When you’re browsing the web, every website you visit starts with a DNS (Domain Name System) lookup. This process translates human-friendly domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other. Typically, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) handles DNS resolution. But what happens when your ISP’s DNS fails? This is where public DNS services come in.
Why Use a Public DNS Service?
There are several scenarios where using a public DNS can be a lifesaver, but one of the most common is when your ISP’s DNS servers go down or become unreliable. Here’s a typical scenario:
Scenario: Website Outage Due to DNS Failure
Imagine you’re trying to access a popular website, but it’s not loading on your devices. You call a friend using a different internet provider and they can access it just fine. The issue? Your ISP’s DNS server is either outdated or experiencing a temporary failure, preventing you from reaching the site.
Switching to a public DNS can often resolve this immediately, as these services are usually more reliable, frequently updated, and better maintained than ISP-provided DNS servers.
How to Change DNS Provider in Windows PC
Changing your DNS provider in Windows is quite straightforward. Here are the steps:
- Open Network Settings:
- Press
Windows + R, typencpa.cpl, and hit Enter.
- Press
- Choose Your Network Adapter:
- Right-click on your active network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select
Properties.
- Right-click on your active network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and select
- Modify IPv4 Settings:
- Select
Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)and clickProperties.
- Select
- Set Custom DNS:
- Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter:
- Preferred DNS server:
8.8.8.8 - Alternate DNS server:
8.8.4.4
- Preferred DNS server:
- Click OK to save settings.
- Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter:
- Flush DNS Cache (optional):
- Open Command Prompt and type
ipconfig /flushdnsto clear old DNS data.
- Open Command Prompt and type
Using Private DNS on Android
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Android supports Private DNS using the TLS protocol (also known as DNS-over-TLS). This is particularly helpful when your ISP’s DNS fails.
Although, Android settings say Private DNS, we can actually use Public DNS settings here, without any problem. The difference is, you can’t use the IP addresses directly. Rather, you have to use a special form of Public DNS server address which is in form of the host name of the server.
Steps to Configure Private DNS on Android:
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS.
- Select “Private DNS provider hostname”
- Enter a provider hostname (e.g.,
dns.google) - Tap Save
This tells your Android device to use Google’s DNS with encrypted DNS lookups, enhancing both reliability and privacy.
Other Configurable Public DNS Services on Android:
- Cloudflare DNS:
1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com - Quad9 DNS:
dns.quad9.net - CleanBrowsing DNS:
family-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org - Namecheap SafeServe DNS :
safeservedns.com
These can be used similarly by entering their hostname in the Private DNS settings.
Popular Public DNS Providers
Here’s a list of some of the most widely-used and reliable public DNS providers:
| Provider | Primary DNS | Secondary DNS | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google DNS | 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | Fast, reliable, global infrastructure |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 | Privacy-focused, DNS-over-HTTPS/TLS support |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 | Security-focused, blocks malicious domains |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 | Offers parental controls and filtering |
| CleanBrowsing | 185.228.168.9 | 185.228.169.9 | Family-safe DNS with content filtering |
| Comodo Secure | 8.26.56.26 | 8.20.247.20 | DNS-level malware protection |
| Namecheap SafeServe | 198.54.117.10 | 198.54.117.11 | Total Security, Total Privacy, Total Reliability |
Conclusion
Public DNS services are a powerful and easy solution when your ISP’s DNS fails or proves unreliable. Whether you’re experiencing website outages or simply want a more secure and faster internet experience, switching to a public DNS like Google DNS or Cloudflare is a smart move. With just a few tweaks to your settings on Windows or Android, you can regain control over your internet browsing and even improve performance and privacy along the way.
By using public DNS services, users can experience improved web browsing speeds due to optimized DNS resolution processes. Additionally, these services often include features like phishing and malware protection, which help safeguard users from malicious websites.
Public DNS providers also contribute to the overall stability of the internet by distributing the load of DNS queries across their extensive server networks, reducing the risk of single points of failure and improving the resilience of the DNS infrastructure.
Stay connected and browse smarter!