How to Check DNS Settings and Change Your Resolver

Checking your DNS settings shows which resolver your device or network uses to look up website addresses. You can switch to another resolver to test connection problems, use a provider you prefer, or apply network filtering; you will need access to your device or router settings and the DNS addresses supplied by the resolver you choose.

What You’ll Need

• A device where you can change network settings, or administrator access to its Wi-Fi router.
• The IPv4 and, if supported, IPv6 DNS server addresses for the resolver you want to use. Get them from the resolver provider’s own documentation and check whether it supports encrypted DNS.
• Your Wi-Fi password if you need to reconnect. On a work or school device, check with the network administrator before changing settings.

Step-by-Step

1. Choose where to make the change. Device-level settings affect that device, often on one network or across its networks, depending on the operating system. Router-level settings can affect most devices using that router. Start with the device if you want to test a change without altering the whole household network.
2. Check your current DNS settings. On Windows, open Settings > Network & internet, select Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then open the connected network’s properties. Look for DNS server assignment. On macOS, open System Settings > Network, select the active connection, choose Details, then DNS. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the information button beside the connected network, and review Configure DNS. On Android, menu names vary; look under Settings > Network & internet for Private DNS or the current Wi-Fi network’s advanced settings.
3. Note whether DNS is automatic or manual. Automatic settings usually come from the router or internet provider through DHCP. A displayed address may be a router address, such as a local network gateway, rather than the resolver’s public address. VPNs, security apps, and managed work settings may also supply DNS, so record what you see before changing anything.
4. Get the resolver’s correct addresses and mode. Use the provider’s official setup information. Check which addresses are for IPv4 and IPv6, and whether the provider offers a hostname for encrypted DNS. Do not put a hostname into a field that only accepts an IP address. If you only configure IPv4, IPv6 traffic might still use a different resolver.
5. Change DNS on Windows. In the active network’s properties, find DNS server assignment and choose Edit. Change the setting from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual, enable IPv4, and enter the preferred and alternate DNS addresses. Enable IPv6 only if you have the provider’s IPv6 addresses. Save the change. The exact labels can differ between Windows versions.
6. Change DNS on macOS. In the active network’s Details > DNS screen, use the add button to enter the resolver’s server addresses. Remove an old address only if you are sure it is no longer needed; otherwise, the system may continue using it. Apply or save the change. To return to automatic DNS, remove manually added entries and restore the original configuration if your macOS version provides that option.
7. Change DNS on iPhone or iPad. In the Wi-Fi network’s Configure DNS setting, select Manual, add the supplied server addresses, and remove old servers only after recording them. Save the setting. This change applies to that Wi-Fi network, not necessarily to cellular data or other Wi-Fi networks.
8. Change DNS on Android. For a provider offering encrypted DNS, open Private DNS, choose the provider-hostname option, and enter its exact hostname. For plain DNS addresses, use the Wi-Fi network’s advanced IP or DNS settings if your device offers them; some versions require a static IP configuration, which also means entering correct network details. Avoid guessing these values. If the menus are unclear, use router-level settings or the provider’s device instructions.
9. Change DNS on a router, if preferred. Open the router’s administration page or app, sign in, and find Internet, WAN, or DHCP DNS settings. Enter the resolver’s addresses, save, and restart the router if requested. Router menus vary. Avoid changing LAN addresses, gateway values, or DHCP ranges when you only intend to change DNS. Devices may need to reconnect or renew their network leases before receiving the new settings.
10. Test and keep a way back. Disconnect and reconnect to the network, then open several familiar sites. Check that apps and services still connect. If something breaks, undo the manual entries and restore automatic DNS or the addresses you recorded. A browser’s secure-DNS setting or a VPN can override or bypass the resolver configured at the operating-system level.

Common Mistakes

• Mixing up DNS and IP settings: DNS fields take resolver addresses, not your device’s IP address, gateway, or subnet mask.
• Entering the wrong address type: Keep IPv4 and IPv6 addresses in their matching fields. A typo or missing address can prevent name lookups.
• Changing only one layer: A router, device, VPN, browser, or security app may each have DNS settings. A lower-level setting does not always override another component.
• Assuming all devices are covered: A change made to one phone or computer does not automatically update other devices. A router setting usually affects connected devices, but manually configured devices can ignore it.
• Forgetting to save or reconnect: Some settings take effect only after applying the change, reconnecting, or renewing the network connection.

Tips

• Record the original settings and change one thing at a time. That makes it easier to identify the cause and restore service.
• Use a preferred and alternate resolver address from the same provider when its instructions recommend that setup.
• Compare performance from the network you actually use. A resolver that responds quickly from one location may not be fastest everywhere.
• Review the provider’s privacy and filtering policies. DNS choices can affect which domain lookups are handled and whether unwanted or unsafe domains are filtered.
• For encrypted DNS, follow the operating system’s supported method and use the precise provider hostname. Plain DNS and encrypted DNS are configured differently.

Troubleshooting

• Websites stop loading: Recheck every address for typing errors, then switch back to automatic DNS. If internet access returns, the manual resolver address or configuration was likely the issue.
• Some sites work but others do not: Reconnect to the network and clear the device’s DNS cache by restarting it. Check IPv6 settings as well as IPv4, and temporarily disable a browser-specific secure-DNS setting to see whether it is using a different resolver.
• The setting is missing or locked: Your device may be managed, your Android version may offer different controls, or a VPN or security app may control DNS. Ask the administrator or consult the device maker’s current instructions; do not bypass management restrictions.
• The new resolver does not appear to be used: Restart the browser or device, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and check for VPN, proxy, browser, or router settings that may take precedence. DNS tests can also be affected by cached results.
• You cannot reach the router settings: Confirm that you are connected to the correct network and use the router’s documented administration address or app. If the router is supplied or managed by an organization, contact its administrator rather than changing unrelated settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a DNS resolver do?
A resolver looks up the network address associated with a domain name, helping your device connect when you enter a site’s name.

Does changing DNS make my internet faster?
It can sometimes make domain lookups feel quicker, but it does not increase your internet connection’s underlying speed. Results depend on your location, network, and resolver.

Is it better to change DNS on my device or router?
Change it on a device to test or affect just that device. Change it on the router to apply it to most devices on the network, unless they have their own DNS settings.

Will a DNS change work on mobile data?
A Wi-Fi DNS change generally applies only to that Wi-Fi network. Mobile data may use carrier DNS unless your device or an app provides a separate DNS setting.

Should I use IPv4, IPv6, or both?
Use the address types supplied by your chosen resolver. If your network supports IPv6 and you leave its DNS unchanged, some lookups may still go through the existing IPv6 resolver.

How do I restore my old DNS settings?
Return the relevant setting to automatic or DHCP, or re-enter the addresses you recorded. Reconnect to the network and check that websites load normally.

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