Domain Name System (DNS) is a technology in Windows 11 (or any other computing system) that converts domain names (Twitter.com) into IP addresses (104.244.42.193) that computers can understand.
This setup is typically provided automatically by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to make connecting to your favorite websites and services easier. Many other DNS resolvers on the internet, on the other hand, are faster, more dependable, more private, and more secure. Cloudflare, Google, and Cisco are among them.
If your existing DNS servers are slow and unstable, or if you don’t trust your ISP’s system, you can change the DNS addresses on Windows 11 in at least four ways: Command Prompt, PowerShell, Settings, and Control Panel.
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This article will teach you how to modify the DNS servers on Windows 11.
What is DNS?
The DNS, or Domain Name System, functions as an internet phone book, converting IP addresses to domain names. By default, your home Windows computer connects to the DNS server configured by your internet service provider. But, you are not required to continue using that server.
Some third-party DNS services frequently provide better security and faster performance than your ISP’s DNS service.
Google DNS, Cloudflare, OpenDNS, and Comodo SecureDNS are examples of such services. Here’s how to modify your PC’s DNS settings to use a different provider.
How can I change the DNS settings in Windows 11?
Let’s start by looking at how to change the DNS server settings, and then we’ll look at some of the third-party DNS providers. The procedure for changing the DNS server differs between Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Solution 1: Changing DNS Server in Windows 11 Using the Settings App
The Settings menu is the simplest way to change the DNS server in Windows 11. It allows you to define DNS using IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. This is how you should go about it:
- Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing the “Windows +I” keyboard shortcut in Windows 11. Go to the “Network and Internet” settings menu in the left sidebar, then to “Wi-Fi” in the right pane. Click “Ethernet” if you have a wired Ethernet connection.
- Step 2: Next, scroll down and seek “Hardware properties”. Open it up.
- Step 3: Next, select “Edit” next to “DNS server assignment”. It will be set to “Automatic (DHCP),” which means Windows 11 will use the DNS server that your ISP has specified. This is what needs to be changed.
- Step 4: On the following page, choose “Manual” from the drop-down menu and turn on the “IPv4” toggle.
- Step 5: Next, enter the custom DNS server address you want to use in the “Preferred” and “Alternative” DNS columns. Our linked post will help you identify the finest DNS servers. I almost always use Google’s DNS server, which is as follows:
The Preferred DNS is 8.8.8.8
The Alternative DNS is 8.8.4.4 - Step 6: When finished, click “Save,” and your DNS server in Windows 11 has been successfully adjusted. Go to the following step if you also want to learn how to enable DNS-over-HTTPS on Windows 11, which will encrypt all DNS queries.
- Step 7: Change the encryption type to “Encrypted exclusively (DNS over HTTPS)” in the drop-down option below “Preferred” and “Alternative” DNS encryption.
- Step 8: Finally, click “Save” and you’re done. In addition to a custom DNS server with Windows 11, you have enabled encryption for all DNS requests, making network communication on your PC more secure.
Solution 2: From the Control Panel in Windows 11, change the DNS server
If you’re like me and wish to change the DNS server in Windows 11 through the Control Panel, follow our instructions below.
- Step 1: Press “Windows + R” to launch the Run prompt window. Insert ncpa.cpl in this field.
- Step 2: This will directly open the Network and Internet window in the Control Panel. You can also launch the Control Panel and navigate to “Network and Sharing Center” manually in Windows 11.
- Step 3: While you are here, right-click on your “Wi-Fi” adapter and select “Properties”. If you are utilizing a wired Ethernet connection, right-click on “Ethernet” and select “Properties”.
- Step 4: Scroll down and double-click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”.
- Step 5: Now, this will open a new pop-up window, where you need to select “Use the following DNS server addresses”. This is where we will install our custom DNS server.
- Step 6: Now, in their respective fields, enter the Preferred and Alternate DNS servers. For example, if you use Cloudflare’s DNS servers, which are shown below. You are free to make your selection.
The Preferred DNS is 1.1.1.1
The Alternative DNS is 1.0.0.1 - Step 7: Lastly, click “OK,” and you’re done. On your Windows 11 PC, you have configured a custom DNS server.
Solution 3: Use Command Prompt to Modify DNS Settings (CMD)
You can update the DNS settings using Command Prompt in addition to Windows Settings and Control Panel. You only need a few commands to get started. Here are the steps you must take:
- Step 1: Hit the Windows key and enter “cmd” into the search bar. Click “Run as Administrator” in the right pane now.
- Step 2: In the CMD window, type the following command. Be sure you change preferred with your server’s primary DNS. For example, if you have chosen 1.1.1.1 which is Cloudflare’s preferred DNS server. If you’re using Ethernet, replace Wi-Fi with Ethernet in the command below.
netsh interface ipv4 set DNS servers Wi-Fi Static preferred primary - Step 3: Run the following command to configure an alternate DNS server in Command Prompt. Replace Alternative with the alternative DNS server in this case. Cloudflare’s 1.0.0.1 has been established as the alternate DNS.
netsh interface ipv4 add DNS servers Wi-Fi Alternative index=2 - Step 4: Now you’re finished. When you open the Settings app, you’ll notice that the custom DNS servers have been changed.
- Step 5: To reset the DNS settings to Automatic (DHCP), run the following command in CMD on your
Windows 11 Computer.
netsh interface ip set dns “Local Area Connection” dhcp
Solution 4: Modify DNS Settings in Windows 11 Using PowerShell
- Step 1: Type “PowerShell” into the Windows search box. Click “Run as Administrator” now.
- Step 2: Use the PowerShell command below to record the InterfaceIndex of your Wi-Fi adapter or Ethernet.
Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object InterfaceAlias, InterfaceIndex - Step 3: Execute the following command. Make careful to replace N with the InterfaceIndex value displayed on your PC (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Then, replace the preferred and alternative with your desired DNS servers.
set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex N -ServerAddresses (“preferred”, “alternative”)
Solution 5: With DNS Jumper, you can change the DNS server on Windows 11
If you need a third-party app to update your DNS settings in Windows 11, DNS Jumper is one of the better options. It’s free and provides a big list of DNS servers that you may apply with a single click. The following is how it works:
- Step 1: Click here to download the DNS Jumper ZIP file. Now, on Windows 11, unzip the file and navigate to the DnsJumper folder. Double-click “DnsJumper.exe” in this window.
- Step 2: Choose a DNS server from the drop-down menu and press the “Apply DNS” button. That’s it; you’re done.
- Step 3: Enable the checkbox and input the primary and secondary server addresses in the slots below if you wish to configure a custom DNS server. Then, press the “Apply DNS” button.
DNS service providers from Third Parties
Now that you know how to change your DNS server settings, let’s have a look at some third-party services worth considering.
Public DNS by Google/ Google Public DNS
Google Public DNS is a prominent third-party DNS provider, resolving names and IP addresses faster than many other services. Google’s DNS server is intended to protect you from spoofing attacks that attempt to route you to harmful websites. The company’s DNS service website provides information about its performance and security features, as well as an issue tracker and a user forum. The Google Public DNS addresses are listed below.
IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
Cloudflare DNS Addresses
Cloudflare DNS is another DNS company that strives to be faster than competitors. Cloudflare also promises not to log your IP address, a practice employed by many ISPs to track the websites you visit. The Cloudflare DNS addresses are shown below.
IPv4: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
IPv6: 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001
OpenDNS
OpenDNS, which is owned and maintained by Cisco, provides two free and two premium options to consumers. OpenDNS Home is a free package, whereas OpenDNS Family Shield can filter pornographic content for those of you who have children at home.
OpenDNS VIP, which costs $19.95 per year, can restrict Web browsing by restricting access to particular, white-listed domains. OpenDNS Prosumer, which costs $20 per person for up to five users, is aimed at home offices and small enterprises and includes protection against fraudulent domains.
The OpenDNS addresses are mentioned below.
OpenDNS Home addresses
IPv4: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
IPv6: 2620:119:35::35 and 2620:119:53::53
OpenDNS Family Shield addresses
IPv4: 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123
Comodo SecureDNS
If you’re concerned about your internet security, Comodo SecureDNS from a reputable cybersecurity provider is worth investigating. The company’s DNS solution attempts to safeguard you from phishing and malware attacks. SecureDNS also maintains a live list of harmful websites and alerts you if you try to access one of them. The addresses for Comodo SecureDNS are listed below.
IPv4: 8.26.56.26 and 8.20.247.20
Benefits of Changing DNS Settings in Windows 11
Updating DNS (Domain Name System) settings in Windows 11 can provide several advantages, including:
- Increased internet speed: DNS resolution times might have an impact on internet browsing performance. Updating DNS settings to a quicker and more trustworthy DNS server, such as Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS, can speed up domain name resolution, resulting in faster surfing speeds.
- Improved security: Switching DNS servers to ones that support DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) can assist guard against DNS spoofing and other security risks. This security feature is provided by DNS servers such as Quad9 and Cloudflare DNS.
- Getting access to geo-restricted content: Updating DNS settings to a DNS server in another country can enable users to access geo-restricted content that is only available in that location.
- Filtering content: Switching DNS servers to one that provides content filtering might assist prevent access to hazardous websites or content that is inappropriate for children.
- Customization: By switching DNS settings to a private DNS server, customers can tailor their DNS settings to their specific needs, such as banning adverts or creating local domain names.
Overall, updating DNS settings in Windows 11 can increase internet speed, and security, and provide users with personalization possibilities. It is critical, however, to ensure that DNS updates are handled correctly, as erroneous settings can result in connectivity issues.
Should you modify your IPv6 address?
As the globe has already run out of IPv4 addresses, we’ve been gradually moving to IPv6, which provides a considerably wider range of accessible addresses. Therefore, should you also modify your DNS servers for IPv6? No, not always. The majority of ISPs either do not support
IPv6 or are still testing it.
You can check to see if your internet service provider has adopted version 6. Using your current connection, navigate to the Test-IPv6 web page. The outcomes will indicate whether your ISP supports the latest protocol. If this is the case, most third-party services do supply IPv6 addresses.
Modifying the DNS settings on your router.
Finally, you can easily update the DNS settings for all of your home’s PCs and other devices. Sign in to the firmware of your router to do so. Look for an Internet or network setup setting and the section for DNS addresses.
The default option is most likely set to obtain the addresses from your ISP. Modify it to manually assign the addresses, and then insert the preferred and alternate addresses from your selected service. Modify or apply the updated configurations.
Setting a Custom DNS Server in Windows 11
So those are the five simple ways to set up a custom DNS server in Windows 11. I strongly advise you to change the DNS server from the Windows Settings page. You can enable DNS-over-HTTPS from there, in addition to custom DNS. That’s all we have for now. If you’re having trouble connecting to the internet and your Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting on your Windows 11 PC, follow our linked tutorial for a quick remedy.
Conclusion
Finally, DNS (Domain Name System) is critical to the operation of the internet since it converts domain names into IP addresses. Updating DNS settings in Windows 11 can provide various benefits, including increased internet speed, improved security, and access to geo-restricted material.
Users can use public DNS servers such as Google DNS, Cloudflare DNS, or OpenDNS or set up their own private DNS server by altering the DNS settings in Windows 11. While altering DNS settings can have advantages, it can also cause connectivity troubles if not done correctly.
As a result, users should always ensure that they understand DNS settings before making any changes. Anyone with the necessary skills can improve their internet experience by altering DNS settings on Windows 11.
