Flush DNS in Windows 8

Step 1: Type cmd anywhere on the start screen of windows 8 and hit the enter button and a black box will immediately appear just like this:

*Alternatively you can press the windows button and x key at the same time in both windows 8 and 10 and a menu will appear, click on 'command prompt' to get this black box to appear.

Step 2: Now simply type ipconfig/flushdns into that box, right after the word: user> [or whatever word is there for you, sometimes it will be your name> or admin>

Just like this:

Step 4: Hit Enter. You will get a success message like the one below.

You are done! Just close the box.

Windows IP Configuration successfully flushed the DNS resolver cache.

*Note: For people who like more information here are some longer explanations:

Regarding using a space after ipconfig:

1. Some people are very insistent that there should be a space after ipconfig and before /flushdns but that is not necessary, not only will you see the 'successfully flushed' message without it, but during my research through the various different ways of doing it, I also asked a pro on youtube about this and this was his message:

"The space is only for humans to make it easier to separate commands using switches - the operating system doesn't need them."

**Amazing, considering just how insistent people get about this!

Regarding choosing to run command prompt as 'admin'

2. I found it was the same thing regarding choosing 'run command prompt as admin' I was getting it to work without that and finally found one youtube video where the woman was quite happy to do it without that step, she also thought the space was unnecessary after ipconfig but said it was her habit to put it in so she actually never tried it!

So maybe we have broken with a couple of computer traditions here it seems...

Here is the pro's response regarding 'running as admin':

"You should not need administrative rights to clear the DNS cache. If you are on a domain, like at a company or school, they may have certain things tied down from users. I don't know why they would wall off clearing the DNS cache though. Regardless, if for some strange reason there is a permissions error, one can run an admin command prompt. The again, they won't be able to get an admin command prompt if they're on most domains!" Another answer I found was that the admin feature may just not be necessary to flush DNS while it may be required for other activities within command prompt.

So because it all worked for me without the long versions, I have shown you the shortcut versions here. However, if you need those options they are there. I'd be interested to hear of any occasions where it was absolutely necessary.