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This article will show you how to Set up Cloudflare DNS on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS. Almost everything that happens on the internet starts with a DNS request. When you click a link on a website or send an email, your device first checks a DNS to see which server it should connect to. The DNS’s job is to link an IP address to a domain name, like macrumors.com, that is easier to remember.
A DNS is like an internet search service in this way. DNS is a Domain Name System that turns your URLs into their IP addresses. Internet only knows how to talk to computers and websites based on their IPs. Cloudflare DNS is a security tool for the Internet that helps speed up and protect your websites. This basically replaces the old 8.8.8.8 to 1.1.1.1 server on the computer with a free, fast, and safe one.
How to Set up Cloudflare DNS on Windows
Get to the network properties
- Open the Start menu and click on the cog symbol, just above the shutdown button. This will open the Windows Settings system.
- Click on Network and Internet to get to the Network Settings page. Click on Change adapter options. This will open a list of network connections.
- Right-click on the network you use to connect to the internet and select Properties from the context menu.
Set up DNS for IPv4
- In the connection properties window, look to see if the line Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) is checked. If so, click on that line once and then press the Properties button. This will open another window.
- If there are values in the DNS fields, write them down in case you need to rollback to your current settings.
- Click on the Use the following DNS server addresses radio button.
- Enter 1.1.1.1 in the Preferred DNS server field.
- Enter 1.0.0.1 in the Alternate DNS server field.
- Click on the OK button and then click on Close in the connection properties window.
- Restart your browser to get it to use the Cloudflare DNS service.
Set up DNS for IPv6
- If the line Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) is checked in the connection properties screen, click on the line and press the Properties button. This will open another window.
- Note down any current values in the DNS fields if there are any. You may need to return to these settings at a later date.
- Click on the Use the following DNS server addresses radio button.
- Enter 2606:4700:4700::1111 in the Preferred DNS server field.
- Enter 2606:4700:4700::1001 in the Alternate DNS server field.
- Click on OK to close the protocol properties window and then press the Close button in the connection properties window.
- Restart your browser to get it to use the Cloudflare DNS service.
How to Set up Cloudflare DNS on Mac
- Open System Preferences
- Perform a search for DNS Servers. Click on that entry in the results list.
- Click on the + symbol to add a new DNS record. Enter 1.1.1.1
- Click on the + symbol again and enter 1.0.0.1 this time.
- Click on OK and then click Apply.
- Restart your browser to get the new DNS settings active.
How to Set up Cloudflare DNS on Android
IPv4 is the only type of address that Android devices use right now. You have to be connected to the network whose DNS settings you want to change. If you want to know more information about this Visit Official Android Support site.
- From the top of the screen, swipe down to get the settings bar to expand. Tap on WiFi. Tap on More Settings at the bottom of the list of available networks.
- Long-press on the name of your current network. Tap Modify Network in the popup that appears.
- Tap on Advanced options in the next screen and then tap on IP settings and select Static.
- Scroll down to the fields DNS1 and DNS2. If these fields have the values in them, note them down in case you want to return to your original settings.
- For DNS1 enter 1.1.1.1 and in DNS2 enter 1.0.0.1.
- Tap on Save.
How to Set up Cloudflare DNS on iOS
- Tap on Settings in the Home screen. Select Wi-Fi from the Settings screen.
- In the Wi-Fi screen tap on the right-arrow next to the name of your internet connection.
- Tap Configure DNS and then Manual.
- If any DNS entries exist, note them down and then delete them.
- Tap on + Add Server. Enter 1.1.1.1 for the address value.
- Tap on + Add Server. Enter 1.0.0.1 for the address value.
- Tap on Save.
FAQs
Cloudflare won’t protect your information in every way. For example, hackers could still see what you’re doing if you’re using a public WiFi link. A VPN could protect you from that, but you can’t use both 1.1. 1.1. and a VPN at the same time.
The main reason people move to Google DNS is because it works better. Most of the time, a public DNS like Google’s is faster and more reliable than your usual DNS servers. Because the answers are already in its system, a public DNS server can respond to searches faster.