Learn how to clear the DNS cache in Windows 10 to fix name resolution issues and improve your Internet connection speed.
To improve the speed and performance of your internet connection, Microsoft Windows 10 stores essential domain name resolution information in a temporary file known as the DNS cache. Under normal circumstances, this cache helps you get to your Internet destination faster by making a request to an Internet-based . to get around DNS server. The system usually works well.
However, over time, the cache can become corrupted with erroneous information that inadvertently slows down your network connection. Windows 10 first collects information from the cache, finds it corrupted, and then makes a request to a DNS server – a notable waste of time and detrimental to network performance.
This tutorial shows you how to clear the Windows 10 DNS file and perform other basic maintenance so that your network can recover verified information and improve network performance over time.
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How to improve network performance in Windows 10 by clearing DNS cache
As you use the Internet on a Windows 10 PC, you build information in the DNS cache that helps speed up navigation between and between websites. However, websites inevitably change over time, which can leave invalid, incorrect, or incomprehensible information in the cache. Searching through this junk can slow down Internet access and adversely affect network performance.
By clearing Windows 10’s DNS cache, you can eliminate the clutter and restore a pristine cache of valid and useful information. The easiest way to perform this task in Windows 10 is from the command prompt.
There are several ways to get to a command prompt, but the fastest way is to use the keyboard shortcut Windows key + R and then type cmd. But you may need to run a command prompt with administrator-level credentials. In that case, right-click on the Start button and select the “admin” version of the Command Prompt. Either way, you should see a screen similar to: Image A.
Image A
Type this command at the prompt and press Enter:
ipconfig /flushdns
The command prompt should return a message stating that the command completed successfully, as shown in Figure B.
Figure B
You may notice that navigating to familiar websites takes a little longer at first, but be patient. As the DNS cache refills with valid information, your network and Internet connection speeds should improve — at least until it’s full of junk again.
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Bonus tips for network maintenance
Since you are at the command prompt working on network performance, you may want to do some other basic network maintenance.
Type this command at the prompt:
ipconfig /renew
This command resets your IP address with the router and may resolve configuration issues.
When the command prompt returns, type this command:
netsh winsock reset
This command resets the Windows 10 Winsock protocols. This can be especially useful for network performance issues if your PC is connected to the network continuously for an extended period of time. Microsoft often changes security protocols in their Winsock software during updates and it is important to keep your internet connection up to date. This command may also require a computer restart.
Using these three basic commands regularly as part of a network performance and maintenance regimen can significantly improve the overall performance of your Internet and network connections. Yet these simple tools are often forgotten or ignored for many users. Don’t let that happen to you.
