How to Change DNS in Windows 11

The Domain Name System (DNS) is responsible for translating human-readable domain names (like www.google.com) into IP addresses that computers use to communicate over the internet. By default, Windows 11 uses DNS servers provided by your internet service provider (ISP). However, you may want to change your DNS settings to improve your internet speed, privacy, or security by using a third-party DNS provider like Google DNS, Cloudflare, or OpenDNS.

Changing the DNS in Windows 11 is a simple process that can be done through the Network & Internet settings. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to change the DNS settings on your Windows 11 device.

How to Change DNS in Windows 11

Follow the steps below to change the DNS settings on your Windows 11 computer.

1. Open Network Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Click Network & Internet in the left sidebar.
3. Choose either Wi-Fi (for wireless connection) or Ethernet (for wired connection) depending on how you are connected to the internet.
4. Click the network you are connected to.

2. Change DNS Settings

1. In the network properties window, scroll down to the IP settings section.
2. Click the Edit button under IP settings.
3. A pop-up window will appear asking you to choose between Automatic (DHCP) and Manual IP settings.
4. Select Manual.
5. Toggle the IPv4 or IPv6 switch to On (based on which version you want to change).

3. Enter the DNS Server Addresses

Now, enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses.

For Google DNS:

• Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
• Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4

For Cloudflare DNS:

• Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1
• Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1

For OpenDNS:

• Preferred DNS: 208.67.222.222
• Alternate DNS: 208.67.220.220

1. Under Preferred DNS, enter your chosen primary DNS address (e.g., 8.8.8.8 for Google DNS).
2. Under Alternate DNS, enter your secondary DNS address (e.g., 8.8.4.4 for Google DNS).
3. After entering the addresses, click Save.

4. Verify the DNS Changes

After changing the DNS settings, it’s a good idea to test whether the new DNS servers are working.

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
3. In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter: nslookup www.google.com
4. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the IP address for www.google.com and the DNS servers you specified.

5. Restart the Network Connection (Optional)

In some cases, you may need to restart your network connection for the changes to take effect.

1. Turn off your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
2. Wait a few seconds.
3. Reconnect to the network.

You should now be using the new DNS servers.

Conclusion

Changing the DNS on Windows 11 is a simple way to improve browsing speeds, enhance privacy, and gain better security features by using third-party DNS providers. By following the steps outlined above, you can configure your Windows 11 device to use DNS servers such as Google DNS, Cloudflare, or OpenDNS.

If you encounter any issues, such as slow internet speeds or connectivity problems, you can always revert back to the default DNS settings by following the same steps and choosing Automatic (DHCP).