How to Change DNS Settings in Windows 10

Jan. 6, 2021

You can change the DNS server for your internet connection on all modern PC and smartphone operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Today, we will learn how you can change DNS settings inWindows 10in a few simple steps. Alongside that, we will also talk about what DNS is, how it powers your internet connection and why it is advisable to switch DNS from the default provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to something like Open DNS or Google DNS that are faster, more efficient and more private.

Change DNS in Windows 10 Computers

Changing the DNS server for your internet connection has a lot of benefits, includingenhanced privacy, increased speed, lower latency and more. In this article, we will discuss how we can change DNS settings easily in Windows 10, but before that, we’ll learn more about DNS as a technology and how it is a critical step in connecting us to our favorite websites and services across the world wide web.

If you don’t want to read the extra stuff, you can use the table of content below to directly jump to the tutorial.

If you’re asking this question, it probably means that your computer or smartphone is using the default DNS resolver of your internet service provider. Your computer could be using several different DNS servers, based on the active connections and your settings. Typically, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) will be enabled by default on your PC, automatically configuring the system to use the IP addresses of your ISP’s domain name servers. However, you can change the DNS settings in your operating system or device to use the DNS IP addresses of your choice.

On all modern Windows versions, including Windows 10, you can check the DNS server for your connection from the Command Prompt.

Using a third-party DNS server can offer you better speeds and lower latency. It will also ensure that your ISP won’t be able to log yourinternet browsing history. Using third-party DNS servers can also help you unlock region-blocked content and bypass censorship, given that much of the censored websites are blocked via DNS. Last, but definitely not the least, some third-party DNS servers will also protect you against malicious sites and other forms of cyber threats.OpenDNS also offers parental controland custom filtering options.

You can manually configure DNS settings in Windows 10 in a few simple steps. I’ll show you how you can configure your PC to use Open DNS, but you can choose the DNS resolver of your choice by going through our list of thebest third-party DNS servers.

If you’re facing connection issues after changing the DNS resolver for your network, restart your network adapter by clicking on the ‘Disable’ option in step 3 above. Re-enable it only after a minute or two.

If that doesn’t solve it, open Command Prompt in Admin mode and execute the following commands in sequence:

Now restart the computer.

Note:Learn how toflush DNS on Linuxcomputers by clicking on the link.

Alongside the aforementioned ones, there are dozens of other third-party DNS services for consumers, and you can take your pick by through our detailed guide (linked above) on this subject. Personally, I’ve been using the free Open DNS for over a decade on all my devices, and I highly recommend it for reasons of privacy, speed, and efficiency.

So now that you know how to change the default DNS service to something that’s fast, safe and efficient, go ahead, give it a go. Once you do, let us know which DNS service you chose on your computer and why. Also, now that your internet is fast, check outWindows tips and tricksthat willspeed up your windows devices.

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