Your router is the unsung hero of your digital life—the portal to the outside world and the gatekeeper of your home network. Most of the time, the advice is to “leave it alone.” After all, one wrong click in the settings can knock your entire household offline.
However, there is one specific tweak that is simple, free, and incredibly effective: changing your DNS settings. It’s one of the fastest network upgrades you can make to boost both your speed and your privacy.
What “Default DNS” Actually Means
Think of the Domain Name System (DNS) as the phonebook of the internet. When you type google.com into your browser, your computer doesn’t actually know where that is. It asks a DNS resolver to translate that human-friendly name into an IP address (like 142.250.190.46) that the network understands.
By default, you use the DNS resolver provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). While these settings “work,” they are often far from optimal.
The ISP Privacy Problem
Your ISP’s DNS isn’t necessarily malicious, but it presents a significant privacy gap. Even though most websites use HTTPS encryption to protect the content of what you do, your DNS lookups still reveal the domains you visit.
In many regions, including the UK, US, and EU, ISPs are legally allowed (or even required) to log these queries. This creates a trail of your passive browsing data. Switching to an encrypted third-party DNS provider like Cloudflare or Quad9 doesn’t make you invisible, but it drastically reduces the amount of metadata flowing through your ISP’s servers.
Better Protection, Faster Speeds
Standard ISP DNS settings are basic. In contrast, specialized third-party providers offer built-in security layers:
- Malware & Phishing Blocking: Providers like Quad9 automatically block access to known malicious sites at the source.
- Customization: Services like NextDNS allow you to create custom profiles. You can block trackers or ads at the network level, ensuring every device in your house—from your phone to your smart fridge—is protected.
- Speed: Third-party resolvers often have massive global networks, meaning they can find those “phonebook entries” faster than your ISP can.
How to Change Your Router’s DNS
Changing these settings sounds technical, but it’s actually a straightforward process that takes about two minutes.
1. Access Your Router Admin Panel
To change the settings, you need to log into your router via a web browser. You’ll need your router’s IP address (the “Default Gateway”).
- Check the Sticker: Most routers have the IP address and login credentials printed on a label on the back or bottom.
- Find it via Software:
- Windows: Press
Win + X, open Terminal/Command Prompt, typeipconfig, and look for Default Gateway. - macOS: Go to
System Settings > Network > [Your Connection] > Details > TCP/IPand look for Router. - Linux: Open a terminal and run
ip route | grep default.
- Windows: Press
2. Log In
Copy that IP address (usually something like 192.168.1.1) into your browser’s address bar. Enter the username and password found on your router’s sticker.
3. Swap the Settings
Every router interface is different, but you are generally looking for a section labeled WAN, Internet, Routing, or DNS.
Once you find the DNS section, switch it from “Get Automatically from ISP” to “Use these DNS Servers.” You’ll usually see a space for a Primary and Secondary address. Here are some of the best free options:
| Provider | Primary DNS | Secondary DNS |
| Cloudflare (Speed/Privacy) | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 |
| Quad9 (Security/Malware) | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 |
| Google (Reliability) | 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 |
Note: If your router has a search bar in the settings, simply type “DNS” to jump straight there.
What if my router won’t let me change it?
Some ISPs “lock” their provided routers, preventing you from changing the DNS at the source. If that’s the case, don’t worry—you can still change the DNS settings on your individual devices (laptop, phone, or tablet) within their specific network settings.
By taking two minutes to point your router toward a more secure, private provider, you’re putting a much-needed layer of protection between your home and the rest of the web.
