Have you ever clicked a link and felt like your browser was moving in slow motion? Or maybe a website just refused to load, even though your internet seemed fine?
One sneaky culprit could be your DNS settings. DNS short for Domain Name System is like the internet’s address book. Every time you type “google.com” or “netflix.com,” your computer asks the DNS which IP address to visit. If that “address book” is slow, your browsing will feel sluggish too.
The good news? Changing your DNS in Windows 11 is quick, easy, and can lead to noticeable improvements in speed, security, and access to certain sites. Here’s how to do it.
Changing your DNS in Windows 11 takes less than five minutes, yet it can make your online life noticeably smoother and more secure. Whether you’re chasing faster load times, protecting your privacy, or just curious about trying something new, it’s one of the easiest tweaks you can make today.
So go ahead give your internet a little speed boost. Your future self scrolling effortlessly through cat videos will thank you.
The good news? Changing your DNS in Windows 11 is quick, easy, and can lead to noticeable improvements in speed, security, and access to certain sites. Here’s how to do it.
How to Change DNS on Windows 11
Step 1: Open Network Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Network & Internet from the sidebar.
- Choose Wi-Fi if you’re on wireless, or Ethernet if you’re plugged in.
Step 2: Access DNS Configuration
- Click your connected network’s name.
- Scroll down to DNS server assignment and hit Edit.
- Change it from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
Step 3: Enter New DNS Addresses
- Switch on IPv4 (and IPv6 if needed).
- Input your preferred DNS provider’s addresses:
- Google DNS
- Primary: 8.8.8.8
- Secondary: 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare DNS
- Primary: 1.1.1.1
- Secondary: 1.0.0.1
Step 4: Save and Test
- Click Save to apply the changes.
- Restart your browser and try loading a few websites.
Why Change Your DNS?
Changing your DNS isn’t just tech wizardry it has real benefits:- Faster Browsing - Many public DNS services are quicker than the default your ISP provides.
- Better Privacy - Providers like Cloudflare promise not to sell or log your browsing data.
- Access to Blocked Sites - In some cases, switching DNS can help bypass region based restrictions.
Final Thoughts
If you use multiple devices laptops, phones, tablets it’s more efficient to set the DNS directly on your router. That way, every device connected to your network automatically uses the faster, more private DNS without extra setup.
So go ahead give your internet a little speed boost. Your future self scrolling effortlessly through cat videos will thank you.