# How to clear your DNS cache

> Flush your local DNS cache on Windows or macOS to fix browsing problems after a site moves to a new IP address.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/domains-dns-ns/how-to-clear-your-dns-cache
Updated: 2026-06-04

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If your website has recently moved to a different IP address, your local DNS cache may still point to the old one, causing the site to appear unavailable. Clearing that cache usually fixes the problem straight away.

## Windows 10 and 11

1. Press **Win+X** to open the quick-access menu.
2. Click **Terminal (Admin)** or **Command Prompt (Admin)**.
3. Run the following command:

```cmd
ipconfig /flushdns
```

## Windows 7 and 8

1. Press the **Start** button, type **cmd**, then press **Enter**.
2. In the Command Prompt window, run:

```cmd
ipconfig /flushdns
```

## macOS

1. Open **Launchpad** and search for **Terminal**.
2. Open the **Terminal** application.
3. Run the following two commands in order, pressing **Enter** after each:

```bash
dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
```

4. When prompted, enter your Mac admin password and press **Enter**.

## If flushing the cache does not help

Try these steps in order:

- Clear your [browser cache](/knowledgebase/domain-names/how-to-clear-your-browser-cache) as well, since browsers cache DNS results independently.
- Restart your internet router - routers often cache DNS responses and a reboot clears them.
- If neither step works, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may have cached the old IP address. ISP caches can take up to 4 hours to expire on their own.

:::tip
To confirm the issue is not on the server itself, ask a friend on a different ISP to check whether the site loads for them. You can also contact the Kualo support team and ask us to check the site from multiple locations.
:::


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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/domains-dns-ns/how-to-clear-your-dns-cache · © Kualo Ltd._