How to Change DNS Servers in Windows

This article explains how to change the DNS servers in Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. It also details how to use a CMD command to change DNS settings.

How to Change Windows DNS Servers

Below are the steps required to change the Windows DNS settings. However, the procedure differs somewhat depending on the version of Windows.

1. Open Control Panel. There are several ways to get there, including searching for it or executing the control command from the Run dialog box.

   On Windows 8.1, select Network Connections from the Power User Menu (press Win+X), then skip to Step 5.

2. Select Network and Internet.

   

   Network and Internet doesn't appear if the Control Panel displays large or small icons. Instead, choose Network and Sharing Center, then skip to Step 4.

3. Select Network and Sharing Center.

   

4. Select Change adapter settings.

   

5. Double-click or double-tap the connection you want to change the DNS servers for. Wired connections are labeled as Ethernet or Local Area Connection, while wireless ones are labeled as Wi-Fi.

   

   If you don't see the right connection, change the view to Details, go to the Connectivity column, and use the connection that lists Internet access.

6. In the Status window, select Properties.

   

   In some versions of Windows, provide the administrator password if you're not logged in to an admin account.

7. From the section called This connection uses the following items, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to select the IPv4 option, or select Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) to change the IPv6 DNS server settings.

   

8. Select Properties to open the Windows DNS settings.

9. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses.

   If Windows has custom DNS servers configured, replace the existing DNS server IP addresses with new ones.

10. Enter the IP address for the Preferred DNS server and for the Alternate DNS server.

    

    You can also enter only a preferred DNS server, replace the preferred DNS server from one provider with a secondary DNS server from another, or enter more than two DNS servers using fields in the DNS tab (select Advanced to enter multiple DNS servers).

11. Select OK to make the DNS server changes.

You can now close any windows you opened to change the DNS servers and verify that the new servers work properly. Visit several websites in your favorite web browser. You'll know the servers are working if web pages show up as quickly as before.

How to Change DNS Servers With Command Prompt

The preferred DNS server in Windows can be changed through Command Prompt. Use this method if you're comfortable entering commands on the command line.

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt.

2. Type netsh and press Enter.

   

3. At the prompt, type this and then press Enter:

    interface ip show config
   

4. Locate the network connection for which you want the DNS server changed. In our example, we're looking for the Wi-Fi connection.

   

5. Enter the following command, replacing Wi-Fi with the name of your connection and 8.8.8.8 with the DNS server you want to use.
   

    interface ip set dns "Wi-Fi" static 8.8.8.8
   

   

   Check out our list of free and public DNS servers for the complete list of publicly available DNS servers which may be more complete than the list provided by your ISP.

When the command is completed, the netsh> prompt displays. You can now close Command Prompt.

DNS Server Settings Are Device-Specific

Setting up custom DNS servers for your computer only applies to that computer, not to the other devices on the network. For example, you can set up a Windows laptop with one set of DNS servers and use an entirely different set on a desktop, phone, or tablet.

DNS settings apply to the closest device they're configured on. Say you use one set of DNS servers on the router. Your laptop and phone will use these DNS servers when they connect to Wi-Fi. However, if the router has its own set of servers and the laptop has its own separate set, the laptop will use a different DNS server than the phone and the other devices that use the router. The same is true if the phone uses a custom set.

DNS settings only trickle down a network if each device is set up to use the router's DNS settings and not their own. This means that if four devices are on a network, for example, all four could be using separate DNS servers.

Why Change the Windows DNS Servers?

Most computers and devices connect to a local network using DHCP and DNS servers that are automatically configured in Windows. DNS servers are sometimes the cause of certain types of internet problems, and changing them can help troubleshoot the problem.