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How To Change DNS Server in Windows 11 [Faster Internet]


It seems that you’re facing some DNS propagation and connectivity issues on your computer, thus causing trouble connecting to the internet.

change dns server in windows

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:


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


Step #1: Open the ‘Windows Settings‘ from the start menu or press the ‘Windows key + I’ Key Combination.

windows setting app in windows 11
Windows Settings App

Step #2: Select the ‘Network and Internet‘ from the left sidebar and click the ‘Ethernet‘ option.

click the ethernet button in the network and internet option
Ethernet Button

Step #3: Select the ‘Edit’ option in the IP Assignment section.

click the edit button in ip assignment section
IP Assessment > Edit

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.

set preferred and alternate dns server and click the save button
Preferred and Alternate DNS

Step #1: Open the ‘Control Panel‘ from the start menu and select the ‘Network and Internet‘ option.

select the network and internet option
Network and Internet

Step #2: Select the ‘Network and Sharing Center‘ option.

click the network and sharing center option
Network and Sharing Center

Step #3: Click the ‘Change Adapter settings’ option from the left sidebar.

select the change adapter settings option
Adapter Settings

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.

right click the network interface you are using and select the properties option
Select network interface, right-click and select properties

Step #5: Check the ‘Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)‘ option and click the ‘Properties’ button.

select the ipv4 version and click the properties button
Check IPv4 and select properties option

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.

set the preferred and alternate dns server manually and click the ok button to save changes
Set Preferred and Alternate DNS

Step #1: Open the ‘Command Prompt‘ from the start menu.

command prompt icon in windows 11
Command Prompt (CMD) Icon

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.

type netsh command in cmd
Command name: netsh

Step #3: Type the command ‘interface show interface‘ (without quotation marks) to display the names of network drivers.

type the command - interface show interface
Command name: interface show interface

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.

command to change dns in windows with command prompt
Command to change DNS

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

Google

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


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.


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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