Clear DNS Cache Using chrome://net-internals/#dns

Google Chrome maintains its own DNS cache to speed up your browsing experience. However, over time, this cache can become outdated or corrupted, leading to issues like websites not loading correctly or showing old content. Clearing Chrome’s DNS cache using chrome://net-internals/#dns can resolve these problems, and it’s a quick fix for improving your browsing speed.

If you’ve encountered errors like “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN” or “ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED”, or if websites are loading slower than usual, flushing the DNS cache may be the solution you need. Let’s walk through the process of clearing the DNS cache in Chrome using chrome://net-internals/#dns.

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What is DNS and Why Should You Clear the Cache?

The Domain Name System (DNS) acts like the internet’s phone book, translating human-friendly domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other.

Chrome stores this DNS data to reduce the time it takes to reach websites you’ve visited before. However, if a website changes its IP address, the old cached data can cause issues. Clearing this cache forces Chrome to fetch updated DNS information.

How to Access chrome://net-internals/#dns to Clear DNS Cache

Google Chrome includes a powerful internal tool called Net-Internals. This tool allows users to view and manage network settings, including DNS.

Here’s how to clear the DNS cache:

1. Open Chrome: Launch the Chrome browser on your desktop or mobile device.
2. Access the Net-Internals Page: In the address bar, type chrome://net-internals/#dns and hit Enter.
3. Clear Host Cache: On the DNS tab that opens, you’ll see a button labeled “Clear host cache”. Click this button to flush the DNS cache.

This simple action will clear all DNS entries that Chrome has stored, forcing it to fetch new information from DNS servers the next time you visit a website.

Additional Step: Flushing Socket Pools

Sometimes, simply clearing the DNS cache might not be enough to resolve connectivity issues. Chrome also maintains socket pools for active connections, which may hold onto outdated DNS information.

To fully clear all network caches:

1. Open a new tab and go to chrome://net-internals/#sockets.
2. Click on “Flush socket pools”.
3. Restart Chrome to ensure all changes take effect.

Clearing DNS Cache on Mobile Devices

If you’re using Chrome on an Android device, the process is quite similar:

1. Open Chrome on your mobile device.
2. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar and hit Enter.
3. Tap the “Clear host cache” button.

For iOS devices, Chrome doesn’t support this feature natively. Instead, you might need to clear the cache through device settings.

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Why Clearing the DNS Cache Helps

Clearing the DNS cache can fix several common issues:

• Website Errors: Resolves errors like “ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT” or “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG.”
• Stale Content: Updates cached website content if a website has changed its server or IP address.
• Improves Speed: Can help speed up browsing if Chrome is using outdated DNS data.

If clearing the DNS cache in Chrome doesn’t resolve your issue, you may also need to clear the DNS cache on your operating system. Here’s how:

How to Flush System DNS Cache

For Windows:

1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the following command:

ipconfig /flushdns

3. Press Enter.

For macOS:

1. Open the Terminal app.
2. Type:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

3. Press Enter and enter your admin password if prompted.

For Linux:

• Use the following command in the terminal:

sudo systemctl restart network-manager

When to Clear DNS Cache?

You should consider clearing your DNS cache if:

• Websites are not loading or display outdated content.
• You recently changed DNS settings or servers.
• You’re experiencing slow browsing speeds or DNS-related error messages.

Troubleshooting Chrome’s Net-Internals Tool

If you can’t access chrome://net-internals/#dns or the page doesn’t function correctly, try the following:

• Disable VPN: Sometimes, VPNs can interfere with Chrome’s internal tools.
• Restart DNS Services: On Windows, run services.msc, find the DNS Client, and restart it.
• Reset Chrome Settings: Go to chrome://settings/reset to reset Chrome settings to their defaults.
• Clear Browser Cache: Beyond DNS, clearing the general browser cache can also improve performance.

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Wrapping up!

Clearing the DNS cache on Chrome is a simple yet effective way to troubleshoot network issues and improve browsing performance. Whether you’re a web developer, a casual user, or just someone looking to speed up their internet, knowing how to use chrome://net-internals/#dns can be incredibly helpful.

By following the steps above, you can ensure that Chrome fetches the most up-to-date DNS information, which can solve many browsing problems. For regular maintenance, consider clearing your DNS cache periodically, especially if you frequently experience connectivity issues.

Keep your Chrome browser running smoothly by leveraging these built-in tools, and enjoy a faster, more reliable browsing experience.