The chrome //net-internals/#dns mobile page is not available on the Chrome mobile app for Android or iOS. This means that you cannot clear the DNS cache on Chrome using the same method as on desktop computers.
However, you can still clear the DNS cache on Chrome for Android and iOS by following these steps:
Android:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Tap Network & Internet.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the name of your Wi-Fi network.
- Scroll down and tap Advanced.
- Tap Private DNS.
- Select DHCP.
- Restart your Android device.
iOS:
- Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the name of your Wi-Fi network.
- Tap Configure DNS.
- Tap Automatic.
- Restart your iOS device.
Clearing the DNS cache may help to resolve issues with website loading or connectivity. However, it is typically not necessary to clear the DNS cache on a regular basis. Chrome will automatically clear the DNS cache if it detects that it is outdated.
What is the DNS Cache?
A DNS cache (also known as a DNS resolver cache) is a temporary storage of DNS records maintained by a device (your computer, smartphone, server, etc.) that contains DNS records of already visited domain names. It keeps those records depending on their time-to-live (TTL). Each time you visit a website, its addresses will be saved inside this temporary database of records to facilitate a later revisit.
The DNS cache is like a phonebook for your computer. When you type a website address into your web browser, your computer first checks its DNS cache to see if it has already looked up the IP address for that domain name. If it does, your computer can immediately connect to the website without having to contact a DNS server.
If your computer does not have the IP address for the domain name in its DNS cache, it will have to contact a DNS server to get it. This process can take a few seconds, but once your computer has the IP address, it will store it in its DNS cache for future use.
The DNS cache can help to improve your web browsing experience in a few ways:
- It can make websites load faster by reducing the need to contact DNS servers.
- It can reduce the load on DNS servers by caching DNS records for multiple users.
- It can help to protect you from phishing attacks by caching the IP addresses of known phishing websites.
However, the DNS cache can also cause some problems. For example, if a website changes its IP address, your computer may not be able to connect to the website until its DNS cache is cleared. Additionally, if a DNS server is compromised, your computer may be cached with the wrong IP address for a website, which could redirect you to a malicious website.
Overall, the DNS cache is a useful tool that can help to improve your web browsing experience. However, it is essential to be aware of its limitations and to clear your DNS cache occasionally.
What exactly is DNS cache Flushing?
DNS cache flushing is the process of clearing the DNS cache on your device. This can be done manually or automatically.
When you flush your DNS cache, you are removing all of the DNS records that are stored in your device’s cache. This can help to improve your web browsing experience in a few ways:
- It can make websites load faster by reducing the need to contact DNS servers.
- It can reduce the load on DNS servers by caching DNS records for multiple users.
- It can help to protect you from phishing attacks by caching the IP addresses of known phishing websites.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind when flushing your DNS cache:
- It may cause websites to load more slowly the first time you visit them after flushing your cache, as your device will have to contact a DNS server to get the IP address for the website.
- It may not always resolve all website connectivity issues.
If you are having trouble connecting to a website, you may want to try flushing your DNS cache. However, if you are not having any problems, you probably don’t need to flush your DNS cache on a regular basis.
Here are the instructions on how to flush your DNS cache on Windows, macOS, and Chrome:
Windows:
- Open the Command Prompt.
- Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter. - You should see a message that says “Successfully flushed the DNS resolver cache.”
macOS:
- Open the Terminal application.
- Type
sudo dscacheutil -flushcacheand press Enter. - Enter your password when prompted.
- You should see a message that says “Cache flushed.”
Chrome:
- Open Chrome.
- Type
chrome://net-internals/#dnsin the address bar and press Enter. - Click the “Clear host cache” button.
Flushing your DNS cache is a relatively simple process that can help to improve your web browsing experience. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations and only to flush your DNS cache if you are having trouble connecting to a website.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of a DNS cache?
A: The purpose of a DNS cache is to store DNS records of already visited domain names so that your device can quickly connect to those websites without having to contact a DNS server each time.
Q: What are the benefits of flushing the DNS cache?
A: Flushing the DNS cache can help to improve your web browsing experience by making websites load faster and reducing the load on DNS servers. It can also help to protect you from phishing attacks.
Q: What are the risks of flushing the DNS cache?
A: Flushing the DNS cache may cause websites to load more slowly the first time you visit them after flushing your cache, as your device will have to contact a DNS server to get the IP address for the website. It may not always resolve all website connectivity issues.
Q: How often should I flush my DNS cache?
A: You do not need to flush your DNS cache on a regular basis unless you are having trouble connecting to a website.
Conclusion
Overall, the DNS cache is a useful tool that can help to improve your web browsing experience. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations and only to flush your DNS cache if you are having trouble connecting to a website.
