How to Change DNS on Windows to 1.1.1.1

Overview

Changing your DNS (Domain Name System) settings can help improve your browsing speed, enhance security, and even allow access to blocked websites. This guide will walk you through the steps to change your DNS settings on a Windows computer to use Cloudflare’s DNS service (1.1.1.1).

Prerequisites

• A Windows computer (Windows 10/11 or earlier versions).
• Administrative access to the computer.

Step-by-Step Guide

Method 1: Change DNS Settings via Control Panel

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter to open the Network Connections window.
3. Right-click on your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select Properties.
   
4. In the Networking tab, scroll down and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click Properties.
   
5. In the new window, select Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Enter 1.1.1.1 as the Preferred DNS server and 1.0.0.1 as the Alternate DNS server.
   
7. Click OK to save the settings, then close all windows.
8. Restart your computer to apply the new DNS settings.

Method 2: Change DNS Settings via Settings (Windows 10/11)

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Network & Internet, then select Status from the left-hand menu.
3. Click on Change adapter options under the Advanced network settings.
4. Right-click on your active network connection and select Properties.
5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click Properties.
   
6. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter 1.1.1.1 as the Preferred DNS server and 1.0.0.1 as the Alternate DNS server.
   
7. Click OK to save the settings, then close all windows.
8. Restart your computer to apply the new DNS settings.

Method 3: Use Secure DNS in Chrome and Select Cloudflare as the Provider

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down and click on Privacy and security in the left-hand menu.
4. Click on Security.
5. Scroll down to the Use secure DNS section and toggle it on.
6. Choose With from the drop-down menu, and select Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) from the list of providers.
7. Close the Settings tab. Your browser is now configured to use Cloudflare’s DNS via Secure DNS.
   

Troubleshooting

If you experience any issues after changing your DNS settings, you can revert to your original settings by selecting Obtain DNS server address automatically in the DNS configuration window.

Conclusion

You have successfully changed your DNS settings to Cloudflare’s DNS (1.1.1.1) and configured Chrome to use Secure DNS with Cloudflare. This should improve your internet browsing speed and security. If you encounter any issues, feel free to revert to the default settings or explore other DNS options.

Verification

To verify that your DNS settings have been successfully changed to Cloudflare’s DNS, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to DNS Leak Test.
2. Click on the Standard test button.
3. Wait for the test to complete. The results should show that your DNS is being provided by Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).