How to Change Your DNS Settings
How to Change Your DNS Settings
DNS — the Domain Name System — translates website names (like a site's address) into the numerical addresses computers use to connect. By default, you use your internet provider's DNS, but you can change it to alternatives that may offer better privacy, security, or speed. Changing your DNS is a simple tweak with real benefits. This guide explains what DNS is, why you might change it, and how to do so, in plain terms.
What DNS Is
DNS is a fundamental part of how the internet works:
The internet's address book: DNS translates human-readable website names into the numerical IP addresses computers use to connect. When you visit a site, your device queries a DNS server to find its address.
Your default DNS: By default, you typically use your internet provider's DNS servers, which your provider can see and log (revealing the sites you visit at the DNS level).
You can change it: You can change which DNS servers your device or router uses, switching to alternative providers that may offer benefits.
Why Change Your DNS
Changing your DNS can offer several benefits:
Privacy: Some alternative DNS providers offer better privacy than your ISP, with policies not to log or sell your DNS queries (which reveal the sites you visit). Some support encrypted DNS, hiding your queries from interception.
Security: Some DNS providers offer security features, like blocking known malicious and phishing domains at the DNS level, adding a layer of protection.
Content filtering options: Some DNS services offer filtering (e.g., blocking malware, or family-friendly filtering), useful for protecting your network.
Speed and reliability: Alternative DNS providers can sometimes be faster or more reliable than your ISP's, potentially improving browsing responsiveness.
Avoiding ISP DNS issues: Changing DNS can bypass certain ISP DNS limitations or issues.
Choosing a DNS Provider
When selecting an alternative DNS:
Reputable providers: Choose a reputable DNS provider with a clear privacy policy. Several well-known public DNS services exist, including privacy-focused and security-focused options.
Check the privacy policy: Since DNS queries reveal the sites you visit, choose a provider with a strong privacy policy (e.g., not logging or selling queries) if privacy is your goal.
Security features: If you want security, choose a provider that blocks malicious domains.
Encrypted DNS: For better privacy, prefer providers and setups supporting encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS), which encrypts your DNS queries.
How to Change Your DNS
You can change DNS on individual devices or your router:
On your router (network-wide): Changing DNS on your router applies it to all devices on your network. In your router's settings, find the DNS configuration and enter your chosen DNS server addresses. This is efficient for covering all devices.
On individual devices: You can change DNS on individual computers and phones in their network settings, entering your chosen DNS server addresses. This applies to that device.
Use encrypted DNS settings: Modern devices and browsers often have settings for encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS). Enable these and select a provider for added privacy.
Enter the DNS addresses: Your chosen provider gives you DNS server addresses to enter in the settings.
Test it: After changing, verify your internet works and that the new DNS is in use.
A Note on What DNS Does and Doesn't Do
Set expectations appropriately:
DNS privacy is partial: Changing to a private DNS provider improves privacy at the DNS level (and encrypted DNS hides queries from interception), but it does not make you anonymous or replace a VPN. Your traffic and IP are still visible to sites and, depending on setup, your ISP.
Combine with other measures: DNS is one layer. For broader privacy, combine it with a VPN, privacy-focused browsing, and good security practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does changing my DNS do?
DNS translates website names into the numerical addresses computers use to connect, and by default you use your internet provider's DNS. Changing to an alternative DNS provider can offer better privacy (some providers do not log or sell your DNS queries, which reveal the sites you visit, and some support encrypted DNS), better security (some block known malicious and phishing domains at the DNS level), content filtering options, and sometimes better speed or reliability. It is a simple tweak that can improve your privacy, security, and browsing experience, though it does not make you anonymous.
How do I change my DNS settings?
You can change DNS on your router (applying it network-wide to all devices) by finding the DNS configuration in your router's settings and entering your chosen DNS server addresses — efficient for covering all devices. Or you can change it on individual computers and phones in their network settings. Modern devices and browsers also have settings for encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS), which you can enable and point to a provider for added privacy. Your chosen DNS provider gives you the server addresses to enter, and you should test that your internet works afterward.
Does changing DNS make me anonymous?
No. Changing to a private DNS provider improves privacy at the DNS level — a good provider does not log or sell your DNS queries, and encrypted DNS hides those queries from interception — but it does not make you anonymous or replace a VPN. Your internet traffic and IP address are still visible to the sites you visit and, depending on your setup, to your ISP. DNS is one privacy layer; for broader privacy, combine private/encrypted DNS with a VPN, privacy-focused browsing, and good security practices. Set expectations accordingly: DNS privacy is helpful but partial.
Conclusion
DNS translates website names into the numerical addresses computers use to connect, and by default you use your internet provider's DNS — but changing to an alternative can offer real benefits. Changing your DNS can improve privacy (with providers that do not log or sell your queries, and encrypted DNS that hides them from interception), security (with providers that block malicious and phishing domains), content filtering options, and sometimes speed and reliability. Choose a reputable provider with a clear privacy policy, prefer one supporting encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or TLS) for better privacy, and select security features if desired. You can change DNS on your router (applying it network-wide) or on individual devices, entering your chosen provider's server addresses, and enable encrypted DNS settings on modern devices and browsers. Set expectations appropriately: changing DNS improves privacy at the DNS level but does not make you anonymous or replace a VPN, so combine it with other measures for broader privacy. By changing your DNS to a reputable, privacy- and security-focused provider, you can gain a simple but meaningful improvement to your privacy, security, and browsing experience.