We’ve all felt that sting when a smooth scroll turns into a “Page Not Found” error—like a train that just missed its station. That glitch often hides in a tiny, invisible cache called DNS, and for many, the fix is to perform an ios clear dns cache. When we ask a website for its address, iOS remembers it, hoping the next request will be faster. But if the address changes, the old note sticks around, and our device keeps looking for a ghost.

So, what does it mean to ios clear dns cache? Think of your phone as a librarian who keeps a sticky note for every book. If the book moves, the note still points to the old shelf, and the librarian can’t find it. Flushing the cache is like rewriting those notes fresh.

The frustration is real: a site that once worked suddenly refuses to load, or a VPN that once connected now shows “Unable to Join.” These hiccups can feel like a broken traffic light—stopping progress without warning. Have you ever wondered why a simple restart doesn’t fix it? Because the DNS cache remains stubbornly unchanged.

Enter Forest VPN, our smart DNS routing partner. Forest doesn’t just hide your IP; it routes your queries through clean, up‑to‑date servers, preventing stale entries from sneaking in. With Forest, you get a one‑tap reset that clears the cache and refreshes every connection in seconds. It’s like hitting the “Refresh” button on a browser, but for the entire network stack.

We’re about to walk through the exact steps to ios clear dns cache on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 13‑17. You’ll learn how to reset network settings, verify the change, and troubleshoot common error messages. By the end, you’ll have a handy checklist that turns a technical chore into a quick, painless routine. Ready to reclaim your browsing speed? Let’s dive in.

Quick‑Tip: One‑Tap Reset

Resetting network settings clears all cached DNS entries, Wi‑Fi passwords, and VPN configurations. It’s the only officially supported method on iOS 13‑17. Just follow the steps below.

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to Transfer or Reset [Device].
4. Select Reset.
5. Tap Reset Network Settings.
6. Confirm with your passcode.

After the reset, your phone will reboot, and all stale DNS records will be gone.

Verify the Reset

• Re‑join your Wi‑Fi network.
• Open Safari and visit a site that previously failed.
• If it loads, the cache is cleared.

Common Errors & Fixes

• No Internet Connection: Check router firmware.
• Unable to Join: Remove VPN profiles.
• Wi‑Fi Settings Unavailable: Disable airplane mode.

Forest VPN Advantage

Forest’s DNS routing keeps your cache clean without manual resets. When a domain changes, Forest automatically updates your path, so you never hit a broken link.

“Since switching to Forest, my iPhone never stalls on sites again.” – Alex, freelance designer

Ready to keep your network clean and fast? Try Forest VPN today and experience hassle‑free browsing.

We’ll cover the exact steps in the next section, so stay tuned. Together, we’ll make sure your iPhone stays fast, secure, and glitch‑free.

We’ve all felt that jolt when a page refuses to load—like a train missing its station. That glitch usually hides in a tiny, invisible cache called DNS, and for many of us the quick fix is to clear DNS cache iPhone.

When we ask a website for its address, iOS remembers it, hoping the next request will be faster. But if the address changes, the old note sticks around and our device keeps chasing a ghost.

DNS stands for Domain Name System, the phone book of the internet. It translates a human‑friendly name like apple.com into a machine‑readable IP address. iOS stores these translations in a DNS cache so that subsequent visits load quicker, like a well‑tuned playlist. Yet, if the cache becomes stale, your iPhone may still try to reach an old IP, leading to errors such as “No Internet Connection” or “Unable to Join.”

Apple Support confirms that a flush DNS iOS—or simply resetting network settings—forces iOS to drop the old entries and fetch fresh ones. That’s why many IT pros recommend a quick reset when a site suddenly goes dark after a network change.

Why a Stale DNS Can Crash Your Browsing

• Speed loss: A cached wrong address forces the device to try again, adding seconds to load times.
• Connection errors: The device may point to a dead server, resulting in the familiar “No Internet Connection” message.
• Security risk: A malicious actor could hijack a DNS entry; flushing removes any compromised data.

Real‑World Example

In 2025, a popular streaming app stopped working for a batch of users after the app’s server moved IPs. Those users reported the same error across all devices. Once they performed a clear DNS cache iPhone, the app returned to normal, proving that the cache was the culprit.

How to Verify the Cache Is Cleared

The next section will dive into the step‑by‑step process of resetting network settings and the alternative shortcut method. Stay with us to ensure your iOS device always speaks the latest internet language.

Flushing the DNS cache is essential for smooth connectivity and security, as it ensures your device always has the most up‑to‑date network information.

iOS clear DNS cache

Fastest Fix: Reset Network Settings in One Tap

Reset Network Settings is the officially supported method to flush DNS on iOS 13‑17. It clears DNS, Wi‑Fi passwords, VPN configurations, and APN defaults.

iPhone

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Select Reset Network Settings.
6. Enter your passcode and confirm.

iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to Transfer or Reset iPad.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Select Reset Network Settings.
6. Enter your passcode and confirm.

Quick Tip Use the Settings app for a one‑tap reset instead of third‑party shortcuts.

Common error messages

• “Reset Network Settings” button is grayed out: Make sure you have a passcode set or enable Touch ID/Face ID.
• “Unable to reset network settings”: Restart the device and try again.

How to verify the cache has been cleared

1. Open Safari and navigate to a previously visited site.
2. If the site loads correctly, the DNS cache has been flushed.
3. Alternatively, open Settings → Wi‑Fi → tap the network → Forget This Network and reconnect.

Troubleshooting checklist

• Wi‑Fi: Forget and reconnect to your network.
• VPN: Re‑install the Forest VPN profile after the reset.
• APN: Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Reset Network Settings will restore defaults.

Forest VPN: reconnect made easy

After the reset, launch the Forest VPN app. The app will prompt you to re‑install the profile. Tap Reconnect and you’re back online.

Benefits

• Full DNS purge removes stale records.
• Clean Wi‑Fi credentials prevent bad logins.
• VPN configurations reset to a known good state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will resetting network settings affect my other apps? A: Only network‑related settings are affected; apps retain their data.

Q: How long does the reset take? A: Typically under a minute.

Q: Can I use a shortcut instead of the Settings app? A: Shortcuts can achieve the same result, but the Settings app is the fastest and most reliable.

Next steps

If you prefer not to reset your network settings, the next section will cover how to clear DNS manually using the Shortcuts app.

iOS Clear DNS Cache: Step‑by‑Step Guide

When a website suddenly returns “Page Not Found” or your browser stalls, the culprit is often an outdated DNS cache. The DNS cache stores the IP addresses of sites you visit so your device can load them quickly. If those records become stale or corrupted, you’ll see connection errors. Flushing the cache forces iOS to fetch fresh DNS information, resolving the issue.

Quick tip The fastest way to clear DNS on iOS 14+ is to use the Settings app directly. While you can create a Shortcut that jumps to the Reset Network Settings screen, you still have to confirm the reset manually.

iPhone

iOS 13‑15

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Select Reset Network Settings.
6. Confirm with your passcode.

iOS 16‑17

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Reset Network Settings (the icon has changed).
5. Confirm the reset.
6. Re‑enter your Wi‑Fi password.

iPad

iOS 13‑17

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to Transfer or Reset iPad.
4. Tap Reset.
5. Select Reset Network Settings.
6. Confirm with your passcode.

Common Error Messages

Verify the Cache Has Been Cleared

1. Open Settings > Wi‑Fi and toggle the network off/on.
2. Re‑join the Wi‑Fi network; a blue checkmark indicates success.
3. Open Safari and visit a previously problematic site. It should load without error.

Troubleshooting Checklist

• Restart your iPhone/iPad.
• Ensure Wi‑Fi is stable and the password is correct.
• Temporarily disable any VPN or proxy.
• Check for iOS updates and install if available.
• If problems persist, repeat the reset steps.

FAQ

Q: How long does the DNS cache clear? A: The cache clears immediately after the reset.

Q: Will I lose my Wi‑Fi passwords? A: Yes, you’ll need to re‑enter them after the reset.

Q: Can a Shortcut automate the reset? A: A Shortcut can open the Settings flow but cannot confirm the reset automatically.

Download the PDF Cheat‑Sheet

Download PDF cheat‑sheet