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DNSmacOS Sequoiaflush DNShosts filelocal development

macOS Sequoia: Flush DNS Cache Command (2026)

Flush DNS cache on macOS 15 Sequoia with the exact Terminal command, verification with dscacheutil, browser cache fixes, and hosts file troubleshooting.

L

Locahl Team

·3 min read

Table of Contents

Need the macOS Sequoia flush DNS command? Open Terminal and run:

BASH
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

This clears the system DNS cache on macOS 15 Sequoia and restarts the mDNSResponder resolver. Use it after editing /etc/hosts, switching DNS servers, or when a local domain still resolves to an old IP.

On macOS 26 Tahoe, see the Tahoe-specific guide. For all Mac versions, see flush DNS on Mac by version.

How to flush DNS cache on macOS Sequoia

1. Open Terminal (Cmd + Space → Terminal → Enter). 2. Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. 3. Enter your administrator password (characters do not appear — normal). 4. No output usually means success. 5. Verify: dscacheutil -q host -a name myproject.test.

BASH
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

When to flush DNS on Sequoia

  • After editing /etc/hosts for local .test domains.
  • After changing DNS from ISP to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8).
  • Before testing a site migration on a staging IP.
  • When ping shows the right IP but the browser opens the wrong site.

Verify resolution on Sequoia

BASH
dscacheutil -q host -a name myproject.test
ping -c 1 myproject.test
dig myproject.test +short

If dscacheutil is correct but Chrome is wrong, clear browser DNS at chrome://net-internals/#dns → Clear host cache.

Sequoia hosts file checklist

TEXT
127.0.0.1 myproject.test
127.0.0.1 api.myproject.test
::1       myproject.test

Rules: no https://, no port numbers, one IP + hostname per line. See edit hosts on Mac for the full walkthrough.

Clear browser DNS on Sequoia

BrowserSteps
Chromechrome://net-internals/#dns → Clear host cache
Firefoxabout:networking#dns → Clear DNS Cache
SafariDevelop → Empty Caches (enable Develop menu in Settings)

See Chrome DNS cache on Mac for screenshots.

Automation alias

BASH
echo 'alias flushdns="sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder && echo DNS flushed"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Locahl runs the flush automatically when you apply hosts changes — useful if you switch staging domains daily.

Troubleshooting on Sequoia

"No matching processes were found"

BASH
sudo launchctl kickstart -k system/com.apple.mDNSResponder
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

VPN split DNS

Corporate VPNs push custom resolvers. Disconnect VPN temporarily to test whether local hosts entries work without split DNS.

Conclusion

On macOS Sequoia, the flush command is unchanged from recent releases: dscacheutil + mDNSResponder. Verify with dscacheutil -q host, then clear browser DNS if needed.

Also readHow to edit the hosts file on Mac
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Reader Reviews

5.0★(2 reviews)
Elena K.
★★★★★

“Sequoia-specific steps saved me after a hosts migration — dscacheutil showed the stale IP immediately.”

July 5, 2026

Tom H.
★★★★★

“Short, exact, and the Chrome cache section fixed what the system flush alone could not.”

July 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the macOS Sequoia flush DNS command?

Run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder in Terminal.

Is the Sequoia command different from macOS Tahoe?

No — both use the same dscacheutil + mDNSResponder command on current macOS releases.

Should I flush DNS after editing /etc/hosts on Sequoia?

Yes. macOS caches DNS lookups; flush after every hosts change so the new IP is used immediately.

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