DNS cache stores website addresses your Chromebook has visited, helping pages load faster. Sometimes this stored data becomes outdated or corrupted, causing websites to fail loading or display errors.
The chrome://net-internals/dns tool lets you clear this cache directly in Chrome. You need this when websites won’t open despite working internet, when you see DNS error messages, or after a site changes servers but won’t load properly.
Clearing your DNS cache forces Chrome to fetch fresh website data. This simple process takes seconds and fixes most DNS-related browsing problems on Chromebooks.
How To Clear DNS Cache Using chrome://net-internals/dns?
Open Chrome Browser
Launch the Chrome browser on your Chromebook. Make sure you’re connected to the internet before starting.
Navigate to DNS Internals Page
Click the address bar at the top. Type chrome://net-internals/#dns exactly as shown. Press Enter.
The DNS debugging page opens immediately.
Locate Clear Host Cache Button
Scroll down the page until you see the “Clear host cache” button. This button sits near the top of the DNS page, below the navigation tabs.
Clear the Cache
Click the “Clear host cache” button once. The action happens instantly with no confirmation message.
All stored DNS records in Chrome are now removed.
Verify Cache Cleared
The Host Resolver Cache section below should now show zero active entries. If websites were failing to load, try accessing them again.
You don’t need to restart Chrome. Changes take effect immediately. Your Chromebook will fetch new DNS records the next time you visit any website.
If problems continue after clearing Chrome’s DNS cache, you may need to flush your system-level DNS cache or check your network connection.
FAQs
What does chrome://net-internals/dns do?
It provides tools to view, analyze, and clear DNS cache stored in Chrome. You can see which domains Chrome has resolved and remove outdated records causing connection issues.
How often should I clear DNS cache?
Clear it only when experiencing website loading problems or DNS errors. Regular clearing isn’t necessary. Most users need this tool only when troubleshooting specific browsing issues.
Does clearing DNS cache delete browsing history?
No. Clearing DNS cache only removes stored domain name records. Your browsing history, cookies, passwords, and other browser data remain completely untouched and unchanged.
Will clearing DNS cache speed up my Chromebook?
Not directly. Clearing fixes connection problems caused by outdated records. Initial page loads might be slightly slower as Chrome fetches fresh DNS data for each site.
Can I clear DNS cache on other devices?
Yes. The chrome://net-internals/dns method works on any device running Chrome browser, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. The process remains identical across all platforms.
