Change DNS server On Windows 11 | Change DNS

Change DNS server on Windows 11 Boost Internet Speed: I will show you how you can change your DNS server on your Windows 11 operating system. I will explain to you two different ways to change the DNS server on Windows 11.

But first of all, you need to know the IP addresses or the DNS providers you want to use as a DNS server.

So, I have this list of the best free DNS service providers. You can decide which DNS provider you want to use for your DNS on your Windows 11 operating system. so you can see all these DNS providers provide free DNS servers. And you need primary and secondary DNS IP addresses to change your DNS server.


What is DNS?

What is DNS

On the Internet, Computers always identify each other with unique numbers called IP addresses. They do not understand human languages. If computers do not understand human languages, how do they load a website when we type its address in the web browser’s URL bar?

That’s the place where DNS comes in. Suppose we speak English and we want to communicate with a person who speaks French. For effective communication, we will need a translator.
The same is the case on the Internet, where computers or web browsers understand IP addresses. And we humans understand our languages, say English.

DNS acts as a translator between humans and computers. DNS or domain name systems maintain a table where names are mapped into numbers or where websites’ domain names are mapped to their IP addresses.

What is an IP Address?

Computers on the Internet communicate with each other with underground or underwater cables or wirelessly. If I want to download a file from the Internet, then my computer should have an address. Other computers on the Internet can find and locate my laptop. In Internet terms, that address of the computer is called an IP address.


How to check DNS settings Windows 11 /How to check DNS settings Windows 10

You can check DNS settings in Windows 11 using several methods. Here are three easy ways to do it:

  1. Using Command Prompt:
  • Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for “Command Prompt” in the Start menu, right-clicking on it, and selecting “Run as administrator.”
  • In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
    ipconfig /all
  • Look for the “DNS Servers” or “DNS Address” under your active network adapter. This will display the DNS server addresses currently in use.
  1. Using Settings:
  • Click on the Start button and select Settings (the gear-shaped icon).
  • In the Settings window, click on Network & Internet.
  • Under “Advanced network settings,” click on Change adapter options.
  • Right-click on your active network adapter (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
  • In the Properties window, scroll down and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), depending on your network setup.
  • Click Properties again, and you will see the DNS server addresses under “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
  1. Using Control Panel:
  • Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
  • In the Control Panel, navigate to the Network and Sharing Center.
  • Click on your active network connection.
  • In the new window, click on Properties.
  • Under the “Networking” tab, you’ll find the list of installed protocols. Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), depending on your network setup.
  • In the properties window, you can see the DNS server addresses under “Use the following DNS server addresses.”

These methods allow you to view the DNS server addresses currently configured on your Windows 11 system, which can be helpful for troubleshooting network issues or verifying your DNS settings.


PS5 DNS Servers BOOST Download Speeds For Gaming

DNS Servers NamePrimary DNSSecondary DNS
Cloudflare1.1.1.11.0.0.1
Google8.8.8.88.8.8.4

BEST DNS SERVER YOU CAN CHANGE ON PC


DNS Servers NamePrimary DNSSecondary DNSBenefits
Cloudflare DNS1.1.1.11.0.0.1Normally, I would have suggested Google DNS for speed. But a week ago, CloudFare has announced a brand-new DNS service, which is currently way faster at resolving queries than Google DNS.
OpenDNS208.67.222.222208.67.220.220OpenDNS is one of the most popular DNS servers that is fast and provides some of the best security and parental controls for your Network. HOW TO CONFIGURE
Google Free DNS8.8.8.88.8.8.4 Well-known free DNS service. It’s Very Fast.
Smart DNS Proxy169.54.78.84169.53.182.120Normally, I would have suggested Google DNS for speed. But a week ago, CloudFare announced a brand-new DNS service, which is currently way faster at resolving queries than Google DNS.
Quad99.9.9.9149.112.112.112The primary goal of Smart DNS Proxy is to unlock geo-restricted websites like US-Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and Spotify. HOW TO SETUP
Level 3 209.244.0.3209.244.0.4Quad9 DNS gives you INSTANT protection from phishing sites, scammers, and malware! (It is a Free tool.)

Method 1. How to Use Google DNS Server TO Change DNS Server on Windows 11


So, let’s say I choose the Google DNS server, and the primary IP address is 8.8.8.8, and the Secondary DNS is 8.8.4.4. So, I will use these two IP addresses for the DNS server on my Windows 11 operating system.

1. Now I know the IP addresses. So I can just click on the search icon and then search for the control panel. And then click on the Control panel here.

2. And once the control panel opens. I will just click on View by category at the top-right corner, and then I’m going to click on the Network and Internet options.

3. Next, click on Network and Sharing Centre. So when You click on the Network and sharing center here, you will be able to see your Internet connection.

Select Network and sharing center

4. So, in my case, I’m connected with the LAN cable. That’s why you can see Ethernet here. Suppose you are connected to your Wi-Fi network. Then, you will see the Wi-Fi option here. Click On the blue Ethernet0 link.

select Internet Protocol Version 4 and change DNS server On Windows 11

5. Then, here, you need to click on the Properties option. It will open another pop-up. You need to select this option, Internet Protocol Version 4, and then click on the Properties once again.

6. It will open another pop-up again. Here, you have to change the DNS Setting On Windows 11.

 By default, the option is already selected, which is “Obtain DNS server address automatically.” Still, if you want to do it manually, you can just click on “Use the following DNS addresses.”

And then you just need to provide these two addresses simply. one for the primary DNS and the other for the secondary DNS.

The Primary DNS is: 8.8.8.8

The Secondary DNS is: 8.8.4.4

7. Once you are done. Just click on OK. And then click on Close. Close all the windows. This means that you have changed Google’s DNS server on the Windows 11 operating system. This was the one way you could change DNS settings On Windows 11.


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Method 2, How To Use Cloudflare DNS Server TO Change DNS Server On Windows 11


So this was the first way. Now we are going to see the second way how to change DNS Server On Windows 11. 

1. So, for the second way, what you need to do you just need to click on the search icon once and then search for settings. Click on the Settings app.

OR,

You can also open the settings app by just right-clicking on the Windows icon here and then clicking on the Settings option here.

Go to Network and Internet and Expand Ethernet0 and click on View additional pro

2. You need to select the Network and Internet. And then just scroll down where it says Advanced network settings. And click on that

3. In the Advanced network settings. You just need to select your Network. In my case, it’s Ethernet0 here.

4. But in your case, it can be Wi-Fi also. So, whatever network connection you have, you just need to click on the down arrow icon. You can see it’s enabled under this network option. You can see the “View additional properties” option. 

Change DNS Settings on Windows 11

5. Next, you can see “DNS server properties.” You also might remember that previously, I have changed this address to Google’s DNS. So, let’s say I want to change it once again to some other DNS provider server address.

6. I can just click on Edit. And then, instead of Google servers. I can just use Cloudflare servers here. This is also a very good DNS provider and also free. 

The DNS server addresses are Primary DNS – 1.1.1.1 as Preferred DNS and Secondary DNS- 1.0.0.1 as Alternate DNS., so I’m going to provide that.

7. Once you are done. Click on the Save button. WOW. You are done. You have changed the DNS server on Windows 11.

Change DNS windows 11 to google.

To change DNS settings in Windows 11 to use Google’s DNS servers, follow these steps:

  1. Open Network Settings:
  • Click on the Start button and select Settings (the gear-shaped icon).
  • In the Settings window, click on Network & Internet.
  1. Access Network Settings:
  • In the Network & Internet settings, click on Advanced network settings under your active network connection (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
  1. Change Adapter Options:
  • In the next window, under “Advanced network settings,” click on Change adapter options.
  1. Choose Network Adapter:
  • Right-click on your active network adapter (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
  1. Configure DNS Settings:
  • In the Properties window, scroll down to find and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), depending on your network setup.
  1. Set Google DNS Servers:
  • Select either IPv4 or IPv6, then click Properties.
  • In the new window, select Use the following DNS server addresses.
  • For the Preferred DNS server, enter 8.8.8.8.
  • For the Alternate DNS server, enter 8.8.4.4.
  1. Save Changes:
  • Click OK to save the changes.
  1. Restart Your Computer:
  • To ensure the changes take effect, you may need to restart your computer or disconnect and reconnect to your Network.

Your Windows 11 computer should now be using Google’s DNS servers for network connections. This can help improve internet performance and security.

Best DNS for Windows 11

The choice of DNS (Domain Name System) servers for Windows 11 can impact your internet speed, security, and overall browsing experience. Here are some of the best DNS servers you can use with Windows 11:

  1. Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4): Google’s DNS servers are known for their speed and reliability. They are easy to remember and widely used.
  2. Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1): Cloudflare’s DNS offers both speed and privacy. It’s one of the fastest DNS services available and also supports DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) for added security.
  3. OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220): OpenDNS provides customizable filtering options for content and security. It’s a good choice for families and businesses looking for additional protection.
  4. Quad9 (9.9.9.9): Quad9 focuses on security by blocking known malicious websites. It’s a reliable choice for enhancing your online safety.
  5. Comodo Secure DNS (8.26.56.26 and 8.20.247.20): Comodo offers DNS services with an emphasis on security and malware protection.
  6. DNS.WATCH (84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40): DNS.WATCH is a privacy-focused DNS service based in Germany, known for its commitment to data protection.

To change your DNS settings on Windows 11 to use any of these DNS servers, you can follow the instructions provided in the search results mentioned earlier, as they outline the steps to change DNS settings on Windows 11. Be sure to choose the DNS server that aligns with your specific needs, whether it’s speed, security, or content filtering.

Can’t save DNS settings Windows 11

If you’re facing issues with saving DNS settings in Windows 11, it can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this problem:

  1. Run as Administrator: Ensure that you are running the network settings or DNS configuration tool as an administrator. Right-click the application or settings window and select “Run as administrator” to grant it the necessary permissions.
  2. Check for Errors: Review the DNS settings you are trying to save for any errors or typos. Incorrect entries can prevent the settings from being saved.
  3. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary issues. Try restarting your computer and then attempt to save the DNS settings again.
  4. Use Command Prompt: If you are comfortable with using the command prompt, you can change DNS settings via commands. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and use the netsh command to set DNS servers. For example:
   netsh interface ipv4 set dns "Your Network Interface Name" static 8.8.8.8
   netsh interface ipv4 add dns "Your Network Interface Name" 8.8.4.4 index=2

Replace “Your Network Interface Name” with the actual name of your network interface and the DNS server addresses with your desired DNS servers.

  1. Disable Third-Party Software: If you have a third-party firewall or security software, it may interfere with DNS settings. Temporarily disable such software, make the changes, and then re-enable it.
  2. Check Group Policy: Group Policy settings may restrict DNS changes. Check Group Policy settings on your system, especially if you’re on a corporate network or a domain-joined computer.
  3. Update Network Drivers: Ensure your network drivers are up to date. Outdated or incompatible drivers can cause network-related issues.
  4. System Restore: If the issue persists and you suspect recent changes or updates caused it, you can perform a system restore to a point where DNS settings are working correctly.

Suppose none of these steps resolve the problem. In that case, you may need to seek assistance from your IT department or a professional technician, as there could be underlying network or system issues causing the inability to save DNS settings.

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