Change DNS on Router: Faster, Safer Browsing
Changing DNS on your router updates every device at once. Here are the best DNS servers and the steps for each brand.
By default your router uses the DNS servers of your internet provider. Switching to a public DNS service can make websites start loading faster, fix DNS errors and add malware or family filtering.
Log in to your router admin page, open the internet or WAN settings, change DNS from Automatic to Manual, enter the primary and secondary servers, then save and restart the router.
Changing DNS on the router updates every device in your home at once. Here is how to do it.
Best public DNS servers
| Provider | Primary | Secondary | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 | Speed and privacy |
| 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | Reliability | |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 | Blocking malicious sites |
| Cloudflare Families | 1.1.1.3 | 1.0.0.3 | Blocking malware and adult sites |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 | Optional filtering |
The Cloudflare row is the one I start with on most home routers.
How to change DNS on your router
- Log in to your router admin page. Find the address with our Router IP Finder, or try 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
- Open the internet or WAN settings. On some routers it is under DHCP or LAN settings.
- Change DNS from Automatic to Manual or Use these DNS servers.
- Enter the primary and secondary servers from the table.
- Save and restart the router. Reconnect devices so they pick up the change.
The Manual switch is the step I double-check before I type any addresses.
DNS location by brand
| Brand | Menu |
|---|---|
| TP-Link | Advanced, Network, Internet, Advanced settings, DNS |
| Netgear | Internet, Domain Name Server (DNS) Address |
| ASUS | WAN, Internet Connection, WAN DNS Setting |
| Linksys | Connectivity, Internet Settings, Edit, DNS |
| eero | App, Settings, Advanced, DNS |
| Google Nest WiFi | Google Home, Wi-Fi, Settings, Advanced networking, DNS |
A brand menu that hides DNS under Advanced is the layout I expect most.
How to test that it worked
- Visit a DNS test page such as 1.1.1.1/help for Cloudflare.
- On Windows, run
nslookup google.comand check which server answers. - If browsing is slower, switch to another provider or back to Automatic.
The nslookup check is the test I run before I call a change done.
Things to know
- ISP routers sometimes lock DNS settings. Change DNS on each device or use your own router.
- Mesh systems change DNS in the app, not a web page.
- Devices with their own DNS, such as Chrome secure DNS or Android Private DNS, may ignore the router setting.
The ISP-locked router is the snag I warn about before anyone starts.
Router DNS vs device DNS
Changing DNS on the router covers every device at home in one go, including TVs and consoles. Changing it on a single device only affects that device, but overrides the router.
One wrinkle: some ISP routers don’t let you change DNS at all. In that case, set DNS on important devices individually, or use a browser’s secure DNS setting. When every device needs the change, the router-wide route is the one I pick.
Filtering DNS options
- Quad9 (9.9.9.9): blocks known malicious domains.
- Cloudflare 1.1.1.2: blocks malware.
- Cloudflare 1.1.1.3: blocks malware and adult content.
- OpenDNS FamilyShield: adult content filtering for families.
These are a free way to add a layer of protection for the whole house. For homes with kids, the family-filtering option is the one I suggest first.
IPv6 DNS settings too
If your connection uses IPv6, devices may still use your ISP’s IPv6 DNS servers even after you change the IPv4 ones. To fully switch, also set the IPv6 DNS fields in your router:
- Cloudflare: 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001
- Google: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844
- Quad9: 2620:fe::fe and 2620:fe::9
The IPv6 fields are the part I forget most often on a dual-stack setup.
Some sites stopped loading after changing DNS
- Your ISP may use its own DNS for services like webmail, TV apps or account pages. Switch back if those break.
- A filtering DNS might be blocking a site by mistake. Try a non-filtering option like 1.1.1.1.
- Flush DNS on your devices and restart the browser.
- Check you typed the DNS addresses correctly.
The ISP-services breakage is the cause I check first when sites stop loading.
Change DNS on the most common routers
- TP-Link: Advanced, Network, Internet (or DHCP Server), then set Primary and Secondary DNS.
- Netgear: Internet, Domain Name Server (DNS) Address, Use These DNS Servers.
- ASUS: WAN, Internet Connection, WAN DNS Setting. Newer firmware offers DNS presets.
- D-Link: Settings, Internet, Advanced Settings, Primary/Secondary DNS.
- Linksys: Connectivity, Internet Settings, IPv4, Edit, then set DNS.
- Mesh apps: eero (Network settings, DNS), Deco (Advanced, IPv4), Google Home (Advanced networking, DNS).
After saving, restart a device or reconnect to WiFi so it picks up the new DNS servers from the router. The reconnect step is the one I never skip after saving new DNS.
