How to change your DNS

Acutis · plain-English network help · updated June 2026

Switching to a public DNS resolver takes a couple of minutes and is fully reversible. You can change it on one computer, or at the router so every device in the house uses it. Below are exact steps for Windows 11, macOS, and the router, plus how to verify it worked and how to revert. The example addresses used here are Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1); substitute any resolver you prefer.

How to change your DNS on Windows 11

1. Open Settings and go to Network & internet.
2. Click Wi-Fi (or Ethernet if you are wired), then click your active connection's name to open its properties.
3. Find DNS server assignment and click Edit.
4. Change the dropdown from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
5. Turn on IPv4. In Preferred DNS enter 1.1.1.1 and in Alternate DNS enter 1.0.0.1.
6. Click Save.

After saving, flush the old cached lookups so the change takes effect immediately. Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns.

How to change your DNS on macOS

1. Open System Settings and click Network.
2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click Details.
3. Choose the DNS tab.
4. Under DNS Servers, click the + button and add 1.1.1.1, then add 1.0.0.1. If your provider's servers are listed, you can select and remove them with the − button.
5. Click OK, then Apply.

To clear the macOS cache, open Terminal and run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder.

How to change DNS at the router

Setting DNS on the router applies it to every device automatically, which is the cleanest option for a whole household. Steps vary by brand, but the shape is the same:

1. Open a browser and go to your router's admin page. The address is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 (check the label on the router).
2. Log in with the admin username and password (also often on the label).
3. Find the Internet, WAN, or DHCP settings. Look for DNS Server fields, sometimes behind a "use these DNS servers" or "manual DNS" option.
4. Enter 1.1.1.1 as the primary and 1.0.0.1 as the secondary.
5. Save and apply. The router may reboot.

Note that devices set to a manual DNS on the device itself will ignore the router setting. For the router change to reach a device, that device should be on Automatic (DHCP) DNS.

How to verify the change worked

Confirm your computer is actually using the new resolver.

Windows (PowerShell): run Get-DnsClientServerAddress and check the listed addresses for your active adapter. They should show 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.

Windows or macOS, a quick lookup test: run nslookup example.com. The "Server" line at the top should show the resolver you set.

Cloudflare-specific check: visit https://1.1.1.1/help in a browser; it reports whether you are connected to Cloudflare's resolver.

How to revert

Going back is just as easy, and a good idea if a site stops loading or you simply want the default back.

• Windows 11: return to the same DNS server assignment screen and switch it from Manual back to Automatic (DHCP), then run ipconfig /flushdns.
• macOS: in the DNS tab, remove the addresses you added with the − button and click OK, then Apply. macOS will fall back to the DHCP-provided servers.
• Router: clear the manual DNS fields or set them back to "obtain automatically," then save.

One honest note: changing DNS only affects how names are looked up. It can make lookups quicker and add filtering, but it does not raise your download speed or fix a weak signal. If a problem persists after the switch, the cause is elsewhere.