Changing your DNS server won't increase your download or upload speed, but it can make websites start loading faster if your current DNS is slow, and it can add useful features like malware blocking. DNS only handles the lookup that turns a name like example.com into an IP address. Once that lookup is done, your speed depends on your connection, not your DNS provider.
Quick answer
- DNS affects how quickly a connection starts, not how fast data flows afterward.
- Switching helps most when your ISP's DNS is slow, unreliable, or occasionally fails to resolve sites.
- Popular public resolvers include Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9).
- Changing DNS on your router covers every device; changing it on one device takes about a minute.
- DNS won't lower game ping or fix buffering.
What DNS actually does
The Domain Name System (DNS) is often described as the internet's phone book. Computers connect using IP addresses (such as 93.184.215.14), but people type names. When you visit a website, your device asks a DNS resolver, "What's the IP address for this name?" The resolver finds the answer and sends it back, and only then can your browser connect.
By default, your router hands your devices the DNS servers of your internet provider. Many people never change this, and for many it works perfectly well.
Why lookups are usually fast already
DNS answers are cached. Your browser, your operating system, your router, and the resolver all remember recent answers for a period set by the website owner. So when you revisit a popular site, there's often no network lookup at all. A fresh lookup to a nearby resolver typically takes somewhere around 10ā50 ms, while a slow or distant resolver might take 100 ms or more.
A single web page can involve lookups for many different domains (the site itself, image servers, fonts, analytics, ads), so a slow resolver can add up to a noticeable pause before pages appear.
When changing DNS helps (and when it doesn't)
| Situation | Will changing DNS help? |
|---|---|
| Websites take a second or two to start loading, then load quickly | Likely yes |
| Some sites intermittently fail with "DNS server not responding" or "server not found" | Likely yes |
| You want malware or phishing domains blocked automatically | Yes, with a filtering resolver |
| You want encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or TLS) for privacy | Yes, with a provider that supports it |
| Your speed test shows low download or upload | No |
| Videos buffer or downloads are slow | No |
| Game ping is high or spikes | No |
| WiFi drops out in certain rooms | No |
If your problem is in the bottom half of this table, start with your connection itself. Run a free speed test to check download, upload, and ping, then work through why is my internet so slow or how to stop buffering.
Popular public DNS servers compared
These are well-known, free public resolvers. Each publishes primary and secondary addresses for redundancy.
| Provider | IPv4 addresses | Notable features |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 | Focus on speed and privacy; filtered variants available (1.1.1.2 blocks malware) |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 | Large global network, very reliable |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112 | Blocks known malicious domains by default; nonprofit |
| OpenDNS (Cisco) | 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 | Optional content filtering, family-safe options |
Which is fastest varies by location and even by time of day, since it depends on how close each provider's nearest server is to you and how well your ISP connects to it. Your ISP's own DNS can sometimes be the fastest simply because it's on the same network. The only reliable way to know is to test.
How to compare DNS response times
- On Windows, open Command Prompt; on macOS, open Terminal.
- Run
nslookup example.com 1.1.1.1, then repeat with8.8.8.8and9.9.9.9. This confirms each resolver responds. - On macOS or Linux, run
dig example.com @1.1.1.1and look at the "Query time" line. Repeat for each resolver, and use a domain you haven't visited recently to avoid cached results. - Run each test a few times and compare the typical times, not a single result.
Free benchmarking tools can automate this across many resolvers if you want a more thorough comparison.
How to change DNS on Windows
On Windows 11:
- Open Settings > Network & internet.
- Select Wi-Fi (or Ethernet), then click your connection or Hardware properties.
- Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit and choose Manual.
- Turn on IPv4 and enter a preferred and alternate DNS (for example, 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
- Optionally set DNS over HTTPS to On if the option appears for your chosen provider.
- Click Save, then run
ipconfig /flushdnsin Command Prompt to clear old cached entries.
On Windows 10, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click your connection, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and enter the addresses under "Use the following DNS server addresses."
How to change DNS on Mac, iPhone, and Android
macOS
- Open System Settings > Network.
- Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details.
- Choose DNS, click +, and add your preferred servers. Remove old ones with ā if you like.
- Click OK. To flush the cache, run
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderin Terminal.
iPhone and iPad
- Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the (i) next to your network.
- Tap Configure DNS, choose Manual, and add your servers.
- Tap Save. This applies only to that WiFi network.
Android
- Go to Settings > Network & internet (or Connections) > Private DNS.
- Choose Private DNS provider hostname and enter the provider's hostname, such as
one.one.one.onefor Cloudflare ordns.googlefor Google. - Save. This uses encrypted DNS over TLS on both WiFi and mobile data. Menu names vary by manufacturer.
How to change DNS on your router
Changing DNS on the router applies it to every device that uses automatic settings, including TVs and consoles.
- Find your router's address (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1; run
ipconfigon Windows and look for "Default Gateway"). - Open that address in a browser and log in, or use your router's app.
- Look for DNS, usually under Internet, WAN, or DHCP settings.
- Replace the automatic DNS with your chosen primary and secondary servers.
- Save, then restart devices or reconnect them to WiFi so they pick up the change.
Some ISP-supplied routers lock DNS settings. In that case, change it on individual devices instead.
Privacy and security considerations
Whoever runs your DNS resolver can see which domain names your devices look up. Switching from your ISP to a public provider moves that visibility rather than eliminating it, so read the provider's privacy policy. Encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS) stops others on the network path from reading or tampering with your lookups, which is especially useful on public WiFi.
Be aware that some workplaces, schools, and parental-control setups rely on specific DNS settings. Changing DNS on a managed device may break internal sites or violate policy. If you use a VPN, it typically supplies its own DNS; see does a VPN slow down internet. You can check which public IP your traffic appears from with our what is my IP tool.
Bottom line
Changing DNS is a quick, free, reversible tweak that can make browsing feel more responsive and add security filtering, but it won't raise your Mbps or lower your game ping. It's worth doing if pages hesitate before loading or your ISP's DNS is unreliable.
If your internet still feels slow after switching, the cause is elsewhere. Test your internet speed to check whether your download, upload, and latency match what you pay for.
