How to change the DNS Server on your Phone

dns server

Just like you need a record of your friend’s phone numbers to always contact them when you want to speak with them, a DNS server can be best described as a phone book that has all the public IP addresses and domain names that are related to each other. It serves as an internet directory used to convert alphanumeric domain names to corresponding IP addresses.

How does it do it? It maps a domain name to the IP address of the server/s where the website is hosted. Once your phone has the right IP address, it can then access that website and the content therein.

Advertisement - Continue reading below

By default, your ISP automatically dictates which preferred and alternate DNS server you use. Most people don’t even think about it. We just expect our internet to work once we load some data. A web page you load will have its IP address along with some other content such as images, iframes and ads from other IP addresses. The bottom line is all this will work to slow down your browsing experience.

Android

Android requires a static IP address to use custom DNS addresses, which takes additional setup steps. The router approach is recommended here. Setting IP Settings to “Static” will affect the way that DHCP does address allocation and can be used only as a short-term solution. In order to work correctly, you have to configure your router and assign static IP to the device’s MAC address.

Changing the DNS settings will only affect your current Wi-Fi network connection. There is no option available to change the DNS settings for your 3G/4G data networks connection. Second, you must change the DNS server settings for each Wi-Fi network you want to connect to.

How to Change the DNS Settings on Android:

  • Open the Settings on the device.
  • Select “Wi-Fi”.
  • Long press your current network, then select “Modify network”.
  • Mark “Show advanced options” check box.
  • Change “IP settings” to “Static”
  • Add the DNS servers IPs to the “DNS 1”, and “DNS 2” fields.
  • Press “Save” button, disconnect from the network, and reconnect for changes to take effect.

Read About: How to change DNS server on your internet device

Here’s our Youtube Video on how to change DNS server on your Android phone; 

iOS

Your iPhone or iPad normally uses the DNS servers provided by whatever Wi-Fi network you use. But you can set a custom DNS server and use any other DNS server you prefer. Each Wi-FI network you connect to has its own separate DNS server setting. If you want to use your custom DNS server on several different Wi-Fi networks, you’ll have to change this setting once for each Wi-Fi network.

Advertisement - Continue reading below

How to Change the DNS Settings on iPhone/iPad:

  • Open the Settings app
  • Tap on Wi-Fi. If it’s switched off, turn it on.
  • Pick a Wi-Fi network and tap on the blue “i” icon
  • Tap on the text-field across the DNS label
  • Enter the DNS addresses
  • Tap on Wi-Fi on top to go back. The changes are saved automatically.

Which free DNS server can you use?

ProviderPrimary DNS ServerSecondary DNS Server
Level31209.244.0.3209.244.0.4
Verisign264.6.64.664.6.65.6
Google38.8.8.88.8.4.4
Quad949.9.9.9149.112.112.112
DNS.WATCH584.200.69.8084.200.70.40
Comodo Secure DNS8.26.56.268.20.247.20
OpenDNS Home6208.67.222.222208.67.220.220
Norton ConnectSafe7199.85.126.10199.85.127.10
GreenTeamDNS881.218.119.11209.88.198.133
SafeDNS9195.46.39.39195.46.39.40
OpenNIC1069.195.152.20423.94.60.240
SmartViper208.76.50.50208.76.51.51
Dyn216.146.35.35216.146.36.36
FreeDNS1137.235.1.17437.235.1.177
Alternate DNS12198.101.242.7223.253.163.53
Yandex.DNS1377.88.8.877.88.8.1
UncensoredDNS1491.239.100.10089.233.43.71
Hurricane Electric1574.82.42.42
puntCAT16109.69.8.51
Neustar17156.154.70.1156.154.71.1
Cloudflare181.1.1.11.0.0.1
Fourth Estate1945.77.165.194
CleanBrowsing20185.228.168.9185.228.169.9

DNS servers will offer you faster internet access by reducing latency, better security through encrypted browsing history, and filter malicious/adult content.

LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READING?

Sign up to our Newsletter for expert advice and tips of how to get the most out of your Tech Gadgets

4 thoughts on “How to change the DNS Server on your Phone

  1. Sory, no Wi-Fi settings on my Android … and yes Wi-Fi is on but no additional settings …

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.