How to Change Your DNS Settings in Windows 10

Where to Find DNS Settings in Windows 10

Your DNS settings live in the Network & Internet control panel, not in a single obvious place. Windows 10 stores them either in your network adapter settings (if you want to change DNS for one connection) or in your router settings (if you want to change it for your whole household). Most home users change DNS at the router level so it applies to every device that connects.

If you want to change DNS only on your Windows 10 computer, you'll go through Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options, then right-click your active connection. If you want to change it for everything on your network, you log into your router's admin panel instead — that's a separate process covered below.

Key Takeaways

DNS translates web addresses (like google.com) into the IP addresses your computer actually uses to connect, so changing it can speed up browsing or unblock websites depending on which DNS service you choose.
Changing DNS on your Windows 10 computer only affects that one machine; changing it at your router affects every device on your network.
Common DNS services include Google (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112).
The process takes about five minutes and requires you to restart your network connection or restart your computer for the change to take effect.
If something breaks after you change DNS, you can always set it back to "automatic" and Windows will use your router's DNS again.

Changing DNS on Your Windows 10 Computer

Open Settings and go to Network & Internet. On the left sidebar, click "Change adapter options." You'll see a list of your network connections — usually one called "Ethernet" if you're wired, or "Wi-Fi" if you're wireless. Right-click the connection you use and select "Properties."

In the Properties window, find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" in the list and double-click it. A new window opens. At the bottom, you'll see radio buttons for "Obtain DNS server address automatically" and "Use the following DNS server addresses." Click the second option to unlock the text fields.

Type your primary DNS address in the first field and your secondary DNS address in the second field. Google's DNS is 8.8.8.8 (primary) and 8.8.4.4 (secondary). Cloudflare's is 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. Once you've entered both, click OK, then OK again to close the Properties window.

Restart your internet connection by unplugging your ethernet cable or toggling Wi-Fi off and back on. If you changed DNS on a wired connection, you may need to restart your computer for the change to take full effect. Open a web browser and try visiting a website — if it loads, your DNS change worked.

Changing DNS at Your Router

To change DNS for your entire household, you need to log into your router's admin panel. Open a web browser and type your router's IP address into the address bar — usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If neither works, check the sticker on the back of your router; it will list the correct address.

You'll be asked for a username and password. The default is often "admin" for both, but check your router's manual or the sticker on the back. Once you're logged in, look for a section called "DNS," "DNS Settings," "WAN," or "Internet Settings" — the exact name varies by router brand.

You should see fields for primary and secondary DNS addresses. Clear the existing addresses and enter your chosen DNS service. Save your changes. Your router will restart (this takes about two minutes), and once it comes back online, every device on your network will use the new DNS.

Why You Might Change DNS

DNS services vary in speed, privacy, and filtering. Google's DNS (8.8.8.8) is fast and widely used. Cloudflare's (1.1.1.1) emphasizes privacy and is also very fast. Quad9 (9.9.9.9) blocks malicious websites automatically. Some people change DNS to unblock websites their ISP or network administrator has restricted, though this depends on how the restriction was set up.

Changing DNS does not hide your browsing from your ISP — that requires a VPN. It only changes which server translates web addresses for you. If your internet suddenly feels slower after a DNS change, switch back to automatic DNS; you may have picked a service that's slower in your region.

Reverting to Automatic DNS

If you want to go back to letting your router choose DNS, open Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options again. Right-click your connection, select Properties, double-click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)," and click the radio button for "Obtain DNS server address automatically." Click OK twice and restart your connection.

At the router level, log back into your router's admin panel, find the DNS settings, and look for an option that says "Automatic," "Default," or "Obtain DNS automatically." Select it, save, and let the router restart. Your computer will then use whatever DNS your ISP provides by default.

Troubleshooting DNS Changes

If websites won't load after you change DNS, the address you entered may be wrong or unreachable in your region. Go back to your DNS settings and double-check that you typed the numbers correctly — even one digit off will break it. If it's correct, try a different DNS service like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) instead.

If you changed DNS at the router and some devices work but others don't, those devices may have their own DNS set manually (like a phone or tablet). You can either change DNS on each device individually, or clear the manual DNS on those devices so they use the router's DNS instead. If you changed DNS on your Windows 10 computer and it's still not working, restart your computer entirely — sometimes Windows caches the old DNS address.

If you see an error like "DNS server not responding," your router may not have restarted yet. Wait five minutes and try again. If the problem persists, revert to automatic DNS and contact your ISP to confirm their DNS addresses are working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing DNS make my internet faster?

It might, depending on which DNS service you choose and where you live. Google and Cloudflare are both fast globally, but some regions have faster local alternatives. The only way to know is to try one for a few days and compare. If it feels slower, switch back to automatic.

Can I use different DNS on different devices?

Yes. You can set DNS manually on individual computers, phones, and tablets, and they'll use those addresses regardless of what your router is set to. This is useful if you want one device to use a privacy-focused DNS while others use your router's default.

What happens if I enter a wrong DNS address?

Websites won't load, and you'll see errors like "DNS server not responding." Go back to your DNS settings, fix the address, and restart your connection. If you can't remember the correct address, revert to automatic DNS and try again.

Do I need to change DNS if my internet is working fine?

No. Most people never need to change DNS. You only need to if you want to try a different service for speed or privacy, or if your ISP's DNS is blocking a website you need to reach.

Is changing DNS the same as using a VPN?

No. Changing DNS only changes which server translates web addresses — your ISP can still see which websites you visit. A VPN encrypts all your traffic and hides your activity from your ISP. They serve different purposes.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.