How to Change Your DNS Server on Any Device

Why Change Your DNS Server?

Your ISP automatically assigns you a DNS server when you connect to the internet. While convenient, ISP DNS servers often have several disadvantages: they tend to be slower than dedicated public DNS services, they log your queries for commercial or legal purposes, and some inject ads into NXDOMAIN (domain not found) error pages.

Switching to a better DNS server takes minutes and can yield real benefits:

• Speed: Dedicated resolvers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) have faster response times than most ISP DNS servers.
• Privacy: Privacy-focused resolvers don't log or sell your query data.
• Security: Some resolvers block known malware and phishing domains automatically.
• Reliability: Large public DNS services have greater infrastructure and uptime than ISP resolvers.

Recommended DNS servers: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1), Google (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4), or Quad9 (9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112). See our full comparison of best public DNS servers. After changing, run a DNS leak test to verify the new settings are active.

Change DNS on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Via Settings (Windows 11):

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet.
2. Click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
3. Scroll to DNS server assignment and click Edit.
4. Change "Automatic (DHCP)" to Manual.
5. Enable IPv4, then enter Preferred DNS (1.1.1.1) and Alternate DNS (1.0.0.1).
6. Click Save.

Via Control Panel (Windows 10/11):

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Change adapter settings.
3. Right-click your active connection and select Properties.
4. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
5. Select "Use the following DNS server addresses".
6. Enter 1.1.1.1 (preferred) and 1.0.0.1 (alternate).
7. Click OK on all dialogs.

Repeat for IPv6 if desired, using 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001.

Change DNS on macOS and Linux

macOS:

1. Open System Settings → Wi-Fi (or Network for Ethernet).
2. Click Details next to your active connection.
3. Click the DNS tab.
4. Click the + button and add 1.1.1.1, then add 1.0.0.1.
5. Remove any existing DNS entries if desired (or leave them as fallbacks).
6. Click OK, then Apply.

Linux (systemd-resolved):

Edit the network interface configuration. For systems using systemd-resolved, edit or create a file in /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/:

[Resolve]
DNS=1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1
DNSOverTLS=yes

Then restart the service:

sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved

Linux (NetworkManager, common on Ubuntu desktop):

# Open the network connection editor
nm-connection-editor
# Select your connection → IPv4 Settings
# Change Method to "Automatic (DHCP) addresses only"
# Add DNS servers: 1.1.1.1,1.0.0.1

After changing, verify with: systemd-resolve --status | grep DNS

Change DNS on Android and iOS

Android (Wi-Fi DNS per-network):

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Long-press your connected network and select Modify network (or tap the gear icon).
3. Tap Advanced options and change IP settings to Static.
4. Scroll to the DNS fields and enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.

Android Private DNS (system-wide, Android 9+): This is the better option as it applies to all connections:

1. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS.
2. Select "Private DNS provider hostname".
3. Enter one.one.one.one for Cloudflare or dns.google for Google.
4. Tap Save. This enables DNS over TLS system-wide.

iOS / iPadOS:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the blue ⓘ icon next to your network.
3. Scroll to DNS and tap Configure DNS.
4. Switch to Manual, delete existing servers, add 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.
5. Tap Save.

For system-wide encrypted DNS on iOS, install the 1.1.1.1 app or a DNS configuration profile from your provider.

Change DNS on Your Router (Best for Whole-Home Coverage)

Changing DNS on your router is the most effective approach — it applies to every device on your network automatically, including smart TVs, game consoles, and IoT devices that don't have accessible DNS settings.

1. Access your router: Open a browser and navigate to your router's admin IP. Common addresses are 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, or 10.0.0.1. Check the label on your router if unsure.
2. Log in: Use your admin credentials (often printed on the router or defaulting to admin/admin).
3. Find DNS settings: Look for "WAN", "Internet", "DHCP Server", or "DNS" in the menu. Exact location varies by router brand.
4. Enter DNS servers: Replace existing entries with 1.1.1.1 (primary) and 1.0.0.1 (secondary).
5. Save and restart: Apply settings and restart the router if required.

After changing your router's DNS, all new connections will use the new servers. Devices with static DNS configured locally will still use their own settings. Verify the change worked by running our DNS leak test from any device on your network. If it still shows your ISP's DNS, flush the DNS cache on that device.

Frequently Asked Questions