Both can be cleared to fix\u00a0connectivity issues\u00a0or\u00a0loading problems.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1764218097638\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>6. Can I automate DNS cache flushing?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes,\u00a0advanced users can schedule automatic DNS flushes using scripts in the\u00a0system\u2019s command line interface\u00a0or through hosting platforms.\u00a0Bluehost\u00a0offers\u00a0built-in tools to manage DNS records efficiently.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fix DNS issues fast &#8211; learn how to flush DNS cache on Windows, Mac and Linux for smoother browsing and faster sites<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":147,"featured_media":253201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"How to Flush DNS Cache (Windows, Mac, Linux,)","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Learn how to flush DNS cache on Windows, macOS, Linux and more to fix DNS errors, outdated data and improve website speed.","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3056,6],"tags":[3330,3340,3343],"ppma_author":[945],"class_list":["post-245740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dns","category-domains","tag-how-to-guides","tag-tips-tricks","tag-tutorials"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Flush DNS Cache (Windows, Mac, Linux,)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to flush DNS cache on Windows, macOS, Linux and more to fix DNS errors, outdated data and improve website speed.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245740\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" 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is a leading web hosting provider empowering millions of websites worldwide. \\u2028Discover how Bluehost's expertise, reliability, and innovation can help you achieve your online goals.\",\"telephone\":\"+1-888-401-4678\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/10831dc70a1c62c863a1c4a9c29bab6d\",\"name\":\"Sonali Sinha\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/e43d373d353faab495258cc02050f9d4\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7d6e9369f950a3aea2b690863b1157badb4d22c2a7f75214c01da7e14e4036f5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7d6e9369f950a3aea2b690863b1157badb4d22c2a7f75214c01da7e14e4036f5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sonali Sinha\"},\"description\":\"Sonali Sinha is a versatile writer with experience across diverse niches, including education, health, aviation, digital marketing, web development, 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She excels at transforming complex concepts into engaging, accessible content that resonates with a broad audience. Her ability to adapt to different subjects while maintaining clarity and impact makes her a go-to for crafting compelling articles, guides, and tutorials.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/author\/sonali-sinha\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/how-to-flush-dns-cache\/#faq-question-1764218002200\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/how-to-flush-dns-cache\/#faq-question-1764218002200\",\"name\":\"1. Is it safe to flush the DNS cache?\u00a0\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0completely safe to\u00a0flush DNS cache. 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