Clear the Local DNS Cache in Windows

What is the DNS cache?

DNS is like a phone book for the internet. It turns a website name into a number, called an IP address, that computers understand. To save time, Windows remembers the answers it has seen. This memory is the DNS cache.

Sometimes the saved answer becomes old. For example, you moved your site to a new server. Your computer may still go to the old one. Clearing the cache makes Windows ask again.

Steps

1. Click the Start button.
2. Type cmd.
3. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
4. Click Yes if Windows asks for permission.
5. Type this command and press Enter:

   ipconfig /flushdns

   This command deletes all saved DNS answers from your computer.
6. Look for the message "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache."

See what is stored first (optional)

You can look at the cache before you clear it.

ipconfig /displaydns

This command lists the saved website names and their numbers.

Using PowerShell

PowerShell is another command window in Windows. You can use it too.

Clear-DnsClientCache

This does the same job as the first command.

If the problem stays

• Close your browser fully and open it again. Browsers keep their own cache.
• Wait some time. A new DNS change can take hours to reach everyone.
• Try another network, like your phone data, to see if the problem is only on your computer.
• Restart your router.

If a website still does not work, open a ticket with Hostvento support at https://secure.hostvento.com/submitticket.php.

Quick recap

• The DNS cache is your computer's memory of website addresses.
• Open Command Prompt as administrator.
• Run ipconfig /flushdns.
• Restart your browser and test the site again.