When an internet connection is unstable or certain websites stop opening, the first thought often turns to a speed test. However, few people immediately think about DNS servers, which act as navigators on the global network. They translate human-readable domain names, such as google.com, into the digital IP address needed by a computer to establish a connection.
Knowing how to view these parameters on your Wi-Fi network allows you not only to diagnose access issues but also to speed up page loading by changing your ISP settings to faster public services. In this article, we'll cover in detail methods for checking and changing addresses on various devices.
What is DNS and why should I check it on WiFi?
Abbreviation DNS stands for Domain Name System. Imagine a giant internet phone book: when you enter a website address, your request is sent to a DNS server, which finds the corresponding IP address. If this "directory" is slow or contains errors, pages will take a long time to load or won't load at all, even with a good WiFi signal.
By default, providers assign their own servers, which are often overloaded or subject to censorship. Checking your current settings can help you determine whether you're using a standard route or whether the system has specific addresses blocking access to resources. Sometimes viruses or malware can surreptitiously change these settings, redirecting traffic to phishing sites.
⚠️ Attention: If you find unknown DNS addresses in your settings that you didn't set yourself, this could be a sign of a network compromise. In this situation, we recommend immediately resetting your router and scanning your devices with an antivirus.
What else might this information be useful for? Gamers often change their DNS to reduce ping, and streaming service users often change it to bypass regional restrictions. Understanding which address is registered in your Android smartphone or Windows laptop, is a basic skill of a digital literate user.
Checking DNS on a Windows computer
In the operating system Windows There are several ways to check your current network settings. The fastest and most reliable method is using the command line, which provides detailed information about all active connections, including WiFi.
To start, press the key combination Win + R, enter cmd and press Enter. In the black window that opens, enter the command ipconfig /allThe system will display a huge list of data, so it is important to carefully look for the section corresponding to your wireless adapter (usually called "Wireless Network" or "Wireless LAN adapter").
ipconfig /allIn this information block, look for the "DNS Servers" line. One or two IP addresses will be listed there. If there are multiple addresses, this means the system will contact the first one and only switch to the second if it is unavailable. You can also use the graphical interface: go to Settings → Network and Internet → Wi-Fi, click on the active connection properties and scroll down to "DNS Destination".
- 🔍 Use the command
nslookup google.comto check which server is currently processing your request. - 🔄 To reset the DNS cache after changes, enter the command
ipconfig /flushdnsin the command line. - 💻 On Windows 10 and 11, the path to settings may differ slightly depending on the OS build version.
⚠️ Attention: The network settings interface in Windows is regularly updated by Microsoft. If you can't find the desired item in Settings, use the classic Control Panel via the command
ncpa.cpl.
How to find DNS on Android and iOS
Mobile device owners often need to check DNS, especially when connecting to public WiFi networks or when setting up ad blockers. On smartphones running Android And iOS The process of viewing settings has its own peculiarities, depending on the version of the operating system.
On devices Android (version 9 and above) you need to go to Settings → Connections → Wi-FiClick the gear next to your network name, then select "Advanced" or "IP Settings." If it says "Static," you'll see the DNS 1 and DNS 2 fields. If it says "DHCP," the addresses may be hidden and will require a third-party app to view, such as Network Analyzer or Fing.
☑️ DNS diagnostics on a smartphone
In the ecosystem Apple (iPhone, iPad) the situation is similar. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the blue information icon (i) next to the active network. Scroll down to the "DNS" section. The servers used will be listed there. It's important to note that iOS 14 and later introduce a feature called "Private DNS" (iCloud Private Relay), which can hide real DNS requests from your ISP, but locally you'll see Apple's server addresses in Settings.
- 📱 On Android, viewing DNS with DHCP often requires root privileges or special utilities.
- 🍏 In iOS 15+, you can use the "Private DNS" profile to encrypt requests.
- 📶 When switching between mobile Internet and WiFi, DNS addresses change automatically.
Viewing DNS settings in the router interface
The most accurate way to find out which DNS servers are used by all devices on your WiFi network is to log into your router's admin panel. This is what distributes addresses to all connected devices, unless they have static addresses. To do this, enter the gateway IP address in your browser's address bar; this is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1.
After entering your login and password (often found on a sticker on the bottom of the device), you need to find the section related to the Internet or WAN. Depending on the model (TP-Link, Asus, Keenetic, MikroTik), this section may have different names: "Internet," "WAN," "Network," or "Broadband." This is where you enter the settings received from your provider or manually configured.
| Router brand | Menu section | Subsection | Where to look for DNS |
|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link | Network | WAN | Primary/Secondary DNS |
| Asus | WAN | Internet Connection | DNS Server 1 & 2 |
| Keenetic | Internet | Provider (WAN) | Use DNS servers |
| MikroTik | IP | DNS | Servers |
If this section is set to "Automatic" (Dynamic IP), the router obtains DNS from your ISP. If you want to change them for the entire network at once, select "Manual" (Static IP or Manual) and enter the desired addresses. After saving the settings, it's recommended to reboot the router for the changes to take effect for all clients.
What to do if you forgot your router password?
If the default password (admin/admin) doesn't work, and you've changed it and forgotten it, a hard reset is the only option. Find the small hole on the router's case and press it with a paperclip for 10-15 seconds while the power is on. The router will reset to factory settings, and you'll be able to log in using the credentials on the sticker. Don't forget to reconfigure your internet connection afterwards.
Popular public DNS servers
If a check reveals that you're using your provider's default servers and you're unsatisfied with the speed or availability of resources, it's worth considering alternatives. Several large organizations offer free, fast, and secure DNS services.
One of the most famous is Google Public DNSIt is characterized by high response speed and reliability. Another popular option is Cloudflare, which positions itself as the fastest in the world and places a strong emphasis on privacy, not storing user request logs. Also worth mentioning OpenDNS (Cisco), which offers flexible content filtering settings.
- 🌐 Google: 8.8.8.8 and 8.4.4.4 are classics that work reliably all over the world.
- 🚀 Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 - often provide better page loading speed.
- 🛡️ OpenDNS Family: 208.67.222.123 - includes built-in phishing protection and adult content blocking.
Using these servers can be helpful if your provider has inconsistent DNS caching practices or blocks access to certain resources at the domain name level. However, it's worth remembering that in some regions, using third-party DNS services may be unstable due to regulatory actions.
Diagnosing DNS problems
How can you tell if the problem is DNS-related, not a cable or router issue? There are a number of symptoms. If you can't access any websites by name (for example, yandex.ru), but apps that use direct IP addresses (for example, some instant messaging apps or online games) work, or if you can access a website by entering its IP address manually, then the diagnosis is clear.
For deep diagnostics, you can use the utility ping And tracertIn the command line, enter ping 8.8.8.8If you can ping but the site doesn't load, you have internet access, but the DNS isn't working. Then try ping google.comIf there's no ping here, but there is on the IP, the problem is definitely with name resolution.
ping 8.8.8.8
nslookup google.com
Another method is to use online DNS leak testing services, which will show which server your requests are actually routed through. This is especially important for those using VPNs or proxy servers, as they can incorrectly intercept DNS requests, revealing your location.
⚠️ Attention: DNS protocols and standards are constantly evolving (for example, the introduction of DNS over HTTPS). Older routers may not support newer protocols, requiring firmware updates or hardware replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can changing DNS increase internet speed?
Yes, but not the actual bandwidth (download/upload) provided by the provider. Changing DNS speeds up the response time when a page first loads (Time to First Byte), making navigation more responsive, especially if the provider's servers are overloaded.
Is it safe to use Google or Cloudflare DNS?
Yes, these are large tech companies with high security standards. However, it's important to remember that in this case, you're entrusting your browsing history to these companies, not your ISP. For a typical home network, this is considered a safe practice.
What should I do if the Internet stops working after changing DNS?
Most likely, the addresses were incorrect or the servers are blocked on your network. Return to Settings and select "Obtain DNS server addresses automatically" to reset the changes to your provider's settings.
Do I need to change DNS on every device?
No, if you change the settings directly on the router, all devices connected to it (phones, TVs, laptops) will automatically start using the new DNS. If you change the settings only on your computer, the old settings will remain on your phone.
Does DNS affect ping in games?
DNS only affects the initial connection to the game server. Once established, ping depends on packet routing and the quality of the ISP's connection. However, a proper DNS can help you find the closest game server faster at startup.