To change your DNS server, open your network adapter settings (or your router admin page), replace the automatic DNS addresses with a public resolver, and save. The most used public resolvers are Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8, and Quad9 9.9.9.9. Set it on one device to change only that machine, or set it once on the router to change every device on the network. People switch for faster lookups, more privacy, or built-in filtering of malicious sites, and you can turn on encrypted DNS over HTTPS so no one on the network can read your lookups.
What Does Changing Your DNS Server Do?
Your DNS server is the service that translates a domain name such as thecoreitech.com into the numeric IP address your device connects to. By default your device uses the DNS server handed out by your internet provider. Changing it points that lookup at a different resolver instead, while everything else about your connection stays the same.
Nothing else moves. Your IP address, your provider, and your download speed do not change; only the step that turns a name into a number does. If you want a refresher on the address that lookup returns, see how to find your IP address, and for how the wider network fits together, see what a computer network is.
Why Do People Change Their DNS Server?
People switch DNS server for one of three reasons: speed, privacy, or filtering.
- Speed: a public resolver with servers near you can answer lookups faster than a slow or distant provider DNS, so pages start loading sooner. It does not raise your bandwidth, only shortens the lookup before a page loads.
- Privacy: resolvers such as Cloudflare and Quad9 commit not to sell your browsing data, and encrypted DNS hides your lookups from anyone on the network in between.
- Filtering: some resolvers block known malware, phishing, or adult-content domains at the DNS level, which protects every device that uses them without extra software.
Which Public DNS Server Should You Use?
The three most used public resolvers are Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9, and each leans toward a different goal. All three are free, support encrypted DNS, and can be switched back at any time.
Pick the one that matches your goal; you can test a resolver for a day and keep whichever feels fastest. The addresses above are the IPv4 ones most people need, and each provider also publishes IPv6 addresses if your network uses them.
How to Change the DNS Server on Windows
On Windows you change DNS in the properties of your active network adapter, and the change applies to that one PC.
- Open Network Connections. Press Windows + R, type
ncpa.cpl, and press Enter to see your adapters. - Open the active adapter. Right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and choose Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4. Click
Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then Properties. - Enter the DNS addresses. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses, then type a primary and secondary address, for example 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.
- Save and close. Click OK on each window. The change takes effect right away; no restart is needed.
The steps on macOS, Android, and iOS follow the same idea: find the network settings, switch DNS from automatic to manual, and enter the addresses. For more walkthroughs like this one, see our PC tutorials.
How to Change the DNS Server on Your Router
Changing DNS once on the router applies it to every device on the network, so you do not have to set each one.
- Open the router admin page. Type its address into a browser, usually
192.168.0.1or192.168.1.1, and sign in. - Find the DNS setting. Look under Internet, WAN, or DHCP settings for the DNS server fields.
- Enter the new addresses. Replace the automatic or ISP values with your chosen resolver, for example 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112.
- Save and reboot. Apply the change and restart the router if it asks. Devices pick up the new DNS as they renew their connection.
If you are setting up a network from scratch, choosing the resolver at the router is the cleanest place to do it. Our guide on how to set up a home network covers where this step fits in.
How Do You Turn On Encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS)?
Encrypted DNS is a separate switch from the resolver address, and turning it on stops anyone on the network from reading your lookups.
- In your browser: Chrome, Edge, and Firefox have a Secure DNS or DNS over HTTPS option in privacy settings where you pick a provider such as Cloudflare or Google.
- On Windows 11: open the adapter’s DNS settings, set the servers manually, and choose Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS) for each address.
- On macOS, iOS, and Android: install the provider’s configuration profile or use the Private DNS field to enter the resolver’s hostname, which enables encryption.
Encryption protects the privacy of your lookups, but it does not change which resolver answers them. You still pick Cloudflare, Google, or Quad9; DoH just hides the request along the way.
How Do You Confirm the Change Worked?
After saving, a quick check confirms your device is using the new resolver.
- Provider test page: visit the resolver’s own check page, such as Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 help page, which reports whether you are connected and whether DoH is active.
- Command line: on Windows run
nslookup thecoreitech.comand read the Server line, which shows the DNS address answering your query. - Browse normally: if sites load as expected, the change is working. If a site fails, clear your DNS cache or switch the secondary address back to automatic.
Last Thoughts on Changing Your DNS
Changing your DNS server is a small, reversible change that points your name lookups at a faster or safer resolver without touching the rest of your connection. The three you will see most are Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 for speed and privacy, Google 8.8.8.8 for a reliable default, and Quad9 9.9.9.9 for built-in malware blocking. Set it on one device to change only that machine, or set it once on the router to cover everything on the network, and turn on DNS over HTTPS if you want your lookups encrypted along the way.
If a resolver ever feels slow or a site will not load, switching back is as simple as returning the setting to automatic. For more step-by-step guides on getting the most from your machine and network, browse our PC tutorials hub.
Key Takeaways:
- Your DNS server translates domain names into IP addresses; changing it only swaps that resolver, not your connection.
- The most used public resolvers are Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8, and Quad9 9.9.9.9.
- People switch for faster lookups, more privacy, or built-in filtering of malicious sites.
- On Windows, change DNS in the active network adapter’s IPv4 properties to affect that one PC.
- Setting DNS once on the router covers every device on the network at the same time.
- DNS over HTTPS encrypts your lookups so no one on the network in between can read them, and you can switch back to automatic at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it safe to change your DNS server?
Yes. Changing your DNS server only changes which service translates domain names into IP addresses; it does not touch your files or your connection. Reputable public resolvers such as Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8, and Quad9 9.9.9.9 are run by major providers, and you can switch back to automatic settings at any time.
Which is the best DNS server to use?
There is no single best, only the one that fits your goal. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 focuses on speed and privacy, Google 8.8.8.8 is reliable and widely used, and Quad9 9.9.9.9 blocks known malware and phishing domains by default. Test one for a day and keep the one that feels fastest and meets your needs.
Does changing your DNS make the internet faster?
It can, but it does not change your connection speed. A faster resolver shortens the lookup that happens before a page starts loading, which can make sites feel snappier, especially if your provider’s DNS is slow or far away. It does not raise your download or upload bandwidth.
Should I change DNS on the router or on each device?
Set it on the router when you want every device on the network to use the new resolver at once, including phones, consoles, and smart TVs. Set it on a single device when you want only that one machine to change, or when you cannot reach the router settings.
What is DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?
DNS over HTTPS encrypts your DNS lookups inside normal HTTPS traffic, so no one on the network between you and the resolver can read or tamper with which sites you look up. Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 all support it, and Windows, macOS, and the major browsers can turn it on in their network or privacy settings.
Can I switch back to my old DNS server?
Yes. Return to the same network adapter or router setting and choose Obtain DNS server address automatically, or clear the addresses you entered. The device then goes back to the DNS server handed out by your internet provider, with no lasting change.
