How to Change DNS Server Settings on Home Computer Networks

Alternative DNS servers can boost speed and security

By
Bradley Mitchell
Bradley Mitchell
Writer
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • University of Illinois
An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking.
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Updated on March 6, 2021

What to Know

  • To change a DNS server, enter the chosen IP numbers into the appropriate fields of the router.
  • The exact fields to use vary, depending on the type of device.

This article explains how to change the DNS (domain name system) settings on your home network.

Man using a laptop
You don't need to be a programmer to use a Raspberry Pi. Richard Saville

Choose a DNS Service

Internet connections rely on DNS to translate names such as lifewire.com into public IP addresses. To use DNS, computers and other home network devices must be configured with DNS servers' addresses. 

Internet providers supply DNS server addresses to their customers as part of setting up the service. Typically, these values are configured automatically on the broadband modem or broadband router via DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol). Large internet providers maintain their own DNS servers. Several free internet DNS services exist as alternatives.

Some people prefer to use certain DNS servers over others for reliability, security, or better name lookup performance.

Change DNS Server Addresses

You can set several DNS settings for your broadband router's home network (or other network gateway device). Changing a DNS server requires only entering the chosen IP numbers into the appropriate fields of the router or other specific device configuration page.

DNS Settings on ASUS RT-AC66U Router
Yaplex, Inc.

The exact fields to use vary, depending on the type of device. Here are some examples of the fields:

  • D-Link routers: Primary DNS server and Secondary DNS server
  • Linksys routers: Static DNS 1 and Static DNS 2
  • Netgear routers: Primary DNS and Secondary DNS
  • Windows devices: TCP/IP properties of the network connection, Preferred DNS server, and Alternate DNS server
  • Mac OSX and macOS: System Preferences > Network > Advanced > DNS tab for the network connection
  • Apple iOS and Android: DNS section of Wi-Fi settings

When you change DNS server addresses on a specific client device, the changes apply to that device only. When DNS addresses are changed on the router or gateway, they apply to all devices connected to that network.

About OpenDNS

OpenDNS uses the public IP addresses 208.67.222.222 (primary) and 208.67.220.220. OpenDNS also provides some IPv6 DNS support using 2620:0:ccc::2 and 2620:0:ccd::2.

How you set up OpenDNS varies, depending on the device.

About Google Public DNS

Google Public DNS uses the following public IP addresses:

  • IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
  • IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
Google Public DNS screenshot

Google recommends that only users proficient in configuring operating system settings configure the network settings to use Google Public DNS.

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