How To Clear DNS Cache And Fix Network Connection Issues In Windows 11

How to Clear the DNS Cache in 🪟 Windows 11

1. Click the Start button ⊞ on your taskbar 🖥️.
2. Type cmd into the search 🔍 box.
3. Look for Command Prompt in the search 🔍 results.

4. 

5. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
6. A black window will open on your screen. Type the following exact text into the window:

   ⬛Command Prompt

   Copy

   ipconfig /flushdns

7. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
8. You will see a message saying that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed.
9. You can now close the black window. Try opening your web browser and visiting a website to see if your connection works properly now.

Running the Built-In Network Troubleshooter

Running the built-in network troubleshooter in Windows 11 helps you find and fix common internet connection problems automatically without needing any technical skills. You can open this helpful tool by going to your main system settings, choosing the troubleshoot menu, and selecting the network option.

1. Click the Start button ⊞ and open the Settings ⚙️ app (the gear icon).

2. 

3. Click on System on the left side of the window.
4. Click on Troubleshoot on the right side.
5. Click on Other troubleshooters.
6. Find Network and Internet in the list.

7. 

8. Click the Run button next to it.
9. Follow any instructions that appear on your screen while the computer checks your connection.

Basic Steps to Fix Wi-Fi and Internet Connection Issues

When your internet stops working on Windows 11 version 23H2, going through a few basic checks often brings the connection right back. You should try these 3 basic steps in order before you move on to advanced fixes.

Step 1Check Your Network Connection Status

Look at the bottom-right corner of your screen near the clock. Check the network icon. If you see a globe with a small cross, a triangle with an exclamation mark, or a red X, your computer knows it is not connected to the internet.

Step 2Check Airplane Mode

Accidental activation of Airplane mode is very easy to trigger on your Windows 11 computer. When Airplane mode is active, all wireless signals turn off completely. You can fix this network issue by opening your Quick Settings panel. To check this setting, click the network, sound, or battery icons on your taskbar, and make sure Airplane mode is turned off.

Step 3Forget and Reconnect to the Wi-Fi Network

Forgetting and reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network in Windows 11 fixes corrupted connection settings and bad passwords by letting your computer start fresh. You can do this by opening your network settings, finding your saved home network in the list, and clicking the remove or forget button.

• Open Settings and click on Network & internet.
• Click on Wi-Fi.
• Click on Manage known networks.
• Find your home network in the list and click the Forget button next to it.
• Go back to your Wi-Fi settings, select your network, type your password in again, and connect.

Step 4Restart Your Modem and Wireless Router

Restarting your modem and wireless router fixes frozen internet connections by clearing temporary hardware glitches and refreshing your service provider signal. You can safely complete the modem and router restart process by unplugging the power cables from the back of both networking devices, waiting thirty seconds, and plugging the power cables back in.

• Unplug the power cable from the back of your modem and your router.
• Wait for at least 30 seconds.
• Plug the power cables back in.
• Wait a few minutes for the lights on the devices to turn solid green or blue, then check your computer.

Step 5Adjust Wi-Fi Channel and Frequency

Adjusting your Wi-Fi channel and frequency stops sudden internet drops caused by wireless interference from nearby networks or household devices. Modern routers let you switch between the crowded 2.4 GHz band and the faster 5 GHz band by logging into your router settings using your web browser.

Step 6Try to Connect to the Same Network on a Different Device

To figure out if the problem is your computer or your internet service, try connecting a smartphone or another computer to the same Wi-Fi network. If other devices also cannot access the internet, the issue is likely your router or your internet service provider, not your Windows 11 PC.

Step 7Run Advanced Network Commands

Running advanced network commands in the Windows 11 Command Prompt lets you completely reset your network stack and clear out broken internet adapters. You can do this by opening the command tool with administrator rights and typing specific text commands to release and renew your internet address.

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator (refer to the steps earlier in this guide). (Admin privileges required)
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   ⬛Command Prompt

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   ipconfig /release

3. Next, type this command and press Enter:

   ⬛Command Prompt

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   ipconfig /renew

4. Finally, type this command to reset your internet protocol settings and press Enter:

   💻Code

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   netsh int ip reset

5. Restart your computer.

Step 8Uninstall the Network Adapter Driver and Restart

Uninstalling your network adapter driver fixes stubborn internet failures caused by corrupted software that stops your computer from talking to Wi-Fi networks. You can safely remove this driver through the Device Manager menu, and Windows will automatically reinstall a fresh copy when you restart your computer.

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. (Admin privileges required)
2. Click the arrow next to Network adapters to expand the list.
3. Find your wireless or ethernet network adapter in the list.
4. Right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
5. Check the box that attempts to remove the driver for this device, then click Uninstall.
6. Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall a fresh, working driver when it boots back up.

Step 9Use the Ping Test to Check Router Connection

Using a ping test checks if your computer can successfully talk to your wireless router over your local network. You can run this quick test by opening the Command Prompt normally, typing the ping command followed by your router address, and pressing enter to see if you get a reply.

1. Open Command Prompt normally.
2. Type ping 192.0.2.1 (or your specific router gateway address) and press Enter.
3. If you see replies coming back, your computer is successfully talking to your router. If you see request timed out messages, there is a physical communication block between your computer and your router.

Step 10Disable Power Saving for the Wi-Fi Adapter

Disabling power saving for your Wi-Fi adapter stops Windows from turning off your wireless hardware to save battery power, which prevents sudden internet disconnections. You can easily turn off this setting by opening the Device Manager menu, finding your wireless adapter properties, and unchecking the power management box.

1. Open Device Manager from the Start menu. (Admin privileges required)
2. Expand Network adapters.
3. Right-click your wireless network adapter and select Properties.
4. Click the Power Management tab at the top of the window.
5. Uncheck the box that says Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click OK.

Step 11Check for Windows Updates

Microsoft frequently releases updates that fix known software bugs, including network connection problems. Open Settings, click on Windows Update, and click Check for updates.

Step 12Restart Your PC

It sounds simple, but restarting your computer clears out temporary working memory and stops background tasks that might be interfering with your network connection.

Step 13Use Network Reset

1. Open Settings and go to Network & internet.
2. Click on Advanced network settings.
3. Click on Network reset.
4. Click the Reset now button and confirm your choice.
5. Your computer will restart automatically. Note that you will need to type your Wi-Fi password in again after doing this.

Unique Expert Tips: Fixing Hidden DNS Leaks and Browser Interference

Network troubleshooting in Windows 11 often requires looking beyond standard settings when you face stubborn connection failures. Standard tutorials usually only show you how to clear the local DNS cache, but persistent network problems frequently stem from deeper system issues. When basic steps fail to restore your internet access, you can check two advanced system areas in Windows 11 version 23H2 or later to fix the underlying connection blockages.

Checking for Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Proxy Interference

Checking for Virtual Private Network (VPN) and proxy interference helps you fix blocked internet traffic caused by security software that left behind locked settings. You can test for this issue by opening your VPN application to make sure it is fully closed and not holding onto old network rules.

To check if your VPN is blocking your connection:

• Open your VPN application and make sure it is completely closed or signed out.
• Open Windows Settings and click on Network & internet.
• Click on VPN and make sure no active connections are running.
• Click on Proxy and make sure that manual proxy setup is turned off unless your workplace specifically requires it.

Clearing Web Browser DNS Cache Separately

Clearing your web browser DNS cache separately fixes loading errors on specific websites even after you have already reset your main Windows internet settings. Popular web browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge store their own internal website addresses that you must clear through the browser internal settings page.

To clear the internal DNS cache in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge:

• Open your web browser.
• Type chrome://net-internals/#dns (for Chrome) or edge://net-internals/#dns (for Edge) into the address bar and press Enter.
• Look for the button that says Clear host cache and click it.
• Next, click on Sockets on the left side menu and click Flush socket pools.
• This ensures that both your operating system and your web browser are completely free of old, broken website addresses.

Summary

Fixing stubborn internet and network connection issues on Windows 11 usually starts with clearing your computer DNS cache using the Command Prompt tool. If basic commands do not work, you can use the built-in troubleshooter, restart your physical hardware, adjust your Wi-Fi settings, or reset your network entirely.