How do I change DNS settings in Windows 10?

Question

How do I change DNS settings in Windows 10?

ElvinG 40

I found a resource below, but I don't know if these settings apply to Windows 10. Could you help me determine if I can use them? I don't want to do anything wrong.

https://youtu.be/G0U7Nhu1WNE

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Answer 1

I don't want to do anything wrong.

You need to be aware that if you change your DNS servers to internet based ones like Google's 8.8.8.8, then local names on your private network can no longer be resolved via DNS.

So the "do something wrong" goes beyond a simple IP address change for DNS. You also need to consider how the devices on your network are configured and how they interact with each other.

On my home network, my router serves as the gateway to the internet and DHCP address assignment and serves as the DNS server for all of my pc's and phones.

If you do use 8.8.8.8 then you may need to ensure that all machines on your network have Network Discovery properly configured so that they can "see" each other.

https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=297&q=how+to+configure+windows+network+discovery

Answer 2

You can change DNS safely in Windows 10 through the network adapter’s IPv4 properties without changing your computer’s IP address, subnet mask, or default gateway.

Change the DNS servers

Press Windows key + R, enter control, and select OK.
Open Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center.
Select Change adapter settings.
Right-click the connection currently in use:
- Wi-Fi for a wireless connection, or
- Ethernet for a wired connection.
Select Properties. Approve the administrator prompt if Windows displays one.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then select Properties.
Before changing anything, note whether DNS is automatic. If addresses are already entered, record them so that you can restore them later.
Leave the upper IP-address section unchanged. In the lower section, select Use the following DNS server addresses.
Enter one complete DNS provider pair—do not mix addresses from different providers:
- Cloudflare
  - Preferred DNS server: [IP Address]
  - Alternate DNS server: [IP Address]
- Google
  - Preferred DNS server: [IP Address]
  - Alternate DNS server: [IP Address]
Select OK, then Close.

The Control Panel adapter procedure applies to Windows 10, and Microsoft’s networking guidance confirms that DNS can be assigned manually or supplied automatically through DHCP.^1^ The public DNS pairs above are also documented in Windows troubleshooting guidance on Microsoft Q&A.^2^

Test the change by opening several websites. A restart normally is not required, but closing and reopening the browser can help.

Restore the previous configuration

Return to TCP/IPv4 Properties, then:

If it originally showed Obtain DNS server address automatically, select that option again.
If it originally contained custom DNS addresses, re-enter the addresses you recorded.

Do not select automatic DNS as a rollback if the connection was previously configured with specific DNS servers.

About the video

The video’s instructions are applicable to Windows 10 if they use the same adapter-properties method and modify only Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server. Avoid following it if it instructs you to guess or alter the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, or IPv6 address. Incorrect DNS entries can prevent websites from opening by name.^3^

Windows 10 does not expose the newer DNS over HTTPS option described for later Windows versions, so its absence is expected.^1^

References