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How to set up OpenDNS or Google DNS on Windows 11

Windows 11 lets you set custom DNS per Wi‑Fi or Ethernet connection. Use OpenDNS or Google Public DNS when ISP DNS is slow or outdated.

Why change DNS on Windows 11?

If a website loads on 4G/5G but fails at home, your ISP resolver may be caching a bad address. Public DNS often restores access in minutes.

Recommended public DNS servers

  • 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

Configure DNS in Windows 11 Settings

  1. Open Settings (Windows key + I), then go to Network & internet.
  2. Select Wi‑Fi (then the connected network) or Ethernet, depending on how you connect.
  3. Find DNS server assignment and click Edit.
  4. Choose Manual and turn on IPv4.
  5. For OpenDNS enter Preferred 208.67.222.222 and Alternate 208.67.220.220. For Google DNS use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
  6. Optionally enable IPv6 and add the matching IPv6 addresses from the table below.
  7. Click Save. Disconnect and reconnect to the network if the change does not apply immediately.

Flush the DNS cache on Windows 11

After changing DNS, clear the local resolver cache so Windows queries the new servers.

ipconfig /flushdns
  1. Press Windows key, type cmd, then right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
  3. You should see a confirmation that the DNS Resolver Cache was successfully flushed.
  4. Reload the website that was failing.

Verify it worked

Open a site that previously failed, or check its status again on Is It Down Now. If it still fails only on this PC, also clear browser cache and try another browser.

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