How to Change DNS on iPhone
Short answer: go to Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) next to your network, tap Configure DNS, choose Manual, remove the existing servers, add new ones such as 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, and tap Save. It applies to that Wi-Fi network only.
What DNS does
DNS (the Domain Name System) works like a phone book for the internet. When you type a website name, your iPhone asks a DNS server for the IP address behind it. By default, your iPhone uses the DNS servers your router gives it, which usually come from your internet provider.
Changing DNS means choosing a different phone book. It does not change your own IP address.
Why change it
- Pages load slowly or fail with "server not found", while other things work.
- A site will not load on one network but works on another.
- Privacy and filtering. Some public DNS services block known malware sites, and some offer family filters.
- Troubleshooting. If you see No Internet Connection but the Wi-Fi is connected, a faulty DNS server can be the cause.
How to change DNS on iPhone
- Open Settings > Wi-Fi and tap the (i) next to the connected network.
- Scroll to Configure DNS and tap it.
- Choose Manual.
- Under DNS Servers, tap the red minus beside any existing entries to remove them.
- Tap Add Server and type the address of the first server. Add a second one the same way.
- Tap Save. Toggle Wi-Fi or Airplane Mode off and on to make sure the change is used.
Common public DNS servers
| Provider | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 |
8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 |
Always enter two, so that if one is unavailable your iPhone can use the other. Pick a provider you are comfortable with, because your DNS provider can see which site names your iPhone looks up.
How to undo it
Go back to Settings > Wi-Fi > (i) > Configure DNS and choose Automatic. Your iPhone returns to the servers your router provides.
What changing DNS will not do
- It does not change your IP address. Websites still see your public IP. To change that, see how to change your IP address.
- It does not hide your activity. For that, see how to hide your IP address.
- It does not make your internet faster in most cases. It can make the first lookup of a site faster or fix lookups that fail.
- It only applies to that Wi-Fi network. Each network keeps its own setting, and the cellular connection is not changed by this screen. Changing DNS on cellular needs a separate app or profile.
Change DNS for every device instead
If you want all devices at home to use the same DNS, change it in your router's settings. See how to open your router's admin page. Look for DNS under the internet or LAN settings.
Common questions
Is it safe to use a public DNS server?
The well-known providers above are widely used. Each publishes its own privacy policy, so read it if privacy matters to you.
My Wi-Fi stopped working after I changed DNS. What now?
Check the numbers for typos, make sure you added a working server, or set Configure DNS back to Automatic. See how to fix a Wi-Fi connection with no IP address if it still fails.
Do I need to restart my iPhone?
Usually not. Turning Wi-Fi off and on, or Airplane Mode on and off, is enough.