Changing DNS settings on a Windows 10 PC: A Guide
In this article, we'll guide you through the process of changing DNS settings on Windows 11 to improve internet speed and privacy.
The Domain Name System (DNS) is an essential internet service that translates friendly domain names into IP addresses that computers can understand. On Windows 11, you can use the Control Panel to change DNS settings.
To begin, open Settings from the Start menu and navigate to Network & Internet. Select your connection type (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click on your connected network. Scroll down to DNS server assignment and click Edit.
Change the setting from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual. Toggle IPv4 (and optionally IPv6) to on. Enter the preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. For Cloudflare, Preferred DNS should be 1.1.1.1, and Alternate DNS should be 1.0.0.1. Save your changes.
To further improve privacy, enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in the same network properties settings. This encrypts DNS queries between your device and DNS servers, reducing exposure to snooping or manipulation.
You can verify your new DNS settings by opening Command Prompt and running , which should return your chosen DNS server's details. If you encounter connectivity issues, try flushing your DNS cache by running in Command Prompt.
Remember, changing DNS settings can boost speed by using faster servers and improve privacy by using servers with strong encryption and no logging policies, such as Cloudflare’s DNS.
It's important to note that support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft will no longer release security or maintenance updates for Windows 10. Every device requires an IP address to communicate with other devices.
For Windows 10 users, you can also use Command Prompt or the Settings app to change DNS settings. The commands , , and can be used to configure primary, secondary, and static DNS addresses, respectively.
By following these steps, you can enhance your browsing experience on Windows 11 and Windows 10 by using faster and more private DNS servers. Happy browsing!
