Why Change Your DNS Servers?

DNS (Domain Name System) servers translate website addresses (like gig.uk.net) into IP addresses that your computer can understand. By default, your computer uses DNS servers provided by your internet service provider. However, you may want to change to a faster or more reliable DNS service like:

  • Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
  • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
  • OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
  • Quad9: 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112

How to Change DNS Servers on Windows 10/11

Method 1: Using Network Settings (Recommended)

  1. Right-click on the network icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner) and select Open Network & Internet settings.
  2. Click on Change adapter options (or Advanced network settings > More network adapter options in Windows 11).
  3. Right-click on your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
  4. In the Properties window, scroll down and double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
  5. Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
  6. Enter your preferred DNS servers:
    • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare)
    • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4 (Google) or 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare)
  7. Click OK to save the changes.
  8. Click OK again to close the Properties window.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Advanced)

For users comfortable with command line:

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type the following command to see your network adapter names: 
    netsh interface show interface
  3. To set DNS servers, use: 
    netsh interface ip set dns "Ethernet" static 8.8.8.8
netsh interface ip add dns "Ethernet" 8.8.4.4 index=2
    Replace "Ethernet" with your adapter name (e.g., "Wi-Fi", "Local Area Connection").
  4. To revert to automatic DNS, use: 
    netsh interface ip set dns "Ethernet" dhcp

Popular Free DNS Services

Service Primary DNS Secondary DNS Features
Google DNS 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 Fast, reliable, widely used
Cloudflare DNS 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1 Very fast, privacy-focused
OpenDNS 208.67.222.222 208.67.220.220 Content filtering options
Quad9 9.9.9.9 149.112.112.112 Security-focused, blocks malicious sites

Verifying Your DNS Settings

To verify that your DNS changes are working:

  1. Open Command Prompt (Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, press Enter).
  2. Type: ipconfig /all and press Enter.
  3. Look for your network adapter and check the DNS Servers line to confirm your new DNS addresses.

Flushing DNS Cache

After changing DNS servers, you may want to flush your DNS cache to ensure the new settings take effect immediately:

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. Type: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  3. You should see: Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.

Troubleshooting

Can't Connect to Internet After Changing DNS

  • Double-check that you entered the DNS addresses correctly.
  • Try using Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) as it's the most reliable.
  • Revert to automatic DNS settings if problems persist.

DNS Changes Not Taking Effect

  • Restart your computer.
  • Disconnect and reconnect to your network.
  • Flush your DNS cache (see above).

Reverting to Automatic DNS

To go back to using your ISP's default DNS servers:

  1. Follow Method 1 steps above.
  2. In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties window, select Obtain DNS server address automatically.
  3. Click OK to save.

Note: Changing DNS servers will not affect your internet speed, but it may improve website loading times and provide better reliability. Some DNS services also offer additional features like malware blocking and content filtering.