Are you trying to change Windows DNS to see blocked sites? Why your computer is trying to use a dns server that is incorrect or doesn’t exist? It is not necessary to have high-level computer skills. On the contrary, you can do everything in a few simple steps.
How to fix your computer is trying to use a dns server that is incorrect or doesn’t exist
Before understanding how to change DNS, it is good to know what DNS is.
DNS stands for Domain Name System and they perform the function of translating domain names into IP addresses.
I’ll give you an example, if you wanted to view the Google page on your internet or mobile browser, you should write the IP 216.58.206.35 instead of www.google.com,
Make a copy and paste of the IP I just brought back to your browser, press enter to see the Google home page open.
You can easily realize now what DNS is for.
So you can think of DNS as a huge catalog that associates each question with an answer.
When you type google.com, you are sending the question to the DNS “I want to see the site google.com”.
At that point, the system investigates to find out if there is a valid server IP address associated with the request received.
If the IP exists, you will soon see the home page of the site appear on your browser.
DNS problems
Sometimes it happens that a website is not reachable from a specific connection / geographical location because the DNS used are experiencing an internal malfunction.
Maybe a DNS server on the circuit is not working properly.
Personally and also to my colleagues, it has happened that from a Vodafone connection I could not reach a site that, instead, was easily reached by a Telecom connection, or vice versa, and again, it could happen that from the PC you are unable to reach a website, while from the smartphone with the data line, you can view it correctly.
When similar events occur, you should be able to see the word “Domain resolution in progress,” which remains for a long time in the status bar of the browser at the bottom.
In these cases, there is obviously a DNS problem with your line provider.
These are just a few reasons why you would like to change DNS.
Why change DNS?
In addition to the fact described, you should know that normally each user uses the DNS servers of their ISP (Internet Service Provider) since they are preconfigured in the router that is delivered after taking out an ADSL or fiber subscription.
Slowness
If you notice that some sites load slowly compared to other connections you use, perhaps from a smartphone or at work, you might think about a DNS change to speed up the connection itself.
Safety
Another reason you might decide to change DNS is security.
In fact, there are DNS services such as OpenDNS and the other quite similar Quad9 that implement security filters for normal browsing.
These DNS prevent browsing on malicious sites containing mostly malware, a bit like current antivirus does in the Internet Security version.
In addition to this type of security, OpenDNS also incorporates a filter for viewing adult content, which is very useful for families.
See blocked sites
Some ISPs block access to various internet sites or web portals because they violate Italian or international laws such as those relating to copyright for Movies, Music, Games and other protected material.
What is Google DNS?
It is necessary to give importance to the google public DNS that promise:
- Higher speed
- Increase in navigation safety
- No redirects
Here are the dns again:
Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
At this point, the question will arise spontaneously “Why is there a Primary DNS and a Secondary DNS?”.
The primary DNS is the IP of reference to the DNS server that is used as preferential and, if the connection fails, the secondary DNS intervenes directly.
Quad9 DNS
On the Quad9 DNS service which takes its name from their Primary DNS, represented by four 9 (9.9.9.9), focusing on user security while browsing.
In fact, it describes the secure network it uses to route queries, relying on multiple security systems that provide the condition of a particular website in real-time.
If the system finds negative reports on the website you want to visit, access will be prevented.
By doing so, Quad9 avoids the possibility that you or your loved ones may find yourself in unpleasant situations caused by cyber malware.
Here are the DNS:
Primary DNS: 9.9.9.9
Secondary DNS: 149.112.112.112
OpenDNS
The service boasts over 90 million users, with 140 billion requests satisfied every day.
Their system has 100% up-time and reachability, so the service is always active.
Strengths:
- Fast and reliable connection
- It helps the web to be a safer place
- Easy to use
There are two free services:
OpenDNS Family Shield
Primary DNS: 208.67.222.123
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.123
OpenDNS Home
Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220
You can also configure custom filters
Verisign DNS
This is also a free service of their DNS
more stability
more safety
Privacy
On the others, it is not often mentioned but, in the case of Verisign, it is even emphasized that your privacy is respected.
This means that your public data will not be sold to third parties, nor will it be used to deliver targeted ads to you.
AdGuard DNS
AdGuard offers you a dns service capable of:
protects your privacy
block advertisements
has a control for minors
Default Protection:
Primary DNS: 176.103.130.130
Secondary DNS: 176.103.130.131
Family protection:
Primary DNS: 176.103.130.132
Secondary DNS: 176.103.130.134
It’s a good service if you think about ad blocking, especially to protect children who start surfing the web.
Cloudflare
Last but not least, the famous Cloudflare, which also offers CDN and Firewall services.
Looking around the internet, I have to say that the tests are done to prove to be CloudFlare the fastest DNS service compared to all the others.
The company defines its service as an enterprise-level authoritative DNS thanks to:
datacenter in 200 cities
speed
advanced security
DDoS and DNSSEC prevention
All that remains is to try it by entering the parameters:
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1
How to understand which DNS you are using?
Before changing the DNS, it’s best to understand which ones you are using.
Press the Windows key + R simultaneously from the keyboard and you will see the Run window opens.
Then type “cmd” and press OK.
The Command Prompt opens where you can type directly: ipconfig / all
Now press the ENTER key from the keyboard.
You will see all the data related to each network card of your computer, be it ethernet or wifi.
How to change DNS windows 10?
So let’s see how to change DNS if problems similar to what I listed a little while ago arise.
Many use Google DNS, also called OpenDNS Google or Google Public DNS, because they are considered very fast and safe and among those that allow you to reach otherwise unreachable sites.
There is no cost if you decide to use Google DNS servers. You can do it for free.
But let’s face it, perhaps many did not know of the existence of the list that was published a little while ago.
Knowing that Cloudflare offers the same security and more speed, who would you opt for?
Let’s go to practice and I’ll show you how I change DNS quickly.
I am using Windows 10 but, the guide can be applied to any Windows version.
1) Open Network Connections
Well, start by typing in the search bar at the bottom left the phrase “Direct connections,” and from the panel, click on “View network connections.”
There are usually 2 tabs on computers:
Ethernet – for cable connection
Wi-Fi – for connection to wifi router
In my case, I am using the Wi-Fi card and so I operate on that card. If you are using a cable, it operates on the ethernet card.
2) Network card properties
Having said that, now click with the right mouse button on the network card you are using. It should be the only one enabled.
From the menu that opens, click on the item “Properties” to open the Properties window.
Go down in the list, locate the item “Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4)”, select the item by clicking on the writing and click on the Properties button.
3) Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4)
You have come to the right place to change Windows 10 DNS.
As you can see from the following image, you must now click on the item “Use the following DNS server addresses” to enable the insertion of the DNS you have chosen to use.
Then click on Ok in all windows.
Is it better to change DNS on PC or Router?
Now that you understand how to change DNS, you are wondering if it is better to enter the DNS on the network card of your PC or, better maybe change DNS from the Router.
If you decide to change the dns router, all the devices connected to the same router that has the setting “Obtain DNS server address automatically” will acquire the DNS of the router.
The operation can therefore be advantageous if you have several devices connected to it.
If you want to try the new DNS only on a computer or other device, proceed directly to change the dns from the network card.
The DNS setting of the network card takes precedence over the DNS settings of the router.