Do you remember a case when you actively use Google Chrome as your web browser and the page that you are opening still remains the same previous version that has already been updated? You probably have modified chrome //net-internals/#dns settings, but Chrome is still using outdated ones, and where are those DNS entries stored?
This occurs because Google Chrome has a built-in DNS caching system with the purpose of making browsing faster. But there are circumstances that require you to force or clear this chrome //net-internals/#dns cache to make Chrome get the latest information available on the internet.
Now in this guide we will know step-by-step guide to chrome //net-internals/#dns
The steps are easy, and anyone can follow them without the need for being a tech-savvy person or having special access privileges.
After going through this guide, you will have understood how to flush the DNS cache on Google Chrome, Linux, Mac OS, and Windows operating systems.
What is chrome://net-internals/#dns?
The URL “chrome //net-internals/#dns is actually the address that leads to Chrome’s internal environment and which allows to check DNS and clear DNS cache.
Why is this important?
Every time you enter a website, your browser saves the website’s DNS data for future use of the website. Nevertheless, this cache data may be update at some point in time or become corrupt in one way or another. Deleting the DNS cache means that the browser is force to download the newest DNS information, which can be useful to solve problems with web resources that do not load or update correctly.
What is DNS cache?
Now, prior to going further with steps, let’s take a little look at what a DNS cache is and why it is useful.
The domain name system retains almost similar workings to the phone directory of the internet world, commonly known as an IP address. When inputting a URL, which can be in the form of www.google.com, into the address bar of the web browser, DNS servers interpret this domain name to an IP address, which is understood by the computers all around.
To facilitate this process, your browser saves the DNS data in local cache so as to enhance the rate of accessing the web resource in the future. In this way, if you happen to revisit the same website that you once visited, the browser saved information will enable it to quickly identify the website without having to go back to the DNS server.
But if a website has recently changed its IP address or there are some problems with cache information, you will have problems with correct access to the site. It is when you have to clear the DNS cache, otherwise called flush DNS.
How to clear the DNS cache from Google Chrome
The steps on how to flush the DNS cache in Google Chrome are very easy and can be done in several ways.
Follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Open a new tab in the Google Chrome browser.
First, go to the desktop and click its right mouse button to open up a context menu, and then select ‘New Tab’ from the options shown in the little window.
Step 2: Open the DNS Cache Setting
In the address bar of the new tab, type the following URL and press Enter:
code: chrome //net-internals/#dns
This will direct you to settings of the DNS cache on your Chrome browser.
Step 3: Clear the DNS cache
On the DNS settings page, there is a button saying “Clear host cache.” Therefore, go ahead and click on it to solve the issue.
And that’s it! This means that you have been able to resolve all the DNS cache in the Google Chrome browser.
Step 4: flush the socket pools (optional but highly recommended).
When clearing the DNS cache, it is advisable to also discard the socket pools as well, and this can be done as below. This is useful in terms of closing any connection that the Chrome browser was holding on to for a long time.
To do this, open another new tab in Chrome and type the following URL:
chrome://net-internals/#sockets
On this page, hit the button that is called ‘Flush socket pools.’
Now on DNS cache, the cache DNS entries are flush as well as socket connections to ensure that the DNS information on Chrome is update next time you launch a website.
Why is it required to clear the DNS cache?
Clearing the DNS cache in Chrome can be useful in several scenarios:
Website Changes: If, for instance, a website changes its DNS settings (for example, transits to another server with a new IP address), then your DNS cache may direct you to the old server address, thus leading to errors or producing outdated data.
Network Issues: At other times, the network issues or an alteration of the DNS server might result in some errors that are only solved through the flushing of the DNS cache.
Privacy Concerns: Another reason one may wish to use the clear DNS cache function is if they are concerned about their privacy, especially if they don’t want the DNS to retain records of the websites that they have visited.
Flushing DNS Cache on Other Operating Systems
As with Google Chrome, it’s also possible to clear the DNS cache at the OS level;
Let me show you how to do it.
Below is the process that you can follow to do it on your Windows PC, Linux, and Mac.
How to Clear DNS Cache on Windows
For Windows users, you can clear the DNS cache by opening the command prompt.
Follow these steps:
Right-click the Windows button and type in Command Prompt.
Then right-click on the logo of the Command Prompt and click on Run as Administrator.
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
Code: ipconfig /flushdns
Here is the command that will help to clear the DNS cache in the Windows operating system.
How you can clear a DNS cache on Linux.
On Linux, you can clear the DNS cache by using the command of restarting the network manager, software that manages the computer’s network connection.
Open the terminal and type the following command:
Code: sudo service network-manager restart
Or, if you’re using a system that employs systemctl, use this command:
Code:sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
How to clear the DNS cache on macOS.
If you’re a Mac user, you can clear the DNS cache using the terminal.
Here’s how:
Open the Terminal application.
Type the following command and press Enter:
- Code: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
- Code:sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
The following commands will clear the DNS cache and reload the DNS resolver service, respectively.
How to Verify if DNS Cache is Cleared
It is an interesting fact that sometimes users who have just flushed the DNS cache would like to check whether the cache is indeed empty.
You can achieve this with the nslookup or dig.
On Windows
Open Command Prompt and type:
Code: nslookup google.com
If you performed the ‘cmd’ prompt and issued the ‘flushdns’ command, you’ll get current DNS data pulled from the DNS server.
On Linux and macOS
You can use the dig or host command in the terminal:
Code:dig google.com
Code:host google.com
These commands will get the DNS records for the particular domain, and that will prove that the DNS cache has been cleared.
Conclusion
Clearing or flushing the DNS cache in Google Chrome is a quick and easy process that can resolve various browsing issues. Whether you’re dealing with outdated DNS records, network changes, or privacy concerns, knowing how to clear your browser’s DNS cache can be a handy tool in your troubleshooting toolkit.
These steps should work on all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. So the next time your browser doesn’t seem to recognize a website update or you encounter connectivity issues, remember to give your DNS cache a quick flush.
