In the modern world, Internet access speed and connection stability play a critical role for any smartphone user. We often blame the mobile operator or a weak Wi-Fi signal when pages take a long time to load and videos are interrupted by buffering. However, the problem may not be hidden in the communication channel, but in how your Android smartphone finds site addresses on the network.
Changing DNS servers is one of the most effective, but little-known ways to optimize the operation of the device without installing third-party applications. This process allows you not only to speed up the opening of sites, but also to bypass provider blocking, and also increase the level of privacy when surfing. In this article, we will look in detail at how to change the settings on your gadget.
The procedure for changing parameters does not require obtaining root access and is available on most versions of the operating system, starting with Android 9 (Pie). Even if you have an older device, there are alternative configuration methods, which we will also look at below.
Why change DNS on your phone at all
Before moving on to technical details, it is necessary to understand the essence of the domain name system. When you enter a website address into your browser, the device sends a request to the server to translate the alphabetic name (for example, google.com) into a numeric IP address. By default, this request is processed by the servers of your Internet provider, which do not always work quickly or fairly.
Using public DNS from such giants as Google or Cloudflareoften gives a noticeable increase in response speed. In addition, standard provider servers may censor content or redirect you to pages with advertising if you enter an address incorrectly. Changing the settings allows you to regain control over your traffic.
⚠️ Attention: Some corporate networks or public Wi-Fi access points may block the use of third-party DNS servers. If after changing the settings the Internet disappears, return to automatic values.
Another important reason is security. Many providers do not encrypt DNS requests, which allows third parties to track your browsing history. Modern protocols such as DNS-over-TLS solve this problem by making the name resolution process invisible to prying eyes.
It is worth noting that changing DNS will not increase the physical speed of downloading large files if the communication channel is narrow. However, it will significantly reduce the time it takes to establish a connection with the server, which is especially noticeable when viewing web pages consisting of many elements.
Built-in Private DNS function in Android 9 and later
Starting with the ninth version of the operating system, the company Google has introduced native support for encrypted DNS. This is the easiest and most reliable way to change settings, since it does not require manually entering IP addresses and works at the level of the entire system, including applications.
To activate the function, you will need to know the hostname (host name) of the provider, and not its IP address. This is a key difference from older tuning methods. The most popular services provide special domain names for connecting via this protocol.
To find the desired section in the menu, go to Settings your device. Further, the path may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer’s shell, but usually it looks like this: Connections or Network and Internet. Find the item called Private DNS or Private DNS.
By default, the “Auto” mode is selected there or "Disabled." You need to toggle the checkbox to “DNS Provider Hostname” (or similar). In the field that appears, enter the address of the selected service. For example, for Google it will be dns.google, and for Cloudflare - 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.
If you entered the hostname, but the connection is not established, check the spelling. Extra spaces or typos in the domain name will result in a connection error.
After entering the address, click the “Save” button. The system will check the availability of the server. If everything went well, the status icon will change and all your phone's DNS queries will now go through the selected secure channel. This ensures that even your ISP will not be able to see what sites you visit.
Setting up DNS through the Wi-Fi menu for older versions
If your smartphone runs Android 8 or lower, or you want to set up different DNS for different Wi-Fi networks, you will have to use the classic method through network properties. This method is less universal, since the settings apply only to a specific access point, and not to all device traffic.
Go to the Settings section and select Wi-Fi. Find the network you are currently connected to in the list and click on it. On some devices, you need to hold your finger on the name of the network to bring up a context menu where you need to select Change network or Manage network settings.
In the menu that opens, find the “Advanced” or “Advanced settings” switch. Here you will see the field IP Settings, which by default is in position DHCP. Change it to Static (or Static). This action will open access to manual input of network parameters.
Do not change the IP address, gateway and network prefix length if you are not sure of their values - just scroll down to the “DNS 1” and “DNS 2” fields. This is where you need to enter the server addresses. For example, for Google Public DNS this is 8.8.8.8 i 8.8.4.4.
☑️ Checking static IP settings
After entering the data, click “Save”. The phone will reconnect to the network with the new parameters. It is worth remembering that when switching to a mobile network (4G/LTE), these settings will not apply, since they are tied exclusively to the Wi-Fi interface.
How to set up DNS for a mobile network (4G/LTE)
Setting up DNS for the mobile data on older versions of Android is the most difficult, since the standard menu does not provide this option. Telecom operators tightly control these settings, and they cannot be changed without special tools.
For devices without the Private DNS function, the only legal way is to use third-party applications that create a local VPN tunnel. apps such as Intra or DNS Changerredirect all traffic through the servers of your choice, emulating a DNS change at the system level.
⚠️ Attention: DNS changer applications often use a VPN profile. This means that the key icon or the VPN message may constantly appear in the top notification bar, even if you do not use services to hide your IP.
If you have access to the phone’s engineering menu (the access code depends on the processor model and manufacturer), you can try changing the settings there. However, this method is dangerous for inexperienced users: an incorrect value can lead to a complete loss of connection.
The most rational solution for owners of old smartphones is updating the firmware to the latest version of Android, if the manufacturer supports the device, or using VPN applications with a DNS selection function.
Codes to enter the engineering menu
For processors MediaTek: ##3646633## or ##4636##. For Qualcomm: ##4636##. Be extremely careful, changing parameters in the Band Selection menu may disable the radio module.
Using third-party utilities has one significant drawback - increased power consumption. Constantly running a background service to intercept and redirect DNS requests drains battery faster than the native system setup.
List of the best free DNS servers
Choosing the right DNS provider depends on your priorities: speed, privacy, or content filtering. Not all servers work equally well in different regions, so it makes sense to test several options before final setup.
Below is a table with the most reliable and fastest servers that are recommended by cybersecurity and networking experts. You can use both IP addresses for older devices and host names for the Private DNS function.
| Provider | Primary address (IPv4) | Alternate address | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 | The fastest in the world, emphasis on privacy |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | High stability, global infrastructure |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 | Blocking malicious domains automatically |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 | Flexible settings for parental controls |
Servers Quad9 are especially interesting because they automatically block access to known phishing sites and resources that distribute viruses. This adds an additional layer of protection to your smartphone without installing an antivirus.
If your goal is maximum response speed in games or streaming, then Cloudflare often shows the best results in Ping tests. However, in some regions of Russia, Google servers can work more stable due to the developed caching infrastructure.
There is no universal “fastest” DNS. The speed depends on your geographic location and provider routing.
Checking the result and diagnosing problems
After you have made the changes, you need to make sure that they have taken effect and are working correctly. Simply opening the browser is not enough, as the pages may have loaded from the cache. To check, it is better to use specialized online tools.
Go to any DNS checking site, for example, dnsleaktest.com. Click the "Standard test" button. In the results you should see the name of the company whose servers you specified (for example, Cloudflare or Google), and not the name of your mobile operator.
If you encounter sites that stop opening, the first thing to do is clear the DNS cache on your device. The easiest way to do this is to turn Airplane mode on and off or simply restart your smartphone. This will reset all temporary network connections.
It's also worth checking if your ISP is blocking access to third-party DNS ports. In rare cases, telecom operators intentionally block requests on port 53 for addresses that do not belong to them. In such a situation, only using DNS-over-TLS or VPN will help.
⚠️ Attention: If you use corporate Wi-Fi, changing DNS may disrupt access to internal company resources. On office networks, always use automatic settings unless otherwise instructed by the administrator.
For deeper diagnostics, you can use applications like Ping & DNS. They allow you to measure the response time (latency) to various servers in real time and select the best option specifically for your location.
What to do if the Internet is lost after changing DNS?
Return the settings to “Default” or “Automatic” mode. Delete the saved Wi-Fi network and connect again. If the problem is in the mobile network, remove the DNS changer application.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will changing DNS reduce the speed of the mobile data?
No, in most cases the speed will either increase or remain the same. DNS only affects the time it takes to find a site address. The speed of downloading files (channel bandwidth) depends on the operator's tariff and signal quality, and not on the DNS server.
Do you need to pay for using private DNS?
All services listed in the article (Google, Cloudflare, Quad9) are completely free for end users. They are monetized by improving the overall network infrastructure or selling corporate solutions, but personal traffic is free.
Will Private DNS work while roaming?
Yes, the Private DNS feature works no matter what country you are in and what network you are connected to. The main thing is that your phone has Internet access. This also helps to bypass some local blocking of sites abroad.
How to return all settings back?
To do this, just go to the same settings menu (Private DNS or Wi-Fi properties) and select “Disabled” or “Automatic (DHCP)”. After saving, the device will begin to use the provider’s servers by default.
Does changing DNS affect the operation of bank applications?
Usually no. Banking applications use their own security mechanisms and direct IP connections. However, if you choose a DNS that blocks ad trackers (some enterprise versions), this could theoretically impact in-app analytics, but not financial transactions.