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Clear the DNS cache in Windows 11
- Open Start and search for Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator and approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter.
Windows should report that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed. The command clears cached name-lookup results on this PC. It does not reset your Wi-Fi, repair an IP address, change DNS-server settings, or fix a router, firewall, proxy, app, or internet-service outage. Microsoft includes it as one step in its Windows connection troubleshooting guidance.
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Work out whether the problem is DNS or the connection
Start with Windows’ troubleshooter
Open the Get Help app and run the Network and Internet troubleshooter. Microsoft recommends this as the automated starting point for Windows 11 connection issues. Note whether the problem affects every site and app or only one; a connected Wi-Fi indicator does not guarantee that a particular website or application can reach its service.
Compare another device and connection type
Try another device on the same Wi-Fi network. If it connects successfully, the problem is more likely to be specific to the Windows PC. If other devices also fail, investigate the router or the internet connection rather than repeatedly flushing the PC’s DNS cache.
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For Ethernet, check Windows’ connection status and make sure the cable is seated. If possible, try another cable or router port. If the PC has no Ethernet port, Microsoft notes that a USB-to-Ethernet adapter can be used to test a wired connection; that test does not itself fix a DNS or Wi-Fi problem. See Microsoft’s Ethernet troubleshooting steps.
Check Wi-Fi, IP assignment, and proxy settings
- Turn Wi-Fi off and back on, then reconnect to the network.
- Check whether a proxy is configured that you do not expect. A proxy can affect access even when the network is connected.
- Open Command Prompt and run
ipconfig. If the Wi-Fi adapter has an address beginning169.254.and you do not use a static IP, Windows may not have received an address from the router. Check that DHCP is enabled on the router.
Check which DNS server Windows is using
In an administrator Command Prompt, run ipconfig /all and find the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. Review its DNS Servers entry. You can test reachability by running ping followed by the listed DNS-server address, for example ping 192.168.1.1 if that is the address actually shown on your PC. A failed ping is not conclusive on its own because some servers or networks block ping responses.
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If the PC has a valid IP address but cannot reach its listed DNS server, check whether that server is available or try another DNS address supplied by your network administrator or service provider. Test after changing it. Do not assume that a public DNS service is automatically more suitable: consider its current addresses, privacy terms, and compatibility with your network before choosing one.
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Choose automatic or manual DNS settings
For typical home and office use, Windows’ Automatic (DHCP) setting obtains IP and DNS-server details from the router or access point. Manual configuration is useful when you have a specific DNS address to use, but an incorrect address can prevent name lookups.
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- Open Settings > Network & internet.
- Select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then open the connected network’s properties.
- Next to DNS server assignment, select Edit.
- Choose Automatic (DHCP) or Manual. If you choose Manual, enter the intended DNS address and save.
Windows 11 also offers DNS over HTTPS choices for configured DNS servers. Depending on the setting, queries can use an automatic or manually supplied HTTPS template, or DNS over HTTPS can be off. Encryption and whether Windows can fall back to an unencrypted query depend on the selected option and server support. Microsoft describes these choices in Essential Network Settings and Tasks in Windows.
Run the broader network reset commands if needed
If the targeted checks have not helped, Microsoft lists this sequence for an administrator Command Prompt. It does more than clear DNS: it resets Winsock and TCP/IP, releases and renews IP configuration, and then flushes the DNS cache.
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- Open Start, search for Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator, and approve the prompt.
- Run these commands one at a time, in this order:
netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip resetipconfig /releaseipconfig /renewipconfig /flushdns
- Check whether the connection works. Restart the PC if Windows or the command results indicate that a restart is needed.
Check for a hosts-file override
If only one hostname keeps resolving to the wrong address, a custom entry in the Windows hosts file may override ordinary DNS lookups. Check for an entry only if you are comfortable doing so, and do not remove entries you or your organization intentionally added. Microsoft explains how to restore the default hosts file in its hosts-file instructions.
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Recover the network adapter, then consider Network reset
Reinstall an adapter driver when earlier steps fail
If connectivity stopped working after a recent update and other troubleshooting has failed, Microsoft suggests considering removal of the network adapter driver followed by a restart. Before uninstalling it, have a driver installer or backup from the PC or adapter manufacturer available. If the affected PC cannot get online, you may need to download the driver on another computer and transfer it with a USB flash drive.
Use Network reset only as a last step
Microsoft says, “Using network reset should be the last step you try.” Network reset removes installed network adapters and their settings, then reinstalls the adapters with default settings after the PC restarts. It can require VPN software or Hyper-V virtual switches to be reinstalled or configured again, and Windows may change known network profiles to public.
Quick Recap
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.
- Review the consequences above and select Reset now only if you are prepared to reconfigure affected software or networks.
- Restart the PC if prompted, then reconnect to your network and check any VPN or virtual-switch configuration.
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