The Beginner's Guide to Google DNS and Why You Need It in 2023

SAKIBUL ALAM

20 Sep, 2023

Google DNS is one of the largest and fastest domain name system or DNS services in the world. A DNS service is what translates the website names you type into your browser, like google.com, into the IP addresses that computers use to find and connect with each other. By switching your devices over to use Google’s DNS servers instead of your internet provider’s default ones, you’ll likely see a noticeable improvement in connectivity and speed.

The best part is, setting up Google DNS is quick, easy, and completely free. In just a few minutes you can have faster, more stable Wi-Fi throughout your home. Ready to wave goodbye to buffering wheels, lag, and dropped Zoom calls? Here’s your beginner’s guide to getting started with Google DNS.

What Is Google DNS and How Does It Work?

Google DNS is a free DNS service provided by Google that can replace your default DNS settings. Instead of using your internet provider’s DNS servers, you use Google’s public DNS servers (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) to translate domain names into IP addresses.

Using Google DNS has some key benefits. It’s faster since Google has a huge network of servers around the world optimized for speed. It’s also more reliable and secure. Google actively monitors for DNS issues and protects against common attacks like DDoS.

To use Google DNS, you’ll need to configure your Wi-Fi router or individual devices to use the Google DNS IP addresses (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4). The steps to change your DNS settings vary depending on your router model and internet provider. Usually, you can log into your router admin page and edit the DNS or WAN settings to enter the Google DNS server addresses. For extra security, enable DNS over HTTPS.

Once your DNS is set to use Google’s servers, you may notice pages loading faster and fewer connection errors. Google DNS also blocks access to known malicious websites to help prevent infections. The service is completely free to use and your browsing history or personal information is not collected.

Using a reliable public DNS service like Google DNS is an easy way to speed up your internet and strengthen security. Give it a try—you can always switch back if you don’t notice a difference. With faster page loads and safer browsing, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch sooner!

The Beginner’s Guide to DNS

The Benefits of Using Google DNS

Using Google’s public DNS service has some major benefits over your default ISP DNS.

Faster internet speeds. Google DNS is optimized to get you the fastest response times for accessing websites and services. By using their DNS, you can expect snappier load times when browsing the web or streaming content.
Increased security. Google actively monitors their DNS infrastructure to detect and block known malware sites. They also validate DNSSEC, an extra layer of security that helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. Using their DNS helps protect you from threats that target DNS to spread viruses or steal data.
Reliability. As one of the largest internet companies, Google has a massive global network of DNS servers to provide 100% uptime and low latency from anywhere. You’ll never have to deal with DNS outages that can sometimes happen with smaller providers.
Parental controls. If you want to block certain types of content for kids or employees, Google DNS supports customizable content filtering. You can restrict access to websites by category with just a few clicks.

Overall, switching to Google Public DNS is an easy change that provides faster, safer internet for you and your family. To use it, simply head to your device’s network settings and replace the default DNS addresses with Google’s servers at 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Within minutes, you’ll be enjoying a better web experience thanks to the power of Google DNS. Give it a try – you’ve got nothing to lose but slow load times!

How to Change to Google DNS on Your Devices

Changing your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS has some benefits over your default DNS provider. Google DNS is faster, more secure, and censors malicious websites. Here’s how to set it up on your devices:

On Windows:

Open the Control Panel and click “Network and Sharing Center”.
Click “Change adapter settings”.
Right-click on your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and select “Properties”.
Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”.
Select “Use the following DNS server addresses” and enter:
Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4
Click “OK” to save the changes.

On Mac:

Go to the Apple menu and select “System Preferences”.
Click “Network”.
Select your Wi-Fi adapter in the list on the left.
Click “Advanced” and select the “DNS” tab.
Click the “+” button to add a new DNS server.
Enter “8.8.8.8” and click “OK”.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 to add alternate DNS server “8.8.4.4”.
Click “OK” and close the window.

On Android:

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Tap the name of your Wi-Fi network.
Tap “DHCP” or “Static” → Tap “Static”.
Enter DNS 1: 8.8.8.8 and DNS 2: 8.8.4.4
Tap “Save” to save the new DNS servers.

On iPhone/iPad:

Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Tap the name of your Wi-Fi network.
Tap “Configure DNS” or “Manual” → Tap “Manual”.
Enter DNS: 8.8.8.8 and Alternate DNS: 8.8.4.4
Tap “Save” to save the new DNS servers.

Your devices may now load websites slightly faster and safer. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Google DNS vs Other DNS Services

Google DNS is Google’s free Domain Name System (DNS) service. Unlike your internet service provider’s default DNS servers, Google DNS is fast, secure and reliable. Using Google DNS has some key benefits over other DNS services.

Speed

Google DNS servers are among the fastest, reducing the time it takes for your browser to translate domain names into IP addresses. Faster DNS means faster overall internet speeds and less buffering when streaming media or browsing the web.

Security

Google DNS helps protect you from malicious websites by automatically blocking known phishing and malware sites. It also supports DNSSEC validation, which helps prevent hackers from redirecting you to fake websites. Using an alternative DNS service like Google’s helps prevent some types of man-in-the-middle attacks that can steal your personal information.

Reliability

Google operates data centers all over the world with many built-in redundancies to ensure DNS service remains operational even in the event of hardware failures, network issues or natural disasters. Their Anycast technology also routes your DNS requests to the closest available data center, reducing latency.

Flexibility

Google DNS is compatible with most devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Android, iOS, routers, and gaming consoles. It’s very easy to set up by entering the Google DNS IP addresses (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) into your device’s network settings. You can then disable it at any time to switch back to your default DNS.

Compared to your ISP’s DNS servers or other alternatives, Google DNS is a great option if you’re looking to improve your overall internet experience. Switching is easy, the service is free, and the benefits in terms of speed, security and reliability are significant. For most people, Google DNS should be your first choice when it comes to DNS services.

Advanced Google DNS Settings and Options

Once you’ve set up basic Google DNS on your devices, you can configure some advanced settings to improve your experience. Here are a few options worth exploring:

Conditional forwarding

This allows your router to forward DNS queries for certain domains to specific DNS servers. For example, you may want queries for yourcompanydomain.com to be forwarded to your company’s internal DNS servers. To set this up, log into your router’s admin page and look for “DNS forwarding” or “conditional forwarding” options.

Caching time

By default, Google DNS servers cache query results for 60 seconds. You can customize this caching time through your router’s admin page. A longer cache time like 300-600 seconds can speed up DNS resolution, while a shorter time like 30 seconds ensures faster updates but may slow down performance slightly.

IP version

Google DNS supports both IPv4 and IPv6. For the fastest resolution, enable both IPv4 and IPv6 on your router. If your network only supports IPv4, you can still use Google DNS—just disable IPv6.

Transport protocol

Choose between UDP and TCP protocols for sending DNS queries to Google Public DNS. UDP is faster but can lead to dropped packets, while TCP is more reliable but slightly slower. UDP is recommended for most users.

Filtering

Google DNS does not filter out any websites by default. However, you can enable filtering on your router to block access to unwanted sites. Some routers offer content filtering options that allow you to block sites by category. Enable filtering, select the categories you want to block, and point your router to Google DNS servers.

Using these advanced options, you can customize Google DNS to best suit your network needs and preferences. Play around with different settings to optimize performance, security and the overall experience on your network. Let us know if you have any other questions!

Conclusion

That covers the basics of Google DNS and why you need it in your digital life. Now you’re armed with the knowledge to make the switch and reap the rewards. No more sluggish internet, unwanted ads, or risk of your data being compromised. You’ll wonder why you didn’t set up Google DNS sooner. What are you waiting for? Take two minutes to log into your router and enter those magic numbers. Your streaming, browsing, and everything else online will thank you. Google DNS is free, simple to use, and the best thing you can do today to enhance your connectivity. Make the change and never look back at your old, slow DNS again. The internet awaits!

FAQS

1. What is Google DNS?

Google DNS, or Domain Name System, is a free, public DNS service provided by Google. It’s used to translate human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.

2. How do I use Google DNS?

To use Google DNS, you need to configure your device or network settings to use their DNS servers. The primary DNS server is 8.8.8.8, and the secondary DNS server is 8.8.4.4.

3. Why should I use Google DNS?

Google DNS can offer faster and more reliable DNS resolution compared to some default DNS servers provided by ISPs. It may also improve your internet experience by reducing latency and providing enhanced security features.

4. Is Google DNS secure?

Google DNS supports DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT), which encrypt DNS queries, providing an additional layer of security. This helps protect your DNS queries from being intercepted or manipulated.

5. Does using Google DNS affect my privacy?

Google does log DNS queries, but they claim not to associate this data with individual users and to delete it after a short period. However, if you’re concerned about privacy, you might consider using a different DNS provider that has a stronger privacy policy.

6. Can I use Google DNS on any device?

Yes, you can use Google DNS on any device that allows you to configure DNS settings. This includes computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and even some routers.

7. Are there any disadvantages to using Google DNS?

While Google DNS is generally reliable, if there are issues with Google’s servers, it could potentially cause connectivity problems. Additionally, some users might prefer using a DNS service that doesn’t log queries at all for privacy reasons.

8. Can I switch back to my original DNS provider if I don’t like Google DNS?

Yes, you can easily revert to your original DNS provider by changing your DNS settings back to the default values provided by your ISP or network administrator.

9. Does Google DNS block certain websites?

Google DNS does not inherently block or filter websites. It resolves domain names, but it does not act as a content filter. If you want to block specific websites, you would need to use a different service or software for that purpose.

10. Is there a cost associated with using Google DNS?

No, Google DNS is provided free of charge to the public.