Have you ever encountered a problem where you cannot get to a certain web page or in other words the page is not loading even if it exists on the web? This situation indicates that your local DNS might be broken and needs to be fixed or in other words, flushed, but how to flush DNS Windows 10 cmd?
let’s find it out in this article.
What Is DNS
DNS stands for Domain Name System, the DNS resolver cache is a temporary local database, meaning it’s in your operating system, which contains all the records of the recent activity and visits on websites. You can assume it as a storage area for the website’s name and IP address which will act as a quick reference guide for your computer to load the site that you have visited.
When you visit a site for the first time then you usually enter its domain name, like for example ABCnetwrok.com, and you get to see those websites in your browser. But this is not actually what happens on your first visit. First, it is directed to a DNS server where it stores its IP address and then you are redirected to the webpage. This all happens to make your next visits much faster. Therefore your DNS must work accurately all the time in order for you to surf fast and also speed up your Windows 10
Why Does The DNS Server Malfunction?
Most operating systems cache IP addresses and DNS records of your recent visits in order to make your future visits faster. For example when you visit ABCnetwork.com for the first time then the browser will ask the DNS server where the site is, on finding all the necessary information, it stores it in a local cache so that on your next visit it gets the information directly from there.
Sometimes, corrupted IP addresses are cached that contain obsolete information and need to be flushed to improve the communication with the web servers otherwise your site will not load. A bad DNS cache will impact badly on your ability to connect to the internet and cause other problems like slowing down your Windows, therefore you must know how to flush DNS windows 10 cmd.
How To See Your Current DNS Cache
To see your current Windows DNS Cache, open the command prompt instance and type the following command:
ipconfig /displaydns
The command will produce a very large input of DNS storage, but luckily you can redirect it to a file. Use the following command
ipconfig /displaydns >%USERPROFILE
Now a file will be created on the Desktop with the name dns.txt. From here you can see your current DNS cache.
How Flushing The DNS Cache Can Save You?
DNS cache on your OS is broken if you cannot access a web page even if it exists on the web. Also, sometimes an IP address of a site may change but your cache has the old IP address. This will also prevent the site from loading. Therefore flushing DNS will clear old or corrupted IP addresses from your cache in order to resolve the connectivity and various other issues.
However, old IP addresses are flushed automatically because when the information about a certain site is being stored in your DNS cache, a component called TTL(time to live) also gets stored which specifies a time period for the DNS record to remain valid. After the TTL is over, the entry automatically removes from the cache.
Why Would You Flush DNS
There are various reasons why you would need to flush your DNS cache. These reasons include technical problems, security, data privacy, etc. some of the major reasons as to why flushing DNS cache is necessary are listed below:
1.404 Error
Sometimes, the information that you have caches has not been updated in your cache resulting in you seeing 404 errors or visiting the outdated version of that website. All the information will get updated eventually but you do not have to wait and can flush the DNS on your own.
2. DNS Spoofing
DNS spoofing is also known as DNS cache poisoning. It is the process in which your cache has been altered or corrupted by external agents resulting in you being redirected to other wrong sites. Also, you can be redirected to a fraudulent site that resembles your wanted site where you enter sensitive information like bank account and password, etc. therefore flushing DNS on a regular basis might save you from a lot of trouble.
3. Search Record Privacy
Whenever we want to hide our search record we think about cookies and almost forget about this virtual address book that stores all your recent visits to different websites. Therefore in order to keep your search history private and keep it safe from bad agents, flushing your DNS regularly is necessary.
4. Trouble Accessing A Website
If you have tried and exhausted all the steps when having trouble accessing a website, then flushing DNS would work which will reset the connection between your computer and the internet.
Now that we have discussed what DNS is, why flushing is necessary, it’s time to move on to how to flush DNS windows 10 CMD. Below are the steps which will help you through the said process
Method 1: How to Flush DNS Windows 10 CMD
Here’s the processing for flushing your DNS cache on Windows 10 using cmd:
1. Click the Start button in the bottom left corner.
2. Select Command Prompt.
3. Or you can directly press Windows and R simultaneously and enter Command Prompt.
4. Here, allow Command Prompt to make changes to your computer.
5. If you are not the administrator then you have to ask him for the login to proceed.
6. In the command prompt window, type the following command
ipconfig /flushdns
7. Press Enter.
8. A message will be prompted saying that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed
Method 2: Straight From Run Window
1. Press WIN+R keys simultaneously to bring up the Run window. Here type in the following command:
ipconfig /flushdns
2. Hit Enter Key
3. A command window will flash on the screen just for a second and the DNS resolver cache will be cleared.
Summing Up
In order to protect yourself from phishing schemes, security threats and to get directed towards the latest version of the required website, it is necessary to keep your DNS cache updated by using any method which seems good to you. Therefore you can restore your internet connection and keep your search private. You can also follow one of the two methods which are discussed above because they are very easy and will save your time too.
