Where to find DNS settings in Windows 11

DNS settings on Windows 11 live in the network adapter properties panel, not in a single "DNS" menu. You reach them through Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > More Network Adapter Options. From there, you right-click your active network connection and select Properties, then find the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) entry and click Properties again. This is where you enter the DNS server addresses you want to use.

The path is the same whether you're on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and whether you're using a wired or wireless adapter. Windows 11 groups all network configuration in the same place, so once you know the route, changing DNS takes about two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • DNS server addresses go into the TCP/IPv4 Properties dialog, which you reach through Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced Network Settings > More Network Adapter Options.
  • You must choose "Use the following DNS server addresses" instead of "Obtain DNS server address automatically" to enter custom DNS servers.
  • Most people need to enter two DNS addresses: a primary server and a secondary server as backup.
  • After you save the changes, Windows applies them when ready, but some websites may take a few minutes to load under the new DNS.
  • If something breaks after you change DNS, you can revert to automatic DNS in the same dialog without restarting your computer.

Step-by-step: changing DNS through Settings

Open Settings (Windows key + I) and go to Network & Internet. Click Advanced Network Settings, then scroll down and select More Network Adapter Options. This opens the older Network Connections window, which is where Windows 11 still keeps the detailed adapter controls.

Right-click the network connection you use (usually "Ethernet" or "Wi-Fi") and select Properties. In the dialog that opens, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) in the list, highlight it, and click Properties. You'll see two radio buttons: one says "Obtain DNS server address automatically" and the other says "Use the following DNS server addresses." Click the second one.

Now you can type in the DNS addresses. Enter your primary DNS server in the first box and your secondary DNS server in the second box. Common public DNS servers include Google's 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, or Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. Click OK, then OK again to close both dialogs. Windows applies the change right away.

Using the command line to change DNS

If you prefer the command line, you can change DNS using PowerShell without opening the Settings menu. Right-click the Start button, select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin), and run this command: Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex [number] -ServerAddresses [primary], [secondary]. Replace [number] with your adapter's index and [primary] and [secondary] with the DNS addresses you want.

To find your adapter's index number, run Get-NetAdapter in PowerShell first. It will list all your network adapters with their index numbers. For example, if your Wi-Fi adapter has index 5 and you want to use Google DNS, the command would be: Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex 5 -ServerAddresses 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4. This method is faster if you change DNS often or manage multiple computers.

What happens after you change DNS

Once you save the new DNS addresses, Windows stops asking your router or internet service provider for DNS lookups and sends those requests to the servers you specified instead. This takes effect when ready—you don't need to restart your computer or reconnect to your network.

Some websites may take a minute or two to load the first time after you change DNS, because your computer is building a new cache of domain names and their addresses. If you visit a site that was cached under the old DNS, it may briefly show the old IP address before updating. This is normal and clears itself within a few minutes.

Switching back to automatic DNS

If the new DNS servers cause problems—websites won't load, connections drop, or pages load slowly—you can revert when ready. Go back to the same TCP/IPv4 Properties dialog, click "Obtain DNS server address automatically," and click OK. Windows will ask your router for DNS settings again on the next lookup, usually within seconds.

You don't need to restart anything or clear your browser cache. If you want to clear the DNS cache that Windows has already built up under the new servers, you can run ipconfig /flushdns in PowerShell (Admin), but this is rarely necessary unless a website is still showing an old address after you've switched back.

Choosing between IPv4 and IPv6 DNS

Windows 11 supports both IPv4 DNS (the older standard, using addresses like 8.8.8.8) and IPv6 DNS (the newer standard, using longer addresses like 2001:4860:4860::8888). Most home networks still use IPv4, and you'll see the IPv4 tab in the TCP/IPv4 Properties dialog. If your network supports IPv6, you can also set DNS servers in the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) tab using the same method.

You don't have to choose one or the other—you can set custom DNS for both IPv4 and IPv6 at the same time. Windows will use whichever one your network connection needs. If you're unsure whether your network uses IPv6, setting IPv4 DNS is always safe and covers the vast majority of home and office connections.

Why you might change DNS

Your internet service provider's DNS servers are the default, but they're not always the fastest or most private. Some people switch to public DNS services like Google, Cloudflare, or Quad9 because they're faster, more reliable, or filter out malware and phishing sites. Others change DNS to unblock websites or to use a service that logs less data about their browsing.

Changing DNS does not hide your browsing from your internet service provider—they can still see which websites you visit. It only changes who handles the translation from website names to IP addresses. If privacy is your goal, a VPN is more effective than DNS alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart Windows after changing DNS?

No. Windows applies DNS changes when ready. You don't need to restart your computer, disconnect from your network, or close your browser. If a website was already open, you may need to refresh it to see the change take effect.

What if I enter the DNS addresses wrong?

If you type an invalid DNS address, websites will stop loading. Go back to the same dialog, click "Obtain DNS server address automatically," and click OK. Windows will revert to your router's DNS within seconds, and websites will work again. Then you can try entering the addresses more carefully.

Can I set different DNS for different networks?

Yes. Each network adapter (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, etc.) has its own DNS settings. If you connect to multiple networks, you can set custom DNS for one and leave the others on automatic. Just make sure you're editing the right adapter in the Network Connections window.

Will changing DNS make my internet faster?

It may, depending on which DNS servers you choose and your location. Public DNS services like Cloudflare and Google often have faster response times than some internet service providers' DNS, but the difference is usually small—less than 100 milliseconds. The biggest speed gain comes from using a DNS service that's geographically close to you.

Is it safe to use public DNS servers?

Yes. Google, Cloudflare, Quad9, and other major public DNS services are safe and widely used. They don't inject ads or malware, and they're more reliable than many smaller providers. The trade-off is that these services see which websites you visit (though they say they don't log it permanently), so if privacy is critical, research their privacy policies first.