How to Change DNS on Your Router

Step 1 — Find your router's IP address

Your router's admin panel lives at its local IP. Here is how to find it on each OS:

• Windows: Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig. Look for Default Gateway — that is your router.
• Linux: Run ip route | grep default. The IP after "via" is the router.
• Mac: Open System Settings > Network, select your active connection, and check the Router field.

The address is almost always 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Some brands use 10.0.0.1 or 192.168.2.1.

Step 2 — Log in to the router admin panel

Open a browser and type the router IP into the address bar. You will see a login page.

Default credentials are usually printed on a sticker on the bottom or back of the router. Common combinations:

• admin / admin
• admin / password
• admin / (blank)

If someone changed the password and you do not know it, most routers have a physical reset button that restores factory defaults. Check your router's manual before doing this — it will erase all custom settings.

Step 3 — Find the DNS settings

The location varies by manufacturer. Look for fields labeled DNS Server, Primary DNS, or Name Server. They are usually under one of these menus:

• WAN or Internet settings
• DHCP settings (under LAN)
• Network or Advanced settings

Some routers have separate DNS fields for WAN (what the router itself uses) and DHCP (what it hands out to devices). Set both if available.

Step 4 — Enter primary and secondary DNS

Type the IP of your chosen primary DNS server in the first field and the secondary in the second. Always fill both fields so you have a fallback.

For example, to use Cloudflare:

• Primary: 1.1.1.1
• Secondary: 1.0.0.1

Or Google Public DNS:

• Primary: 8.8.8.8
• Secondary: 8.8.4.4

Step 5 — Save and reboot the router

Click Save or Apply. Then reboot the router — either from the admin panel or by unplugging it for ten seconds.

After it comes back up, every device on your network will receive the new DNS servers the next time they renew their DHCP lease. This happens automatically and typically takes a few minutes at most.

Where to find DNS settings on popular routers

These are the typical menu paths. Your firmware version may differ slightly.

• TP-Link: Advanced > Network > Internet (or WAN) > Advanced Settings > DNS fields. On newer Deco/Archer models: Advanced > Network > DHCP Server.
• ASUS: WAN > Internet Connection > WAN DNS Setting. Set "Connect to DNS Server automatically" to No, then enter your DNS IPs.
• Netgear: Internet (or Basic > Internet) > scroll to DNS Address fields. Choose "Use These DNS Servers" instead of "Get Automatically from ISP."
• Linksys: Connectivity > Internet Settings > Edit. Change DNS fields from automatic to manual and enter your IPs.

ISP-provided routers

Many ISPs supply locked-down routers that grey out the DNS fields or silently intercept DNS traffic on port 53 regardless of your settings. If you hit this wall, you have a few options:

• Replace the ISP router with your own (check if your ISP allows bridge mode first).
• Use encrypted DNS (DoH or DoT) on each device — the ISP cannot intercept encrypted queries.
• Run a Pi-hole or local DNS proxy behind the ISP router and point devices at it.

How to verify the change

On any device connected to the network, check which DNS server is actually being used:

• Windows: nslookup example.com — the "Server" line shows the active DNS.
• Mac / Linux: dig example.com — check the "SERVER" line at the bottom.
• Any browser: Visit 1.1.1.1/help (if using Cloudflare) or dns.google (if using Google) to confirm.

If the DNS still shows your ISP's server, the DHCP lease may not have renewed yet. Reboot the device or disconnect and reconnect to the network.

Recommended DNS servers

Not sure which DNS provider to use? Browse the full directory for live-tested servers with reliability scores, or check the best privacy DNS and best family-safe DNS picks.

Frequently asked questions

Will changing router DNS affect all devices?

Yes, every device that gets its DNS settings from the router via DHCP will use the new servers. Devices with manually configured DNS will keep their own settings.

Can my ISP override router DNS settings?

Some ISP-provided routers lock the DNS fields or silently redirect DNS traffic. If you suspect this, use encrypted DNS (DoH or DoT) on individual devices, or replace the ISP router with your own.

Do I need to flush DNS after changing router settings?

Not usually. Rebooting the router clears its cache. Client devices will pick up the new servers when they renew their DHCP lease. If a device still resolves old results, reboot it or flush its local DNS cache.

What happens if the DNS servers I entered go down?

If the primary server is unreachable, your devices will fall back to the secondary. If both fail, websites will stop resolving until you fix the settings. Choose reliable providers and always set two servers.