Step 1: Open the Command Prompt
The first step in performing DNS cache cleanup is to open the Command Prompt. To do this, click on the Start menu, type “cmd” in the search box, and press Enter. This will open a window with a black background and white text, called the Command Prompt.
Step 2: Clear the DNS cache
Once you have the Command Prompt window open, type the following command:
ipconfig /flushdns
This will clear the DNS cache on your computer, forcing it to retrieve fresh information from the DNS server the next time it needs to access a website. You should see a message that says “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache” indicating that the cache has been successfully cleaned.
Step 3: Restart the DNS Client service
In some cases, clearing the DNS cache may not be enough to fully refresh the information stored on your computer. To ensure that your computer is using the latest information from the DNS server, you can restart the DNS Client service. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter.
3. In the Services window, scroll down to the DNS Client service and right-click on it.
4. Select “Restart” from the context menu.
This will restart the DNS Client service, which will then retrieve the latest information from the DNS server.
Conclusion
DNS cache cleanup is a crucial step in ensuring that your computer can access websites quickly and efficiently. By clearing the DNS cache and restarting the DNS Client service, you can refresh the information stored on your computer and ensure that it is up-to-date with the current state of the internet. Whether you are browsing the web, streaming videos, or working on important projects, proper DNS cache cleanup can make all the difference in ensuring that your computer is running at peak performance. So, if you haven’t already, take the time to perform DNS cache cleanup on your Windows computer today.