How to Change DNS Servers on Windows and macOS – Step-by-Step Guide

How to Change DNS Servers on Windows and macOS – Step-by-Step Guide

DNS (Domain Name System) servers are responsible for translating website names (like www.webzi.mx) into IP addresses that computers can understand. Your internet provider assigns DNS servers automatically, but you can change them manually to get benefits such as:

  • Faster browsing speed by resolving domain names more quickly.
  • Improved security by avoiding misconfigured or compromised DNS servers.
  • Greater reliability by using public DNS servers with high availability.

In this guide, we will show you how to change the DNS on Windows and macOS using Google's public DNS as an example.

Popular Public DNS Servers

You can use any of the following public DNS servers:

  • Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
  • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
  • OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

Change DNS on Windows

  1. Click the Start button and open Settings.
  2. Go to Network & Internet.
  3. Select the connection type you are using: Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
  4. Click on your active connection and look for the "DNS server assignment" section.
  5. Click "Edit".
  6. Change the option from "Automatic" to "Manual".
  7. Enable IPv4 and enter the following values:
    • Preferred DNS: 8.8.8.8
    • Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4
  8. If the "DNS over HTTPS" option appears, select "On (automatic template)" for added security.
  9. Click "Save".

Change DNS on macOS

  1. Click the Apple icon (top left corner) and select "System Settings".
  2. In the sidebar, select "Network".
  3. Click on your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and then click "Details...".
  4. Select the "DNS" tab.
  5. Click the "+" button and enter 8.8.8.8.
  6. Click "+" again and enter 8.8.4.4 as the alternate DNS.
  7. Click "OK" to save the changes.

 

Verify the Change

Once the changes are made, you can verify that the new DNS servers are working correctly. Open the terminal (or Command Prompt on Windows) and run the following command:

  1. nslookup webzi.mx

In the response, the "Server" field should display the address of the DNS you configured (for example, 8.8.8.8).

Info
If you experience browsing issues after changing the DNS, you can revert the changes by selecting the "Automatic" option (on Windows) or by removing the DNS entries you added using the "−" button (on macOS). Your computer will go back to using the DNS servers assigned by your internet provider.

 

Changing your computer's DNS is a simple process that can significantly improve your browsing experience. Using public DNS servers like Google or Cloudflare provides you with faster speed, better security, and greater reliability for your internet connection.

If you have any questions, we are available to help you through our chat system.


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