Gaming DNS Setup for Windows PC

Recommended DNS Servers for PC Gaming

These servers offer the best balance of speed, reliability, and security for gaming on Windows PC:

Provider	Primary DNS	Secondary DNS	Best for
Cloudflare	`1.1.1.1`	`1.0.0.1`	Lowest latency, fastest resolution
Google DNS	`8.8.8.8`	`8.8.4.4`	Most reliable, widest compatibility
Quad9	`9.9.9.9`	`149.112.112.112`	Security filtering + DNSSEC
Cloudflare Family	`1.1.1.3`	`1.0.0.3`	Gaming + malware blocking

How to Change DNS on Windows PC

Follow these steps to configure custom DNS on your PC:

Open Network Settings
Open Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Hardware properties
Click on your active connection, then select Hardware properties (or Edit under DNS server assignment).
Edit DNS
Click Edit next to DNS server assignment and switch from Automatic to Manual.
Enable IPv4
Toggle IPv4 on and enter 1.1.1.1 as Preferred DNS.
Set alternate DNS
Enter 1.0.0.1 as the Alternate DNS.
Save
Click Save. Open a command prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns to clear the DNS cache.

After changing DNS, test your connection to verify everything works. You may need to restart the device or clear the DNS cache.

Find the Fastest DNS for Your PC

Which DNS is fastest from your location? Run a real-time benchmark to test 24+ servers and find the best one for your PC gaming.

Run DNS Benchmark

DNS Setup for Other Platforms

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best DNS for gaming on Windows PC?

Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) and Google (8.8.8.8) are the most popular choices for Windows PC gaming. Cloudflare tends to have slightly lower latency due to its massive anycast network, while Google offers the highest reliability. Run a benchmark from your network to determine which is fastest for you.

Does changing DNS on Windows PC improve gaming performance?

Changing DNS on Windows PC primarily improves connection setup times — how quickly you connect to game servers, matchmaking, and download updates. It does not reduce in-game ping once connected, since game traffic uses direct IP connections after the initial DNS resolution.

Can I use DNS-over-HTTPS on Windows PC?

Windows PC supports encrypted DNS. You can configure DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS in the system settings for additional privacy. This encrypts your DNS queries from your ISP.

Should I set DNS on my PC or on my router?

Setting DNS on your router applies the change to all devices on your network, which is simpler to manage. Setting it directly on your PC overrides the router setting for that device only. For gaming, setting it on the device ensures the DNS is always used, even on other networks.

Best DNS Settings for Windows PC