How to set different DNS settings on devices running Windows 11
Do you want to use a custom DNS address on Windows 11? Here are three ways to complete this task.
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When you connect to a network and the internet, the Domain Name System (DNS) address is essential to make accessing different websites and downloading files easier.
Usually, you don’t have to worry about this configuration because it’s already provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The problem is that these services are slow, unreliable, and, more importantly, not private. However, it’s possible to change this configuration to other services that provide more privacy and performance.
Defining DNS
In a nutshell, a Domain Name System is usually a free service that provides the technology that allows you to type the website name in the browser to load the web page. If DNS didn’t exist, it would be nearly impossible to navigate the web as we do today because you would need to use the site’s IP address, which is difficult to remember.
The reason is that computers require numeric addresses (commonly known as IP addresses), such as 104.18.189.55, to communicate with other devices. However, these IPs are not easy for humans to remember, and DNS provides the means to translate friendly website names (for example, Microsoft.com) to the numeric address that computers understand when you type the domain name in the address bar of the browser.
You probably never noticed this translation because the process happens almost in real time. However, depending on the service you use, this could make your internet experience slower and unreliable.
If you prefer a different service or want to switch to a more private and reliable resolver,Windows 11allows you to change the DNS settings in at least three ways using the Settings app, Control Panel, and Command Prompt.
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Although it’s best to configure the DNS settings on the router, sometimes, you may have reasons to change the network configuration on your computer manually. For instance, if you don’t have access to the router, you must configure a server that needs static settings or for many other reasons.
Thisguidewill walk you through the steps to change the DNS settings on Windows 11.
How to change DNS from Settings on Windows 11
To change the DNS settings on Windows 11, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the new settings should apply immediately. However, you may need to restart the computer for new DNS servers to start working.
How to change DNS from Control Panel on Windows 11
To specify different DNS addresses from Control Panel, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the new DNS servers should start working on your computer. Since Microsoft continues to fade away Control Panel slowly, you won’t find the option to enable DNS over HTTPS from this experience.
How to change DNS from Command Prompt on Windows 11
To change the Windows 11 DNS addresses with commands, use these steps:
In the command, change"ADAPTER-NAME"with the name of the network adapter you identified instep 4, and change"X.X.X.X"with the IP address you want to use. To use Cloudflare, Google Public DNS, or Cisco OpenDNS, you can use these settings:
This example sets the primary DNS address to 1.1.1.1:interface ip set dns name=“Ethernet0” source=“static” address=“1.1.1.1”
In the command, change"ADAPTER-NAME"with the name of your network adapter you queried onstep 4, and change"X.X.X.X"with the secondary address. This example sets the secondary DNS address to 1.0.0.1:interface ip add dns name=“Ethernet0” addr=“1.0.0.1” index=2
Once you complete the steps, the computer will start using the new addresses to perform DNS queries.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
