Your ISP’s DNS servers can cause slow page loads, intermittent outages, and privacy leaks. Switching to a faster, more reliable public DNS server fixes all three. Here’s how to do it on Windows 11 and Windows 10, including the newer DNS over HTTPS (DoH) option that encrypts your lookups.
What DNS actually does (and what changing it won’t fix)
DNS (Domain Name System) translates a hostname like espn.com into an IP address your browser can connect to. Every time you visit a new site, Windows queries a DNS server first. If that server is slow, overloaded, or down, pages stall before a single byte of content loads.
Switching DNS can help when your ISP’s resolver is the bottleneck. It won’t increase your raw download speed, that’s limited by your ISP plan and hardware. Think of it as one useful tool, not a magic fix.
Which DNS server should you use?
Pick based on what matters most to you: privacy, security filtering, or raw reliability:
| Provider | IPv4 addresses | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1 | Privacy-first, minimal logging |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 | Reliability, global coverage |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112 | Blocks known malicious domains |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220 | Optional content filtering |
| NextDNS | Account-based (via DoH/DoT) | Fully configurable filtering and logging |
Before committing, check each provider’s privacy policy. Some log query data; others don’t. Cloudflare and Quad9 are generally the strongest choices for home users who want privacy and security without an account.
How to change DNS on Windows 11
Windows 11 lets you change DNS directly in the Settings app, with no Control Panel required. You can also enable DNS over HTTPS here, which encrypts your lookups so your ISP can’t see which sites you’re resolving.
Fix #1: Change DNS for a Wi-Fi connection (Windows 11)
- Press
Windows + Ito open Settings. - Go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
- Click the name of your connected Wi-Fi network (not the toggle; click the network name itself).
- Scroll down to DNS server assignment and click Edit.
- In the dialog, change the dropdown from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
- Toggle IPv4 on.
- Enter your preferred DNS addresses. For Cloudflare:
- Preferred DNS:
1.1.1.1 - Alternate DNS:
1.0.0.1
- Preferred DNS:
- (Optional) If your network uses IPv6, toggle IPv6 on and enter:
- Preferred DNS:
2606:4700:4700::1111 - Alternate DNS:
2606:4700:4700::1001
- Preferred DNS:
- (Optional) Set DNS over HTTPS to On (automatic template) if you want encrypted DNS lookups.
- Click Save.
Fix #2: Change DNS for an Ethernet connection (Windows 11)
- Press
Windows + Ito open Settings. - Go to Network & Internet > Ethernet.
- Click your active Ethernet connection.
- Scroll to DNS server assignment and click Edit.
- Switch the dropdown from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
- Toggle IPv4 on and enter your DNS addresses (same as above).
- Click Save.
How to change DNS on Windows 10
Fix #3: Change DNS via network adapter properties (Windows 10)
Windows 10 doesn’t have the same streamlined DNS editor as Windows 11, so you’ll go through the classic adapter properties dialog instead.
- Press
Windows + R, typencpa.cpl, and press Enter. This opens the Network Connections window directly. - Right-click your active connection, either Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and choose Properties.
- In the list, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
- Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
- Enter your chosen DNS servers. For Google Public DNS:
- Preferred DNS server:
8.8.8.8 - Alternate DNS server:
8.8.4.4
- Preferred DNS server:
- Click OK, then click OK again to close the adapter properties.
To also set IPv6 DNS, repeat steps 3–6 for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6). For Cloudflare’s IPv6 addresses, use 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001.
This same adapter properties method also works on Windows 11 if you prefer it over the Settings app.
How to verify the change worked
- Press
Windows + R, typecmd, and press Enter. - Run
ipconfig /alland look for the DNS Servers line under your active adapter. It should show the addresses you entered. - Optionally, run
nslookup example.com. The Server line at the top should show your new DNS server’s address.
Most public DNS providers also have a test page. Cloudflare’s is at 1.1.1.1/help, which confirms whether you’re using their resolver.
Router-level DNS: change it once for every device
If you want every device on your network, including phones, tablets, and smart TVs, to use the same DNS without configuring each one individually, set DNS on your router instead. Log into your router’s admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the DNS settings under WAN or DHCP, and enter your preferred DNS addresses there.
The trade-off: some ISPs lock down router firmware and intercept port 53 traffic, which can override custom DNS. If you suspect that’s happening, per-device DNS with DoH enabled is the more reliable fix.
A note on browser DNS
Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all have their own built-in “Secure DNS” or “DNS over HTTPS” settings that can bypass Windows’ system DNS entirely. If you change DNS in Windows but your browser’s secure DNS is pointed somewhere else, the browser will use its own setting. Check Settings > Privacy and Security > Security > Use secure DNS in Chrome or Edge if you want them to match.
Troubleshooting common DNS problems
“Changing DNS didn’t make my Internet faster”
DNS only affects name resolution speed and doesn’t change your download bandwidth. If pages are still slow after switching, the bottleneck is elsewhere: Wi-Fi signal, router congestion, ISP throttling, or the remote server itself. Run a speed test at fast.com to rule out a bandwidth issue.
“DNS server not responding” error
- Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
ipconfig /flushdns, thenipconfig /renew. - Temporarily switch to Cloudflare (
1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) to test whether your ISP’s DNS is the problem. - Press
Windows + R, typeservices.msc, and confirm the DNS Client service is running. If it’s stopped, right-click it and select Start. - If the issue started after a Windows update, check Microsoft’s release health dashboard, as some Windows 10/11 updates have introduced DNS and network stack regressions that were later patched.
“My DNS settings keep reverting”
DHCP from your router or ISP can overwrite manual DNS settings on reconnect. A VPN client or security suite may also enforce its own DNS. Check for active VPN connections first. If the problem persists, set DNS at the router level instead, so the router hands out your preferred DNS via DHCP to every device automatically.
“Custom DNS breaks my work or school network”
Managed networks use internal DNS servers to resolve private hostnames and domain controllers. Replacing those with a public DNS will break access to internal sites, shared drives, and VPN resources. Don’t override DNS on a work or school machine unless IT explicitly tells you to. Make these changes only on personal, non-domain-joined devices.
IPv4 DNS is set but behavior seems inconsistent
If you’ve set IPv4 DNS but left IPv6 on automatic, Windows may still resolve some queries through your ISP’s IPv6 resolver. Either set matching IPv6 DNS addresses (see Fix #1 above) or temporarily disable IPv6 on the adapter to isolate the issue.
Conclusion
For most home users, switching to Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Quad9 (9.9.9.9) is the fastest path to more reliable DNS. Choose Cloudflare for privacy or Quad9 if you want built-in malware blocking. If your DNS settings keep reverting or you want every device covered without per-machine config, set it on the router instead. If pages are still slow after the switch, the problem is downstream of DNS and worth investigating separately.
