FernTool

How to change DNS on Windows 11 and 10

Changing DNS can fix sites that won’t load, block known malware domains, or make lookups a little faster. Here’s how to do it on Windows. Not sure which server to choose? See public DNS servers compared. Common options:

Cloudflare
1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1 · IPv6 2606:4700:4700::1111
Google Public DNS
8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4 · IPv6 2001:4860:4860::8888
Quad9 (blocks known malware)
9.9.9.9, 149.112.112.112 · IPv6 2620:fe::fe

Windows 11

  1. Open Settings → Network & internet.
  2. Click Wi‑Fi → Hardware properties (or Ethernet for a cable).
  3. Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
  4. Turn on IPv4. Enter a Preferred DNS (e.g. 1.1.1.1) and an Alternate DNS (e.g. 1.0.0.1).
  5. Optional: set DNS over HTTPS to On (automatic template) to encrypt lookups.
  6. Repeat for IPv6 if your connection has it, then click Save.

Windows 10

  1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl and press Enter.
  2. Right-click your adapter → Properties.
  3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.
  4. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses, enter both servers and click OK.

Command line (admin)

netsh interface ip set dns name="Wi-Fi" static 1.1.1.1
netsh interface ip add dns name="Wi-Fi" 1.0.0.1 index=2

Replace “Wi-Fi” with your adapter name (netsh interface show interface lists them).

Flush the DNS cache

Run ipconfig /flushdns so Windows forgets old answers.

Check it worked

Run nslookup example.com. The Server line should show your new DNS. You can also compare answers from a public resolver with the FernTool DNS lookup.

Want every device at home to use the new DNS? Change it on the router instead. If you use a VPN, keep the VPN’s DNS to avoid leaks (check with the VPN leak test).

Frequently asked questions

How do I change DNS to 1.1.1.1 on Windows 11?

Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi or Ethernet → Hardware properties → DNS server assignment → Edit → Manual, turn on IPv4, enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, and save.

Does changing DNS make internet faster?

It can make looking up websites slightly quicker and fix some loading errors, but it does not increase your download speed.

How do I reset DNS to automatic?

Go back to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Automatic (DHCP), then run ipconfig /flushdns.

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