How to Clear DNS Cache on Mac (All Versions)

Clear DNS Cache on Mac

Last updated on August 25th, 2023 at 2:06 pm

If you are facing connection issues on your MacBook, you might want to know how to clear the DNS cache on your Mac. That’s because the DNS cache acts like a memory that your device refers to when trying to load a website or a server. 

Clearing the DNS cache on Mac isn’t a difficult job. Depending upon your operating system settings, you can quickly clear the DNS cache on Mac. So, let’s not waste any more time, and let’s reset your DNS on the all leading MacOS versions. 

What is Exactly DNS Cache?

The DNS cache might sound like a super-complicated tech term, but it isn’t. Domain Name System, aka DNS, lists all domain names attributes to websites visited by you. Remember that it isn’t similar to your recent online history. Domain name information is coded in numbers like 123.142.113.192. 

And whenever you navigate to a new domain, its DNS address changes. If your Mac relies upon outdated DNS records, it can connect to your desired websites. 

The DNS cache is compressed of multiple components, including:

  • Resource Data: Records descriptions such as the hostname and address. 
  • Record Type: Categorize the type of record i.e., A or AAAA records. 
  • Record Name: This shows the DNS entry’s domain name.  
  • Time To Live (TTL): Resource data validity time. 
  • Class: Appropriate protocol group. 
  • Resource Data Length: It is the resource data’s value. 

Why Clear DNS Cache on Your Mac Occasionally?

Mac and other OS platforms perform DNS caching to reduce the DNS servers’ burden during high traffic. It is TTL’s responsibility to determine the cache’s validity period. Till the cache files are valid, your content requests will process without going through the DNS server. 

But if you are using outdated DNS cache files, that can expose you to security vulnerabilities. Sometimes, Mac saves a bad DNS cache when you visit a website that just moved to a new domain name. Therefore, we highly recommend clearing the DNS cache on your Mac. 

Here are a few other reasons to periodically clear your DNS cache:

  • Storing DNS records makes it easier for hackers to track your search behavior and predict your browser history. 
  • The DNS cache files are targeted for DNS spoofing that can endanger your sensitive information. 
  • Importantly, clearing the DNS cache on Mac can solve connection issues and wrongly displayed web content. 

How to Clear DNS Cache in Mac 

As you know what DNS is and why to clear it, let’s move to the main topic: how to clear DNS cache in Mac. 

Before we get started, you have to get familiar with Terminal commands to clear the DNS cache on macOS. Otherwise, you can use the Terminal app and paste the command to clear the cache. So, let’s see how to clear DNS cache on the latest macOS:

Terminal app
  • Go to Applications > Utilities or press Command + Space keys to launch Spotlight and search for Terminal. 
  • Paste the command sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal and press the Return key on your keyboard. 
  • Now, enter your administrator password for the account and hit Return. And your DNS cache is cleared. 
Terminal commands

Interestingly, you can also hear an audio notification when DNS flush is complete using: 

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder; say dns cleared successfully

How to Clear DNS Cache on Older MacOS and MacOSX Versions

The initial process is the same where you have to open the Terminal app. But the commands for clearing the DNS cache on most MacOS versions are different. You can use the following commands based on your device’s OS:

Operating System Terminal Command
Mojave (version 10.14)High Sierra (version 10.13)Sierra (version 10.12)Mountain Lion (version 10.8)Lion (version 10.7)sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
El Capitan (version 10.11)Mavericks (version 10.9)sudo dscacheutil -flushcache   sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Yosemite (version 10.10)sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache   sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches
Snow Leopard (version 10.6)Leopard (version 10.5)sudo dscacheutil –
Tiger (version 10.4)lookupd -flushcache

Alternative Way: How to Clear DNS Cache on Mac 

If you aren’t comfortable clearing the DNS cache on your Mac manually, you can use a tool. Yep, you can use cache cleaning tools to automatically remove DNS files from your Mac. For example, CleanMyMac X is a great Mac maintenance tool that can clear DNS cache too. All you need is to download CleanMyMac X on your device and:

  • Launch the software. 
  • Click on the System Junk Tab in the sidebar. 
  • Navigate through the list of found items and click Clean. 

That’s it! All outdated DNS cache files will no longer trouble your connections. 

Extra Facts About Clearing the DNS Cache on Mac

  • Once you clear DNS cache files from your Mac, the next time you try to open a website, it will load a bit slowly. 
  • You can also delete browser caches to delete outdated DNS entries. 
  • Even if your network randomly slows down, you can cache DNS files to fix it. 

Wrapping Words 

There are tons of reasons to regularly clear your DNS cache on Mac. It keeps your system up-to-date, secures your private data, prevents phishing, and so much more. Most importantly, it is super simple to clear DNS caches. 

Periodically, take two minutes out of your schedule and clear your DNS files for safe and fast browsing. And, keep on following us for the more informative posts.

Author Bio:

Dinesh Lakhwani

Dinesh Lakhwani, the entrepreneurial brain behind “TechCommuters,” achieved big things in the tech world. He started the company to make smart and user-friendly tech solutions. Thanks to his sharp thinking, focus on quality and the motto of never giving up, TechCommuters became a top player in the industry. His commitment to excellence has propelled the company to a leading position in the industry.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Post

Recent Post

How To Fix Dns_Probe_Started Error [Top 10 Ways]

By TechCommuters / March 25, 2024

Introduction: The DNS_PROBE_STARTED error occurs when your DNS lookups are failing. DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phonebook of the internet—it translates domain names (e.g. google.com) into IP addresses needed to load websites. When you attempt to visit a website, your device sends a DNS lookup request to your DNS server. If the DNS […]

11 Best IPTV Player For Mac In 2024 [Free & Paid]

By TechCommuters / March 22, 2024

Are you interested in watching your favorite live TV channels, lots of trending movies, and TV series on a Mac device? Then, look nowhere else! You can get your hands on the perfect IPTV player for Mac. Such top IPTV apps can easily turn your Macbook into the ultimate entertainment center, which we will discuss […]

10 Best Free Caller ID Apps For Android In 2024 [Latest List]

By TechCommuters / March 20, 2024

Introduction: In today’s fast-paced digital world, our smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, serving as a gateway to constant communication. However, with the rise of spam calls, telemarketers, and unwanted contacts, managing incoming calls can become a daunting task. This is where caller ID apps come into play, offering a reliable […]

10 Best Free File Manager Apps For iPhone & iPad 2024

By TechCommuters / March 18, 2024

Introduction: Managing files across different cloud services and local storage on your iPhone or iPad can be a hassle. While iOS has fairly robust built-in file management capabilities through the Files app, many users find they need more advanced functionality. That’s where dedicated file manager apps come in. These apps allow you to access, organize, […]

15 Best Finder Alternatives for Mac in 2024

By TechCommuters / March 16, 2024

If you are a Mac user, you probably already have a bittersweet relationship with Mac Finder. It is an indeed powerful file manager and graphical user interface tool for Macintosh. But, despite being the default Apple program, it lacks many features. Plus, Apple hasn’t made any efforts to update Finder in a long time.    However, […]

10 Best Free MMORPG for Android in 2024 [Latest List]

By TechCommuters / March 13, 2024

Introduction: MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) is an online game where a large number of players interact with one another in a virtual fantasy world. MMORPGs are extremely popular on PCs but are now also available on mobile devices. Mobile MMORPGs allow you to play these immersive and addictive games on the go on […]

9 Ways to Bypass Blocked Sites Without Using Proxies or VPNs

By TechCommuters / March 12, 2024

If your government or local ISP blocks certain websites, it must be really frustrating. While these blocks may be the reason for any violations by these websites, most of the cases involve these websites getting blocked for no apparent valid reasons. The Internet is full of knowledge and information, but these blocks can really be […]

Understanding FileVault and its Role in Data Security

By TechCommuters / March 11, 2024

Introduction: In this modern era where data breaches loom at large and data privacy is a serious concern, safeguarding personal and sensitive information is paramount. Keeping this in mind, Apple has designed this wonderful encryption software to safeguard the data of its Mac users which is known as FileVault. In this article, we will take […]

11 Best Free Duplicate Photo Finder for Android in 2024

By TechCommuters / March 10, 2024

Duplicate files are a perennial truth of any device. It generates in different forms due to different reasons. Multiple times file downloading, file sharing of the same file multiple times, and data backup of the same file are a few reasons why duplicate files accumulate on your device. You can find them in different forms […]

How To Download And Install Internet Explorer 11 For Windows 10

By TechCommuters / March 8, 2024

Introduction: Internet Explorer (IE) 11 is the latest version of Microsoft’s web browser included with Windows 10. Even though Microsoft Edge has replaced IE as the default browser in Windows 10, many users still prefer using IE for compatibility with older websites and enterprise apps. Internet Explorer 11 includes improved standards support, faster page load […]