Where to find DNS settings in Windows 11

DNS settings in Windows 11 live in the network adapter configuration, not in a single "DNS" menu. You reach them through Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi (or Ethernet, depending on your connection type) > Manage known networks > your network name > DNS servers. From there you can enter custom DNS addresses to replace the ones your internet provider assigned automatically.

The exact path depends on whether you use WiFi or a wired connection. If you use WiFi, you'll see your network listed under "Manage known networks." If you use Ethernet, the DNS option appears under "Ethernet" in the main Network & Internet menu. Both routes lead to the same DNS configuration screen.

You can also change DNS at the adapter level, which affects all networks that connection uses. This route is Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network options > Network adapters > your adapter name > DNS servers. This method overrides per-network settings, so use it only if you want one DNS provider for all your traffic.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows 11 stores DNS settings in the network adapter configuration under Settings > Network & Internet, not in a dedicated DNS menu.
  • You can set DNS per-network (so WiFi uses one provider and Ethernet uses another) or at the adapter level (one provider for all traffic).
  • Common alternative DNS providers include Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9), each with different privacy and filtering features.
  • After you enter new DNS addresses, Windows may take a few minutes to apply them; restarting your browser usually speeds this up.
  • If a website stops loading after you change DNS, you can revert to automatic (your provider's) DNS in the same menu to rule out DNS as the cause.

Changing DNS for a specific WiFi network

Open Settings and go to Network & Internet > WiFi. Under "Manage known networks," find the WiFi network you want to change and click it. Select "DNS servers" and toggle the switch from "Automatic" to "On." You'll then see two fields: one for a primary DNS server and one for a secondary DNS server.

Enter the primary DNS address in the first field. If you're using Cloudflare, that's 1.1.1.1; for Google, it's 8.8.8.8; for Quad9, it's 9.9.9.9. Leave the secondary field blank if you only want to specify one, or enter a backup address (Cloudflare's secondary is 1.0.0.1, Google's is 8.8.4.4, Quad9's is 149.112.112.112). Click Save when you're done.

Windows will apply the change immediately, though your browser may still show cached results from the old DNS for a few minutes. Close and reopen your browser, or clear your browser cache, to see the change take effect right away.

Changing DNS for an Ethernet connection

If you use a wired Ethernet connection, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet. You'll see your Ethernet adapter listed; click it. Select "DNS servers" and toggle from "Automatic" to "On." The fields and process are identical to WiFi: enter your primary DNS address, optionally enter a secondary one, and click Save.

Ethernet DNS changes also take effect immediately. If you're connected to multiple networks (WiFi and Ethernet at the same time), the Ethernet DNS will take priority for traffic on that adapter, while WiFi traffic uses whatever DNS you set for that network.

Changing DNS at the adapter level

If you want one DNS provider for all your traffic regardless of which network you connect to, you can set DNS at the network adapter level. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network options > Network adapters. Find your adapter (usually "Ethernet" or your WiFi adapter name) and click it.

Scroll down to "DNS servers" and toggle from "Automatic" to "On." Enter your primary and secondary DNS addresses the same way you would for a per-network setting. This configuration overrides any per-network DNS settings you've created, so use it only if you want consistency across all networks.

Adapter-level DNS is useful if you use the same DNS provider everywhere and don't want to configure each network individually. It's less useful if you switch between networks that need different DNS settings (for example, if your workplace network requires a specific DNS server).

Common DNS providers and what they do

Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) is designed for speed and privacy. It doesn't log your browsing history and blocks malware by default. The secondary address is 1.0.0.1. Cloudflare also offers a family-safe version (1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3) that blocks adult content.

Google (8.8.8.8) is fast and widely used, but Google does log some data tied to your account. The secondary address is 8.8.4.4. Google's DNS is reliable but offers fewer privacy guarantees than Cloudflare.

Quad9 (9.9.9.9) blocks malware and phishing sites automatically and doesn't log your queries. The secondary address is 149.112.112.112. Quad9 is a good choice if security and privacy are your priorities.

Your internet provider's DNS is usually fine for everyday use. Switching to an alternative DNS provider makes sense if you want better privacy, faster resolution, or automatic malware blocking. The difference in speed is usually small unless your provider's DNS is slow or unreliable.

What to do if websites stop loading after changing DNS

If a website won't load after you change DNS, the new DNS provider may be blocking it, or there may be a temporary issue with that provider. First, try restarting your browser or clearing your browser cache. If that doesn't work, go back to the same DNS settings menu and toggle back to "Automatic" to use your provider's DNS again.

If websites load with automatic DNS but not with your chosen provider, that provider is blocking the site (intentionally, in the case of security-focused DNS) or having trouble resolving it. You can switch to a different DNS provider, or you can add that specific site to an allowlist if your DNS provider offers one (Cloudflare and Quad9 do).

If websites still won't load even after reverting to automatic DNS, the problem isn't DNS—it's your connection or the website itself. Restart your router and check whether other devices on your network can reach the site.

Reverting to automatic DNS

To go back to your internet provider's DNS, return to the same menu where you entered custom DNS addresses. Toggle the switch from "On" back to "Automatic." Windows will immediately stop using your custom DNS and revert to whatever your provider assigns.

You don't need to restart your computer or network after reverting. Your browser may still show cached results for a few minutes, but the change takes effect right away at the system level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing DNS make my internet faster?

Possibly, but usually not noticeably. A faster DNS provider can shorten the time it takes to look up a website address, but that's only a small part of overall internet speed. If your provider's DNS is slow or unreliable, switching to Cloudflare or Google may help. For most people, the difference is less than a second per page load.

Can I use different DNS providers for different websites?

Not directly through Windows settings. Windows applies one DNS provider to your entire connection. Some browsers (like Firefox) let you set DNS per-browser, but not per-website. If you need different DNS for specific sites, you'd need to use a VPN or proxy for those sites instead.

Do I need to change DNS on every device?

No. DNS settings are per-device, so you can change it on your computer without affecting your phone or other devices. If you want the same DNS across all devices on your network, you can set it on your router instead, which applies to everything connected to that router.

What happens if I enter an invalid DNS address?

Windows will accept the entry, but websites won't load because the DNS server doesn't exist or isn't reachable. If this happens, toggle back to "Automatic" or enter a valid DNS address. Windows doesn't validate DNS addresses before you save them, so double-check what you type.

Can my internet provider see what websites I visit if I change DNS?

Your provider can still see that you're connecting to websites, but they can't see which specific pages you visit if you use HTTPS (the lock icon in your browser). Changing DNS providers doesn't hide your activity from your provider—it only changes who resolves domain names to IP addresses. For real privacy, you'd need a VPN.