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Change DNS Settings Easily in Windows 11/10

Geeksdigit Team

August 3, 2026

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The Domain Name System (DNS) is often referred to as the internet’s phonebook. Every time you visit a website, your computer uses a DNS server to translate a domain name such as example.com into an IP address that computers can understand. By default, Windows uses the DNS servers provided by your internet service provider (ISP), but you can manually switch to a different DNS provider for potentially faster browsing, improved privacy, better security, or access to advanced features like malware and phishing protection.

Windows 11 and Windows 10 make it easy to change DNS settings using the Settings app, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. Whether you’re troubleshooting internet problems or simply want to use a public DNS service like Google Public DNS or Cloudflare DNS, changing your DNS server only takes a few minutes.

This guide explains the best methods to change DNS settings in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Why Change DNS Settings?

Using a different DNS server can offer several benefits.

Common reasons include:

• Improve website loading speeds.
• Increase DNS reliability.
• Enhance online privacy.
• Add protection against phishing and malware.
• Fix DNS-related internet issues.
• Bypass faulty ISP DNS servers.
• Improve browsing stability.
• Test network connectivity problems.

Method 1: Change DNS Settings Using Windows Settings

The Settings app provides the easiest way to change DNS servers.

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet.
3. Choose your active connection:
   • Wi-Fi
   • Ethernet
4. Click Hardware properties.
5. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit.
6. Change the setting from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
7. Enable IPv4 or IPv6, depending on your network.
8. Enter your preferred DNS addresses.
9. Click Save.

Reconnect to the network if necessary.

Method 2: Change DNS Using Control Panel

The classic Control Panel method works in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

1. Press Win + R.
2. Type:

ncpa.cpl

3. Press Enter.
4. Right-click your network adapter.
5. Select Properties.
6. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
7. Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
8. Enter your preferred DNS servers.
9. Click OK.
10. Close all windows.

Windows will immediately begin using the new DNS server.

Method 3: Change DNS Using Command Prompt

You can also configure DNS servers using Command Prompt.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Display your network adapters:

netsh interface show interface

Then set the preferred DNS server:

netsh interface ip set dns name="Wi-Fi" static 8.8.8.8

Replace Wi-Fi with your adapter name if necessary.

You can also add an alternate DNS server:

netsh interface ip add dns name="Wi-Fi" 8.8.4.4 index=2

Method 4: Change DNS Using Windows PowerShell

PowerShell provides another built-in method.

Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.

View available network adapters:

Get-NetAdapter

Set DNS servers:

Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias "Wi-Fi" -ServerAddresses ("8.8.8.8","8.8.4.4")

Replace Wi-Fi with your network adapter name if needed.

Method 5: Flush the DNS Cache

After changing DNS servers, clearing the DNS cache ensures Windows uses fresh DNS records.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Run:

ipconfig /flushdns

You should see a message confirming that the DNS Resolver Cache has been successfully flushed.

Method 6: Verify the New DNS Server

You can confirm that Windows is using the correct DNS settings.

Open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig /all

Locate your active network adapter and verify that the listed DNS servers match the addresses you configured.

Method 7: Reset DNS Settings to Automatic

If the new DNS server causes problems, you can restore the default settings.

Using the Settings app:

1. Open Network & internet.
2. Select your active connection.
3. Click Edit beside DNS server assignment.
4. Choose Automatic (DHCP).
5. Save the changes.

Windows will resume using the DNS server provided by your router or ISP.

Method 8: Restart the Network Adapter

Sometimes Windows continues using old network information until the adapter is refreshed.

1. Open Network Connections.
2. Right-click your network adapter.
3. Select Disable.
4. Wait a few seconds.
5. Right-click it again.
6. Select Enable.

Reconnect to the internet and test your browsing.

Method 9: Restart Your Router

If multiple devices experience DNS problems, restarting the router can refresh its network configuration.

1. Turn off the router.
2. Wait about 30 seconds.
3. Turn it back on.
4. Wait until the internet connection is restored.

Reconnect your computer and verify internet access.

Method 10: Repair Windows Network Components

If DNS problems persist even after changing servers, repairing Windows network components may help.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Run the following commands one at a time:

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset

Restart your computer after executing all commands.

These commands rebuild important networking components and often resolve persistent DNS-related issues.

Popular Public DNS Servers

Some commonly used public DNS providers include:

Choose the provider that best matches your needs for speed, privacy, or security.

Conclusion

Changing DNS settings in Windows 11 or Windows 10 is a simple way to improve browsing reliability, troubleshoot internet connectivity issues, and use faster or more secure DNS services. Whether you configure DNS through the Settings app, Control Panel, Command Prompt, or PowerShell, the process takes only a few minutes. If problems occur after changing DNS servers, flushing the DNS cache, restarting your network adapter, or restoring automatic DNS settings usually resolves them. Keeping Windows updated and using a trusted public DNS provider can also improve your overall internet experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DNS?

DNS, or Domain Name System, translates website names such as example.com into IP addresses that computers use to communicate over the internet.

Is changing DNS safe?

Yes. Using reputable public DNS providers such as Google Public DNS, Cloudflare DNS, Quad9, or OpenDNS is generally safe and can improve reliability, privacy, or security.

Will changing DNS increase internet speed?

Changing DNS won’t increase your internet connection speed, but it may reduce the time required to resolve domain names, making websites appear to load faster.

How do I restore the default DNS settings?

Open your network adapter settings and change the DNS configuration back to Automatic (DHCP). Windows will then use the DNS server provided by your router or internet service provider.