How to change dns windows 10

How to Change DNS in Windows 10

Domain name system or commonly known as DNS is a system that translates domain names into IP addresses. Whenever we write a website’s URL into the address bar of our web browser, the browser sends the URL to the default DNS server, the server then translates the URL into an IP address and the contents of that IP address are retrieved back to your web browser. The only reason why domain name system exists is because domain names are fairly easy to remember while trying to remember IP addresses is quite hard. DNS serves as a phone book; it binds a domain name to its respective IP address.

Why do we need to change DNS server?

Usually, your Internet service provider(ISP) provides default DNS server for your internet connection, but it can get slow due to high loads, which can cause slow browsing. Your ISP can also track your internet activity through your DNS, and also block websites through it. The only way to avoid all these problems is to change your primary DNS server with custom one.

Top three fastest DNS servers.

These DNS servers provide fast browsing speeds and they do not track your internet activity either. They are free to use, so you can use any of these without any problems.

How do we change the DNS server?

There are a number of ways to change your default DNS server, you can either change the DNS of your PC from the network settings or you could change the DNS settings from your router so that your whole internet connection uses a single custom DNS. Here’s how to get it done.

Method 1: Change the DNS server through the Network Settings

The simplest way to change your PC’s DNS server is through the Network Settings. To do this you must:

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt to change the primary and secondary DNS server

This method will allow you to change your DNS server using the Windows command prompt, you will need to use some commands to get the job done.

3. Now type the following command and press Enter to change the network settings.

4. Type the following command and press Enter to change your primary DNS server:

Remember to change the “ADAPTER-NAME” with your adapter’s name that you got in the second step, also change “X.X.X.X” with the required DNS server address.

5. Now type the following command and press Enter to change your secondary DNS server address:

Commands in CMD

Method 3: Changing the DNS server from the router’s settings

If you want to change your DNS from the router, then the step will vary according to the model of your router but the overall options would be the same. You will need to know the IP address, username and the password of your router, all these details are written on the back side of your router.

Change TCP/IP settings

TCP/IP defines how your PC communicates with other PCs.

To make it easier to manage TCP/IP settings, we recommend using automated Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP automatically assigns Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the computers on your network if your network supports it. If you use DHCP, then you don’t have to change your TCP/IP settings if you move your PC to another location, and DHCP doesn’t require you to manually configure TCP/IP settings, such as Domain Name System (DNS) and Windows Internet Name Service (WINS).

To enable DHCP or change other TCP/IP settings

Select Start, then type settings. Select Settings > Network & internet.

Do one of the following:

For a Wi-Fi network, select Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Choose the network for which you want to change the settings.

For an Ethernet network, select Ethernet, then select the Ethernet network you’re connected to.

Next to IP assignment, select Edit.

Under Edit network IP settings or Edit IP settings, select Automatic (DHCP) or Manual.

To specify IPv4 settings manually

Under Edit network IP settings or Edit IP settings, choose Manual, then turn on IPv4.

To specify an IP address, in the IP address, Subnet mask, and Gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.

To specify a DNS server address, in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

To specify if you want to use an encrypted (DNS over HTTPS) or unencrypted connection to the DNS server you specify, for Preferred DNS encryption and Alternate DNS encryption, choose the setting you want.

To specify IPv6 settings manually

Under Edit network IP settings or Edit IP settings, choose Manual, then turn on IPv6.

To specify an IP address, in the IP address, Subnet prefix length, and Gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.

To specify a DNS server address, in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

To specify if you want to use an encrypted (DNS over HTTPS) or unencrypted connection to the DNS server you specify, for Preferred DNS encryption and Alternate DNS encryption, choose the setting you want.

When you select Automatic (DHCP), the IP address settings and DNS server address setting are set automatically by your router or other access point (recommended).

When you select Manual, you can manually set your IP address settings and DNS server address.

When you’re done, select Save.

Note: To install IPv4, run Command Prompt as an administrator, type netsh interface ipv4 install, and then press Enter.

To enable DHCP or change other TCP/IP settings

Do one of the following:

For a Wi-Fi network, select Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Choose the network you want to change the settings for, then select Properties.

For an Ethernet network, select Ethernet , then select the Ethernet network you’re connected to.

Under IP assignment, select Edit.

Under Edit IP settings, select Automatic (DHCP) or Manual.

To specify IPv4 settings manually

Under Edit IP settings, choose Manual, then turn on IPv4.

To specify an IP address, in the IP address, Subnet prefix length, and Gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.

To specify a DNS server address, in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

To specify IPv6 settings manually

Under Edit IP settings, choose Manual, then turn on IPv6.

To specify an IP address, in the IP address, Subnet prefix length, and Gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.

To specify a DNS server address, in the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

When you select Automatic (DHCP), the IP address settings and DNS server address setting are set automatically by your router or other access point (recommended).

When you select Manual, you can manually set your IP address settings and DNS server address.

When you’re done, select Save.

To enable DHCP or change other TCP/IP settings

Do one of the following:

In Windows 8.1, select the Start button, start typing View network connections, and then select View network connections in the list.

In Windows 7, open Network Connections by selecting the Start button, and then selecting Control Panel. In the search box, type adapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, select View network connections.

Right-click the connection that you want to change, and then select Properties. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Select the Networking tab. Under This connection uses the following items, select either Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and then select Properties.

To specify IPv4 IP address settings, do one of the following:

To get IP settings automatically using DHCP, select Obtain an IP address automatically, and then select OK.

To specify an IP address, select Use the following IP address, and then, in the IP address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.

To specify IPv6 IP address settings, do one of the following:

To get IP settings automatically using DHCP, select Obtain an IPv6 address automatically, and then select OK.

To specify an IP address, select Use the following IPv6 address, and then, in the IPv6 address, Subnet prefix length, and Default gateway boxes, type the IP address settings.

To specify DNS server address settings, do one of the following:

To get a DNS server address automatically using DHCP, select Obtain DNS server address automatically, and then select OK.

To specify a DNS server address, select Use the following DNS server addresses, and then, in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server boxes, type the addresses of the primary and secondary DNS servers.

To change advanced DNS, WINS, and IP settings, select Advanced.

Note: To install IPv4, run Command Prompt as an administrator, type netsh interface ipv4 install, and then press Enter.

How to Change Your DNS Server on Windows 10 and Mac

Changing the default DNS settings on your computer can improve your online privacy, security, and browsing speed. If you’re a parent, changing your DNS server can also block your children from seeing any inappropriate content. Plus, changing your DNS will allow you to access content that is blocked in your country. Here’s how to change your DNS server on a Windows 10 or Mac computer, and which DNS addresses you should use.

What Is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the phone book of the internet. If you want to visit a website, you will usually type in a domain name like google.com. A DNS will convert that into an IP address, which your web browser can understand.

An IP address is a string of characters separated by periods and comas. For example, one IP address for Google.com is http://173.194.203.106/. However, a DNS address is only one part of the equation these days. So, you won’t always be able to access a website using its IP address anymore.

Your internet service provider (such as Comcast, Verizon, and Spectrum) will assign you a default DNS. However, you can always change your DNS setting on a Mac or Windows 10 PC.

How to Change Your DNS Server on a Windows 10 Computer

To change your DNS server on a Windows 10 computer, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Change Adapter Settings. Then right-click a connection and select Properties > IPv4 > Properties. Finally,select Use the following DNS server address.

Note: If you don’t see this option, click Status in the left sidebar. If you don’t see Status in the left sidebar, expand the Settings window or make the window full screen.

Note: If you don’t know what to add, see the section on which DNS server addresses to use below.

How to Change Your DNS Server on a Mac

To change your DNS server on a Mac, go to System Preferences > Network. Then select a connection and click Advanced. Next, select the DNS tab and click the plus sign. Finally, enter a DNS address and click OK > Apply.

Note: If you see any grayed-out entries already entered in the DNS Servers box, they are assigned to another device, such as your router. You cannot delete the grayed-out entries, but when you add in new entries, the grayed-out ones will be replaced.

Note: You can also change the order of your DNS addresses by dragging them or clicking the minus button at the bottom of the DNS Servers box to delete any entries.

Now that you know how to change your DNS address on a Windows 10 and Mac computer, here are the best third-party DNS addresses you can use.

Which Third-Party DNS Server Should You Use?

If you want to use a third-party DNS server, some of the best options are the Google Public DNS, Cloudflare, and OpenDNS. Each of these providers has a primary and secondary DNS address that you can use.

Google’s Public DNS is one of the most popular addresses because it is so easy to remember. However, it is important to note that Google does keep a log of the IP addresses that use its servers for one to two days to help with diagnostics and troubleshooting. There could also be some long-lasting logs, but Google claims that it doesn’t store any personal information. So, if you care about privacy, you might want to use another DNS address.

Cloudflare is also a popular choice because of the speed and privacy it offers. Cloudflare promises that it won’t use your data or log your IP address. There’s also a 24-hour deletion system wherein data gets removed on a daily basis. Cloudflare also has an active community forum that you can rely on any time you have questions about its services.

OpenDNS is a fine choice if you want an experienced DNS provider. It blocks phishing sites by default, and you can configure parental controls for free by visiting its website. OpenDNS also offers commercial plans that come with a bunch of other great perks, such as access to up to one year of your internet activity history.

Since all of these DNS servers are in the US, they all let you access content that might be blocked in another country. If you want a more reliable way to access blocked content and protect your privacy online, check out our list of the best VPN services.

How to Change Your DNS Server in Windows 10 (and Why You’d Want To)

We show you how to change DNS servers on Windows 10, showing you how to do so via the Control Panel, Settings, and Command Prompt.

When you sign up for an internet service provider (ISP), they assign you to a DNS server of their creation. This function makes it possible for you to access all your favorite sites and services without manually typing their IP address. Unfortunately, however, not all DNS servers are created equal. There are several reasons you may want to change DNS in Windows 10, but it’s necessary to learn what they are and how they work so you can make an informed decision.

What is a DNS server?

So, what exactly does DNS server mean, and why do you need one? DNS stands for Domain Name System, with the “Domain” referring to the URLs you type in your browser. Most of us take these for granted – we type in the website’s name and it automatically takes us to where we expect.

Behind the scenes, however, there is a Domain Name System server that turns the URL you type into a format that your computer can understand – an IP address. Theoretically, the faster this process is performed the lower your latency will be and the faster your browser will be able to fetch pages for you.

Why change DNS in Windows 10?

As mentioned earlier, not all DNS servers are created equal. A DNS server is a server like any other, meaning it can go down or experience mediocre performance. It will also be faster the closer it is to your location. If your ISP has not properly invested in its infrastructure, its DNS service could cause problems with latency or an inability to load websites.

There’s also the issue of privacy and censorship. Depending on your location, your ISP may retain logs of your DNS queries, which acts as a list of every website you’ve ever visited. In some countries, they then share this data with government agencies as a form of mass surveillance. Some ISPs even deliver advertisements when you enter a URL that doesn’t exist.

So, should you change your DNS server? Probably not. As Lifehacker explains, in most cases your ISP’s DNS server will result in a faster experience. This is because most major websites these days use something called a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve content to you. CDNs fetch data from their closest available server to your location. Alternate, public DNS servers may not be as close as your ISP’s. They could, for instance, only be in the nearest major city. As a result, the website may deliver its data to you from that city. The result? Potentially, slower download speeds.

So, then, it comes down to this – you should probably only change your DNS server if you’re concerned about your privacy or you’re experiencing issues with your ISP’s. Usually, we’re talking about a few milliseconds difference in latency. That said, it doesn’t hurt to experiment. You can always change it back later.

What are the best DNS servers

The best DNS server typically depends on where you are. Yandex DNS, for example, is Russia-based and therefore has poor performance in the United States. That said, there are some DNS providers who have excellent coverage across the world. According to site DNSPerf, these are the fastest free public DNS’ worldwide (from fastest to slowest).

This, of course, could change depending on the part of the world you live in, so it’s worth checking for yourself. Cloudflare, however, is well-known, has excellent infrastructure across the world, and is private. As a result, below we’re going to focus on how to change your DNS to Cloudflare in Windows 10. Google DNS servers are another good choice if you’re in the states.

How to change DNS settings in Windows 10 via the Control Panel

Changing your DNS servers through the Control Panel can be faster and less confusing than Microsoft’s built-in settings app. Here’s how you can do it:

Press “Start” and then type “Control Panel”. Click the top result.

Right-click on the network you’re using, which will be under your Wi-Fi or ethernet adapter. At the bottom of the context menu, click “Properties”.

In the networking tab, look for “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”. Click it, then press “Properties” underneath the selection window.

In the “General” tab, tick “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter the addresses you chose above. In our case, we’re using Cloudflare, so the numbers should be 1.1.1.1 for the preferred DNS server and 1.0.0.1 for the alternate DNS server.

Once you’re done press “OK”. The changes will apply immediately. You can verify that by visiting this page and clicking “What’s My DNS Server?”.

How to Change DNS on Windows 10 via Settings

In later Windows 10 versions, you can also change DNS settings via the Settings app.

Press the “Start” button, then click the settings cog, above the power button. Alternatively, press Windows + I.

If you’re on Wi-Fi, click the “Wi-Fi” heading in the sidebar, then click your network in the main pane.

If you’re using a wired, ethernet connection, instead click “Ethernet” and the “Properties”.

Under the “Network IP settings” header, click “Edit”.

Tick toggle “IPv4” to “On” and enter your chosen DNS servers in the “Preferred DNS” and “Alternate DNS” boxes. If you chose Cloudflare, this will be “1.1.1.1” and “1.0.0.1”. There’s no need to fill in any of the other information, so you can simply press “Save” once you’re done.

The changes will apply immediately. You can verify that by visiting this page and clicking “What’s My DNS Server?”.

How to change DNS in Windows 10 with DNS CMD Commands

If you don’t have access to the GUI or just prefer to set your DNS via command-line, you can do so via Command Prompt:

Press “Start” and then type “Command Prompt”. Click “Run as administrator” on the right-hand side.

First, we need to find the name our network adapter. You can do so by entering:

Find your network in the list. Now, to change your primaryy DNS in Windows 10, enter the following, substituting “Wi-Fi” to the name of your network adapter and “1.1.1.1” for the primary DNS server you chose earlier.

Do the same for your secondary DNS server and its address by adding index=2 to the end of your command:

That’s it. The changes will apply immediately. You can verify that by visiting this page and clicking “What’s My DNS Server?”.

Thanks for following this Windows 10 DNS tutorial. If you’re interested check out our guide to enabling or disabling network adapters, or follow our network reset tutorial if your DNS change didn’t go well.

Change DNS Server Settings In Windows 10

DNS (Domain Name System) is one of the core systems that makes the internet possible, but it’s often taken for granted. In fact, it’s utilized by almost 5 billion people, yet most people don’t even realize it. And, that’s okay. Most people that own a car probably don’t know how an engine works, and they don’t care unless they start to have engine problems. The same goes for DNS. Most people don’t care to know what DNS is or how it works until they see something like this:

So, what is DNS? And, how can we change the DNS settings in Windows 10? Let’s find out.

What Is DNS

Computers, smart devices, and network devices all use these things called IP addresses to locate and communicate with each other. IP addresses come in a couple of different versions.

The more common version is IPv4, which looks like this: 172.217.14.238.

The newer version, called IPv6, looks more like this: 2001:0db8:0100:f101:0210:a4ff:fee3:9566. Scary, right?

So, what does this have to do with DNS? Good question. DNS is the system designed to translate domain names (e.g., google.com, amazon.com, pdq.com) to their respective IP addresses. For example, DNS would translate google.com to 172.217.14.238.

It was developed because we humans (me especially) aren’t great at remembering random sets of numbers. Could you imagine trying to memorize a random number with up to twelve digits for each website you visit? That’s not even taking into account IPv6 addresses. However, we are pretty good at remembering names (except for me, who will forget a person’s name three seconds after hearing it). It’s much easier for us to remember yahoo.com than it is for us to remember 74.6.143.25.

DNS is often compared to a phonebook for the internet. However, since most younger generations probably don’t know what a phone book is, let’s try something else.

A man named Ross gets into a taxi. The driver, Phoebe, asks Ross where he wants to go. Ross says he wants to go to Central Perk to meet his friends and get some coffee. Being new in town, Phoebe doesn’t know where Central Perk is located, so she looks up the address on her phone. Once she has the address, Phoebe knows exactly how to get to Central Perk.

In this example, Phoebe would be the browser, and her phone would be the DNS server. You tell your web browser to take you to pdq.com. Since your browser doesn’t know how to get to pdq.com, it asks a DNS server for help. The DNS server returns the IP address for pdq.com to your browser, which takes you to the website.

Hmmm…a taxi comparison may not be relevant either these days. Maybe I should have said Uber or Lyft. Ah, well.

How to change DNS servers In Windows 10

Okay, with that clear as mud example out of the way, let’s talk about why we would want to change our DNS settings.

Most devices use whichever DNS server settings are automatically assigned to them by their service provider. For example, if your internet service provider is Comcast, they will automatically direct you to their DNS servers which are 75.75.75.75 and 75.75.76.76. On the one hand, this is great because users don’t have to do anything. On the other hand, if the DNS servers aren’t reliable, you could experience frequent routing issues.

So, what if you are one of those unfortunate people being directed to unreliable DNS servers? Well, your best bet is to configure your DNS server settings manually, and there are a few different ways you can do this.

1. Set DNS server settings through the control panel

This first method of configuring your DNS settings is also the oldest method we’ll be covering. Microsoft seems to have its heart set on getting rid of the Control Panel, but since it’s currently still around, we’ll use it.

1. In the Windows search box, type in «control panel» and click on the Control Panel app.

2. Click on View network status and tasks.

3. Click on the name of your connection next to the «Connections:» field.

4. In the status window, click Properties.

5. In the properties windows, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click Properties.

6. Select Use the following DNS server addresses:

7. Enter the IP addresses of the DNS servers you want to use. Here are a few popular server’s that you can try.

OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 & 208.67.220.220

Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1

8. Click OK when you finish entering the IP addresses, then close the properties and status windows.

That’s all there is to it. You’ve successfully changed your DNS server settings. However, continue reading to learn about the newer methods, especially since Control Panel may disappear in the future.

2. Set DNS server settings through the Windows 10 settings Menu

Using the Settings Menu is probably how Microsoft intends for most users to change these settings in the future. While the first few steps of this method will be different, eventually we’ll be accessing the adapter settings just like we did with method #1.

1. Left-click on the Windows button.

2. Click on the Gear (settings) icon.

3. Click Network & Internet.

4. Click Ethernet, then click Change adapter options.

5. Double click on your adapter.

6. From this point on, repeat steps 4-8 of method 1.

As Microsoft moves away from the Control Panel, this method will probably change. Microsoft will most likely include DNS settings directly in the Windows 10 settings menu, eventually.

3. Set DNS server settings with PowerShell

If you’re a sysadmin that eats, sleeps, and breathes PowerShell, maybe even having made a playlist with it, then this method is for you. If you’re not a sysadmin but like learning new things, give this method a shot. The PowerShell commands we’ll be using are pretty simple, so you should be able to follow right along.

1. Right-click on the Windows button and click Windows PowerShell (Admin).

2. Click Yes if prompted by a User Account Control dialog box.

3. At the PowerShell prompt, enter the following command and hit enter.

4. Make a note of your InterfaceIndex number. In the image above, my InterfaceIndex is 6.

5. Type in the following command and hit enter. Use the number of your InterfaceIndex next to the InterfaceIndex parameter (replace the 6 from this command with your InterfaceIndex number). Enter the IP addresses of the DNS servers you want to use next to the ServerAddresses parameter. Separate the two server addresses with a comma and a space.

6. Now we’ll double-check to make sure the changes were made successfully. Re-enter the command from step 3 and hit enter.

7. As you can see, our DNSServer was changed from 192.168.60.30 to Google’s DNS servers, 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

That’s all there is to it. With those two simple PowerShell commands, we were able to change our DNS server settings.

Wrapping Up

There is no «best» method for changing your DNS settings. Each method covered here will get you the results you’re looking for and are perfectly viable. Pick whichever method works best for you. And a healthy and happy DNS will make sure PDQ Deploy and Inventory are running the best they can.

Born in the ’80s and raised by his NES, Brock quickly fell in love with everything tech. With over 15 years of IT experience, Brock now enjoys the life of luxury as a renowned tech blogger and receiver of many Dundie Awards. In his free time, Brock enjoys adventuring with his wife, kids, and dogs, while dreaming of retirement.