How to Change DNS Settings on Your Router
Changing DNS on the router applies to every device on your network at once — no need to change settings on each phone, laptop, or smart TV individually.
What Is DNS and Why Change It?
DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names like google.com into IP addresses your computer can connect to. Every internet request starts with a DNS lookup. By default your router uses your ISP's DNS servers, which are often slower than alternatives and may log your queries for marketing purposes.
Switching to faster, privacy-focused DNS servers like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) can reduce DNS resolution time from 50-100ms to under 10ms on a good day, and Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 explicitly does not log queries.
Popular DNS Servers
| Provider | Primary DNS | Secondary DNS | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 | Speed and privacy |
| 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | Reliability | |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 | Parental controls and security |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 | Malware blocking |
| Cloudflare Family | 1.1.1.3 | 1.0.0.3 | Malware + adult content filtering |
| AdGuard | 94.140.14.14 | 94.140.15.15 | Ad and tracker blocking |
How to Change DNS on Your Router
Go to http://192.168.1.1. Enter admin credentials.
Look under WAN settings, Internet settings, or Advanced > Network. The DNS server fields are often in the WAN configuration section, not the LAN section.
Replace the ISP-assigned DNS with your preferred servers. Enter the primary in the first field (e.g., 1.1.1.1) and secondary in the second (e.g., 1.0.0.1). The secondary is used as a fallback if the primary is unreachable.
Save the settings. Open a browser and navigate to a website to confirm it still works. You can test DNS speed with a tool like DNS Benchmark or simply compare browsing speed before and after.