Change Your DNS to Browse Faster and Safer
Every time you type a website address, your PC asks a DNS server to translate it into a numeric address. This little directory of the internet is often the slow or poorly configured one supplied by default by your internet provider. Swapping it for a fast, secure public DNS takes two minutes, costs nothing, and can make browsing snappier and safer.
DNS in one sentence
DNS (Domain Name System) is the directory that turns example.com into an IP address machines understand. A slow DNS adds a delay to every page load — an invisible but very real wait, especially multiplied across all the requests a modern site makes.
Why change it
- Speed: some public DNS servers respond faster than your router's.
- Security: several services automatically block phishing and malware domains.
- Reliability: they rarely go down and handle enormous volumes.
- Privacy: some commit to not selling your browsing history.
Which DNS to choose
The best-known are free and easy to remember: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1), Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4), and Quad9 (9.9.9.9), the last of which filters malicious domains. Always note a primary and a secondary address: the second takes over if the first does not respond.
Which is fastest depends on where you are, since the closest server usually wins. A good approach is to try one for a day or two, then compare: if pages feel snappier and nothing breaks, keep it; if not, switch to another. There is no lasting commitment, and you can revert to your provider's default at any moment.
Change DNS on Windows, step by step
Open Settings > Network & internet, click your connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), then Hardware properties. Next to DNS server assignment, choose Edit, switch to Manual, turn on IPv4, and enter:
- Preferred DNS: for example 1.1.1.1
- Alternate DNS: for example 1.0.0.1
Save. Tip: if the option is offered, turn on encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS) so your requests no longer travel in the clear. To apply the change to every device in the home at once, do the same in your router settings.
Changing DNS does not "unlock" your bandwidth, but it trims the latency of every page and adds a free safety net.
Check that it works
After the change, clear the DNS cache: open Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns. Then browse as usual — pages should open at least as fast as before, often a little faster. If a site stops loading, switch back temporarily to Automatic (DHCP) to isolate the problem.
One DNS for the whole home, and for filtering
Setting DNS directly on the router has two advantages: every connected device benefits (phones, TV, console) with no individual setup, and you can choose a service that automatically filters unwanted content. Some public DNS providers offer variants that block malicious sites, or even adult content — a simple, free layer of protection, especially handy in a household with children.
What about your phone?
The principle works on mobile too. Android lets you set a "Private DNS" in the network settings (by entering a hostname supplied by the service you pick), and iOS accepts encrypted DNS profiles. You then get the same speed and filtering away from home, on mobile networks and public Wi-Fi alike.
What to know before you start
DNS does not increase your connection's raw speed: it only affects how quickly addresses are resolved. It is also no substitute for an antivirus. Finally, a bad pair of addresses can cut off the internet: note your original settings before making any change, so you can roll back. And if you already use a VPN, it often enforces its own DNS; there is no need to stack both settings.
The shortcut: let Yuna7 do it
Finding the best DNS for your region, configuring it on the right adapter, enabling encryption, and clearing the cache is simple but tedious when you are not used to it. You ask Yuna7 to "speed up my browsing": the AI tests several DNS servers from your connection, applies the fastest, enables encrypted DNS, and verifies everything works — showing you each change before applying it.
