Are you experiencing website connectivity issues, incorrect website redirects, or slow loading times in Google Chrome? The culprit might be outdated or corrupted DNS cache entries. Google Chrome maintains its own internal DNS caching system to improve browsing performance, but sometimes these cached entries can become stale, leading to various browsing problems that affect your online experience.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the exact process of using chrome://net-internals/#dns
to clear or flush your DNS cache in Chrome. This essential troubleshooting technique can resolve many common browsing issues and should be in every Chrome user's toolkit. Whether you're a web developer, IT professional, or everyday internet user, knowing how to properly manage Chrome's DNS cache can save you hours of frustration and keep your browsing experience smooth and efficient.
DNS (Domain Name System) cache is a temporary database maintained by your browser that stores information about recent visits to websites. When you type a domain name (like spidyhost.com) into your browser, Chrome first checks its internal DNS cache to find the corresponding IP address before making a request to external DNS servers.
This caching mechanism serves several important purposes:
Google Chrome's DNS caching is separate from your operating system's DNS cache, meaning you might need to clear both in certain troubleshooting scenarios.
There are several situations where flushing your Chrome DNS cache using chrome://net-internals/#dns
becomes necessary:
Not clearing your DNS cache when necessary can lead to frustrating browsing experiences, including inability to access updated websites, security vulnerabilities, and slower browsing speeds.
chrome://net-internals/#dns
The chrome://net-internals/#dns
page provides not only the ability to clear your DNS cache but also displays information about Chrome's network status and connection details. The interface is designed for technical users but clearing the cache is straightforward with the clearly labeled button.
For a more thorough DNS flush, you should also clear the socket pools, which manage Chrome's network connections:
chrome://net-internals/#sockets
Socket pools are collections of pre-established network connections that Chrome maintains to improve connection speeds to frequently accessed servers. Flushing these pools forces Chrome to establish new connections, which can resolve issues related to stale connection data.
For users who prefer shortcuts, Chrome offers a quick way to access network internals:
chrome://net
in the address barThis approach is slightly faster than typing the full chrome://net-internals/#dns
URL and provides the same functionality.
For more advanced users, Chrome Developer Tools offers another way to manage DNS cache:
This method is particularly useful for web developers who need to test DNS changes without repeatedly clearing the cache manually.
After clearing your DNS cache in Chrome using chrome://net-internals/#dns
, it's important to verify that the operation was successful. Here are multiple verification methods:
chrome://net-internals/#dns
On Windows:
ipconfig /displaydns | findstr "example.com"
(replace example.com with the domain you're checking)On macOS:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
to flush system DNSdig example.com
and check the "ANSWER SECTION" for fresh DNS informationOn Linux:
dig example.com
before and after clearing Chrome's cacheA simpler way to verify is by:
If a previously problematic website now loads correctly, it's a good indication that clearing the DNS cache has resolved the issue.
Chrome's internal DNS cache should be your first troubleshooting step when experiencing:
If clearing Chrome's cache doesn't resolve the issue, the problem might be at the operating system level. Here's how to clear the DNS cache in different operating systems:
Windows:
ipconfig /flushdns
After running this command, you should see: "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache."
macOS:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
macOS doesn't provide confirmation, but these commands clear the system DNS cache.
Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):
sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches
or
sudo service network-manager restart
For other Linux distributions, the command may vary based on the DNS resolver in use.
Some advanced routers also maintain DNS caches. Consider these steps if problems persist:
In rare cases, the issue might be with your Internet Service Provider's DNS cache:
Chrome offers experimental features that can be enabled through chrome://flags:
chrome://flags
Chrome uses DNS prefetching to speed up browsing by resolving domain names before you click on links:
chrome://settings/security
Disabling prefetching can help isolate DNS issues but may slightly reduce browsing performance.
Issue | Symptoms | Possible Cause | Solution |
---|---|---|---|
Cannot access specific websites | "This site can't be reached" errors | Outdated DNS cache entries | Clear Chrome DNS cache using chrome://net-internals/#dns |
Websites loading with old content | Outdated information displayed | Stale DNS and HTTP cache | Clear DNS cache and browsing data |
Slow initial page loads | Long "Resolving host" status in browser | Inefficient DNS resolution | Try alternative DNS servers and clear cache |
Security warnings | "Your connection is not private" errors | Compromised DNS settings | Clear cache, scan for malware, check SSL certificates |
Intermittent connectivity | Random website access failures | DNS server issues | Switch to a more reliable DNS provider, clear cache regularly |
Redirects to incorrect sites | Being sent to unexpected websites | DNS poisoning or hijacking | Clear all cache levels, run security scan, check HOSTS file |
Wrong IP resolution | Website connects to incorrect server | Outdated DNS cache after migration | Use chrome://net-internals/#dns to clear Chrome's cache |
After clearing your DNS cache using chrome://net-internals/#dns
, consider these additional steps to enhance Chrome's DNS performance:
chrome://settings/security
Consider these useful extensions for DNS management:
chrome://net-internals/#sockets
chrome://flags
You typically only need to clear your Chrome DNS cache when experiencing connectivity issues. There's no need to do it regularly as part of maintenance unless you're a web developer testing DNS changes or particularly concerned about privacy.
No, clearing the DNS cache only removes the stored IP address mappings for websites. It won't affect your browsing history, saved passwords, cookies, or other personal data. DNS cache is strictly related to domain name resolution.
Google Chrome maintains its own DNS cache to improve browsing performance by reducing the time needed to look up website addresses that you visit frequently. This browser-level caching gives Chrome more control over network performance optimization independent of the operating system's cache.
While there's no direct setting to disable DNS caching in Chrome permanently, you can:
--dns-prefetch-disable
command-line flagThe basic process using chrome://net-internals/#dns
works in all recent versions of Chrome (version 48 and above), but the exact appearance of the interface may vary slightly between versions. In older versions, you might need to navigate through different tabs in the Net Internals page.
The chrome://net-internals/#dns
page is specifically focused on DNS management, while other internal pages like:
chrome://net-internals/#events
- Shows network eventschrome://net-internals/#proxy
- Displays proxy settingschrome://net-internals/#sockets
- Shows socket connectionschrome://net-internals/#http2
- Displays HTTP/2 connection informationEach serves different network troubleshooting purposes.
Clearing the DNS cache can help resolve certain security issues related to DNS spoofing or poisoning, where attackers redirect traffic to malicious sites. However, it's not a comprehensive security solution and should be combined with anti-malware scans and proper security practices.
The chrome://net-internals/#dns
interface is primarily available on desktop versions of Chrome (Windows, macOS, Linux). Mobile versions of Chrome have limited access to internal pages, though DNS cache clearing may still occur through the standard cache clearing process in settings.
Clearing your Chrome DNS cache using chrome://net-internals/#dns
is a powerful troubleshooting technique that can resolve many connectivity issues. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can:
Remember that DNS issues can occur at different levels of your network stack, so if clearing Chrome's cache doesn't solve your problem, consider clearing your system's DNS cache or contacting your network administrator for further assistance.
The chrome://net-internals/#dns
tool is just one of many powerful features hidden within Chrome's internal pages. Taking the time to familiarize yourself with these tools can significantly enhance your browsing experience and troubleshooting capabilities.
For more advanced web hosting and networking tips, explore our other guides on SpidyHost.com, where we provide comprehensive solutions for all your web hosting needs.
Last Updated: March 2025
DevOps Engg
A metallurgist by education, tech enthusiast by passion. I've transformed my curiosity into expertise in web hosting, DevOps, and web development. With hands-on experience in Linux administration, cPanel, WordPress, and Node.js.
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