The Stale Routing Vector
To accelerate browsing speeds, Google Chrome maintains its own internal Domain Name System (DNS) cache, entirely separate from the one maintained by your operating system. When a website changes servers or updates its IP address, Chrome’s internal cache frequently fails to update immediately. This results in the browser stubbornly attempting to connect to a dead server, displaying a “Site cannot be reached” error even when the website is perfectly accessible on other devices or alternative browsers.
How to Clear Chrome’s DNS Cache
You can force Chrome to violently flush its internal routing tables and pull fresh IP addresses directly from the internet.
1. Open Google Chrome.
2. You cannot access this setting through the standard graphical menu. You must use Chrome’s hidden internal networking dashboard. Click into the URL address bar at the top of the browser.
3. Type the following exact string and press Enter:
chrome://net-internals/#dns
4. You will be presented with a stark, text-heavy diagnostic screen. Look for the section titled Host resolver cache.
5. Click the button labelled Clear host cache.
6. For maximum effectiveness, you should also flush the socket pools. Look at the red sidebar on the left and click on Sockets.
7. Under the Socket pool section, click the button labelled Flush socket pools.
Restart the browser and attempt to load the problematic website again. Chrome will now successfully resolve the new, correct server address.