Why Change Your DNS Server?
Your ISP assigns a DNS resolver automatically, but that default resolver is often not the fastest, most private, or most secure option available. Switching to a public resolver like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8), or Quad9 (9.9.9.9) can reduce DNS lookup latency, prevent your ISP from logging which sites you visit, and add automatic malware-domain blocking. For households with children, switching to a filtering resolver like OpenDNS Family Shield or Cloudflare 1.1.1.3 provides network-level content controls without any software installation.
Recommended DNS Addresses
Before making any changes, note down the addresses you intend to use. For most users, the recommended choices are Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 primary, 1.0.0.1 secondary) for maximum speed and strong privacy, Google (8.8.8.8 primary, 8.8.4.4 secondary) for reliability and broad compatibility, or Quad9 (9.9.9.9 primary, 149.112.112.112 secondary) for automatic threat blocking without logging. Always configure both a primary and secondary server so that DNS continues to work if one server is temporarily unreachable. IPv6-capable networks should also add the corresponding AAAA-capable addresses: Cloudflare uses 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001; Google uses 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844.
How to Change DNS on Windows 10 and 11
On Windows 11, open Settings and navigate to Network & Internet. Click on your active connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet — then click Hardware properties. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit, switch the dropdown from Automatic to Manual, enable IPv4, and enter your preferred DNS addresses in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS fields. Click Save.
On Windows 10, open Settings → Network & Internet → Change adapter options. Right-click your active adapter, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click Properties. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter your primary and secondary addresses. Click OK twice. Windows 11 also supports encrypted DNS natively — after entering the addresses, set the DNS encryption dropdown to Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS) for added privacy.
How to Change DNS on macOS
Open System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) and click Network in the sidebar. Select your active network connection — Wi-Fi or Ethernet — and click Details. Click the DNS tab. Click the + button to add DNS server addresses, entering your primary address first and secondary second. Click OK, then Apply. On older macOS versions using System Preferences, the path is System Preferences → Network → select connection → Advanced → DNS tab. The change applies immediately to that network interface; you may need to repeat the process for both Wi-Fi and Ethernet if you use both.
How to Change DNS on Android
Android 9 (Pie) and later support Private DNS, which implements DNS over TLS system-wide — a better approach than setting IP-based DNS per network. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS (on Samsung devices: Connections → More connection settings → Private DNS). Select Private DNS provider hostname and enter one of the following hostnames: 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com for Cloudflare, dns.google for Google, or dns.quad9.net for Quad9. Tap Save. This single setting applies to all networks — Wi-Fi and mobile data — without needing to configure each network separately.
How to Change DNS on iOS
On iPhone and iPad, DNS settings are configured per Wi-Fi network. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the (i) icon next to your connected network, and scroll down to Configure DNS. Switch from Automatic to Manual, remove the existing DNS server entries by tapping the red minus button, then tap Add Server and enter your primary and secondary DNS addresses. Tap Save. Note that this change only applies to the specific Wi-Fi network you are currently connected to; you must repeat the process for each network, and it does not apply to mobile data connections, which use your carrier's DNS.
How to Change DNS on Your Router
Changing DNS at the router level is the most powerful option because it applies to every device on your network — computers, phones, smart TVs, and IoT devices — without configuring each one individually. Log in to your router's admin interface, typically at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser. Credentials are often printed on the router's label. Navigate to the WAN or Internet settings section — the exact location varies by manufacturer. Find the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS fields and enter your chosen addresses. Save the settings and reboot the router. After the router restarts, connected devices will receive the new DNS settings via DHCP.
Verifying and Flushing Your DNS Cache
After changing your DNS server, verify the change took effect and flush any stale cache entries. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run nslookup example.com — the Server line shows which resolver answered. Then flush the cache with ipconfig /flushdns. On macOS, flush with sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder. On Linux with systemd-resolved, run sudo systemd-resolve --flush-caches. You can also visit our nslookup guide or the dig command guide for more detailed verification steps.
Platform DNS Change Reference
| Platform | Where to Change DNS | Scope of Change | Supports DoT Natively |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Settings → Network → Hardware properties → DNS | This device only | Yes (DNS over HTTPS) |
| Windows 10 | Adapter properties → IPv4 Properties → DNS | This device only | No (requires third-party app) |
| macOS | System Settings → Network → Details → DNS | This device only | No (requires third-party app) |
| Android 9+ | Settings → Network → Private DNS → hostname | This device, all networks | Yes (Private DNS = DoT) |
| iOS | Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → Configure DNS | This device, per Wi-Fi network | No (per-network only) |
| Router | Admin panel → WAN / Internet → DNS fields | All devices on network | Depends on router firmware |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing DNS affect all devices or just one?
Changing DNS on a single device — such as your Windows PC or iPhone — only affects that device. All other devices on your network continue using whichever DNS server your router assigns, typically your ISP's resolver. To change DNS for every device on your network at once, configure the DNS setting on your router. Any device that connects to that router will then use the router's DNS setting automatically.
How do I change DNS on my router to affect every device?
Log in to your router's admin panel — typically at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser. Look for a section labeled WAN, Internet, or DHCP Server settings. Enter your preferred DNS addresses in the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS fields. Save and reboot the router. After it restarts, all devices that receive their IP settings via DHCP from your router will automatically use the new DNS server.
What DNS should I change to for better speed?
For most users, Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1) or Google (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) will be faster than a typical ISP resolver. Cloudflare is the fastest globally on average. However, the best resolver depends on your location and ISP. Run a quick benchmark using the dig command — compare response times from 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8, and 9.9.9.9 against several domains — and use whichever responds fastest from your network.
How do I verify my DNS server changed?
On Windows, open Command Prompt and run nslookup example.com. The 'Server' line shows which resolver answered your query. On macOS or Linux, run dig example.com and check the SERVER line in the output. You can also visit 1.1.1.1/help in your browser if you switched to Cloudflare — it confirms whether your queries are reaching Cloudflare's resolver. On Android, visit dnsleaktest.com to verify which resolver is being used.
Does changing DNS break anything?
Changing DNS rarely breaks anything for home users. The most common issue is that corporate VPNs and split-horizon DNS configurations rely on specific DNS servers to resolve internal hostnames — changing DNS on a work device may prevent internal resources from resolving while off-VPN. Some ISPs also use DNS for parental controls or content filtering; switching to a public resolver bypasses those controls. Flushing your DNS cache after changing the setting ensures you are not using stale cached entries.
How do I change DNS on Android without root?
Android 9 and later include a built-in Private DNS feature that implements DNS over TLS without requiring root access. Go to Settings, then Network and Internet (or Connections on Samsung devices), then Private DNS. Select 'Private DNS provider hostname' and enter a DoT hostname such as 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com for Cloudflare, dns.google for Google, or dns.quad9.net for Quad9. This applies to all network connections on the device, including mobile data.