Every time you type a website address into your browser, your device asks a DNS (Domain Name System) server to translate that name into an IP address. By default, you use your internet provider’s DNS — but switching to a public DNS server like Cloudflare or Google can mean faster page loads, better privacy, and protection against malicious websites. Here’s how to change DNS server settings on every device. For more tech how-tos, browse our Technology guides.
Why Change DNS Server? Key Benefits
Your ISP’s default DNS works, but it isn’t always the fastest or most private option. A good reason to change DNS server:
Best Free Public DNS Providers (2026)
All of these are free, well-established, and widely recommended:
How to Change DNS Server on Windows 11
The Settings app method is the easiest way to change DNS server on Windows 11:
- Open Settings and go to Network & internet.
- Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet if wired).
- For Wi-Fi, click Hardware properties. For Ethernet, the DNS settings are on the main page.
- Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit.
Troubleshooting DNS Problems
- No internet after you change DNS server: double-check you typed the addresses correctly, then try switching back to Automatic (DHCP) to confirm the connection works.
- Slow browsing anyway: your ISP may intercept DNS, or the ‘speed’ difference may be tiny — DNS only affects the lookup step, not your actual download speed. Try a different provider and compare with a DNS speed test tool.
- Some sites or apps misbehave: a few services depend on your ISP’s DNS for location-based routing. If something breaks, revert that one device to Automatic.
If the basics don’t solve it, check these:
- Android Private DNS says ‘couldn’t connect’: you may have typed an IP address instead of a hostname, or your network blocks encrypted DNS. Try the hostname again carefully, or fall back to per-network DNS.
- Changes not taking effect: disconnect and reconnect to the network, or restart the device. Old lookups can be cached for a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing DNS make my internet faster?
It can make websites load slightly faster because lookups resolve more quickly, but it won't increase your download speed or fix a slow plan. The difference is most noticeable if your ISP's DNS is slow or unreliable.
Should I use DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?
If your device and provider support it, yes — it encrypts your DNS queries so your ISP can't easily see which sites you look up. Windows 11 and Android's Private DNS both support encrypted DNS; just note that the DNS provider itself can still see your queries.
Can I go back to my old settings?
Absolutely. On every platform above, just switch the setting back to Automatic (or DHCP), and you'll return to your ISP's default DNS instantly.
Also read our guide on password-protecting folders in Windows 10 & 11.
How to Change DNS Server on Your Router (All Devices at Once)
Changing DNS on the router covers every device on your network — phones, smart TVs, game consoles — without touching each one.
- Open your router’s admin page in a browser (commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1; the exact address is usually printed on a sticker on the router).
- Log in with the admin username and password (also on the sticker, or in your ISP’s documentation).
- Look for DNS settings — usually under WAN, Internet, DHCP, or DNS sections. Every router’s menu is different, so check your manual if you can’t find it.
- Enter your Preferred and Alternate DNS addresses, then save/apply. The router may reboot.
- Reconnect your devices (or restart the router), so they pick up the new settings.
Heads-up: some ISP-provided routers are locked and don’t let you change DNS. If yours is, just change DNS on each device instead — the device-level methods above work fine.
How to Change DNS Server on iPhone (iOS)
iOS lets you change DNS server only per Wi-Fi network — not system-wide, and not for cellular data. Repeat these steps on each network you use:
- Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
- Tap the ⓘ (info) icon next to your connected network.
- Scroll down and tap Configure DNS.
- Change it from Automatic to Manual.
- Remove the existing servers with the red minus buttons, then tap Add Server and type your preferred DNS addresses (e.g., 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
- Tap Save in the top-right corner.
To go back to the defaults later, return to the same screen and switch it back to Automatic. If you need custom DNS on cellular data, you’ll need a VPN-style app (such as Cloudflare’s free 1.1.1.1 app) instead — iOS doesn’t allow manual DNS for mobile connections.
How to Change DNS Server on Android (Private DNS)
On Android 9 and later, the simplest method to change DNS server is Private DNS, which applies to every connection (Wi-Fi and mobile data) and encrypts your lookups automatically. Note: Android requires a hostname here, not an IP address.
- Open Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS (on some phones it’s under an Advanced menu).
- Select Private DNS provider hostname.
- Type the hostname for your provider and tap Save:
- Cloudflare:
one.one.one.one - Google:
dns.google - Quad9:
dns.quad9.net
- Cloudflare:
Alternatively, you can change DNS for a single Wi-Fi network: long-press the network (or tap its settings gear), set IP settings to Static, and enter DNS 1 and DNS 2 as IP addresses. This only affects that one Wi-Fi network.
How to Change DNS Server on Mac (macOS)
On recent macOS versions (Ventura and later), here’s how to change DNS server:
- Open System Settings and go to Network.
- Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details.
- Go to the DNS tab.
- Click the + button and add your preferred DNS address, then add the alternate one the same way.
- Select and remove any old addresses you don’t want with the − button.
- Click OK to apply.
Older macOS: the same settings live in System Preferences → Network → select your connection → Advanced → DNS tab. Menu names vary slightly between macOS versions, so look for the DNS tab if a step looks different.
- Change the dropdown from Automatic to Manual.
- Toggle IPv4 on, then enter your Preferred DNS (e.g. 1.1.1.1) and Alternate DNS (e.g. 1.0.0.1).
- If your provider supports it, you can set Preferred DNS encryption to ‘On (automatic template)’ to enable DNS over HTTPS.
- Click Save. You may need to reconnect to the network for the change to take effect.
How to Change DNS Server on Windows 10
Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi/Ethernet → Change adapter options → right-click your connection → Properties → select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties → choose Use the following DNS server addresses, enter the two addresses, and click OK.
| Provider | IPv4 Addresses | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 | Speed and privacy |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 | Reliability and compatibility |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112 | Security — blocks malicious domains automatically |
| OpenDNS (Cisco) | 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 | Optional content filtering |
The ‘preferred’ address is the main server and the ‘alternate’ is the backup. Always enter both so you stay online if one is unreachable. (IPv6 addresses also exist for these providers, but IPv4 is enough for most home users — if your router or ISP doesn’t support IPv6, entering IPv6 addresses won’t help.)
- Speed: Top public DNS providers run global networks with very low response times, so pages can start loading sooner.
- Privacy: Some providers support encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS) and commit to not selling your browsing data.
- Security: Providers like Quad9 automatically block known malicious and phishing domains.
- Reliability: ISP DNS can be slow or go down; a major public resolver rarely does.
What changing DNS does NOT do: it does not change your IP address, does not hide your real location, does not unlock region-blocked content, and does not replace a VPN. It only changes which server answers ‘what’s the address of this website?’ For more networking guides, browse our technology section.
