Flush DNS on macOS Sonoma (14): Exact Command (2026)
Flush DNS cache on macOS 14 Sonoma with sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder — verify resolution, clear browser DNS, fix stale hosts edits.
Sleezr Team
Table of Contents
Direct answer: On macOS 14 Sonoma, flush DNS with:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderRun it after hosts edits, DNS server changes, or when a local domain still hits the old IP.
Also see Sequoia · Tahoe · hub Flush DNS on Mac.
How to flush DNS on macOS Sonoma
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.dscacheutil -q host -a name app.test.When Sonoma users need this
/etc/hostsupdated but Safari/Chrome ignore it- Switching client environments on an older-but-supported Mac
- ISP DNS vs Cloudflare/Google resolver changes
- Staging IP tests before public DNS propagation
Still broken after flush? hosts not working after edit · check VPN/AdGuard/MagicDNS.
Verify and browser caches
dscacheutil -q host -a name app.test
ping -c 1 app.test| Browser | Clear host DNS |
|---|---|
| Chrome | chrome://net-internals/#dns |
| Firefox | about:networking#dns |
| Safari | Quit app after system flush |
Automate flush on Apply
If Sonoma hosts switches are frequent, use a GUI hosts manager that can flush after Apply — Sleezr (4.99 € one-time after trial).
Related
Bottom line
Sonoma flush DNS uses the same modern command as Sequoia/Tahoe: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the flush DNS command on macOS Sonoma?
Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal.
Does Sonoma need a different flush DNS command than Sequoia?
No. Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe use the same modern flush command. Use this page when you search for Sonoma-specific results.
Why flush DNS after editing hosts on Sonoma?
macOS caches lookups. Without a flush, browsers can keep the previous IP even though /etc/hosts is updated.
Is it safe to flush DNS on Mac?
Yes. Flushing clears cached lookups; the next request resolves fresh from hosts/DNS. It does not delete your hosts file.
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