How to Change Android DNS Settings (3 Methods Explained)
Jan. 12, 2021Changing the default DNS server for your internet connection has a lot of benefits, including enhanced safety,better privacy, increased speed and more. You can change the DNS settings for your internet connection on all modern PC and smartphone operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. We’ve already discussed how you canchange DNS settings in Windows 10, so today, we’ll look at how we can change Android DNS settings on your smartphone and tablet.
Change Android DNS Settings on Phones and Tablets
While most people use the default DNS server provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP), there many reasons why changing that is a good idea.Third-party DNS serversare often faster, safer and more private, and some of them are also more configurable. So today, we’ll take a look at how you can change Android DNS settings in a few easy steps. We will also learn about what DNS is and how it may be beneficial to change it on your system.
While most people simply use the default DNS servers provided by their ISP, options from third-parties often bring better results in more ways than one. Using a third-party DNS server can offer you better speeds, depending on how close you are to their servers. Some ISPs also record yourinternet browsing historyand share them with third-parties without your knowledge. Using safe, no-log DNS services will help preserve your online privacy.
Third-party DNS servers can also help youunlock region-blocked contentand bypass censorship, given that much of the censored websites are blocked via DNS. Last, but definitely not the least, some third-party DNS providers, like OpenDNS and Quad9, will also protect you against malicious sites and other forms of cyber threats.OpenDNS also offers parental controland custom filtering options.
How you configure the default DNS server on Android depends on the Android version. It is relatively simpler on devices runningAndroid 9 Pieand newer, but is a little more complicated on Android 8.1 Oreo and older. To check your Android version, go to Settings and search for ‘About’, ‘About Phone’, ‘System’ or something similar (typically either the very first or very last option in the Settings page). Scroll down on the About/System page and you’ll see your Android version listed somewhere in there.
Note:As with all things Android, the exact menu options might differ from one device to another based on Android version and manufacturer.
Android 9 and above only support DNS-over-TLS, so not all third-party DNS servers are compatible with the platform. Before configuring, check if your preferred DNS service provider offers DNS-over-TLS. Also, these settings have no effect when youuse a VPN, which overrides private DNS configurations.
Note:I wanted to configure Google DNS, so I typed indns.google(instead of 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4) as the hostname of the DNS provider. Your entry would depend on your chosen DNS service.
Android Oreo and older versions do not allow you to change DNS servers for cellular networks, which means the following DNS settings only work for Wi-Fi connections. Even then, the changes are network specific and, you’ll need to change the DNS servers every time you connect to a new wireless network. What’s more, you’ll also have to configure all network information manually, so these changes are only recommended for advanced users.
Note:It’s advisable that you only do this for your own Wi-Fi router and not for shared or public routers. Also, mine is configured for Open DNS, but you can choose any third-party DNS provider you prefer.
The aforementioned method of changing DNS on older Android devices can be a little intimidating for many users. What’s even more annoying is that it has to be repeated for each and every new connection individually. However, the unkindest cut is that it still won’t work with cellular connections.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way of doing this. As with almost everything these days,there’s an app for that. In fact, there are multiple apps, and the best part is that they also work with mobile connections. Like on your PC, you’ll only have to configure it once for it work system-wide across every Wi-Fi and cellular connection.
So head over to the Play Store and download a free DNS changer app of your choice. Two of the best options are the open source and ad-free DNSChanger for IPv4/IPv6 (download) and Open DNS Changer (download). I’m using the first one for today’s demo.
DNS Changer for IPv4 & IPv6 works without root for both Wi-Fi and cellular connections. However, to make this possible, all traffic is redirected using a VPN. It’s not the most efficient solution, but the only available option on older Android devices without root. Meanwhile, if you want to use CloudFlare DNS, you might not have to use a third-party app.CloudFlare has its own ‘WARP’ appfor Android, iOS, Windows and macOS.
So there you go. Now you know how to change the DNS setting on Android devices irrespective of the manufacturer or Android version. While you’ll need a little more elbow grease on older devices, it is still well worth it in most cases. So go ahead, configure your Android phone or tablet to use any custom IPv4 or IPv6 DNS server and let us know how that went.
Passionate techie. Professional tech writer. Proud geek.
