Overview

Your DNS cache stores the IP addresses of websites you have recently visited. If a website’s server location changes before your cache updates, you may be unable to access the site.

If you experience frequent 404 errors, clearing your DNS cache can help resolve the issue. Once cleared, your system will retrieve updated DNS information from the nameservers.

How to Clear Your DNS Cache

The following steps will help remove outdated DNS records that may be causing access issues.

Windows® 8

1. Press Win + X to open the menu.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator".
3. Enter the following command and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdns
4. If successful, you will see:

   Windows IP configuration successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

Windows 7

1. Click the Start button.
2. Type cmd in the search field.
3. Right-click Command Prompt and select "Run as Administrator".
4. Enter the following command and press Enter: ipconfig /flushdns
5. If successful, you will see:

   Windows IP configuration successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

Windows XP, 2000, or Vista®

1. Click the Start button.
2. Select Run (or type "run" in the search bar if not visible).
3. Enter the following command: ipconfig /flushdns

macOS® 10.7 and 10.8

1. Open Applications.
2. Go to Utilities.
3. Launch the Terminal application.
4. Enter the following command:

   sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

   Note: You will need administrator privileges to run this command.

macOS 10.5 and 10.6

1. Open Applications.
2. Go to Utilities.
3. Launch the Terminal application.
4. Enter the following command: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache