Flush DNS Server on Mac in 5 Easy Steps

Welcome to our step-by-step guide on how to flush DNS server on Mac in just 5 easy steps. If you’re experiencing slow internet speeds, difficulties accessing websites, or other connectivity issues, clearing your DNS cache could be a quick solution.

Many users have found that resetting their DNS cache can help to resolve issues with connecting to websites, especially if they are having trouble connecting to a specific website. This guide will walk you through each step of the process, so you can quickly and easily flush your DNS server on your Mac computer.

Follow these 5 simple steps to flush your DNS server on your Mac and enjoy faster and more reliable internet speeds. Don’t let connectivity issues slow you down any longer!

Ready to get started? Let’s jump into step 1 and get your DNS cache cleared for a smoother browsing experience.

Step 1: Launch Terminal

If you are experiencing connectivity issues on your Mac, the DNS server may be at fault. Flushing the DNS server can help resolve the problem, and fortunately, it’s a simple process that only requires a few steps. The first step is to launch the Terminal application, which is built into your Mac’s operating system.

There are two main ways to access Terminal. First, you can use the Spotlight search by pressing the Command + Space keys and typing “Terminal” in the search bar. Alternatively, you can navigate to the Utilities folder by opening Finder, selecting “Go” from the menu bar, and then clicking on “Utilities.” From there, you can find Terminal and launch it.

Once you have launched Terminal, you will see a command-line interface where you can enter commands to execute various tasks. This is where you will enter the commands to flush the DNS server and clear the cache.

If you are new to using Terminal or command-line interfaces in general, it can be a bit intimidating at first. However, it’s a powerful tool that can help you troubleshoot and solve problems on your Mac, so it’s worth taking the time to learn how to use it.

Before moving on to the next step, make sure you have Terminal open and ready to go. In the next step, we’ll go over the command you need to enter to flush the DNS server.

Accessing Terminal on a Mac

1. Method 1: Click on the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner of your screen to open Spotlight Search. Type in “Terminal” and click on the Terminal application when it appears.

2. Method 2: Open Finder and navigate to the “Applications” folder. Scroll down until you see the “Utilities” folder, and click on it. Find “Terminal” in the list of utilities and double-click to open it.

3. Method 3: Launch Terminal using the keyboard shortcut “Command + Space” to open Spotlight Search, type in “Terminal,” and press “Enter.”

Once you have opened Terminal, you will see a command line interface where you can enter commands to manage various aspects of your Mac, including the DNS server.

How to Open Terminal on Mac?

If you’re unfamiliar with accessing Terminal on your Mac, don’t worry! Follow these steps:

1. Click on the “Finder” icon in your dock.
2. Click “Applications” in the left-hand sidebar, then “Utilities.”
3. Scroll down and click on “Terminal.”
4. You can also use Spotlight to search for “Terminal” and open it from there.
5. If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, you can use the shortcut “Command + Space” to open Spotlight and then type “Terminal” to locate it.
6. Once you have located Terminal, click on it to launch the application.

Now that you know how to access Terminal on your Mac, you’re ready to move on to the next step in flushing your DNS server.

Step 2: Use the Command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder”

Once you have launched the Terminal application, you can move on to the second step of flushing your DNS server on a Mac. This step involves using the command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder” to reset the DNS cache.

The command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder” will signal the mDNSResponder process to reload its configuration files, effectively resetting the DNS cache. This can help resolve various network connectivity issues you may be experiencing.

It is important to note that when using the “sudo” command, you will be prompted to enter your password. This is a security measure in place to ensure that only authorized users can make system-level changes on the Mac.

What Does the Command Do?

The command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder” is used to clear the DNS cache on your Mac. When this command is executed, it sends a “hang up” signal to the mDNSResponder process, which forces it to reload its configuration files and clear the cache.

The mDNSResponder is a system process that manages the DNS cache on your Mac. It is responsible for resolving domain names to IP addresses, and it stores the results of these lookups in a cache. Over time, this cache can become outdated or corrupted, which can lead to DNS-related problems.

By using the command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder“, you can force the mDNSResponder process to refresh its cache, which can help resolve DNS issues on your Mac.

Step 3: Enter Your Password

After executing the previous command, a prompt will appear asking for your password. Type in your administrative password and hit enter.

It is important to note that when entering passwords in Terminal, the cursor won’t move and there won’t be any visual indication of your keystrokes. This is a security measure to prevent others from seeing your password.

Once you have entered your password, hit enter and the command will execute. If your password is correct, you should see a message saying “mDNSResponder: SIGHUP received, refreshing caches…”

If you do not have administrative access to the computer, you will not be able to execute this command.

Why Do You Need to Enter Your Password?

Security: The sudo command is used to perform tasks with administrative privileges, which can be potentially harmful to the system. By requiring a password, the system ensures that only authorized users can execute the command, preventing unauthorized access or modifications to the system.

Authorization: Mac OS X is based on a Unix-like operating system, which relies on permissions and user accounts to ensure security. By entering your password, you are authorizing the killall command to send a signal to the mDNSResponder process, which flushes the DNS cache.

Confirmation: Entering your password serves as a confirmation that you want to execute the command. It ensures that you are not accidentally running the command or executing it without proper authorization.

User Accountability: Requiring a password for administrative tasks helps keep track of who is executing the commands. This information can be used for auditing and accountability purposes, allowing administrators to trace any unauthorized actions or errors back to the user responsible.

Step 4: Clear the DNS Cache with “sudo dscacheutil -flushcache”

After flushing the mDNSResponder, the next step is to clear the DNS cache. DNS cache contains information about the websites you have visited, and it helps your Mac to access the websites faster. However, if the cache is corrupted or outdated, it may cause problems when trying to access some websites.

The command to clear the DNS cache on a Mac is sudo dscacheutil -flushcache. This command will flush the contents of the DNS cache, and your Mac will then retrieve new DNS information when you access a website.

It’s important to note that clearing the DNS cache may slow down your browsing experience temporarily. This is because your Mac will have to retrieve new DNS information for each website you visit. However, this slowdown should only last a short time, and your browsing experience should return to normal soon after.

If you’re experiencing problems accessing certain websites, clearing the DNS cache may help resolve the issue. Additionally, clearing the cache can also be useful if you’ve made changes to your DNS settings and want to make sure your Mac is using the new settings.

Now that you know how to clear the DNS cache, let’s move on to the final step.

Why Clearing the DNS Cache is Important?

Fixes DNS Errors: Clearing the DNS cache can fix common DNS errors, such as “server not found” or “DNS address could not be found.”

Updates DNS Information: Clearing the DNS cache allows your computer to retrieve the most up-to-date DNS information from the internet.

Speeds Up Browsing: Clearing the DNS cache can speed up browsing by reducing the time it takes for your computer to look up DNS information.

Resolves Website Access Issues: Clearing the DNS cache can resolve issues accessing certain websites due to outdated or corrupt DNS information.

Refreshes Network Connections: Clearing the DNS cache can refresh your network connections, helping to troubleshoot network-related issues.

How to Confirm the Cache is Cleared?

After you clear the DNS cache on your Mac, you may want to confirm that the cache has been cleared. There are a few different ways to do this:

1. Use the Terminal command: You can use the command “sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder” again and then run a command to check the cached IP addresses. If no results are returned, the cache has been cleared.
2. Check the website: Try visiting the website that was previously experiencing issues. If the website loads without any problems, it’s likely that the cache has been cleared.
3. Use a third-party DNS checking tool: There are several online tools that allow you to check DNS records for a particular website. If the records are updated, it’s likely that the cache has been cleared.
4. Check the DNS cache directly: You can use the “sudo dscacheutil -cachedump -entries” command to view the current DNS cache. If no entries are displayed, the cache has been cleared.

It’s important to confirm that the DNS cache has been cleared to ensure that any previous issues have been resolved and that your Mac is using the correct DNS records for websites and other online services.

What Happens After Clearing the DNS Cache?

After clearing the DNS cache on your Mac, you will experience a faster browsing experience as your Mac will now look up for the latest IP addresses of the websites you visit, instead of the outdated ones in the cache.

You may also experience improved connectivity to the websites that you were previously having trouble accessing, as any issues caused by the cached data would have been resolved.

However, you may also have to re-enter any login credentials you previously saved, as clearing the DNS cache also clears any stored login information.

In summary, clearing the DNS cache is a simple but effective troubleshooting step that can help resolve various internet connectivity issues on your Mac.

Step 5: Verify DNS Cache is Cleared with “dscacheutil -cachedump -entries”

Once you have cleared the DNS cache, it is important to verify that it has been cleared successfully. You can do this by using the command “dscacheutil -cachedump -entries” in the Terminal.

This command will display a list of all the entries that are currently in the DNS cache. If the cache has been cleared successfully, this list should be empty. If there are still entries in the cache, it means that the cache has not been cleared correctly.

It is important to note that it may take some time for the cache to be fully cleared. If you run this command immediately after clearing the cache, you may still see some entries. It is best to wait a few minutes and then run the command again to ensure that the cache has been completely cleared.

What is the Purpose of Verification?

Verification is a crucial step after clearing the DNS cache to ensure that it was cleared successfully. This step ensures that the cache is free of outdated or incorrect information and has updated information. Verifying the cache after clearing it provides confidence that your computer is communicating with the intended server and that your DNS server is functioning correctly.

The verification step is essential for troubleshooting issues related to DNS resolution. It can also help in diagnosing issues with a specific domain or network connection.

Without verification, it may be challenging to know if the cache was cleared successfully or if the issue you are experiencing is related to something else. By following the verification step, you can ensure that your DNS cache is functioning correctly and that your internet connection is secure and reliable.

How to Confirm the DNS Cache is Cleared?

After following the previous steps, you can confirm whether the DNS cache has been cleared or not. You can use the following command to check the entries:

dscacheutil -cachedump -entries

This command will display a list of cached items, including their record types and time to live (TTL). If the list is empty or does not include the entries you were expecting, then the DNS cache has been successfully cleared.

It’s important to note that the cache will start filling up again as you access new websites and services, so it’s a good idea to periodically clear your DNS cache to ensure your system is running smoothly.

Still Having Issues? Try Restarting Your Mac

If you have followed all the steps above and are still experiencing issues, restarting your Mac can often help. Restarting your Mac can clear out any lingering issues that may be affecting your DNS cache.

To restart your Mac, click on the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen, then click on “Restart”. Wait for your Mac to shut down and start up again. Once your Mac has restarted, check if your DNS issues have been resolved.

If you are still experiencing DNS issues after restarting your Mac, it may be worth reaching out to a professional for additional support.

How to Restart Your Mac?

If you are still having issues with your DNS after trying the previous steps, restarting your Mac may help. Here are the steps:

1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen.
2. Select “Restart” from the drop-down menu.
3. Confirm that you want to restart your Mac.
4. Wait for your Mac to shut down and start back up again.

After your Mac has restarted, try accessing the website or service that was giving you DNS issues to see if the problem has been resolved.

If restarting your Mac does not resolve the issue, you may need to contact your internet service provider or a technical support specialist for further assistance.

Why Restarting Your Mac Can Help?

Memory: Restarting your Mac clears out its memory, which can fix some performance issues. When you use your Mac, memory is constantly being allocated and released. Restarting your Mac frees up memory that may have become bogged down with unnecessary files and processes.

Processes: Restarting your Mac can also stop any problematic background processes. These are processes that may have started to cause issues over time, such as a bug in a system or application process. Restarting your Mac forces these processes to stop and start fresh, which can resolve issues.

Updates: Restarting your Mac can also be helpful after installing software updates. After a software update, it’s recommended to restart your Mac to ensure that all changes are applied correctly. Restarting your Mac can also fix any issues that may have arisen during the update process.

What to Do if the Issue Persists?

If you have tried all of the above solutions and the problem still persists, it may be time to seek help from a professional. An experienced web developer or IT specialist may be able to diagnose and fix the issue much quicker than you can on your own.

It’s also important to stay calm and patient during these types of situations. Technical difficulties can be frustrating, but getting worked up will only make things worse. Take a deep breath, step away from the computer for a few minutes, and come back with a clear head.

Remember to document the issue and the steps you have taken to resolve it. This can be useful for future reference and can also help you identify patterns or recurring issues that need to be addressed.

Finally, make sure to communicate with your website visitors or customers about the issue. Let them know that you are aware of the problem and that you are working to resolve it as quickly as possible. Transparency and honesty can go a long way in maintaining trust and credibility with your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions