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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYou can change DNS in Windows as a reversible test if a streaming app cannot find or connect to its service. It is not a guaranteed fix for buffering, poor video quality, weak Wi-Fi, ISP congestion, or a service outage. Microsoft recommends leaving network settings on Automatic (DHCP) for most people; change only DNS, and switch back if the test does not help.
When changing DNS might help
DNS translates a service’s domain name into the network address your device uses to reach it. A different resolver may help if name resolution is failing or an outdated DNS result is cached. It will not add bandwidth or repair a weak wireless signal, and the official setup guidance does not establish that changing resolvers improves streaming performance.
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If only one app or streaming service fails while other internet use works, also check that app, your account, firewall settings, and the service’s status. On a work, school, VPN-managed, or public Wi-Fi network, DNS may be controlled by policy; do not override it without checking with the administrator. Microsoft recommends Automatic (DHCP) in most cases, which lets the router or access point provide IP and DNS settings. See Microsoft’s Windows network settings guide.
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Before you edit DNS
- Identify the connection you are actually using: Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Record or screenshot its current DNS settings so you can restore them.
- Keep IP assignment on Automatic (DHCP) unless you know how to configure every manual address field. A DNS-only change does not require entering an IP address, subnet mask, or gateway.
- If you use a VPN or managed network, check its instructions first; it may require its own DNS settings.
Change DNS in Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings > Network & internet.
- Select Wi-Fi, then the connected network, or select Ethernet if you are using a wired connection.
- Find IP assignment and select Edit.
- Choose Manual, then enable the protocol for which you have resolver addresses—commonly IPv4.
- Enter the resolver’s preferred and alternate addresses in the DNS fields. For example, Cloudflare’s standard IPv4 pair is preferred
1.1.1.1and alternate1.0.0.1; these are standard resolvers, not its separately published family-filtering options. Cloudflare’s Windows setup instructions were last updated May 1, 2026: Set up 1.1.1.1 on Windows. - Leave unrelated IP fields unchanged, then select Save. Retry the same stream or sign-in action that failed.
Windows 11 also has separate IPv6 DNS fields. Configure them only if you have valid IPv6 resolver addresses. If IPv6 remains active but uses a different resolver, some requests may take a different DNS path than IPv4; do not enter guessed IPv6 values. Microsoft documents Windows DNS and IP assignment options in its network settings guide.
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Change DNS in Windows 10
Windows 10 uses the adapter properties route for this change. Cloudflare’s documented steps are:
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Change adapter options.
- Right-click the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and choose Properties.
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then select Properties.
- Record the existing DNS configuration. Select the option to use specified DNS server addresses and enter the preferred and alternate IPv4 DNS addresses, such as Cloudflare’s standard pair,
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1. - Confirm the dialogs and retry the same streaming action. If the connection worsens or nothing changes, restore automatic DNS as described below.
Microsoft says its documented native DNS-over-HTTPS controls are not available in Windows 10. Windows 11 has those controls; the supported options depend on the resolver. See Cloudflare’s Windows instructions and Microsoft’s guide.
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DNS over HTTPS in Windows 11
DNS over HTTPS (DoH) encrypts DNS queries between Windows and a compatible resolver. It is a privacy and transport setting, not a speed fix. Microsoft describes three choices: Off, On (automatic template), and On (manual template). Depending on the selected configuration, Windows can also allow or disallow fallback to plaintext DNS. If fallback is off, a query that cannot be sent over HTTPS is not sent; if fallback is on, it may be sent unencrypted. Choose settings supported by your resolver, and consult Microsoft’s DNS settings documentation.
Test the change, then restore automatic DNS if needed
- Retry the same stream, app launch, or sign-in that failed. Compare the result rather than assuming the new resolver is faster.
- If you suspect Windows is still using an older cached result, open Command Prompt and run
ipconfig /flushdns. Microsoft includes this as a DNS-cache troubleshooting step in its Wi-Fi troubleshooting guidance. - If the issue remains or connectivity worsens, restore DNS to automatic. In Windows 11, return to the connection’s IP assignment > Edit controls and choose Automatic (DHCP). In Windows 10, open the active adapter’s IPv4 properties and select Obtain DNS server address automatically. This returns DNS assignment to the router or access point.
If streaming still fails
Check whether the issue is Wi-Fi or broader connectivity
In Windows 11, start with the Network and Internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app, as Microsoft recommends. Compare another device on the same network. If practical, test the PC over wired Ethernet: a working wired connection alongside failing Wi-Fi points toward a wireless issue rather than DNS. A USB-to-Ethernet adapter is an optional way to make that comparison on a PC without an Ethernet port; it is not a DNS remedy. See Microsoft’s guidance for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
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Consider public Wi-Fi captive portals
Some public Wi-Fi networks require you to accept terms or sign in through a captive portal. Cloudflare warns that static IP configuration used to set DNS may interfere with captive portals on some networks. If a hotel, airport, or café connection stops presenting its sign-in page, restore automatic settings and try reconnecting.
Do not begin with Network reset
Network reset is a later, more disruptive step. Microsoft says it removes installed network adapters and resets their settings; VPN software and Hyper-V virtual switches may need attention afterward. Try the connection-specific checks first, and use Microsoft’s Wi-Fi troubleshooting steps for the documented recovery path.
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