How to change DNS resolver on Windows 10

Your DNS resolver translates domain names into IP addresses every time you visit a website. Switching to a faster or more reliable resolver can reduce lookup times and help you reach sites that your current resolver handles poorly.

This guide walks you through changing your DNS resolver on Windows 10 using the Network Connections settings. Once complete, your machine will use the new resolver for all DNS queries.

Change your DNS resolver through Network Connections

Windows 10 stores DNS settings per network adapter. You need to open the properties for your active adapter and update the IPv4 DNS fields. Changes take effect immediately without a full system restart, though flushing your DNS cache afterwards ensures your machine starts using the new resolver straight away.

1. Open Settings.
   Click the Start button and select Settings (the gear icon).
2. Go to Network & Internet.
   Click Network & Internet from the Settings menu.
3. Open adapter options.
   Under the Status tab, scroll down and click Change adapter options. This opens the Network Connections window.

4. Open your adapter’s properties.
   Right-click your active connection, either Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and select Properties.
5. Select Internet Protocol Version 4.
   In the connection properties window, scroll through the list and click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) to highlight it, then click the Properties button below the list.

6. Enter your DNS server addresses.
   Select the radio button labelled Use the following DNS server addresses. Enter your preferred resolver in the Preferred DNS server field and your secondary resolver in the Alternate DNS server field. A secondary address acts as a fallback if the primary is unreachable.
7. Save the changes.
   Click OK to close the IPv4 Properties window, then click Close on the adapter Properties window.

Your adapter is now configured to use the new DNS resolver. To make sure Windows starts using it immediately, flush the DNS cache by opening Command Prompt as administrator and running the following command.

ipconfig /flushdns

You should see a confirmation message that the DNS Resolver Cache was flushed. Your machine will now resolve domain names through the new resolver.

Troubleshooting

Sites are not loading after the change

If websites stop loading after you update your DNS settings, the resolver addresses may have been entered incorrectly, or the resolver itself may be temporarily unavailable.

• Double-check the addresses in the IPv4 Properties dialog for typos.
• Confirm your alternate DNS address is filled in so a fallback is available.
• Run ipconfig /flushdns again to clear any stale cached entries.
• Revert to your original DNS addresses if the problem persists.

DNS changes are not taking effect

If your machine appears to be ignoring the new resolver, the wrong adapter may have been updated, or a VPN client may be overriding your DNS settings.

• Return to Network Connections and confirm you edited the adapter that is currently active.
• Disconnect any active VPN connections, as these often set their own DNS resolver.
• Restart your browser, as some browsers cache DNS independently of the operating system.

Wrapping up

You have updated the DNS resolver on your Windows 10 machine by editing the IPv4 settings for your active network adapter and flushing the local DNS cache. Your machine will now direct all DNS queries to the resolver addresses you specified.

If you are troubleshooting a domain that is not resolving as expected, our guides on checking DNS propagation and flushing your DNS resolver cache cover the next steps. For broader DNS configuration, see our guide on editing your DNS zone and our overview of what DNS is and how it works.