How to Clear DNS Cache on Mac? Step By Step Guides

DNS cache is like a memory on your computer. It contains the history of visited websites or attempted websites visit on your operating system. You should flush DNS cache to secure yourself from the countless hackers around the internet. DNS flush contains an important database that can predict the user-behavior easily. 

Hence, it is a good practice if you flush DNS cache on a regular basis. Here, we will discuss Mac flush DNS methods. So, go through the article if you urge to clear DNS cache on Mac. before we start with the methods, let’s take a look at why it is important to flush DNS. 

Why Should you Flush DNS Cache?

There are the most important three reasons why you go for Mac flush DNS procedures. We have discussed it quite briefly to make you understand how important it is to erase DNS cache on your Mac or any other operating system. 

• You should hide the search behavior by clearing the DNS cache. If you don’t do so, then it can predict what kind of pages you visit the web hijackers. 
• Hence, it is related to your security. The web criminals can get your personal information using the DNS cache using some kind of malware or ransomware. This is also known as DNS spoofing.
• If you are dealing with any technical error of any application like WordPress on your system, then DNS cache may be the cause. You should flush DNS cache regularly so that the system or the application won’t lag. 

Therefore, you can understand the importance of Mac flush DNS procedures. 

Prominent Methods to Clear DNS Cache on Mac:

Many Mac users are facing trouble while flush DNS on Mac operating system. Hence, we have decided to do proper research on the behavior of Mac on resetting the DNS settings. Please remember that resetting the DNS setting can interrupt the browsing activity on the browser. 

We recommend you quit the browser before performing Mac flush DNS procedures. It enhances the reliability of every method used in this article. By the way, we have divided the methods for different versions of the Mac operating system.

How to Flush DNS on Mac High Sierra?

The users of Mac High Sierra can easily go with this process. It is better if you can do the manual flushing of DNS cache rather than by using any third-party application. Let’s see the process step-by-step.

1. Click on Finder on the Desktop of the system and go to Applications. 
2. Then select Utilities and next, choose Terminal option. It will launch the Terminal on your Mac Operating System.
3. You have to type down the following command in the Terminal: “sudo killall- HUP mDNSResponder; sleep2; echo macOS DNS Cache Reset|Say”.
4. Now, tap on the Return.
5. Enter the system password. Again, press Return.
6. You should notice a message of resetting the DNS settings. Close the Terminal. 

How to Clear DNS Cache on Mac Sierra?

The mechanism of flushing the DNS cache on Mac Sierra is quite similar to Mach High Sierra. But the command or syntax is quite different and that’s why we are discussing the methods on the basis of Mac versions. 

Here’s how you can reset the DNS cache on your Mac Sierra.

1. Expand the option of Finder. 
2. Go to the Applications option. Opt for Utilities and then open a Terminal by clicking on the Terminal option. 
3. Type the following syntax in the Terminal: “sudo killall- HUP mDNSResponder; say DNS cache has been flushed”. 
4. Press Return. Enter your system password.
5. Tap on Return again.
6. Pay attention to listen to the alert that the DNS cache has been removed or cleared from the system. Listen to it if the action was successful. 
7. If not successful, then you have to provide the following syntax: “sudo killall HUP- mDNSResponderHelper; sudo dscacheutil- flushcache; say macOS DNS cache has been cleared”.

Hopefully, you can hear the radio alert now and the DNS cache gets cleared from your macOS Sierra. 

How to Clear DNS Cache on Mac OS X EI Capitan and Yosemite? 

These two versions of macOS use the same DNSResponder. Hence, it makes easy to apply the method for these two macOS versions. Follow the step-by-step instructions to remove the DNS cache from the Operating System. 

1. Launch the Finder. 
2. Choose Applications. Next, opt for Utilities and then Terminal. It will open the Terminal from where you can execute an important command on your operating system. 
3. Type the following command in the terminal to execute the process. “Sudo dscacheutil- flushcache; sudo killall -HUPmDNSResponder; say Cache flushed”.
4. Tap on Return.
5. Then, provide the system password and tap on Return again. 
6. You have to wait until you can hear that the flushing was succesful. You will get an audio alert from your operating system if it has successfully cleared the DNS cache from it. 
7. Lastly, you need to quit the Terminal and check if the operation was successful. 

There are some difficulties if you are dealing with Yosemite versions 10.01, 10.10.1, 10.10.2 and 10.10.3. Because the mechanism of flushing the DNS cache is quite different in all these versions of macOS. You need to clear multicast DNS and Unicast DNS. 

Check out the later section to know what you need to do.

Clear Multicast DNS Cache

You need to perform the exact method depicted above. Just you have to type a different command line to execute the process of Clearing Multicast DNS. enter the following syntax in the Terminal of macOS: “sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcaches”. Then go back to the previous method again. 

Clear Unicast DNS Cache

To clear the Unicast DNS cache, you need to provide the following command in the Terminal. “Sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches”. 

Clear Both Multicast and Unicast DNS Cache

If you want to clear both the DNS cache on your macOS Yosemite, then we have this command. You can apply this command to clear both the DNS caches from your macOS. 

Type the following command in the Terminal: “sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcaches; sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches; say flushed”. You can hear a successful alert message from the macOS if the flushing is done. 

How to Flush DNS Cache on Mac Mavericks?

This is an older version of macOS. The mechanism is almost the same for this version of macOS, but the difference lies in the working syntax. So, let’s begin.

1. Navigate the following path in your macOS: Finder>Applications>Utilities>Terminal.
2. Now, type the following command: “dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUPmDNSResponder”.
3. Tap on Return. Provide the system password. 
4. Again, tap on Return.
5. Close the Terminal.

How to Flush DNS Cache on Mac Snow Leopard?

This is also an older version of macOS. We can’t overlook the issue of the users of this version. Similarly, the difference lies in the working syntax.

1. Navigate the same path: Finder>Applications>Utilities>Terminal.
2. Once the Terminal has opened, type the following syntax in the Terminal. “Sudo dscacheutil – flushcache”.
3. Press Return. Enter the system password.
4. Tap on Return again.

Wrapping Up

We have discussed all possible ways for different macOS versions to Mac flush DNS. Hopefully, the methods have helped you out. If you have any queries, then please share it with us by using the comments section. 

DNS cache flushing is a very useful procedure for your system as well as for your application. Therefore, you should not underestimate it. We are here to serve you regarding this issue.