Introduction: The Digital Memory Lapse

Sometimes, your computer remembers things that it should forget. If a website changes its IP address, but your computer still has the old address saved in its local memory (the DNS cache), you'll get a 'Site Not Found' error. To fix this, you need to perform a **DNS Flush**.

Flushing your DNS cache is the digital equivalent of shaking a etch-a-sketch. It clears out old, outdated information and forces your computer to look up the fresh, correct IP address. In this guide, we'll show you how to do it on every major platform.

How to Flush DNS

Windows (Command Prompt)

  1. Open the Start menu and type `cmd`. Right-click and select 'Run as Administrator'.
  2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  3. You should see a message saying "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache."

macOS (Terminal)

  1. Open Terminal via Spotlight search.
  2. Type sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder and press Enter.
  3. Enter your admin password when prompted.

Google Chrome

  1. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns into your address bar.
  2. Click the 'Clear host cache' button.

Conclusion

Flushing your DNS is one of the most effective 'quick fixes' for internet problems. It ensures you are always talking to the most current version of the web. Check your DNS status here.