How To Clear DNS Cache Effectively on Windows 11

If internet connectivity on your Windows 11 device suddenly acts up or websites start loading weirdly, clearing the DNS cache might do the trick. Basically, the DNS cache is like your computer’s little memory of where websites live — but sometimes it gets outdated or corrupted, causing browsing hiccups. Clearing it forces your system to fetch fresh DNS info, which can fix weird errors like “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” or slow load times. Honestly, it’s a simple fix, but not everyone knows about it or how to do it properly, so here’s a walkthrough that hopefully makes more sense than just blindly restarting stuff.

How to Clear DNS Cache in Windows 11

Method 1: Using Command Prompt (The usual go-to for most)

This is the simplest way. Since the DNS cache is system-wide, you gotta run the Command Prompt as an admin. If you’re facing sites not loading or DNS errors, doing this might clear the weird stale data and get things back on track.

• First, hit Start Menu, then search for Command Prompt.
• Right-click on the result and pick Run as administrator. If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes.
• In the Command Prompt window, type: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

This command sends a “clear” signal to the DNS resolver cache. Often, you’ll get a message saying it was successful, but sometimes it just silently does the job. On some setups it might take a restart of browsers or even the PC to see the difference.

Method 2: Refresh network settings via PowerShell

For those into PowerShell or if the Command Prompt method isn’t working, you can try this. It’s another way to reset network-related stuff, including DNS cache, more thoroughly.

• Open Start Menu, type PowerShell, right-click and choose Run as administrator.
• In PowerShell, run: Clear-DnsClientCache.
• Press Enter, and that should flush your DNS cache as well.

This command is basically a more “PowerShell-style” way to do the same thing. Sometimes it helps when the command prompt method doesn’t seem to do the trick.

What to do after clearing?

Once that’s done, don’t forget to test out your connection. Open your browser and try visiting a website that was acting up. If you’re still having issues, maybe try rebooting your modem/router or flush your browser’s cache for good measure – because of course, Windows has to complicate things more than necessary.

Additional tips for smoother sailing

• Make clearing DNS cache part of a regular routine if your network seems flaky. Sometimes stale DNS data just lingers without obvious reason.
• Always run Command Prompt or PowerShell as admin, or the commands won’t work. No exceptions, really.
• If DNS issues stick around, consider checking your router’s DNS settings or switching to public DNS servers like Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or AdGuard DNS. Sometimes, your ISP’s DNS just sucks.
• Clearing browser cache can also help, especially if DNS seems fine but pages still won’t load properly or show outdated info.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a DNS cache?

It’s basically your computer’s way of remembering where websites are stored so it doesn’t have to look up the info every single time you visit a site. It speeds things up, but when it gets stale, things get weird.

Why does clearing DNS cache help?

Because sometimes, the DNS entries stored locally are outdated or corrupted, which messes up your ability to connect properly. Clearing it forces your system to get fresh info directly from DNS servers, fixing those annoying errors.

Will clearing the DNS cache delete my browsing history or passwords?

Nope. Clearing DNS cache only affects the DNS lookup stuff — your bookmarks, history, passwords stay untouched.

How often should I do this?

No hard rule, but if your internet acts weird often, every few weeks or once a month might make sense. On busy networks, stale DNS data can cause more trouble than it’s worth.

What if it still doesn’t work?

Then it’s probably time to look at your router, switch DNS servers, or chat with your ISP. DNS issues can be a pain, especially if your network equipment has some odd quirks.

Summary

• Open Start Menu.
• Search for and run Command Prompt or PowerShell as admin.
• Type ipconfig /flushdns or Clear-DnsClientCache and hit Enter.
• Close the window, then test your web connection.

Wrap-up

Clearing the DNS cache on Windows 11 isn’t some complicated wizardry — it’s just a simple refresh button for your network info. Sometimes, just doing this can get stubborn pages to load again or fix those annoying DNS errors. If it’s become a recurring thing, maybe look into your DNS server choices or do a routine clean-up — your future self will thank you. Fingers crossed this helps someone avoid tearing their hair out over bland network issues or slow browsers. It’s a tiny step, but often a surprisingly effective one.