Overview – Change DNS Server in Windows
It seems that you’re facing some DNS propagation and connectivity issues on your computer, thus causing trouble connecting to the internet.
DNS servers play an important role in the Internet’s architecture and ecosystem. They convert domain names to IP addresses and vice versa. This translation is used by computers and gadgets to surf the Internet, discover websites, browse apps, send emails, etc.
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to change the DNS settings on your computer:
What is DNS and How it Works?
The Domain Name System (DNS) converts domain names into IP addresses. In Windows, DNS settings allow users to control how your DNS server behaves. By configuring the DNS settings on your computer, you can make the internet slightly faster on your computer by managing the bandwidth and latency efficiently.
Domain Name System (DNS) is a critical technology that supports the Internet. Just like the phone book, the DNS database matches domain names with IP addresses. When you type in https://TheCategorizer.com in your browser, it sends a request to your internet service provider (ISP). This request is then routed to one of many DNS servers across the globe. The server your request goes to will then look up the IP address for TheCategorizer.com and send it back to you so that you can access the website content.
The server you use for this translation depends on what kind of internet service provider you have, but most likely it will be your ISP’s DNS server, which can be a public or a private one that your ISP owns or leases from a provider such as Google or OpenDNS who provides DNS servers that anyone with an account can use
Using Windows Settings
Step #1: Open the ‘Windows Settings‘ from the start menu or press the ‘Windows key + I’ Key Combination.
Step #2: Select the ‘Network and Internet‘ from the left sidebar and click the ‘Ethernet‘ option.
Step #3: Select the ‘Edit’ option in the IP Assignment section.
Step #4: Select the ‘Manual‘ option from the dropdown menu and toggle on the ‘IPv4’ setting and Set your preferred settings and press the save button to make changes take effect.
Using Control Panel
Step #1: Open the ‘Control Panel‘ from the start menu and select the ‘Network and Internet‘ option.
Step #2: Select the ‘Network and Sharing Center‘ option.
Step #3: Click the ‘Change Adapter settings’ option from the left sidebar.
Step #4: Right-click and select the properties option of the Network Interface that you’re using to connect to the internet – Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Step #5: Check the ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)‘ option and click the ‘Properties’ button.
Step #6: Check the ‘Use the following DNS server addresses‘ option and set the ‘Preferred DNS server’ and ‘Alternate DNS server’ manually and click the ‘OK’ button to save changes in DNS configuration.
Using Command Prompt
Step #1: Open the ‘Command Prompt‘ from the start menu.
Step #2: Type the command ‘netsh‘ (without quotation marks) which is a built-in Windows Command utility for configuring network settings and press the ‘Enter’ key.
Step #3: Type the command ‘interface show interface‘ (without quotation marks) to display the names of network drivers.
Step #4: Type the following command prompt to change primary DNS:
interface ip set dns name=”INSTALLED-ADAPTER-NAME” source=”static” address=”X.X.X.X”
Note: Change the “INSTALLED-ADAPTER-NAME” with your device’s network adapter “X.X.X.X” with the IP Address.
Fast and Trusted DNS Servers
Cloudflare
IPv4
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1
IPv6
Primary DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1111
Secondary DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1001
OpenDNS
IPv4
Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220
IPv6
Primary DNS: 2620:119:35::35
Secondary DNS: 2620:119:53::53
IPv4
Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
IPv6
Primary DNS: 2001:4860:4860::8888
Secondary DNS: 2001:4860:4860::8844
FAQ’s Related to DNS Settings in Windows
How do I find my DNS server in windows?
To find the DNS server in Windows, open the command prompt as an administrator, type the command, ipconfig/displaydns, and press the enter key.
Is DNS and IP address the same?
An IP Address is assigned to the computer server using the Direct Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to differentiate it from other computer networks. The Domain Name Service (DNS) is used to convert the domain name into the machine-readable IP Address.
Which is the fastest DNS Server?
The DNS server’s speed is determined by your location. As a result, certain DNS servers that operate perfectly for someone else may not work for you. So, it’s best to perform a hit and trial method to find the DNS server Most suitable for your location.
Conclusion
We’ve addressed how to change the DNS server in Windows without using any third-party software.
DNS is different from the IP address and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and its speed vary as per the location of the user. For Example, a person living In San Diego might experience Cloudflare DNS faster, and another person living in Texas might find the Google DNS faster.
Tell which DNS server worked best for your location in the comments below. Hopefully, you were able to find the answer to your question in this article. If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment.
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