How to set up OpenDNS or Google DNS

DNS (Domain Name System) converts friendly domain names into IP addresses that computers use. Free public resolvers like OpenDNS and Google Public DNS can fix ISP-specific connection problems and sometimes speed up lookups.

What is DNS?

When you visit a site, your device asks a DNS server which IP address matches the domain. If your ISP’s DNS is slow, outdated, or broken, pages may fail to load even though the website itself is online.

Why use another DNS service?

If you can open a site on mobile data, at the office, or on a neighbour’s network but not on your computer, your ISP DNS may be the culprit. ISP caches can lag when a site changes IP addresses. Public DNS services update quickly and are free.

How to configure alternative DNS

Instead of your ISP DNS, point your device or router to OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220) or Google Public DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4). Choose your OS below for detailed instructions, then flush the DNS cache.

Recommended public DNS servers

Use these free DNS addresses instead of your ISP’s default resolvers when a site is up for everyone else but fails on your connection.

OpenDNS (Cisco): 208.67.222.222 · 208.67.220.220
Google Public DNS: 8.8.8.8 · 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 · 1.0.0.1

Choose your operating system

Is It Down Now: Guide updated for current OS releases.