Where to find DNS settings on Windows 10

Your DNS settings live in the network adapter control panel, not in a single "DNS" menu. Windows 10 stores them alongside your IP address and other connection details. You reach them through Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options, or by opening the Control Panel directly. The exact path depends on whether you want to change DNS for a wired connection (Ethernet) or wireless (Wi-Fi)—both use the same steps, but you select the right adapter first.

Before you change anything, write down your current DNS addresses. Open Command Prompt, type ipconfig /all, and look for "DNS Servers" in the results. If you ever need to revert, you'll have the original numbers. Most people use their internet service provider's DNS by default, though you may want to switch to a public DNS like Google's (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare's (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).

Key Takeaways

  • DNS settings on Windows 10 are found in Network Connections, not in a dedicated DNS control panel.
  • You change DNS by right-clicking your network adapter, selecting Properties, then Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4), then entering new DNS server addresses.
  • Write down your current DNS addresses before you change them so you can restore them if needed.
  • Changes take effect when ready, but some websites may take a few minutes to load while your computer caches the new DNS information.
  • If you want DNS to change on all devices on your network, you can set it in your router instead of on individual computers.

Step-by-step: changing DNS through network settings

Open the Control Panel by pressing Windows key + R, typing control, and pressing Enter. Click "Network and Internet," then "Network and Sharing Center." On the left side, click "Change adapter settings." You'll see your network connections listed—Ethernet if you're wired, or your Wi-Fi name if you're wireless.

Right-click the connection you want to change and select "Properties." A window opens with a list of items. Find and double-click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)"—this is where DNS lives. A second Properties window opens. At the bottom, you'll see two radio buttons: one says "Obtain DNS server address automatically" (currently selected), and one says "Use the following DNS server addresses." Click the second radio button to enable the text fields below it.

Type your new DNS addresses into the "Preferred DNS server" and "Alternate DNS server" fields. The preferred server is the one Windows tries first; the alternate is a backup if the first one doesn't respond. Click OK, then OK again to close both windows. Your computer will use the new DNS addresses when ready.

Using the Settings app instead of Control Panel

Windows 10 also lets you change DNS through the newer Settings app, though the path is less direct. Open Settings (Windows key + I), go to "Network & Internet," then "Wi-Fi" or "Ethernet" depending on your connection type. Click your active connection name, then scroll down and click "Edit" next to "DNS server assignment."

A dropdown menu appears with "Automatic (DHCP)" selected. Click it and choose "Manual." Toggle on IPv4, and two text fields appear for your DNS addresses. Enter your preferred and alternate DNS servers, then click "Save." This method is newer and may feel more familiar if you're used to other operating systems, but it does the same thing as the Control Panel method.

Changing DNS for all devices through your router

If you want every device on your home network to use the same DNS—your phone, tablet, laptop, and smart TV—change it in your router instead of on individual computers. Log into your router's admin panel by opening a browser and typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1; check your router's label if you're unsure). Enter your router's username and password.

Look for a section called "DNS," "DHCP," or "WAN Settings." The exact location varies by router brand and model. Once you find it, enter your new DNS addresses in the fields provided and save. All devices that connect to your Wi-Fi will now use those DNS servers automatically. This approach is cleaner than changing DNS on each device separately, and it persists even if you add new devices to your network.

What to do if DNS changes don't seem to work

After you change DNS, your computer may still show old results for a few minutes because it caches (stores) DNS lookups. Open Command Prompt as Administrator (right-click Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator") and type ipconfig /flushdns. This clears the cache and forces your computer to use the new DNS servers when ready.

If a website still won't load after flushing the cache, verify that you typed the DNS addresses correctly. Open Command Prompt again and type nslookup google.com (or any website). The result should show your new DNS server's IP address at the top. If it shows your old DNS server, the change didn't take. Go back to Network Connections and double-check that you saved your settings and selected the "Use the following DNS server addresses" radio button.

When to call your internet service provider

If you change DNS and your internet stops working entirely, revert to automatic DNS when ready. Open Network Connections again, right-click your adapter, select Properties, double-click IPv4, and click the "Obtain DNS server address automatically" radio button. Your connection should return within a minute.

If you're unable to change DNS settings at all—the fields are grayed out or won't save—your router may be overriding your computer's settings. Log into your router and check whether DNS is locked there. Some corporate or school networks also lock DNS to prevent changes. If you're on a work or school network and need to change DNS, contact your IT department first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing DNS make my internet faster?

Not necessarily. DNS speed matters only for the moment when your computer looks up a website's address—usually a fraction of a second. If your internet feels slow, the problem is usually your connection speed, not DNS. Changing DNS might help if your current DNS server is unreliable or very slow, but it won't fix a slow internet plan.

Is it safe to use Google's DNS or Cloudflare's DNS?

Yes. Both are public DNS services run by large, reputable companies. They work the same way as your internet service provider's DNS—they translate website names into IP addresses. The trade-off is that Google and Cloudflare can see which websites you visit (your ISP can too). If privacy is a concern, research DNS providers' privacy policies before switching.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing DNS?

No. DNS changes take effect when ready. You may need to close and reopen your browser, or flush the DNS cache with ipconfig /flushdns, but a full restart is not required.

What's the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 DNS?

IPv4 and IPv6 are two versions of the internet protocol. Most home networks still use IPv4, which is why you change IPv4 DNS in the steps above. If your network uses IPv6 (less common), you would change IPv6 DNS in a separate field. You can use both at the same time without conflict.

Can I use different DNS servers for different websites?

No. Your computer uses one DNS server (or a pair—preferred and alternate) for all lookups. If you need different DNS rules for different websites, that requires a more advanced setup like a local DNS proxy or a VPN, which is beyond what Windows 10's built-in settings offer.