How Do You Change Your Dns Server

When you sign up for an internet service provider (ISP), they assign you to a DNS server of their creation. This function makes it possible for you to admission all your favorite sites and services without manually typing their IP address. Unfortunately, however, non all DNS servers are created equal. At that place are several reasons you may want to modify DNS in Windows 10, but it's necessary to acquire what they are and how they work then yous tin can make an informed decision.

What is a DNS server?

And then, what exactly does DNS server mean, and why exercise you need i? DNS stands for Domain Name Organisation, with the "Domain" referring to the URLs you blazon in your browser. Most of u.s. take these for granted – we type in the website'due south name and it automatically takes us to where we expect.

Backside the scenes, notwithstanding, there is a Domain Name Organization server that turns the URL you type into a format that your computer tin can sympathise – an IP address. Theoretically, the faster this process is performed the lower your latency will exist and the faster your browser will be able to fetch pages for you lot.

Why change DNS in Windows 10?

As mentioned earlier, not all DNS servers are created equal. A DNS server is a server like whatever other, meaning it tin get downward or feel mediocre performance. It volition also be faster the closer it is to your location. If your ISP has not properly invested in its infrastructure, its DNS service could cause problems with latency or an inability to load websites.

There's also the issue of privacy and censorship. Depending on your location, your ISP may retain logs of your DNS queries, which acts as a list of every website y'all've ever visited. In some countries, they then share this data with government agencies every bit a form of mass surveillance. Some ISPs even evangelize advertisements when you lot enter a URL that doesn't exist.

So, should you lot change your DNS server? Probably not. As Lifehacker explains, in well-nigh cases your Internet access provider's DNS server will result in a faster experience. This is because near major websites these days use something called a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to serve content to you. CDNs fetch data from their closest bachelor server to your location. Alternate, public DNS servers may not exist every bit close every bit your ISP'due south. They could, for instance, merely be in the nearest major metropolis. Every bit a result, the website may evangelize its data to y'all from that urban center. The consequence? Potentially, slower download speeds.

And so, so, it comes downward to this – you should probably merely change your DNS server if y'all're concerned about your privacy or y'all're experiencing bug with your ISP's. Usually, we're talking about a few milliseconds difference in latency. That said, it doesn't hurt to experiment. Y'all can always change it back later.

What are the best DNS servers

The best DNS server typically depends on where you are. Yandex DNS, for case, is Russia-based and therefore has poor performance in the The states. That said, there are some DNS providers who take excellent coverage across the earth. According to site DNSPerf, these are the fastest free public DNS' worldwide (from fastest to slowest).

Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.ane, 1.0.0.1)
NextDNS (45.90.28.42, 45.90.xxx.42)
Neustar DNS (64.half dozen.64.6, 64.6.65.vi)
Google DNS (viii.8.8.eight, viii.8.4.iv)

This, of course, could change depending on the function of the world you live in, and so information technology'due south worth checking for yourself. Cloudflare, however, is well-known, has first-class infrastructure across the earth, and is private. As a result, below we're going to focus on how to change your DNS to Cloudflare in Windows 10. Google DNS servers are another good selection if yous're in u.s..

How to change DNS settings in Windows x via the Command Panel

Irresolute your DNS servers through the Command Panel can be faster and less confusing than Microsoft's congenital-in settings app. Here's how you can exercise it:

Open Control Panel

Press "Get-go" and so blazon "Control Panel". Click the top result.
Click 'Network and Internet'
Press 'Network and Sharing Center'
Click 'Alter adapter settings' in the sidebar
Open your network properties

Correct-click on the network y'all're using, which volition be nether your Wi-Fi or ethernet adapter. At the lesser of the context menu, click "Backdrop".
Open IPv4 properties

In the networking tab, look for "Internet Protocol Version four (TCP/IPv4)". Click information technology, and so printing "Properties" underneath the selection window.
Configure your DNS settings

In the "Full general" tab, tick "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the addresses yous chose above. In our example, nosotros're using Cloudflare, and then the numbers should be one.1.1.1 for the preferred DNS server and one.0.0.1 for the alternating DNS server.

Once you lot're done press "OK". The changes will utilise immediately. You tin verify that by visiting this page and clicking "What'southward My DNS Server?".

How to Change DNS on Windows 10 via Settings

In afterwards Windows x versions, yous can also modify DNS settings via the Settings app.

Open Settings

Press the "Start" button, and then click the settings cog, higher up the ability push button. Alternatively, press Windows + I.
Click 'Network & Internet'
Open up your Wi-Fi/Ethernet settings

If y'all're on Wi-Fi, click the "Wi-Fi" heading in the sidebar, and then click your network in the principal pane.

If you're using a wired, ethernet connexion, instead click "Ethernet" and the "Properties".
Edit your Network IP settings

Under the "Network IP settings" header, click "Edit".
Select 'Manual' from the dropdown
Perform your DNS configuration

Tick toggle "IPv4" to "On"and enter your chosen DNS servers in the "Preferred DNS" and "Alternate DNS" boxes. If you lot chose Cloudflare, this will exist "1.1.ane.one" and "ane.0.0.i". There's no demand to fill up in any of the other information, and so y'all can simply printing "Relieve" once you're done.

The changes will apply immediately. You tin verify that by visiting this page and clicking "What's My DNS Server?".

How to change DNS in Windows 10 with DNS CMD Commands

If you don't have admission to the GUI or just adopt to fix your DNS via control-line, you tin do and so via Command Prompt:

Open up Command Prompt every bit an administrator

Press "First" and and then type "Command Prompt". Click "Run as administrator" on the correct-hand side.
Enter the DNS CMD commands

First, we need to discover the name our network adapter. You can do then by entering:
```
netsh interface show interface
```
Discover your network in the list. Now, to change your primaryy DNS in Windows x, enter the following, substituting "Wi-Fi" to the proper name of your network adapter and "ane.i.1.ane" for the main DNS server you chose earlier.
```
interface IP gear up dns name="Wi-Fi" source ="static" address="1.1.ane.ane"
```
Do the same for your secondary DNS server and its address by calculation index=2 to the end of your control:
```
interface IP set dns proper noun="Wi-Fi" source ="static" accost="one.0.0.1" index=2
```
That's it. The changes will apply immediately. You can verify that by visiting this page and clicking "What'due south My DNS Server?".

Thanks for following this Windows 10 DNS tutorial. If you're interested cheque out our guide to enabling or disabling network adapters, or follow our network reset tutorial if your DNS change didn't go well.