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Quick Fix Guide: DNS Changes Not Showing? Try This

When you update your website’s DNS settings, your computer or browser might still be showing the old version of your site. Follow these steps to clear cached information and see the updated site sooner.

Step 1: Flush Your DNS Cache

This clears the saved location of the old site from your computer so it can fetch the new one.

On Windows:

  1. Click the Start menu
  2. Type cmd
  3. Right-click Command Prompt and choose “Run as administrator”
  4. In the black window that opens, type this and press Enter:
    ipconfig /flushdns
  5. You’ll see: “Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.”

On Mac:

  1. Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight
  2. Type Terminal and press Enter
  3. In the Terminal window, paste this line and press Enter:
    sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  4. Enter your Mac password if asked and press Enter

Step 2: Clear Your Browser’s DNS Cache

Your browser may still be showing the old version of your site.

If you’re using Google Chrome:

  1. Open Chrome and create a new tab
  2. Type this in the address bar and press Enter:
    chrome://net-internals/#dns
  3. Click the “Clear host cache” button
  4. Close the tab and refresh your website

Extra Tip:
If the site still isn’t showing correctly, try opening it in an Incognito Window (Chrome) or Private Browsing Mode (Safari/Firefox). This skips cached data and shows the latest version.

Step 3: Change Your DNS Resolver (Optional but Effective)

If your internet provider is still showing the old version of your site, changing your DNS resolver can help. This tells your computer to use faster, privacy-focused DNS services instead of your ISP’s slower ones.

Recommended DNS Services:

Cloudflare DNS
Primary: 1.1.1.1
Secondary: 1.0.0.1

Google DNS
Primary: 8.8.8.8
Secondary: 8.8.4.4

On Windows:

  1. Click the Start menu and go to Settings
  2. Click Network & Internet
  3. Click “Change adapter options”
  4. Right-click your active connection and select Properties
  5. Click on “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” then click Properties
  6. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses”
  7. Enter the DNS addresses listed above
  8. Click OK, then OK again to close all windows

On Mac:

  1. Go to System Settings or System Preferences
  2. Click Network and select your active connection (e.g. Wi-Fi)
  3. Click Details or Advanced
  4. Go to the DNS tab
  5. Click the “+” button to add:
    1.1.1.1
    1.0.0.1
  6. Click OK or Apply

Bonus Tip:
You can also change the DNS on your Wi-Fi router to affect all devices in your home. Check your router’s manual or log in at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in a browser. Look under Internet or WAN settings to update the DNS.