When browsing the internet, we may sometimes experience problems accessing websites. The page does not load, we get a connection error, or we try to connect to a site with an old IP address. This is where Flush DNS comes into play! So, what is Flush DNS? How do you do it? Is it really important for privacy? Let's examine it in all details.
What is Flush DNS?
Flush DNS is the process of clearing your computer's DNS cache. DNS (Domain Name System) is a system that stores the IP addresses of websites. For example, when you type ‘google.com’, your computer learns its real IP address from DNS servers and stores this information in memory.
Over time, old or incorrect records may accumulate in this cache. If a website has changed its IP address but your computer is using the old record, you may have problems accessing that site. By Flush DNS, you can clear old records and get up-to-date information.
Is Flush DNS Required?
In some cases yes, in some cases no. Here are the situations where you need to Flush DNS:
- If you cannot access a site: Clearing the DNS cache may help, especially if a site you visit frequently won't open.
- If your internet connection has slowed down: Sometimes old DNS records can slow down the connection.
- If you have made a DNS change: For example, if you switched to Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS, it is a good idea to clear old data.
- If you want to increase privacy: The DNS cache stores information about the sites you visit. Clearing these can increase your privacy to some extent.
How to Flush DNS?
To clear the DNS cache in the Windows operating system, simply open the Command Prompt (CMD) as administrator and type the following command:
ipconfig /flushdns
After running this command, you should see the message ‘Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache’.
What Do Other Commands Do?
Some sources say that ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew should also be used. These do different operations:
- ipconfig /release → Releases your current IP address.
- ipconfig /renew → Gets a new IP address.
- exit → Exits the command prompt.
These commands are not directly related to the Flush DNS process, but they can be helpful for solving internet connection problems. For example, if you have problems with your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, you can run these commands in order.
Is Flush DNS Essential for Privacy?
The DNS cache contains information that is stored only on your local computer. This means that your internet provider (ISP) or the sites you visit cannot see your DNS cache. However:
- If other people use your computer, the sites you visit may be visible in the cache.
- Clearing DNS records on open Wi-Fi networks can provide additional security.
- If you have made VPN or DNS changes, it may be useful to delete old logs.
If you want the highest level of privacy, you should use a VPN instead of just clearing DNS and clear your browser history regularly.
Conclusion: Should I Flush DNS?
If you are having problems with your internet connection or want to get up-to-date DNS information, Flush DNS makes sense. However, it is not a sufficient method alone to increase privacy.
To summarise:
✅ Do → if there are connection problems.
✅ If you have changed DNS → Do it.
❌ No need to do it regularly every day.
❌ It doesn't ensure complete privacy.
