Mastering chrome-net-internals-dns: Clear the DNS Cache in Chrome (2025 Guide)

oragetech 787oragetech 787
4 min read

Introduction

Maybe you've ever had trouble loading a website in Chrome, or even experienced slow internet browsing speeds. In either case, your DNS cache may be the culprit. With websites being regularly visited, they create cached DNS results. Over time, visited websites might become stale, or damaged, affecting your current connection.

Luckily, Chrome has an internal feature called chrome net internals dns that gives instant access to all of your DNS data, and the capability of controlling cached DNS data directly within your browser! This tutorial will walk you through how to use this tool, and why employing its use could be imperative to your web browsing experience!

What Is chrome-net-internals-dns And Why Should You Care?

chrome-net-internals-dns is a Google Chrome internal hidden tool that allows users access to really precise DNS data. You can flush the DNS cache within your browser, provide an useful service to diagnose your DNS problem, and see how exactly your version of Chrome connects to your domain name servers.

To get access to chrome-net-internals-dns, enter the following command in your Chrome browser address bar:

bashCopyEditchrome://net-internals/#dns

Press Enter, and it will redirect you to a panel view of all your browser's DNS data.

How to Flush DNS Cache in Chrome (Desktop)

Clearing the DNS cache may help resolve loading problems you might have experienced when websites won't load or appear to take an eternity to load. Let's see how to employ chrome-net-internals-dns on your machine.

  • Open Chrome.

  • Enter chrome://net-internals/#dns in your address bar.

  • Click on "Clear host cache."

  • Then navigate to chrome://net-internals/#sockets and click "Flush socket pools."

  • Restart your browser.

This action will delete all of the cached DNS information that can influence your web browsing.

Using chrome-net-internals-dns on Mobile Devices

In the case of phones and tablets, you don't have direct access to the same internal tool, but it is still possible to clear browser data which will have an influence on DNS performance:

  • Open Chrome on your mobile device.

  • Tap the three-dot menu.

  • Go to Settings > History > Clear browsing data.

  • Choose "All time" as the time frame.

  • Make sure "Cookies and site data" and "Cached images and files" are checked.

  • Tap on "Clear data."

Although this isn't the precise way to utilize chrome-net-internals-dns, it still provides an obvious DNS-related data refresh while on mobile.

Major Features of chrome-net-internals-dns

Let’s consider why this tool is so effective:

DNS Query Tool
You are able to manually test for a specific DNS response for a specific website using this tool, which might be handy for debugging slow or unresponsive sites.

DNS Cache Summary
This displays all DNS records that are cached on your browser, and how much time remains until it expires.

DNS Prefetch Status
Chrome attempts to speed up your browsing by prefetching DNS data for possible links you could click.

Network Socket Inspection
This chrome-net-internals-dns tool allows you to observe the open sockets and the proxy configuration utilized in the network.

What If chrome-net-internals-dns Will Not Accept You?

If this tool is not working with you, or is empty when attempting to flush your DNS cache, try these system-level alternatives:

For Windows:

  • Open Command Prompt as Admin

  • Execute:

bashCopyEditipconfig /flushdns

For macOS:

  • Open Terminal

  • Execute:

nginxCopyEditsudo dscacheutil -flushcache  
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

For Linux:

  • Open Terminal

  • Execute:

arduinoCopyEditsudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

Why Should You Occasionally Use chrome-net-internals-dns?

Old or corrupted DNS records can cause problems:

  • Web pages do not display properly

  • Stale page connections

  • Unwanted slowness or redirects

Flushing your DNS cache with chrome-net-internals-dns keeps Chrome current with up-to-date domain information and minimizes connectivity risks due to DNS misrouting.

Reset Chrome Network Settings

If your issues persist even after flushing DNS:

  • Go to chrome://flags

  • Click "Reset all to default" at the top

  • Restart Chrome

This will restore Chrome's network settings to factory default.

The Good and Bad of chrome-net-internals-dns

✅ The Good:

  • Improves browser performance

  • Resets stale DNS

  • No additional software needed

  • 100% manual control

❌ The Bad:

  • Not common knowledge for average users

  • Incorrect use may worsen connectivity

  • Cannot fix all network-wide DNS issues

Bonus Tip: Change Your DNS Provider

Enhance reliability, speed, and possibly privacy by using public DNS:

  • Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

  • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

Final Thoughts

A chrome-net-internals-dns utility is the perfect solution to DNS issues in Chrome. Be it network slowdown or forcing obstinate loads in a website, the utility puts you in control of your DNS cache.

Use it often for faster and safer browsing, particularly if you frequently trigger the net or are employed in an environment rich with data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is chrome-net-internals-dns used for?
It assists in seeing and clearing DNS cache in Google Chrome for resolving web browsing and connection problems.

Q: Is it possible to use chrome-net-internals-dns on an iPhone or Android?
Not directly, but clearing browser data on mobile devices helps update DNS.

Q: Is it okay to clear DNS cache?
Yes. It can resolve serious browsing problems without harming saved data like passwords or bookmarks.

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oragetech 787
oragetech 787