Flushing your DNS cache on Windows 11 is quick and safe. You open a Command Prompt or Windows Terminal with administrator rights, run the command ipconfig /flushdns, and optionally check the cache with ipconfig /displaydns. In a minute you will clear stored DNS entries, which often fixes website loading problems and outdated addresses.
Step by Step Tutorial
This short set of steps will guide you to open an elevated command window, run the flush command, and verify the result. Follow each step in order and you will clear the DNS resolver cache on your Windows 11 PC.
Step 1: Open Start and type Command Prompt
Open the Start menu and type Command Prompt in the search box.
Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator, or select Windows Terminal (Admin) if you prefer PowerShell style. Administrator rights are required to change the system DNS cache.
Step 2: Confirm administrator access
When the User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes to allow the app to make changes.
If you do not have admin privileges, ask someone who does or sign into an administrator account before proceeding.
Step 3: Type the flush command
At the prompt enter: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
That exact command tells Windows to clear the local DNS resolver cache immediately.
Step 4: Watch for the success message
Wait for the confirmation that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed.
You should see a short message that confirms the cache is cleared, which means the system removed stored DNS lookups.
Step 5: (Optional) Verify the cache state
Run ipconfig /displaydns to view current cache entries after flushing.
If the flush worked, the list will be minimal or empty, showing that old entries are gone.
After you flush the DNS cache, Windows will resolve domain names again on the next visit, pulling fresh address records from your configured DNS servers. This often fixes site loading errors, removes stale addresses, and can speed up name resolution if the cache had bad entries.
Tips: How To Flush DNS Windows 11
- Use Windows Terminal (Admin) instead of Command Prompt if you prefer tabs and PowerShell compatibility.
- Restart your browser after flushing DNS to ensure it requests new addresses from the system.
- If problems persist, try flushing the DNS on your router or rebooting it to clear network-level caches.
- Keep your DNS server settings to a reliable provider, such as your ISP or a public DNS like Google or Cloudflare.
- Log out and back in or reboot the PC if an app still shows cached results after flushing.
- Use ipconfig /renew to refresh your IP lease if you suspect network connectivity issues.
- Run the command as an administrator every time, because non-admin windows cannot flush the system cache.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does flushing the DNS cache do?
Flushing the DNS cache removes stored translations of domain names to IP addresses from your computer. After the flush, your machine will request fresh DNS information from your DNS server the next time you visit a site.
Do I need to restart my computer after flushing DNS?
No, a restart is not required after a successful flush. However, restarting can clear other related caches or stuck network services if problems continue.
Will flushing DNS delete my saved passwords or browser history?
No, flushing the DNS cache only affects DNS name resolution entries. Your browser history, cookies, and saved passwords remain unchanged.
Can flushing DNS fix slow page loads or DNS errors?
Yes, it often helps by removing corrupted or outdated DNS records that cause failed lookups. If the issue is caused by your DNS provider or a deeper network problem, additional troubleshooting may be needed.
Is there a way to automate DNS flushing on Windows 11?
Yes, you can create a simple script or scheduled task that runs ipconfig /flushdns with administrator privileges at set intervals. Be careful not to overuse automation, as frequent flushing is normally unnecessary.
Summary
- Open Command Prompt as admin.
- Confirm administrator access.
- Run ipconfig /flushdns.
- Wait for success message.
- Optionally verify with ipconfig /displaydns.
Conclusion
Flushing your DNS cache is a low-risk, effective way to fix common web access problems. Whether you see “site cannot be reached” errors, find pages loading the wrong content, or your browser keeps sending you to an old address, clearing the DNS cache often resets the path your computer uses to find websites. Think of the DNS cache like a phonebook that stores recent numbers. If the phonebook has the wrong number, your calls go to the wrong place. Flushing that phonebook forces your system to look up fresh numbers.
I recommend keeping a simple mental checklist: run an elevated command prompt, enter ipconfig /flushdns, and then test the site. If that does not resolve the problem, try restarting your browser, renewing your IP address, or checking the DNS settings on your router. For power users, creating a scheduled task can make routine maintenance easier, but most people only need to flush DNS when a problem appears.
If you want to learn more, read about how DNS works, or try changing to a faster DNS provider to see if performance improves. If you run into persistent issues, collect details like error messages and the results of ipconfig /displaydns and share them with your network admin. Thanks for reading, and if you tried this, take a moment to test a few websites to confirm everything loads properly. Remember the simple command and you can quickly fix many common network quirks related to name resolution, including How To Flush Dns Windows 11.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.