5 CMD Commands to Troubleshoot DNS Issues in Windows

Hello friends! Are you facing problems with websites not loading or DNS errors popping up out of nowhere? If you've ever scratched your head wondering how to fix these mysterious network issues on your Windows PC, you're in the right place. Today, we're diving into five essential CMD commands that can help you diagnose and resolve DNS issues quickly and effectively.

What is DNS and Why Does It Matter?

DNS, or Domain Name System, is like the phonebook of the internet. When you type a website like "google.com" into your browser, DNS translates that name into an IP address so your device can connect to the correct server. Without DNS, you'd need to remember numerical IP addresses for every website—definitely not ideal!

When DNS isn't working properly, websites may fail to load, or your computer might say "DNS server not responding." That’s why understanding and troubleshooting DNS is critical for anyone who uses the internet regularly.

CMD Command 1: ipconfig /flushdns

This command clears your DNS resolver cache. Sometimes outdated or corrupted cache entries can cause connection issues.

How to use:
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type: 

ipconfig /flushdns

After running this, you’ll see a message saying the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed. This often resolves issues where a site has changed its IP or your computer remembers an incorrect one.

CMD Command 2: nslookup

The nslookup command helps you check the DNS resolution for a specific domain. It shows the IP address returned by the DNS server.

How to use:
Type the following into CMD: 

nslookup example.com

You’ll get output that includes the DNS server being used and the resolved IP address. If there's no result or the IP looks suspicious, there might be an issue with your DNS configuration.

CMD Command 3: ping and tracert

These two tools help you check connectivity and diagnose where network issues may be occurring.

How to use ping: 

ping google.com

You’ll see response times from the server. No replies? DNS or network connectivity could be broken.

How to use tracert: 

tracert google.com

This command shows each step your request takes to reach its destination. If it hangs at any point, it tells you where the problem lies—especially useful for DNS routing issues.

CMD Command 4: netsh int ip reset

This command resets the TCP/IP stack to default, which is helpful if you've been having persistent connection problems.

How to use: 

netsh int ip reset

After running this, it’s a good idea to restart your computer. This can clear out deeper issues in your network configuration that may affect DNS resolution.

CMD Command 5: netsh winsock reset

Winsock defines how Windows network software accesses network services. If it’s corrupted, you may experience strange DNS issues or complete loss of connectivity.

How to use: 

netsh winsock reset

Just like the previous command, restart your computer after executing this one. It’s a powerful fix, often solving problems that other methods can’t.

Wrapping Up

Troubleshooting DNS issues doesn’t have to be frustrating. With these five powerful CMD commands, you now have a toolkit that can quickly diagnose and fix most DNS-related problems on Windows. Whether it's a one-time hiccup or recurring issue, these steps are a great place to start.

Have you tried these commands before? What worked best for you?
Feel free to share your experience or questions in the comments below!

Tags

DNS, Windows CMD, Network Troubleshooting, netsh, ipconfig, nslookup, ping, tracert, internet issues, flushdns

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