Network hiccups are an everyday sight for computer users. Most of the time, a simple system or router reboot fixes internet connectivity issues. But if these simple methods fail, you should do a complete network reset, which includes flushing the system DNS cache.

The DNS resolver cache holds a copy of the DNS records and reduces the time to access a website's IP address. We often clear the system DNS cache, but forget to clean the browser DNS cache. Here, we'll look at the importance of browser DNS caching and explain how to clear it.

Do Browsers Also Save a DNS Cache?

Yes. Web browsers maintain a copy of the DNS resolver cache. It is mainly to speed up the DNS lookup process and load the website faster. But in many cases, simply cleaning the system DNS cache is ineffective in fixing the website access issue. It could be because of the outdated or corrupt DNS resolver cache present in the browser.

It is wise to clean the browser's DNS cache along with the system's DNS cleanup. The process of clearing the DNS cache varies with different browsers. To simplify things, we will explain the DNS flushing process for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Opera separately.

How to Clear the DNS Cache in Google Chrome

The option to clear the DNS cache in Chrome isn't accessible via the Settings section. Here's how you can access and clear the DNS cache in Chrome:

  1. Press Ctrl + T to open a new tab in Chrome.
  2. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns command in the URL bar and press the enter key.
    Net Internals page in Chrome browser
  3. Then, click on the Clear host cache button to wipe the local DNS cache.

How to Clear the DNS Cache in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge switched to Chromium in 2020 to improve its stability and performance. Since it uses the same browser engine as Chrome, the DNS cache-clearing steps remain similar. Repeat these steps:

  1. Open a new tab in Edge.
  2. Click on the URL bar and type edge://net-internals/#dns command.
  3. Press the enter key to open the DNS settings page.
    DNS settings page in Edge browser
  4. Now, click on the Clear host cache button to flush the Edge browser's DNS cache.

How to Clear the DNS Cache in Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox doesn't use the Chromium engine. So, the process to clear the DNS cache entries is different from all the Chromium-based browsers. Use the following steps:

  1. Launch Firefox and open a new tab.
  2. Type about:networking command in the address bar and press the Enter key.
  3. The Networking section will open. Click on the DNS option in the left-hand side menu.
    Firefox browser DNS records page
  4. You will see a list of all the DNS cache entries saved in Firefox. Click on the Clear DNS Cache button to remove all the entries.

How to Clear the DNS Cache in Safari

Safari browser hides the DNS cache flush option inside the Develop settings. So, you have to enable the Develop menu first, and only then will you see the option to clear the DNS cache. Here's how to clear the DNS cache in Safari:

  1. Go to the Safari menu bar and click on the Safari option. Click on the Settings option.
  2. Now, select the Show Develop menu in menu bar check box. Close the advanced settings window.
    Enabling Develop option in Safari browser's menu bar
  3. Navigate to the Safari menu bar again and click on the Develop option.
    Empty Caches option in Safari browser
  4. Lastly, click on the Empty Caches option in the drop-down menu. It will flush the browser's DNS cache.

How to Clear DNS Cache in Opera

Opera is also a Chromium-based browser and has an identical net internals page. Repeat the following steps to clear the Opera DNS cache:

  1. Press Ctrl + T to open a new tab in Opera.
  2. Input the opera://net-internals/#dns command in the URL bar and press the Enter key.
    DNS settings page in Opera browser
  3. The DNS page will launch. Click on the Clear host cache button to remove the DNS cache records.

Keep Your Browser's DNS Cache Fresh

A corrupt DNS cache can break access to your favorite websites. For Chromium-based browsers, the command to access and wipe the DNS cache records remains the same. However, if you use Safari or Firefox, the methods to clear the DNS cache are slightly different. Remember to clear browser cookies and site data if you still have trouble accessing a website.