Google Chrome offers various built-in tools for troubleshooting network-related issues, and one of the most important among them is chrome.//net-internals/dns. This tool provides insight into DNS (Domain Name System) operations performed by Chrome, allowing users to diagnose connectivity issues, clear the DNS cache, and monitor domain resolution requests.
In this article, we will explore what chrome://net-internals/dns is, how to access it, what information it provides, and how it can be used for network troubleshooting.
What is Chrome://net-internals/dns?
chrome.//net-internals/dns is a built-in diagnostics page in Google Chrome that provides detailed information about the browser’s DNS resolution history. It allows users to inspect and manage DNS records stored in Chrome’s cache.
When a user visits a website, Chrome resolves the domain name into an IP address by querying a DNS server. To speed up this process, Chrome caches DNS entries. This cache can sometimes cause issues if outdated or incorrect records persist, leading to connection problems.
How to Access Chrome://net-internals/dns
Accessing the DNS internals page in Chrome is simple:
- Open Google Chrome.
- In the address bar, type chrome://net-internals/dns and press Enter.
- The DNS-related diagnostic page will load, displaying information about DNS queries and cache status.
Understanding the DNS History Page
Upon accessing chrome://net-internals/dns, you will see several important sections:
1. Host Resolver Cache
This section provides a list of recently resolved domain names stored in Chrome’s DNS cache. The cache helps speed up website access by avoiding repeated lookups for frequently visited domains.
- Hostname: The domain name that was resolved.
- TTL (Time to Live): The time remaining before the cached DNS entry expires.
- Network Addresses: The IP addresses associated with the resolved domain.
2. DNS Lookup Section
Users can manually perform a DNS lookup for a specific domain by entering a URL in the provided field and clicking “Resolve.” This helps verify whether Chrome can successfully resolve a domain.
3. Clear Host Cache Button
This button allows users to clear Chrome’s DNS cache. Clearing the cache can resolve connectivity issues caused by outdated or corrupted DNS records.
4. Sockets and DNS Connections
The tool also provides options to flush socket pools, which can be helpful if persistent connection issues occur despite clearing the DNS cache.
How to Use Chrome://net-internals/dns for Troubleshooting
1. Fixing Website Loading Issues
If a website fails to load or displays “DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN,” try clearing the DNS cache using the “Clear Host Cache” button. This forces Chrome to fetch fresh DNS records.
2. Diagnosing Slow Loading Websites
A slow-loading website may be due to DNS resolution delays. By checking the host resolver cache, you can identify domains that take longer to resolve.
3. Resolving Connectivity Problems After Changing DNS Settings
If you recently changed your DNS server (e.g., switching to Google DNS: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4), clearing Chrome’s DNS cache ensures that the new settings take effect immediately.
4. Debugging Local Network Issues
For developers working with local domains (e.g., localhost or custom .dev domains), flushing the DNS cache can help recognize changes in local configurations.
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Alternative Methods to Flush DNS Cache System-Wide
Apart from clearing Chrome’s DNS cache, you may also want to flush the system-wide DNS cache using the following commands:
Windows
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
ipconfig /flushdnsMacOS
For macOS, open Terminal and run:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderLinux
Linux users can restart the DNS service with:
sudo systemctl restart nscdConclusion
The chrome.//net-internals/dns tool is a powerful yet often overlooked feature in Google Chrome that provides valuable insights into DNS resolution history. Whether you’re troubleshooting network issues, testing new DNS configurations, or optimizing browsing speed, this tool can be incredibly useful.
Regularly clearing the DNS cache and understanding Chrome’s DNS resolver behavior can help improve browsing performance and resolve connectivity problems effectively. If website loading issues persist, consider flushing the system-wide DNS cache or switching to a reliable DNS provider like Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS.