How to Change DNS Servers in 2022 [Get a New DNS Address] (2023)

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How to Change DNS Servers in 2022 [Get a New DNS Address] (1)

  • What Is a DNS?
  • Change DNS Servers Using a VPN
  • Changing Your DNS Manually
  • Change DNS Server in Windows
  • Change DNS Settings in macOS
  • Change DNS Servers in Android
  • Configure DNS Servers in iOS
  • Change DNS Settings on Your Router
  • Change Addresses With a Smart DNS Service
  • Final Thoughts
  • Comments

Changing your DNS server to a more private option is easy to do and can result in better privacy, security and speeds. The process varies for different operating systems, though. Read on to learn how to change DNS settings on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and routers.

How to Change DNS Servers in 2022 [Get a New DNS Address] (2)

By Aleksandar Kochovski (Editor)
— Last Updated: 2022-11-28T15:44:48+00:00 Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska

Every time you connect to a website, there’s a DNS server in the background quietly handling all of your communication. DNS servers translate your browser input into language that’s easier for website servers to understand, so they’re crucial to how the web works.

However, the operator of the DNS server you use can also see all of your online traffic. This is why it’s crucial to know how to change DNS servers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Changing your DNS settings has numerous benefits, like increased speed, security and privacy.
  • Setting up a custom DNS server is easy to do, though the process differs between devices.
  • Besides a manual setup, you can also change your DNS with a VPN. This doesn’t require any kind of setup apart from installing the VPN app.

Using a secure DNS server, like the ones operated by VPNs, can keep your browsing data private and inaccessible to your internet service provider (ISP), the government and hackers. Stick around as we explain what a domain name system (DNS) is, how it works and how you can change your DNS server.

  • 11/21/2022 Facts checked

    We rewrote the guide to include separate steps for each device type and operating system.

  • Changing DNS server settings can result in better privacy and security, and faster connection speeds.

  • 8.8.8.8 is the address of Google Public DNS, which isn’t the best choice when it comes to privacy.

  • Changing your DNS configuration manually usually requires that you go into your device’s settings and input the DNS server addresses of your chosen provider.

What Is a DNS?

In order to understand each other, machines communicate using languages that aren’t easy for the average person to understand and use. Every device on the internet has its own IP address that it uses to communicate with other devices, like the way you need a mailing address to send a Christmas card to your grandma.

How to Change DNS Servers in 2022 [Get a New DNS Address] (3)

However, numerical IP addresses are hard to remember, which is why we use the domain name system instead. The domain name system, or DNS for short, assigns a domain name to every IP address belonging to a website.

Thanks to the domain name system, you can access a website by simply typing its name into the browser (say, Google.com) instead of entering a complicated IP address, like 192.168.10.254.

Why You Need to Change Your DNS Provider

The above operation is known as a DNS request or DNS query. When you send a DNS request to a website, a DNS server translates the DNS address into its corresponding IP address. This means that your DNS traffic needs to pass through a DNS server before it can reach the target website or online server.

How to Change DNS Servers in 2022 [Get a New DNS Address] (4)

By default, your internet service provider (ISP) handles your DNS requests via its own DNS servers. This allows your ISP to see all of your traffic data. According to the FTC, ISPs collect a lot more data than is necessary and use legal loopholes to sell it to third parties, like advertisers. If you want your data to stay private, you need to change your DNS server to a private one.

Additionally, many DNS services let you control the content you can access. For example, they might offer a family-friendly DNS that lets you set parental controls, or a malware-blocking DNS that prevents your device from communicating with malicious websites such as phishing sites. These specialty DNS servers usually have a different address than the standard one.

Finally, switching your DNS provider can increase your internet speeds. Cloudflare claims to be the fastest DNS resolver available, while Google Public DNS has all the resources of the search giant behind it — including its worldwide server network — guaranteeing fast speeds around the globe. Depending on your ISP, switching to one of these DNS services might result in a faster connection.

How to Change DNS Servers Using a VPN

The easiest way to change your DNS server is to use a VPN. Most reliable VPNs operate their own DNS servers, which means that your DNS requests are subject to the VPN’s no-logs policy. This policy promises to retain no record of your internet activity.

Setting up a modern commercial VPN is as easy as installing a VPN and switching it on. This will automatically connect you to a server (usually the fastest or nearest one) and change your DNS server to a VPN-operated one.

Changing Your DNS Manually

However, if you don’t want to purchase a VPN subscription, you can use a free third-party DNS server. Cloudflare is a popular choice. It only keeps logs for 24 hours, and it’s our recommended custom DNS server.

OpenDNS is another popular DNS provider, though it’s operated by Cisco and doesn’t have a zero-logs option. Google Public DNS is another free DNS option, but it’s subject to Google’s own privacy issues.

DNS Server Addresses

To change your DNS server settings manually, you’ll need to input the DNS server addresses of the provider you want to use. The following DNS server addresses belong to Cloudflare, OpenDNS and Google Public DNS for internet protocol version four (IPv4) and version six (IPv6) connections.

Cloudflare

IPv4

  • Primary DNS address: 1.1.1.1
  • Secondary DNS address: 1.0.0.1

IPv6

  • Primary DNS address: 2606:4700:4700::1111
  • Secondary DNS address: 2606:4700:4700::1001

OpenDNS

IPv4

  • Primary DNS address: 208.67.222.222
  • Secondary DNS address: 208.67.220.220

IPv6

  • Primary DNS address: 2620:119:35::35
  • Secondary DNS address: 2620:119:53::53

Google Public DNS

IPv4

  • Primary DNS address: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary DNS address: 8.8.4.4

IPv6

  • Primary DNS address: 2001:4860:4860::8888
  • Secondary DNS address: 2001:4860:4860::8844

How to Change DNS Server in Windows

Here are a few steps showing you how to change DNS settings in Windows.

  1. Access Your Network Settings

    Press the Windows key and open the “settings” menu, then click on “network & internet.”

  2. Find Your Current Network

    Choose either the “WiFi” or “Ethernet” tab, depending on your internet connection. Within that tab, select the network you’re connected to.

  3. Access the Network’s DNS Settings

    Scroll down to “IP settings” and click on the “edit” button under “IP assignment.”

  4. Toggle on Custom DNS

    Change your IP settings to “manual” and toggle on the “IPv4” option.

  5. Input Your Chosen Provider’s DNS Server Address

    Under “preferred DNS,” enter the IP address of your preferred DNS server. For example, 1.1.1.1 is Cloudflare’s primary DNS server address. Next, enter the secondary DNS server’s IP (1.0.0.1 for Cloudflare). You can find these DNS addresses on the provider’s website. Finally, click “save” and reboot your device.

How to Change DNS Settings in macOS

If you’re a Mac user, things are even simpler. Here’s how to change your DNS settings on your macOS device.

  1. Access Your Network Settings

    Select “system preferences” from your dock and click “network.”

  2. Find Your Current Connection

    Select your connection (WiFi or Ethernet) and click on “advanced.”

  3. Enter the Custom DNS Server Addresses

    In the “advanced” window, navigate to the DNS tab and click on the plus symbol under the “DNS servers” box. Type in the primary and secondary DNS server addresses for your preferred DNS provider. Click on “OK” to close the “advanced” window, then click on “apply” in the “network” window to apply your custom DNS settings.

How to Change DNS Servers on Your Android Device

You can only change your DNS manually on Android 9 Pie and above. Thankfully, it only takes a few taps to do it.

  1. Open Your Connection Settings

    Open Android’s settings and tap on “connections.”

  2. Open the Detailed Connection Settings

    Tap on “more connection settings.”

  3. Open the Private DNS Settings

    Tap on “private DNS.”

  4. Enter Your Chosen DNS Provider’s Hostname

    Select “private DNS provider hostname” and add the hostname of the service you chose. Keep in mind that this is not the same as the DNS server address. For example, one.one.one.one is Cloudflare’s hostname. Finally, just tap on “save” to apply the settings.

How to Configure DNS Servers in iOS

Finding the DNS settings in iOS isn’t as obvious as it is for Android, but it’s still pretty straightforward if you follow the steps below.

  1. Open Your WiFi Connection Settings

    Open the settings app and tap on “WiFi.”

  2. Access Your Connection’s Properties

    Tap on the “i” icon next to your active connection.

  3. Open the Custom DNS Settings

    In the window that opens, scroll down to “configure DNS” and tap on it.

  4. Add Your Chosen DNS Server

    Select “manual” and then tap on “add server.” Add the IP addresses for the DNS servers you want to use. Remember to add the addresses for both the primary and secondary DNS servers. Finally, tap on “save” to finish the setup.

How to Change DNS Settings on Your Router

There’s one major benefit to setting up a custom DNS on your router in that your router handles the traffic for all the devices connected to your home network. This means that all of your internet traffic will be routed through your chosen DNS server without having to set it up on each device manually.

However, not all routers will let you set up a custom DNS server. Routers that support custom firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato will usually allow you to change DNS settings, but most ISP-provided routers will not have this feature. Here is a list of some router manufacturers that let you change DNS servers:

  • Linksys
  • ASUS
  • Netgear
  • D-Link
  • Ubiquiti

That said, even routers that do support DNS switching will have drastically different setup instructions, so you’ll have to look for a guide on the router manufacturer’s website. You can also switch DNS providers by installing a VPN on your router, though you’ll need to find a guide for your specific router on the VPN’s website.

How to Change DNS Server Addresses With a Smart DNS Service

Smart DNS is a way to access geoblocked content (content that is restricted to a certain geographic area). It changes your DNS server while removing geographically identifying data from your traffic, which lets you access select streaming services in certain popular locations, like the U.S. and U.K. Learn more in our comprehensive Smart DNS guide.

This type of service is usually offered by VPNs as an alternative to using a VPN to unblock content for devices that don’t support VPNs natively, like some smart TVs.

These include Surfshark’s Smart DNS, NordVPN’s SmartDNS and ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer. You should be able to find a guide on how to set up your VPN’s smart DNS service on your device on the VPN’s website.

Final Thoughts

Changing your DNS server to a free public DNS is an easy way to improve your online privacy, as long as you choose a trusted DNS provider. DNS providers can do more than just resolve your DNS queries; they can block malware and pornographic content, and even speed up your connection.

Have you changed your default DNS server? What DNS provider have you used? Have you tried changing your DNS using a VPN? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.

FAQs

What is the best DNS server for 2022? ›

Top 11 DNS Providers for 2022
  • Akamai. Reliability: High. ...
  • AWS/Amazon Route 53. Reliability: Medium. ...
  • Azure DNS. Reliability: Medium. ...
  • Cloudflare. Reliability: Medium Supports. ...
  • DNSimple. Reliability: Very High. ...
  • Google Cloud DNS. Reliability: Medium. ...
  • NS1. Reliability: Very High. ...
  • Oracle Dyn. Reliability: High. Supports Secondary DNS: Yes.

What does using 8.8 8.8 for DNS do? ›

8.8. 8.8 is the primary DNS server for Google DNS. Google DNS is a public DNS service that is provided by Google with the aim to make the Internet and the DNS system faster, safer, secure, and more reliable for all Internet users.

Is 1.1 1.1 still the fastest DNS? ›

The independent DNS monitor DNSPerf ranks 1.1.1.1 the fastest DNS service in the world. Since nearly everything you do on the Internet starts with a DNS request, choosing the fastest DNS directory across all your devices will accelerate almost everything you do online.

How do I change my DNS server address? ›

How do I change my DNS server address?
  1. Open the Google Home app .
  2. Tap Wi-Fi Settings. Advanced Networking.
  3. Tap DNS.
  4. Choose your desired public DNS server. If you choose a custom DNS server, enter a primary and secondary server address.
  5. Tap Save .

What DNS make Internet faster? ›

Some of the most trustworthy, high-performance DNS public resolvers and their IPv4 DNS addresses include:
  • Cisco OpenDNS: 208.67. 222.222 and 208.67. 220.220;
  • Cloudflare 1.1. 1.1: 1.1. 1.1 and 1.0. 0.1;
  • Google Public DNS: 8.8. 8.8 and 8.8. 4.4; and.
  • Quad9: 9.9. 9.9 and 149.112. 112.112.
23 Sept 2019

Is changing DNS a good idea? ›

If your Internet Service seems unreliable, switching your DNS service might be an easy way to see if that's the problem. If your ISP is bad at keeping their DNS servers up and running with no hitches, you may experience slow uploads and service while the DNS request gets bogged down.

What is 1.1 1.1 DNS server? ›

1.1. 1.1 is a free, public DNS resolver from Cloudflare and Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) that could make your searches faster and more secure. But the product won't work for everyone, and some have concerns about how it will use their data.

What is 2001 4860 4860 8888? ›

2001:4860:4860::8888 (dns. google) is an IP address located in Mountain View, California, US that is assigned to Google (ASN: 15169). As this IP addresses is located in Mountain View, it follows the "America/Los_Angeles" timezone.

Should I use 1.1 1.1 DNS? ›

1.1. 1.1 is Cloudflare's DNS, and yes, it is not only safe to use, but recommended.

What's the best DNS for gaming? ›

Best DNS servers for gaming
  • VPN: Many people use VPN services for privacy reasons or to appear as if you are connecting from another country or region. ...
  • Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8.
  • Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4.
  • Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1.
  • Secondary DNS: 1.1.0.0.

Does DNS affect ping? ›

For the other video games, the server address is given as a domain name, your computer will only need to ask for a DNS to translate that once. The absolute answer to help ping with DNS is No. DNS has no effect on ping.

Does 1.1 1.1 hide your IP? ›

In a significant update to Cloudflare's 1.1. 1.1 + WARP VPN service, the company added more precise geolocation to its free and premium account levels. The update now returns localized search engine and site results without exposing a user's public IP address.

Is 1.1 1.1 IPv4 or IPv6? ›

As an example of the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, Cloudflare offers a public DNS resolver that anyone can use by setting their device's DNS to 1.1. 1.1 and 1.0. 0.1. These are the IPv4 addresses.

Should I use 8.8 8.8 DNS? ›

That is not recommended and may even be a violation of your security policies, depending on the level of security required in your organization or by any governing agency. DNS forwarders that only point to 8.8. 8.8 are using your ISP connection to hop to 8.8. 8.8 when resolving DNS.

How do I change my DNS to 8.8 8.8 on my router? ›

General instructions:
  1. Log into your network router as the Admin user.
  2. Locate the IP Address, Networking or DNS Server settings of the router.
  3. Add one or both of Google public DNS Servers to the routers configuration. Google Primary DNS server: 8.8.8.8. ...
  4. Save the Changes on the router.
  5. Reboot your ibi.
  6. Reboot your computer.
13 Sept 2022

Which IP address is fastest? ›

Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 & 1.0.0.1

Cloudflare built 1.1.1.1 to be the "internet's fastest DNS directory," and will never log your IP address, never sell your data, and never use your data to target ads.

What IP should I use for DNS? ›

Replace those addresses with the IP addresses of the Google DNS servers: For IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4 . For IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and/or 2001:4860:4860::8844 . For IPv6-only: you can use Google Public DNS64 instead of the IPv6 addresses in the previous point.

Which DNS server is best for WIFI? ›

The best free and public DNS servers of 2022 in full:
  1. Cloudflare. Primary, secondary DNS servers: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. ...
  2. Google Public DNS. Primary, secondary DNS servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. ...
  3. Quad9. Primary, secondary DNS servers: 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112. ...
  4. OpenDNS. ...
  5. Comodo Secure DNS.
9 Nov 2022

Should I use Google as my DNS? ›

In general, you can use Google DNS to avoid pressure on your ISP's DNS servers. By using its global data center and cache infrastructure, it can serve a lot of users without having to ask other DNS resolvers for help.

Which DNS is better Google or Cloudflare? ›

Cloudflare speeds up and protects millions of websites, APIs, SaaS services, and other properties connected to the Internet. On the other hand, Google Cloud DNS is detailed as "Reliable, resilient, low-latency DNS serving from Google's worldwide network of Anycast DNS servers".

Can changing DNS cause problems? ›

Not necessarily. Switching to a trusted DNS provider is safe, but be careful with what you choose. DNS services are able to able to block whatever requests they don't like, and even replace with their own data.

Can 1.1.1.1 unblock sites? ›

Unblock blocked sites

All blocked sites are usually done by default DNS providers. By connecting to 1.1. 1.1, you can basically access to all sites without problem.

Which DNS is most secure? ›

The 5 Best DNS Servers for Improved Online Safety
  1. Google Public DNS. IP Addresses: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. ...
  2. OpenDNS. IP Addresses: 208.67.220.220 and 208.67.222.222. ...
  3. DNSWatch. IP Addresses: 84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40. ...
  4. OpenNIC. IP Addresses: 206.125.173.29 and 45.32.230.225. ...
  5. UncensoredDNS.

Is Google DNS faster? ›

Though there's no guarantee Google DNS works faster, the answer is likely yes. One user did a speed test and changed their DNS settings. They found that the Google domain name system server set to 8.8. 8.8—Google's first DNS server—was 10.3% faster than the default server.

What is private DNS on this phone? ›

Android Pie and later supports DNS over TLS to secure your queries through encryption. In Android, this option is called Private DNS. It prevents your queries from being tracked, modified or surveilled by third-parties.

What is Google's IP address to ping? ›

Ping test 2
Google's link-local IP addressYour router's link-local IP addressSubnet size
169.254.0.1169.254.0.2/30

Does 1.1.1.1 Sell your info? ›

1.1.1.1 with WARP prevents anyone from snooping on you by encrypting more of the traffic leaving your device. We believe privacy is a right. We won't sell your data, ever.

Is DNS faster than VPN? ›

DNS is a better option due to its lightweight nature. It does not use encryption so you can enjoy the full speed of your standard internet connection. However, keep in mind that VPNs don't always slow down your connection; Working in a government-restricted environment.

What is the best DNS for no lag? ›

The lower the time, the better – and faster – it is for the user.
  1. Google Public DNS. Google's own DNS product is also free. ...
  2. OpenDNS. Owned by Cisco, OpenDNS has two free options: Family Shield and Home. ...
  3. Quad9. ...
  4. Cloudflare. ...
  5. NextDNS. ...
  6. Comodo Secure DNS. ...
  7. OpenNIC. ...
  8. CleanBrowsing.
7 Jul 2022

Does DNS affect Internet speed? ›

Although DNS is not directly related to your Internet speed, it can influence how fast an individual webpage appears on your computer. Once a connection has been established though, it should not affect download speeds. If you want to amend your router's DNS servers however, this can help improve your overall speed.

How to lower my ping? ›

A reset is a simple and often effective way to lower ping. Try to restart/reset your wi-fi router and reboot your device or computer as well. Resetting your router periodically will also reset your DNS cache and discard data that is unnecessarily taking up space.

Can someone leak your IP? ›

The only direct information someone can get with your IP address is your general geographic location, usually your city or postal code. If they have additional information about you, such as your birthdate or Social Security number, a hacker might be able to steal your identity or impersonate you online.

Can hackers know your IP address? ›

Every website and app you use can see and record your IP for security and legal purposes. This means that cybercriminals can use your IP address and online identity to check if you're a valuable target. Malicious hackers will scan your Wi-Fi to see: What devices are connected to it.

Does VPN hide your IP from police? ›

Police can't track live, encrypted VPN traffic, but if they have a court order, they can go to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and request connection or usage logs. Since your ISP knows you're using a VPN, they can direct the police to them.

Is IPv4 or 6 faster? ›

IPv6 is faster than IPv4 in network devices because it lacks network-address translation (NAT). Using IPv6 is a better choice for people that require high speed for their network processing.

What is the 0.0 0.0 address? ›

A 0.0. 0.0 address indicates the client isn't connected to a TCP/IP network, and a device may give itself a 0.0. 0.0 address when it is offline.

Is 5G IPv4 or IPv6? ›

NO ipv4.

Which DNS is best for Chrome? ›

Selecting Google name servers sets your DNS servers to Google's public DNS servers which are 8.8. 8.8 and 8.8. 4.4. In most cases, these are much faster than your default ISP name servers, so I would recommend you go with this option.

What is 8.8 8.8 and 8.8 4.4 IP address known? ›

Google Public DNS(Opens in a new window) has been available since 2009, with the easy-to-remember IP addresses of 8.8. 8.8 and 8.8. 4.4. Google promises a secure DNS connection, hardened against attacks, as well as speed benefits.

Is 192.168 1.1 a valid IP address? ›

Manufacturers of home routers use private IP addresses, including 192.168.1.1, as the default gateway, allowing users to type http://192.168.1.1 into a web browser to access the router admin panel and change router settings.

What is the fastest DNS server for gaming 2022? ›

Cloudflare is the best overall DNS server for gaming in 2022. This server ensures the user's internet connection is always fast and reliable by protecting against DDoS attacks and malicious hackers.

Which DNS is faster for gaming? ›

Level3 DNS

This DNS server is one of the best DNS servers for gaming because it guarantees no lags, a fast internet connection, and is reliable. After Google and Cloudflare, Level3 is considered the best DNS server for gaming.

What is the number 1 DNS server? ›

Quick Guide: Best Free and Public DNS Servers in 2022
DNS ProviderPrimary AddressSecondary Address
1. Google Public DNS8.8.8.88.8.4.4
2. Cloudflare1.1.1.11.0.0.1
3. OpenDNS208.67.222.222208.67.220.220
4. CyberGhost38.132.106.139194.187.251.67
13 more rows

What DNS has lowest ping? ›

Approach 2: Measure ping to find the DNS servers with the lowest ping
IP address of DNS serverAverage ping (ms)Maximum ping (ms)
64.6.65.612.917.6
1.1.1.114.915.4
1.0.0.115.416.2
64.6.64.617.322.2
18 more rows
10 Nov 2022

Which DNS has best ping? ›

The best uptime for DNS service is Cloudflare; It is reliable and can keep your ping in a stable state, and you will not experience a sudden change of ping.

Is Cloudflare DNS better than Google? ›

Speed and Performance

In terms of speed, Google Public DNS outperforms Cloudflare. This is because of several things, including global coverage, more servers, and a shared cache. Most of the time, DNS lookups create a bottleneck, slowing down your browsing.

What DNS 9999? ›

Quad9 is a global public recursive DNS resolver that aims to protect users from malware and phishing. Quad9 is operated by the Quad9 Foundation, a Swiss public-benefit, not-for-profit foundation with the purpose of improving the privacy and cybersecurity of Internet users, headquartered in Zurich.

Is 1.1.1.1 IPv4 or IPv6? ›

As an example of the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, Cloudflare offers a public DNS resolver that anyone can use by setting their device's DNS to 1.1. 1.1 and 1.0. 0.1. These are the IPv4 addresses.

What is the 8.8 4.4 DNS server? ›

8.8. 4.4 is the secondary DNS server for Google Public DNS. Google Public DNS is a global DNS service that is run by Google for the purpose of making the Internet and the DNS system faster, safer, secure, and more reliable for everyone online.

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