How to Configure Network Settings to use Google Public DNS

Google Public DNS is a free, global Domain Name System (DNS) resolution service that you can use to improve your internet browsing speed, security, and reliability. By configuring your network to use Google Public DNS, you can replace your ISP’s default DNS servers with Google’s DNS servers. Google’s DNS server addresses are:

• Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
• Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4

This guide provides instructions on how to configure your network settings to use Google Public DNS on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

1. Configuring Google Public DNS on Windows

Step 1: Open Network Settings

1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click on Change adapter settings on the left sidebar.

Step 2: Access the Network Adapter Properties

1. Right-click on the network connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) you want to configure and select Properties.
2. In the list of items, click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then click Properties.

Step 3: Set Google DNS Servers

1. Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
2. Enter the following DNS server addresses:
   • Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
   • Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
3. Click OK to save the changes, then Close the properties window.

Step 4: Verify the Configuration

To verify that your DNS is correctly configured, open Command Prompt and run the following command:

This command should display the IP address of Google’s DNS servers (8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4).

2. Configuring Google Public DNS on macOS

Step 1: Open Network Preferences

1. Click on the Apple menu and go to System Preferences.
2. Select Network.

Step 2: Select Your Network Connection

1. Choose the network connection you want to configure (e.g., Wi-Fi or Ethernet) from the left sidebar.
2. Click the Advanced button.

Step 3: Configure DNS Servers

1. Select the DNS tab.
2. Click the + button below the DNS Servers section to add a new DNS server.
3. Add the following addresses:
   • 8.8.8.8
   • 8.8.4.4
4. Click OK, then Apply to save your changes.

Step 4: Verify the Configuration

To verify the DNS settings, open Terminal and run:

The output should show that Google’s DNS servers are being used.

3. Configuring Google Public DNS on Linux

The instructions for configuring DNS on Linux will vary slightly depending on the distribution and whether you are using a graphical user interface (GUI) or editing configuration files directly.

Option 1: Using Network Manager (GUI)

1. Open Settings and go to Network.
2. Select the network connection (e.g., Wired or Wi-Fi) you want to configure.
3. Click the Settings or Edit button for that connection.
4. Go to the IPv4 tab.
5. Set DNS to Manual.
6. Enter the following DNS servers:
   • 8.8.8.8
   • 8.8.4.4
7. Save the changes and restart the network connection.

Option 2: Manually Editing /etc/resolv.conf

If you prefer to edit the DNS settings manually, you can modify the /etc/resolv.conf file:

1. Open the Terminal.
2. Edit the /etc/resolv.conf file using your favorite text editor (e.g., nano, vi):
   sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
3. Add or replace the lines with the following:
   nameserver 8.8.8.8
   nameserver 8.8.4.4
4. Save the file and exit.

Note: Changes to /etc/resolv.conf may be temporary, as some systems automatically overwrite this file. To make the changes permanent, you may need to edit the NetworkManager configuration or the netplan configuration file (for Ubuntu 18.04 and newer).

Verify the Configuration

To verify that your DNS settings have taken effect, use the nslookup command:

4. Configuring Google Public DNS on Routers

If you want to use Google Public DNS across all devices on your network, you can configure your router to use Google’s DNS servers. This ensures that any device connected to your network will automatically use Google Public DNS.

Step 1: Access Router Settings

1. Open a web browser and enter the IP address of your router (e.g., 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
2. Log in using your router’s username and password.

Step 2: Locate the DNS Settings

1. Navigate to the DNS settings or WAN settings section. The location of these settings may vary depending on the router model.
2. Look for the DNS server settings.

Step 3: Set Google DNS Servers

1. Enter the following DNS server addresses:
   • Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8
   • Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4
2. Save the changes and restart your router.

Step 4: Verify the Configuration

After configuring your router, you can verify the DNS settings on any connected device by running the nslookup command as shown in the earlier sections.

Benefits of Using Google Public DNS

• Faster Browsing: Google DNS servers are often faster than ISP-provided DNS servers, resulting in quicker website load times.
• Enhanced Security: Google Public DNS helps to mitigate some common security risks, like DNS spoofing.
• Improved Reliability: Google DNS servers are globally distributed and highly available, providing a more reliable DNS resolution.

Conclusion

Configuring your network settings to use Google Public DNS is a straightforward process that can enhance your internet experience by improving speed, security, and reliability. By following the steps outlined for your specific operating system or router, you can easily switch to Google’s DNS servers and enjoy a better browsing experience. Remember to test the configuration with tools like nslookup to ensure everything is working correctly.