Cache & Junk

How to Clear DNS Cache on Mac

June 7, 2026·1 min read

What Is DNS Cache

DNS cache stores domain-to-IP mappings so your Mac doesn't look up the same website address repeatedly. When DNS cache becomes stale or corrupted, you may experience: websites not loading, wrong pages appearing, or slow browsing.

How to Flush DNS Cache

Open Terminal and run:

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Enter your admin password when prompted. The DNS cache is instantly cleared.

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When to Flush DNS

Flush DNS when: a website changed servers but you still see the old version, you're getting "server not found" errors for sites that work on other devices, or after changing DNS settings (like switching to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8).

Does DNS Cache Affect Storage?

DNS cache is tiny — usually under 1MB. Flushing it won't free meaningful storage. This is about fixing network issues, not storage cleanup. For storage, focus on app caches, system caches, and junk files instead.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does flushing DNS speed up browsing?

It can fix slow browsing caused by stale entries, but won't make a healthy connection faster.

Is it safe to flush DNS?

Completely safe. Your Mac simply re-looks up domain addresses on next visit. No data is lost.

How often should I flush DNS?

Only when experiencing DNS-related issues. There's no need for regular flushing.