Changing your internet connection’s default DNS server has many advantages, including improved safety, better privacy, faster performance, and more. On all contemporary PC and smartphone operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, you can modify the DNS settings for your internet connection. The topic of changing DNS settings on Windows 10 has previously been covered, so today we’ll look at how to accomplish it on your Android smartphone and tablet.
Change Android DNS Settings on Phones and Tablets
Although the majority of people utilise the ISP’s default DNS server, there are a number of reasons why you should change it.
What is DNS?
Most of the time, third-party DNS servers are quicker, safer, and more private, and some of them even have additional configuration options. Therefore, today we’ll look at how to quickly update Android DNS settings. We will also discover what DNS is and how changing it on your machine may be advantageous.
Benefits of Using Third-party DNS
DNS, or Domain Name System, is frequently referred to as the internet’s phone book, and for good reason. It facilitates connection to websites by converting straightforward domain names like beebom.com to computer-friendly IP addresses like 104.17.8.12 for your PC or smartphone’s web browser (IPV4 address for Beebom.com). You would have to type 104.17.8.12 into your browser’s address bar each time you wanted to access this site because it would be impossible to access web servers through friendly URLs without DNS.
While the majority of consumers simply utilise the default DNS servers offered by their ISP, third-party solutions frequently produce better outcomes in a variety of ways. Depending on how close you are to the third-party DNS server’s servers, using it can provide you faster speeds. Your internet browsing history may also be recorded by some ISPs and shared with third parties without your knowledge. Your online privacy will be preserved if you use secure, no-log DNS providers.
How to Change DNS on Android
Given that a large number of censored websites are blocked via DNS, third-party DNS servers can also assist you in unlocking regionally restricted material and avoiding censorship. Last but not least, some independent DNS service providers, such as OpenDNS and Quad9, will safeguard you from fraudulent websites and other online dangers. Additionally, OpenDNS provides possibilities for custom filtering and parental control.
Depending on the Android version, there are many ways to set up Android’s default DNS server. On devices running Android 9 Pie and newer, it is comparatively easier, but on those running Android 8.1 Oreo and earlier, it is a little trickier. Go to Settings and look for About, About Phone, System, or a similar term to determine your Android version (typically either the very first or very last option in the Settings page). You can find a listing of your Android version by scrolling down on the About/System page.
Change DNS on Android 9 Pie and Newer
Note:Depending on the manufacturer and version of Android, certain menu selections may vary from one device to another.
- To change the DNS server on Android 9 Pie and newer, go to Settings > Network & Internet.
- On the next page, expand the Advanced menu and select the option that says Private DNS . It should say Automatic if it hasn t already been configured manually.
- In the popup box, select Private DNS provider hostname and type in a TLS hostname (not just a standard IPV4 address). Finally, hit Save . As you can see, I ve now successfully configured this device to use Google DNS for all connections.
Not all third-party DNS servers are compatible with Android 9 and higher since DNS-over-TLS is the only type of DNS that is supported. Verify that DNS-over-TLS is available from your desired DNS service provider before configuring. Additionally, a VPN, which overrides private DNS sets, has no impact when you utilise it.
Change DNS on Android 8.1 Oreo and Older (Hard Way)
Note:I used indns.google rather than 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4 as the hostname of the DNS provider since I wanted to configure Google DNS. Depending on the DNS service you choose, your entry would vary.
- To make changes to a Wi-Fi network, turn on Wi-Fi on your Android device and long press the Wi-Fi icon in the Quick Settings panel to go to the Wi-Fi Settings page. Next, depending on your device, either long press on the target network s name and select Modify network > Advanced settings or tap on the arrow next to the network s name to access the configuration options.
- Find the menu item that says IP Settings . Chances are, it will say DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). Change that to Static to manually choose your DNS provider.
- Now you ll need to not only fill in your preferred DNS addresses, but also manually specify your IP address and the Wi-Fi router s gateway. Remember to save your configuration before exiting.
The following DNS settings only apply to Wi-Fi connections because Android Oreo and earlier versions do not let you alter DNS servers for cellular networks. Even then, the modifications are network-specific, necessitating a new DNS server update each time you join a new wireless network. Additionally, since you’ll have to manually setup every aspect of the network, these adjustments are only advised for experienced users.
Change DNS on Android 8.1 Oreo and Older (Easy Way)
Reminder: It’s best to only perform this action on your personal Wi-Fi router, not on shared or public routers. Additionally, mine is set up for Open DNS, but you are free to use any other DNS service you like.
Many people may find the previously mentioned method of changing DNS on older Android devices to be a little scary. Even more aggravating is the fact that it needs to be repeated for every single new connection separately. The harshest blow is that cellular connections still aren’t supported.
Fortunately, there is a simple method for doing this. There is an app for it, as there is for practically anything these days. There are actually several of them, and the best part is that they can be used with mobile connections. You simply need to configure it once for it to function system-wide across all Wi-Fi and cellular connections, just as on your PC.
- Open DNSChanger for IPv4/IPv6 . On the home screen, tap on Default DNS addresses . Then scroll down to find numerous pre-configured options, including OpenDNS, Google DNS, CloudFlare DNS and more. Take your pick.
- If you don t see your preferred DNS service in the list, you can manually type in any custom IPv4 or IPv6 DNS server on the home page, as seen in the left screenshot above. The app also lets you configure your connection to block adult websites, and you get multiple options about which sites to block and which ones not to.
So to the Play Store and download your preferred free DNS changing app. The open source and ad-free DNSChanger for IPv4/IPv6 (download) and Open DNS Changer are two of the better solutions (download). In today’s demonstration, I’m using the first one.
Configure Your Preferred Private DNS Setting on Any Android Device
Without requiring root access, DNS Changer for IPv4 & IPv6 operates via cellular and Wi-Fi networks. But a VPN is used to reroute all traffic in order to make this happen. On older Android devices without root, it’s not the best choice, but it’s the only one that works. You might not need to use a third-party programme if you wish to use Cloudflare DNS in the interim. For Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, CloudFlare offers its own WARP application.
