Get Your Free Guide to Changing DNS Servers

Understanding DNS and How It Works

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It's a fundamental part of how the internet works, but most people never think about it. When you type a website address like "www.example.com" into your browser, your computer needs to find the actual location of that website on the internet. That location is identified by a series of numbers called an IP address, which looks something like 93.184.216.34.

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Your computer can't understand website names the way humans do. It only understands numbers. DNS servers act as translators. They take the website name you type and convert it into the correct IP address so your browser can connect to the right server. Think of it like a phone directory. When you want to call your friend Sarah, you look up her number in your contacts. DNS servers do the same thing for websites—they look up the numerical address that corresponds to the website name.

Every time you connect to the internet, your computer is already using DNS servers. These servers are usually provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), the company that gives you internet access. Your ISP's DNS servers work in the background without you noticing them. However, you have the option to use different DNS servers if you choose. Other organizations, including tech companies and non-profits, operate public DNS servers that anyone can use.

The DNS system uses a network of servers around the world. When you request a website, your query goes to a DNS resolver (usually your ISP's server), which contacts other DNS servers to find the answer. This process happens in milliseconds. Root nameservers point to top-level domain servers, which point to authoritative nameservers that have the actual information about specific websites. This layered system ensures that the DNS network can handle billions of requests every day from people around the world.

Practical takeaway: DNS servers are the internet's address book. You're already using them every time you browse the web, even if you've never heard of them before. Understanding what they do is the first step to knowing whether you might want to change them.

Why You Might Consider Changing Your DNS Servers

People change their DNS servers for several reasons. One common reason is performance. Different DNS servers respond at different speeds. If your ISP's DNS servers are slow, switching to faster public DNS servers might make websites load a bit quicker. Companies like Cloudflare and Google operate DNS services that are designed to be fast and efficient. Some studies have shown speed improvements when switching to these services, though the difference varies depending on your location and internet connection.

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Another reason people change DNS servers is for privacy protection. When you use your ISP's DNS servers, your ISP can see which websites you visit. This is because every DNS query contains the website name you're looking up. Some people prefer to use DNS services operated by companies with privacy policies that don't log or store this information. Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 service and Quad9 are examples of DNS providers that advertise privacy-focused policies.

Some people change DNS servers to access content filtering. Certain DNS services filter out websites known to contain malware or phishing attempts. Quad9, for example, blocks access to sites flagged as dangerous. This can provide an extra layer of security, especially for families wanting to reduce the risk of accidentally visiting harmful websites. OpenDNS offers customizable filtering options that allow households to block certain categories of websites.

A third reason involves parental controls. Some DNS services allow parents to block categories of websites, such as adult content or gambling sites. This provides a way to create boundaries at the network level, meaning the restriction applies to all devices on the network rather than requiring installation of software on each device individually. This approach is less foolproof than device-level controls but offers basic protection.

Performance concerns are measurable. According to DNS benchmarking studies, public DNS services sometimes respond 5 to 10 milliseconds faster than ISP DNS servers in certain regions. However, this speed improvement doesn't always translate to noticeably faster browsing. The overall internet speed depends on many factors beyond DNS, including your internet connection quality and the distance between your location and the websites you're visiting.

Practical takeaway: Common reasons to consider changing DNS servers include speed, privacy, security filtering, and parental controls. Before making any changes, think about which of these reasons (if any) apply to your situation.

Major Public DNS Services Explained

Several well-established organizations operate free public DNS services that are available to anyone. Google Public DNS is one of the most widely used. Google's DNS servers are located at 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Google has operated this service since 2009 and handles a massive volume of DNS queries daily. According to Google, their DNS service is designed for speed and reliability. However, Google does collect some information about DNS queries, which some privacy-focused users view as a concern.

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Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 service launched in 2018 and has grown rapidly. The addresses 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 are easy to remember. Cloudflare publishes a privacy policy stating that they don't sell user data or log DNS queries in a way that identifies individual users. Cloudflare's service includes optional features like malware blocking. Many tech publications have reviewed Cloudflare's service favorably for its privacy approach and speed performance.

Quad9 is a non-profit organization that operates DNS services focused on security. Their primary DNS addresses are 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112. Quad9 blocks access to websites known to host malware, botnet command centers, and phishing scams. The organization publishes transparency reports about how many threats they block. This makes Quad9 appealing to people who prioritize security filtering.

OpenDNS, owned by Cisco, offers both free and paid DNS services. The free version provides basic filtering and parental controls. OpenDNS's approach allows users to customize what categories of websites are blocked, such as adult sites, gambling, or social media. This customization appeals to families and organizations wanting specific filtering rules. OpenDNS has been operating since 2005.

Verisign operates the 64.6.64.6 and 64.6.65.6 DNS servers. These servers are relatively simple and don't include the advanced features of other services. They focus on reliability and speed. Other smaller providers operate public DNS services as well, but Google, Cloudflare, and Quad9 represent the largest options in terms of queries handled.

Practical takeaway: Each major public DNS service has different features and philosophies. If speed is your priority, Google and Cloudflare both perform well. For privacy, Cloudflare publishes stronger privacy policies. For security filtering, Quad9 is specifically designed around blocking malicious sites. Match the service to your actual needs.

Step-by-Step Process for Changing DNS on Different Devices

The process for changing DNS varies depending on your device type. On Windows computers, you change DNS settings through the Network and Sharing Center. First, open the Control Panel and navigate to Network and Internet. Click on Network and Sharing Center, then on the left side, click "Change adapter settings." Right-click on your internet connection (usually labeled "Ethernet" or your WiFi network name), select Properties, then highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click Properties. In the window that appears, select "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the new DNS addresses. For example, for Cloudflare you would enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. Click OK to save the changes.

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On Mac computers, the process is similar but accessed through System Preferences. Open System Preferences and click Network. Select your internet connection from the left panel, then click Advanced. Go to the DNS tab. Click the "+" button to add a new DNS server and enter the address. You can remove the old DNS servers by selecting them and clicking the "-" button. Click OK, then Apply to save the changes. If you're using WiFi, you'll need to perform these steps for your WiFi connection. If you're using Ethernet, do it for your Ethernet connection.

For iOS devices (iPhone and iPad), open Settings and tap WiFi. Next to your connected network, tap the "i" icon. Scroll down to DNS and tap Configure DNS. Select Manual and tap Add Server. Type in the new DNS address. You can add multiple DNS