How to Change DNS Server in Windows 10

Greetings Dev, if you’re reading this article, it means that you’re looking for a way to change your DNS server in Windows 10. In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing the DNS server step-by-step. DNS, or Domain Name System, is essentially like the phonebook of the internet, translating domain names into IP addresses. Without DNS, we would have to remember IP addresses for every website we want to visit. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.

Step 1: Open Network and Sharing Center

The first step before changing your DNS server is to open the Network and Sharing Center. To do this, you can either click on the network icon in your taskbar and select “Open Network & Internet settings” or you can search “Network and Sharing Center” in the start menu.

Step 1.1. Open Network & Internet Settings

To open Network & internet settings, click on the network icon in the Windows taskbar. You should see a panel pop up with some quick settings for Wi-Fi, Airplane mode, and VPN. Click on the “Network & internet settings” button at the bottom of this panel.

Step 1.2. Search “Network and Sharing Center” in the start menu

You can also search for “Network and Sharing Center” in the Start menu. Click on the Start menu button in the bottom-left corner of your screen and type in “Network and Sharing Center”. The search results should show the Network and Sharing Center as an option. Click on it to open the Center.

Step 2: Select the Network Connection You Want to Change

Once you have opened the Network and Sharing Center, you will see a list of your active network connections. Select the connection you want to change the DNS server for. Usually, this will be your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.

Step 2.1. Click “Change Adapter Settings”

To change the DNS server for a specific network connection, you will first need to open that connection’s properties. In the Network and Sharing Center, click on the “Change adapter settings” option in the left-hand menu.

Step 2.2. Right-Click on Your Network Connection and Select “Properties”

You can also access the properties of your network connection by right-clicking on the network icon in your taskbar and selecting “Open Network & Internet settings”. Under the “Change your network settings” section, click on “Change adapter options”. Then right-click on your active network connection and select “Properties”.

Step 3: Open the Properties of Your Network Connection

After selecting the network connection you want to change, you will need to open its properties. To do this, either right-click on the network connection and select “Properties” or click the “Properties” button in the toolbar above the connection list.

Step 3.1. Click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”

In the properties window, you will see a list of items that are enabled for that network connection. You will need to find “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and select it. Click on the “Properties” button below.

Step 3.2. Click “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)”

If you’re using IPv6 instead of IPv4, you would need to click on “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” instead of “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”.

Step 4: Change Your DNS Server Settings

After opening the properties of your network connection and selecting the correct protocol version, you will see a few different options. The DNS server settings are located in this window. The default option is “Obtain DNS server address automatically,” but you can also choose to use custom DNS servers.

Step 4.1. Select “Use the following DNS server addresses”

To use custom DNS servers, select “Use the following DNS server addresses” instead of “Obtain DNS server address automatically”. You will then need to enter the IP addresses of the custom DNS servers you want to use. You can usually find these addresses provided by your ISP or third-party DNS providers such as Google, OpenDNS, or Cloudflare.

Step 4.2. Enter Your Custom DNS Server Addresses

Enter the IP addresses of your preferred DNS servers in the “Preferred DNS server” and “Alternate DNS server” fields respectively. You can enter up to two different DNS servers in these fields. Make sure to click “OK” to save your changes.

Step 5: Test Your New DNS Settings

After changing your DNS server settings, it’s always a good idea to test them out to make sure everything is working correctly. You can test your DNS settings by visiting websites that didn’t work previously or using the command prompt to perform a DNS lookup.

Step 5.1. Verify Your DNS Settings with Command Prompt

To verify your new DNS settings, you can use the command prompt to perform a DNS lookup on a website. Open the command prompt and type “nslookup” followed by the website URL. The command prompt should display the IP address of the website’s server. If it displays the correct IP address, your DNS settings are working correctly.

Step 5.2. Verify Your DNS Settings by Visiting Websites

You can also verify your DNS settings by visiting websites that were previously not working. If the websites now load correctly, your DNS settings are working as intended.

FAQs

That’s it for our guide on how to change DNS server in Windows 10. We hope you found this article helpful, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below!