How to Clear DNS and Browser Cache

Source: opendns.com

Computers often cache both the connection-to-websites and actual website pages / resources themselves in two different but common places: in the Browser and in DNS. Browser cache is local to your machine, however DNS cache can be stored on your machine or in the network (local router). DNS cache can take a good amount of time to update by itself, which means you may want to update it manually.

Instructions for clearing the DNS cache on computers and servers

Commands need to be run at the command prompt with administrator privileges:

Windows 7 and Earlier
  1. Click the Start Menu
  2. Go to All Programs
  3. Choose Accessories and right-click Command Prompt
  4. Choose Run as Administrator
  5. Run the following command in the command line and hit enter: ipconfig /flushdns
Windows 8
  1. Press the Windows Key or hover your mouse over the bottom left corner and click the Windows Icon
  2. Begin typing Command Prompt
  3. Right-click the application and select Run as Administrator
  4. Run the following command in the command line and hit enter: ipconfig /flushdns
OS-X-Lion-Logo.jpg OS X 10.7 and 10.8 Lion
  1. Click the Terminal icon in the dock or in Finder under Application/Utilities/Terminal
  2. sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
OS X 10.9 and 10.10.4 Yosemite, 10.11 El Capitan and 10.12 Sierra
  1. Click the Terminal icon in the dock or in Finder under Application/Utilities/Terminal
  2. sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
  3. sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Browser
Steps to clear the Browser Cache
Internet Explorer  8 and above (Windows) Go to the History menu, select Delete Browsing History, check all boxes (except passwords, if desired) and click Delete.
Mozilla Firefox (Windows) Click on Firefox at the top left of your browser, go to the History menu, select Clear Recent History and check all boxes. Under Time range to clear select Everything (except passwords, if desired) and click Clear Now.
Apple Safari (Mac) Expand the Cog Icon in the upper right corner and select Reset Safari. Check all boxes and click Reset.
Apple Safari (Windows) Go to the Safari menu, select Reset Safari, check all boxes and click Reset.
Google Chrome (Windows) Expand the Wrench Icon in the upper right corner and select History and check all boxes. Under Clear data for this time period, select Everything(except passwords, if desired) and click Clear Browsing Data.
Google Chrome (Mac) Under Go to the Chrome menu, select Clear Browsing Data and check all boxes (except passwords, if desired). Under Clear data for this time period,select Everything and click Clear Browsing Data.

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