How To Clear DNS Cache on Windows 11: Step-by-Step Instructions

Flushing the DNS cache on Windows 11 is one of those small things that can make a big difference when network stuff acts up. Maybe a website isn’t loading right, or you keep hitting old DNS info that causes weird redirects. It’s kind of weird, but clearing out that cache forces your system to fetch fresh DNS data, which can patch up some browsing glitches or access issues. Plus, it’s pretty easy to do — just a handful of commands in the Command Prompt. The key thing to remember: running it as an admin is crucial. Otherwise, Windows won’t let you do much, and you’ll be stuck wondering if the command failed or not.

How to Flush DNS Cache on Windows 11

So, if you’re hitting some nagging network hiccups or just want to make sure your system isn’t holding onto old address info, here’s the step-by-step. It’s a no-brainer but still, a lot of folks forget to run the Command Prompt with proper permissions or miss the confirmation message that tells you it worked.

Open Command Prompt as administrator

Hit the Windows key and type “cmd”, then right-click on Command Prompt.
Choose Run as administrator. It’s always better to do this so you get the full permissions needed for system commands.

Yeah, Windows throws those User Account Control prompts sometimes, but clicking “Yes” is essential. Otherwise, the command you try to run might just be ignored or blocked.

Confirm User Account Control

If a UAC prompt pops up asking if you want to allow changes, click Yes. No exceptions — this lets the command work.

Run the DNS flush command

Type whenever you’re in the Command Prompt: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

This command is the magic that clears out your DNS cache. Weirdly enough, sometimes it feels like Windows is stubborn — it may show a success message right away, but on some setups, you might need to do it twice or restart your browser for it to really kick in.

Check the success confirmation

You should see a message saying, “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.” If you don’t, try running the command again or rebooting the system. Not sure why it works, but on some setups, it helps to just do it twice.

Close the Command Prompt

Type exit and hit Enter, or simply click the “X” in the corner.

That’s it. Now your Windows 11 system is using fresh DNS info, which can fix those annoying issues like websites loading old versions or not resolving at all.

Tips for Flushing DNS Cache on Windows 11

Regular upkeep: Flushing the DNS cache every now and then isn’t a bad idea, especially if you’re always switching networks or playing with DNS settings.
When troubleshooting: It’s often the first step if websites won’t load or redirect strangely.
Security: Clearing the cache can help prevent DNS spoofing or cache poisoning attacks — Windows does have its quirks, but it’s better to be safe.
Multiple networks: If you’re on Wi-Fi and Ethernet, doing this can really help your device adapt quickly to new network info.
Browser cache overlaps: Sometimes, the issue isn’t the DNS cache but browser cache. Clearing your browser cache too isn’t a bad idea if problems persist.

FAQs

What exactly is a DNS cache?

It’s a little store of website addresses and IPs your system remembers to speed things up. Problem is, sometimes that info gets outdated or corrupted.

Why do I need to flush it?

If websites aren’t updating, or you’re seeing weird redirects, clearing the cache forces your machine to get new, correct info.

How often should I do this?

No hard rules, but if things seem off or if you’re changing DNS servers, give it a shot. Once a monthish is probably fine unless you’re troubleshooting.

Is it safe?

Yep, flushing the DNS cache doesn’t harm your PC. It’s just cleaning out stored info.

Does this improve internet speed?

Sometimes. Clearing the cache can get rid of stale info and speed up connections, especially if DNS entries were wrong or outdated.

Summary

Open Command Prompt as an admin.
Allow UAC prompt, if needed.
Type ipconfig /flushdns and hit Enter.
Look for success message.
Close Command Prompt — done.

Wrap-up

This whole DNS-flushing thing isn’t rocket science, but it’s one of those little troubleshooting tricks that can save a lot of headache. Like I said, sometimes Windows just keeps old info around, and a quick flush fixes stuff fast. Don’t overthink it — just run the command, see the message, and you’re golden. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone trying to figure out why their network acts weird. When in doubt, repeat a couple of times or reboot if needed. Good luck!