How To Change DNS Server Settings (Windows)

A step-by-step guide on how to change your DNS server settings to fix DNS errors or bypass DNS blocks on Windows.

Foreword

This guide is to help users who are experiencing DNS errors, or who are facing problems with Steam due to DNS blocks.

This guide is for Windows users.

The DNS server addresses used in this guide belong to Google.

Step 1: Open Network and Sharing Center

Your first step is to open Network and Sharing Center.

Regardless of which Windows OS you have, you can right-click on your Internet connection on the bottom-right of your screen and select "Open Network and Sharing Center".

Alternatively, you can try the below method:

Go to the Control Panel.

Click "Network and Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center".

 

Step 2: Change adapter settings

Your next step is to click on "Change adapter settings".

It should be on the left side of the Network and Sharing Center window.

Step 3: Choose your connection

Now you have to select the connection that you want to change the DNS servers for.

The names of the connections vary depending on which Windows OS you are running.

In general, Ethernet connections are labeled "Ethernet" or "Local Area Connection", while wireless connections are labeled "Wi-Fi" or "Wireless Network Connection".

Once you have selected the connection that you are using, right-click on it and select "Properties".

Below is an example, what you see will most likely be different:

Step 4: Changing your DNS server settings (IPv4)

Make sure you are on the Networking tab.

Under "This connection uses the following items" section, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Then click "Properties".

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Use the following DNS server addresses:

• Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
  
• Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

Then click OK.
 

Step 5: Changing your DNS server settings (IPv6)

Usually changing the IPv4 DNS settings will fix DNS errors, but if you are facing a DNS block for any reason, you will want to change your IPv6 DNS settings as well.

On the same window as earlier, select "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)". Then click "Properties".

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Use the following DNS server addresses:

• Preferred DNS server: 2001:4860:4860::8888
  
• Alternate DNS server: 2001:4860:4860::8844

Click OK.

NOTE!

Some devices use separate fields for all eight parts of IPv6 addresses and cannot accept the :: IPv6 abbreviation syntax. For such fields enter:

2001:4860:4860:0:0:0:0:8888
2001:4860:4860:0:0:0:0:8844
Expand the 0 entries to 0000 if four hex digits are required.

Step 6: Restart your connection

Normally, just changing the DNS server settings fixes the problem for me, but you may want to restart your connection just to make sure the changes have taken hold.

This is usually done by restarting the router.

Epilogue

This should resolve any DNS errors that you had when surfing the Internet (or bypass any DNS blocks put in place for whatever reason).

As I am on Windows 10, I can guarantee that the instructions are accurate for Windows 10, but Windows 7 or 8 users may see different menus or options.

In which case, you may want to visit this site that I used as reference for my guide:

https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using

If you have many devices that you wish to change DNS server settings for, consider changing the setting at your router:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-change-dns-servers-on-most-popular-routers-2617995

I hope this has helped some of you. Good luck!

[1MantisPhoenix]

still the noob DNS choice 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 is far superior,
and if they trouble you, try 1.1.1.2 and 1.0.0.2
or 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3

[1MantisPhoenix]

Why google and not cloudflare? it's 16-18x faster

[Velvet_эiяaM]

You are now officially the Vietnamese gamers' savior.

[vui123]

you have save hundreds of Vietnamese from being able to get good games instead of p2w shit games. I sincerely thanks you

[Meoki]

mềo

[Mike WiLL Mad-It]

Вроде помогло, спасибо!

[Olion [as]]

Спасибо за помощь от всего ру-сигмента стим !

[Summesplitter]

😀👍

[Despair]

i can't load pictures and market apparently. this doesn't fix the issue. VPN does.

[Helen 🐾]

Good guide, although it didn't solve my issue. I am having troubles posting a guide on a game's community and I receive errors.