How to Change DNS Settings on Any Device: Step-by-Step Guide
DNS is a system that gives names to other computers and devices connected to the internet. If you want to know how to change DNS settings on your device, you’ve come to the right place. DNS also works to identify computers on private networks. While most end users won’t know the more obscure functions that a DNS service performs, they will know that it helps them browse the internet.
DNS is basically a directory that matches names i.e. website domains to their IP addresses. You can use a public DNS service like that provided by Google, or you can let your ISP decide which DNS service to use.
Changing the DNS service that you use can often speed up browsing, which is why users will often configure a custom DNS on their desktops, and even their smartphones.
A fast DNS service can quickly look up a domain name, get its IP address, and fetch the website for you. You can use any DNS service if it is public and you know the server address for it.
Which DNS Server Should You Use?
Before you change your DNS settings, you need to know what to enter. There are several reliable public DNS providers to choose from, each with different strengths. You should always enter both a primary and a secondary DNS server so your connection has a fallback if the first one is unreachable.
Here are the most widely used options:
- Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1) — Known for being one of the fastest public DNS resolvers available. Cloudflare also emphasizes privacy and does not sell your browsing data. A good all-around choice for speed and privacy.
- Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) — Highly reliable and fast, with a long track record of uptime. A solid default choice for most users.
- Quad9 (9.9.9.9 / 149.112.112.112) — Focuses on security. Quad9 automatically blocks known malicious domains, making it a smart pick if you want built-in malware protection without extra software.
- OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220) — Offers both free and paid tiers. The free tier includes phishing protection, and the paid tier adds content filtering, making it popular for families and small businesses.
If you also want IPv6 support, each of these providers publishes IPv6 addresses alongside their IPv4 addresses, and you can enter those in the same DNS settings panels covered below.
How to Change DNS Settings on Windows
DNS settings are configured per network adapter, so the change applies only to the specific connection you modify. This means you can set different DNS servers for your home Wi-Fi and your office Ethernet adapter independently. The steps below work for both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections — simply choose the active adapter you want to modify.
To change DNS settings on Windows, open the Control Panel. On Windows 10, you can access the Control Panel from Windows Search, or you can type Control Panel in the address bar in File Explorer. Go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. Click the active network adapter you want to modify — this may be your Wi-Fi connection or your Ethernet connection.
On the connection Status window, click the Properties button in the Activity section. On the properties window that opens, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
This will open Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) properties window. Here, select the ‘Use the following DNS server address’ option. Enter the DNS server address you want to use, and click OK.
How to Change DNS Settings on macOS
The steps to change DNS settings on macOS depend on which version you are running. If you are on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia, Apple replaced System Preferences with System Settings. If you are on macOS Monterey or earlier, the interface uses System Preferences instead.
macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia: Click the Apple menu and open System Settings. Select Network from the sidebar. Choose your active connection — either Wi-Fi or Ethernet — and click Details. Go to the DNS tab. Click the plus sign to add a DNS server address, enter your preferred server, and click OK to save.
macOS Monterey and earlier: Open System Preferences and go to the Network group of preferences.
Select a network, Ethernet or WiFi, from the left column and click the Advanced button at the bottom right.
On the advanced settings panel, go to the DNS tab. Here, click the plus sign at the bottom of the column on the left. Enter the DNS server address for the DNS service you want to use. Click Ok, apply the change, and the DNS server will be changed.
macOS lets you configure several different DNS services, which means if one goes down, it will automatically use the second, or third one. This is something Windows doesn’t support natively.
How to Change DNS Settings on Your Router
Changing DNS at the router level is the most convenient option if you want every device on your home network — phones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers — to use the same DNS server without configuring each one individually.
The exact interface varies by router brand, but the general process is the same across most models:
- Open a browser and type your router’s admin IP address into the address bar. This is commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, though it may differ. Check the label on the bottom of your router if you are unsure.
- Log in with your router’s admin username and password. If you have never changed these, the defaults are usually printed on the router itself.
- Look for a section labeled Internet, WAN, or DHCP Settings — the exact name depends on your router’s firmware.
- Find the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS fields and enter the addresses for the DNS provider you want to use.
- Save your changes. Some routers will apply the new settings immediately; others may require a reboot. If prompted, restart the router.
One important tradeoff to keep in mind: router-level DNS is convenient for whole-home coverage, but some ISP-supplied routers lock down the DNS fields or silently override custom entries. If you enter a DNS server and it does not appear to take effect, your ISP’s router may be blocking the change. In that case, knowing how to change DNS settings directly on each device — as described in the Windows and macOS sections above — is the more reliable approach. Additionally, changing your DNS settings can help you access blocked pages that may be restricted by your default DNS provider.
Flush DNS Cache and Verify the Change
After updating your DNS settings, your device may still use cached DNS results from the old server for a short time. Flushing the DNS cache forces your device to look up addresses fresh using the new server, and it is a good habit to do this right after making a change.
Windows:
Open Command Prompt as an administrator. Search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator. Then run the following command to clear the cache:
ipconfig /flushdns
To confirm that your new DNS servers are active, run:
ipconfig /all
Look for the adapter you changed and check the DNS Servers line to verify the correct addresses appear. You can also use nslookup to test a domain lookup and confirm which server responds.
macOS:
Open Terminal and run the following command to flush the DNS cache:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
You will be prompted for your administrator password. To verify the change took effect, you can check the DNS tab in your Network settings (under Details or Advanced, depending on your macOS version) to confirm the correct servers are listed.
You can also run the following in Terminal to see the DNS configuration your system is actively using:
scutil --dns
On both platforms, if you are still seeing old results in your browser after flushing the cache, try closing and reopening the browser or disconnecting and reconnecting to your network. Browsers maintain their own short-lived DNS caches that can persist briefly after a system-level flush. Once you have confirmed the correct servers are listed, you have successfully completed how to change DNS settings on your device.
“Change DNS Server – Windows You must be connected to a WiFi network.” This sort of implies you cannot change the DNS for an ethernet connection. I changed mine long ago, it works just fine.