How to Clear Chrome Net Internals DNS Error

When browsing the web using Google Chrome, you may occasionally encounter errors such as DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN, ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED, or similar DNS-related issues. These errors typically occur when Chrome is unable to resolve a website's domain name to an IP address.

One effective method for troubleshooting these errors is to clear Chrome's internal DNS cache using the chrome://net-internals/#dns tool.

At Go4hosting, where we help thousands of clients manage their websites and cloud services, DNS-related errors are one of the most common support issues. This guide will show you how to clear Chrome's DNS cache via chrome://net-internals/#dns, why you should do it, and other complementary troubleshooting steps to resolve DNS errors effectively.

What is Chrome Net Internals?

Chrome Net Internals is an internal debugging tool built into the Chrome browser. It provides detailed insights into Chrome's network behavior, including:

• DNS cache
  

• Sockets
  

• Proxy configuration
  

• SPDY/HTTP2 connections
  

• Network errors
  

You can access it by typing the following in the Chrome address bar:

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chrome://net-internals/

A direct link to the DNS section is:

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chrome://net-internals/#dns

This tool is very useful for diagnosing and clearing network issues in Chrome without having to modify system-wide settings.

Why Do DNS Errors Occur in Chrome?

Chrome maintains its own internal DNS cache, separate from your operating system's DNS cache. This speeds up web browsing but sometimes leads to problems if:

• The DNS cache becomes outdated.
  

• The DNS server settings change.
  

• The website's IP address changes but Chrome still holds an old DNS record.
  

• You're switching between networks (Wi-Fi, mobile data, VPN).
  

• DNS propagation for a new domain hasn't fully completed.
  

Symptoms of a stale DNS cache include:

• Inability to reach websites that were previously working.
  

• One browser (Chrome) fails while others (Firefox, Edge) load the site fine.
  

• Errors like:
  

• DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN
  

• ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED
  

In these cases, clearing Chrome's DNS cache often resolves the issue.

How to Clear Chrome DNS Cache via Net Internals

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Open Chrome Net Internals DNS Page

• Launch Google Chrome.
  

• In the address bar, type:
  

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chrome://net-internals/#dns

• Press Enter.
  

You will see a page titled Net Internals - DNS.

2. View Host Resolver Cache

On this page, you will see:

• Host resolver cache: A list of domain names and IP addresses stored in Chrome's DNS cache.
  

• Async DNS configuration: Information about Chrome's DNS resolution method.
  

3. Clear Host Cache

To clear the DNS cache:

• Click the "Clear host cache" button.
  

This immediately flushes Chrome�s internal DNS cache.

4. Verify Resolution

After clearing the cache:

• Reload the website you were trying to access.
  

• You should now see an updated DNS resolution and (hopefully) no error.
  

Additional DNS Troubleshooting Steps

Sometimes clearing Chrome's DNS cache is not enough, especially if:

• The system DNS cache is also outdated.
  

• Your DNS servers are misconfigured.
  

• The website has DNS propagation issues.
  

• There's a network-level or ISP-level DNS problem.
  

Here are complementary troubleshooting steps:

1. Clear Operating System DNS Cache

On Windows:

Open Command Prompt (as Administrator) and run:

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ipconfig /flushdns

On macOS:

Open Terminal and run:

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sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

On Linux:

Depending on your Linux distribution and DNS resolver:

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sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches

Or:

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sudo /etc/init.d/dns-clean restart

2. Restart Chrome

After clearing both Chrome and system DNS caches, fully close Chrome and reopen it to ensure a clean slate.

3. Change DNS Servers

If DNS errors persist, try switching to a faster and more reliable DNS service, such as:

• Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
  

• Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
  

• OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
  

You can change DNS settings in your:

• Router (affects all devices on your network)
  

• Operating system network settings (affects just your computer)
  

4. Check Website DNS Propagation

If you recently changed your domain's DNS records (new hosting, new IP, moved to Go4hosting servers, etc.), DNS propagation may not be complete.

Use tools like:

• https://dnschecker.org
  

• https://whatsmydns.net
  

These tools let you check how your domain resolves from different parts of the world.

5. Disable Chrome's Secure DNS Temporarily

Chrome uses Secure DNS (DNS over HTTPS) in some cases, which can interfere with standard DNS troubleshooting.

To disable Secure DNS temporarily:

• Go to chrome://settings/security
  

• Scroll to Use secure DNS
  

• Turn it off (or switch to your preferred provider)
  

This ensures Chrome uses your system DNS settings during testing.

When to Use Chrome Net Internals

The chrome://net-internals/#dns tool is especially helpful in these scenarios:

• Website works on mobile or Firefox but not in Chrome.
  

• Website loads on VPN server but not on your normal connection.
  

• You've just switched hosting providers (Go4hosting or another) and see DNS errors.
  

• You've updated DNS records (A, CNAME, etc.) but Chrome still loads the old IP.
  

• Testing content delivery network (CDN) changes or failover.
  

• Switching between different Wi-Fi or network environments.
  

Preventing Future DNS Issues

Here are some best practices to minimize DNS problems in Chrome:

1. Use reliable DNS servers (Google DNS, Cloudflare, OpenDNS).
   

2. Keep your browser updated.
   

3. Occasionally clear DNS cache if you frequently work with changing domains.
   

4. Ensure your ISP's DNS servers are trustworthy (or override them manually).
   

5. When migrating websites to Go4hosting cloud servers or dedicated servers, allow for full DNS propagation (up to 48 hours globally).
   

Conclusion

DNS errors in Chrome can be frustrating but are often easy to fix. The built-in Net Internals DNS tool (chrome://net-internals/#dns) provides a quick way to flush Chrome's DNS cache and resolve common browsing problems.

Summary of steps:

1. Visit chrome://net-internals/#dns
   

2. Click "Clear host cache"
   

3. Optionally flush your system DNS cache
   

4. Reload the website and test
   

For deeper DNS issues, consider:

• Switching DNS servers
  

• Checking DNS propagation
  

• Restarting Chrome or your computer
  

• Ensuring network configuration is correct
  

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