How to Change DNS Settings on macOS

Recommended DNS Servers

TorGuard DNS (VPN Users)

For optimal privacy when using TorGuard VPN, use our internal DNS servers:

Public DNS Servers

For macOS Ventura (13.0) and Sonoma (14.0)

Apple redesigned System Settings in macOS Ventura. Here's the updated process:

1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings
2. Click Network in the sidebar
3. Click your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
4. Click Details...
5. Click DNS in the sidebar
6. Click the + button to add DNS servers
7. Enter your preferred DNS servers
8. Click OK to save

For macOS Big Sur (11.0) to Monterey (12.0)

Step 1: Open System Preferences

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences.

Step 2: Access Network Settings

Click on the Network icon to access your network configuration.

Step 3: Select Your Network Interface

Select your active network connection from the left sidebar:

• Wi-Fi: For wireless connections
• Ethernet: For wired connections
• Thunderbolt Bridge: For Thunderbolt networking

Click the Advanced... button in the bottom-right corner.

Step 4: Configure DNS Servers

Click the DNS tab to see your current DNS servers. To add new ones:

1. Click the + button below the DNS Servers list
2. Type the DNS server address (e.g., 1.1.1.1)
3. Press Enter and repeat for additional servers
4. Remove unwanted servers by selecting them and clicking -
5. Drag servers to reorder priority (top = primary)

Step 5: Apply Your Changes

1. Click OK to close the Advanced settings
2. Click Apply in the Network window
3. Your new DNS settings are now active!

Enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH)

For enhanced privacy, enable DNS over HTTPS in macOS Big Sur and later:

1. Download a DNS configuration profile from your provider:
   • Cloudflare DoH Profile
   • Quad9 DoH Profile
2. Double-click the downloaded profile
3. Follow the installation prompts
4. Go to System Preferences → Profiles to verify installation

Change DNS via Terminal

For advanced users, you can change DNS settings using Terminal:

View Current DNS Servers

networksetup -getdnsservers Wi-Fi

Set New DNS Servers

# For Wi-Fi
sudo networksetup -setdnsservers Wi-Fi 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1

# For Ethernet
sudo networksetup -setdnsservers Ethernet 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1

Reset to DHCP-provided DNS

sudo networksetup -setdnsservers Wi-Fi empty

Verify Your DNS Changes

After changing your DNS settings, verify they're working correctly:

Method 1: Using Terminal

# Check which DNS server is being used
nslookup google.com

# Or use dig
dig google.com

Method 2: Online DNS Leak Test

1. Visit TorGuard DNS Leak Test
2. Click "Standard Test" or "Extended Test"
3. Verify the results show your chosen DNS servers

Troubleshooting Common Issues

DNS Changes Not Taking Effect

• Flush DNS cache:

  sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

• Restart network service:

  sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

• Toggle Wi-Fi: Turn Wi-Fi off and back on
• Reboot: Restart your Mac if changes persist

Slow DNS Resolution

• Try different DNS servers closer to your location
• Remove unnecessary DNS entries (keep only 2-3)
• Ensure DNS servers are ordered by preference
• Check for network interference or firewall rules

Websites Not Loading

• Verify DNS server addresses are typed correctly
• Test with a known working DNS (8.8.8.8)
• Check if the issue is DNS-related:

  ping 8.8.8.8  # Should work if internet is connected
  nslookup google.com  # Should fail if DNS is broken

Configure DNS for Specific Applications

Some applications allow custom DNS settings:

Firefox

1. Type about:config in the address bar
2. Search for network.trr.mode
3. Set value to 2 for DNS over HTTPS
4. Set network.trr.uri to your DoH provider

Chrome

1. Go to Settings → Privacy and security → Security
2. Enable "Use secure DNS"
3. Select your preferred provider

DNS with VPN Usage

Best practices for VPN users:

• Let TorGuard VPN manage DNS automatically
• Enable "DNS Leak Protection" in TorGuard settings
• Test for DNS leaks after connecting to VPN
• Only use manual DNS when not connected to VPN

Advanced DNS Features on macOS

Split DNS Configuration

Configure different DNS servers for specific domains:

# Create a resolver file
sudo mkdir -p /etc/resolver
sudo echo "nameserver 10.8.0.1" > /etc/resolver/work.local

DNS Search Domains

Add search domains in Network → Advanced → DNS:

• Allows typing server instead of server.company.com
• Useful for internal networks
• Order matters for resolution priority

Security Recommendations

1. Use encrypted DNS: Prefer DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS
2. Avoid ISP DNS: They often log queries and inject ads
3. Regular testing: Periodically check for DNS leaks
4. Multiple servers: Configure both primary and secondary DNS
5. VPN integration: Use VPN for complete privacy protection