Change DNS Settings for All Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 11/10

The Domain Name System (DNS) works like the internet’s phonebook. When you enter a website address, such as a search engine or news website, your computer uses DNS to find the IP address associated with that website. Windows normally obtains DNS server addresses automatically from your router or internet service provider.

However, you may sometimes want to use a different DNS service for better reliability, faster DNS lookups, privacy features, or troubleshooting connection problems. The important thing to understand is that changing DNS settings for one Wi-Fi connection does not necessarily change them for every Wi-Fi network you connect to.

If you frequently connect your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC to different Wi-Fi networks, you may want Windows to use your preferred DNS configuration consistently. 

This guide explains how to configure DNS and what you can do when you want the same DNS servers to be used across your Wi-Fi connections.

Change DNS Settings for All Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 11/10

To change DNS settings for Wi-Fi in Windows 11/10, open Settings, go to Network & internet > Wi-Fi, select your connected Wi-Fi network, open Hardware properties or Properties, edit the DNS server assignment, select Manual, enable IPv4, enter your preferred DNS addresses, and save the changes. For a configuration that applies broadly to Wi-Fi connections, configure the DNS settings on the Wi-Fi network adapter through Windows network settings.

Let’s explore the steps in detail!

Step 1: Decide Which DNS Servers You Want to Use

Before changing the Windows settings, decide which DNS servers you want your computer to use. A DNS service normally provides at least a Primary DNS address and a Secondary DNS address.

For example, you might use a public DNS service such as Cloudflare DNS, Google Public DNS, or another trusted DNS provider. The exact addresses depend on the service you choose.

It is a good idea to write down your current DNS configuration before making changes. This gives you something to return to if your internet connection behaves differently after the change.

You should also understand that changing DNS does not increase the actual speed of your internet connection. It can sometimes make website lookups feel faster or improve reliability, but it does not increase the bandwidth supplied by your internet provider.

Step 2: Open Windows Network Settings

On Windows 11, press Windows + I on your keyboard to open Settings. You can also right-click the Start button and select Settings.

Once Settings opens, select Network & internet from the left side.

You will see several network options, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, and other connection settings. Select Wi-Fi because you want to change the DNS configuration used by your wireless network adapter.

On Windows 10, press Windows + I, select Network & Internet, and then select Wi-Fi from the left side.

The wording and layout can differ slightly between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the underlying network settings are similar.

Step 3: Open the Wi-Fi Adapter Properties

On Windows 11, select Hardware properties or the relevant properties option for your Wi-Fi connection, depending on your Windows version and interface.

If you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, Windows will display information about the connection. You may see details such as the network name, network band, link speed, and IP configuration.

For a broader adapter-level configuration, you can also open the classic network adapter settings. Press Windows + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.

The Network Connections window will appear. This window contains the network adapters installed on your computer.

Look for an adapter named something like Wi-Fi or Wireless Network Connection.

Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties.

This method is particularly useful when you want to configure DNS directly on the wireless adapter rather than changing only the settings displayed for one particular Wi-Fi network.

Step 4: Open Internet Protocol Version 4 Settings

Inside the Wi-Fi Properties window, you will see a list of networking components.

Find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

Select it and click the Properties button.

A new window will open containing options for obtaining an IP address and DNS server address.

If Windows is currently receiving DNS information automatically, you will normally see Obtain DNS server address automatically selected.

To enter your own DNS servers, select Use the following DNS server addresses.

This is where you can enter the DNS addresses supplied by your chosen DNS provider.

Step 5: Enter Your Preferred DNS Addresses

Enter the DNS addresses into the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields.

The preferred address is normally the primary DNS server. The alternate address provides another DNS server that Windows can use if the preferred server is unavailable.

Carefully type the addresses because even a small mistake can prevent websites from loading correctly.

Once you have entered the addresses, click OK.

Then click Close in the Wi-Fi Properties window.

Windows should now use the DNS configuration you entered for the Wi-Fi adapter.

Step 6: Configure IPv6 DNS if Necessary

Changing IPv4 DNS may not be enough if your network also uses IPv6.

Return to the Wi-Fi adapter’s Properties window and find Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).

Select it and click Properties.

If your selected DNS provider supplies IPv6 DNS addresses, select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the appropriate IPv6 DNS addresses.

If you do not have IPv6 DNS addresses or do not know whether your network uses IPv6, you can leave the IPv6 DNS configuration unchanged.

Do not enter IPv4 addresses into the IPv6 DNS fields because the two protocols use different address formats.

Step 7: Disconnect and Reconnect to Wi-Fi

After changing DNS settings, disconnect your computer from the Wi-Fi network and connect again.

You can do this by clicking the network icon on the Windows taskbar, selecting your Wi-Fi connection, disconnecting, and then reconnecting.

This helps Windows establish the connection again using the updated network configuration.

You can also restart the computer if you want to make sure all network components reload their settings.

Step 8: Clear the DNS Cache

Windows stores recently resolved DNS information in a local DNS cache. This can sometimes cause an old DNS result to remain available after you change DNS servers.

To clear it, open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Press the Windows key, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.

When the Command Prompt window appears, enter the following command:

ipconfig /flushdns

Press Enter.

Windows should report that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed.

Now try opening a few websites in your browser.

Step 9: Test Whether the New DNS Settings Are Working

You should verify that Windows is actually using the DNS configuration you entered.

Open Command Prompt and type:

ipconfig /all

Press Enter.

Find your Wi-Fi adapter in the results and look for the DNS Servers section.

The addresses shown there should correspond to the DNS servers you configured.

You can also test DNS resolution with a command such as:

nslookup example.com

The output should show the DNS server being used to resolve the domain.

If websites stop loading after changing DNS, return to the adapter’s IPv4 properties and select Obtain DNS server address automatically. This will restore the normal automatic DNS configuration.

What Happens on Other Wi-Fi Networks

This is the most important part if your goal is to change DNS settings for all Wi-Fi networks.

When you manually configure DNS on the Wi-Fi adapter, Windows can use those DNS settings instead of accepting DNS information automatically from individual Wi-Fi networks. However, network configuration can vary depending on Windows settings, DHCP behavior, IPv4 or IPv6 configuration, VPN software, security applications, and other network components.

Some networks may also impose their own DNS or connection requirements.

If a particular Wi-Fi network does not work correctly with your manually configured DNS servers, you may need to return to automatic DNS or configure that specific network separately.

For users who regularly switch between home Wi-Fi, office Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi, and mobile hotspots, this distinction is important. There is no universal Windows Settings switch that guarantees one manual DNS configuration will override every possible network condition.

FAQs

Can I change DNS for all Wi-Fi networks in Windows 11?

You can configure DNS on the Wi-Fi network adapter, which can provide a broader configuration than changing the DNS settings of only one Wi-Fi network profile. However, Windows does not offer a simple “apply this DNS to every Wi-Fi network” button.

Does changing DNS make Wi-Fi faster?

Changing DNS does not increase your Wi-Fi connection’s bandwidth or maximum internet speed. It can sometimes improve the time required to perform DNS lookups, which may make websites begin loading more quickly under certain conditions.

Can I use the same DNS on Windows 10 and Windows 11?

Yes. Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 support manual DNS configuration for IPv4 and IPv6. The exact Settings interface can differ between the two operating systems.

What happens if I enter the wrong DNS address?

If the DNS address is invalid or the DNS server is unavailable, websites may fail to load even though Windows still shows that your computer is connected to Wi-Fi. You can restore automatic DNS to troubleshoot the problem.

Should I change both IPv4 and IPv6 DNS?

If your network actively uses IPv6, configuring both can provide a more consistent DNS setup. However, you should only enter IPv6 DNS addresses supplied by a DNS provider that supports IPv6.

How can I restore the original DNS settings?

Open the Wi-Fi adapter Properties, open Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), select Obtain DNS server address automatically, and click OK. If you manually changed IPv6 settings as well, restore IPv6 to automatic DNS too.

Summary

Changing DNS can be useful when you want to use a different DNS provider on your Windows computer or troubleshoot website and name-resolution problems. For a configuration that applies broadly to Wi-Fi connections, configuring the Wi-Fi adapter’s DNS settings is more appropriate than changing only one saved Wi-Fi network.

For a very new Windows user, the safest approach is to first record your existing settings, choose a trusted DNS provider, configure IPv4 DNS, optionally configure IPv6 DNS, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and then verify the result with ipconfig /all or nslookup.

If the internet stops working after the change, you can quickly return to Obtain DNS server address automatically and reconnect to your network.