Changing DNS in Windows 7 - Complete Guide

Why Change DNS in Windows 7?

• Privacy: ISP DNS servers log all your browsing activity
• Speed: Public DNS servers often respond faster
• Security: Some DNS providers block malware domains
• Reliability: Avoid ISP DNS outages and errors
• Bypass Censorship: Access blocked websites

Recommended DNS Providers

Step-by-Step DNS Configuration

Step 1: Open Control Panel

Click the Start Menu and select Control Panel:

Step 2: Navigate to Network Settings

In Control Panel, under Network and Internet, click View network status and tasks:

Step 3: Access Your Connection

Click the link next to Connections. This will be:

• Local Area Connection for wired connections
• Wireless Network Connection for Wi-Fi

Step 4: Open Connection Properties

In the connection status window, click Properties:

Step 5: Select Internet Protocol Version 4

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties:

Step 6: Configure DNS Servers

Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter your chosen DNS:

Example configurations:

• Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
• Quad9: 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112
• OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220

Step 7: Save Changes

Click OK in all windows to save your changes. DNS changes take effect immediately.

IPv6 DNS Configuration (Optional)

If your network supports IPv6:

1. Select Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
2. Click Properties
3. Select Use the following DNS server addresses
4. Enter IPv6 DNS servers:

Verify DNS Changes

Method 1: Command Prompt

# Open Command Prompt and run:
nslookup google.com

# Check which DNS server responds
# Should show your configured DNS

Method 2: ipconfig

# View current DNS servers
ipconfig /all

# Look for "DNS Servers" under your adapter

Method 3: Online Test

1. Visit dnsleaktest.com
2. Click "Standard test"
3. Verify results show your chosen DNS provider

Clear DNS Cache

After changing DNS, clear the cache to ensure immediate effect:

# Open Command Prompt as Administrator
ipconfig /flushdns

# You should see:
# "Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache."

Multiple Network Adapters

If you have multiple network connections:

1. Change DNS for each active adapter
2. Prioritize adapters:
   • Control Panel → Network Connections
   • Press Alt → Advanced → Advanced Settings
   • Adjust adapter priority

Troubleshooting DNS Issues

Cannot Access Websites

• Double-check DNS addresses for typos
• Try alternate DNS servers
• Temporarily revert to automatic DNS
• Check firewall isn't blocking DNS (port 53)

Slow DNS Resolution

• Use DNS benchmark tool to find fastest servers
• Try servers geographically closer to you
• Disable IPv6 if not properly configured

DNS Reverts to Automatic

• Some antivirus software may override DNS
• Group Policy might enforce DNS settings
• Malware can hijack DNS settings

DNS with VPN

Windows 7 Security Hardening

Since Windows 7 is unsupported, take extra precautions:

1. Use Secure DNS: Choose providers with malware blocking
2. Enable Firewall: Windows Firewall + third-party option
3. Antivirus Essential: Use updated antivirus that still supports Win7
4. Browser Security: Use modern browsers with security updates
5. VPN Protection: Encrypt all traffic with VPN
6. Regular Backups: Prepare for potential security incidents

Alternative DNS Configuration Methods

Method 1: netsh Command

# Set DNS via command line (run as admin)
netsh interface ip set dns "Local Area Connection" static 1.1.1.1
netsh interface ip add dns "Local Area Connection" 1.0.0.1 index=2

Method 2: Router-Level DNS

Configure DNS on your router instead:

• Affects all devices on network
• No per-device configuration needed
• Survives Windows reinstalls

DNS Provider Details

Privacy-Focused Options

• Quad9: Non-profit, blocks malware, Swiss privacy laws
• Cloudflare: Promises to delete logs within 24 hours
• NextDNS: Customizable filtering, analytics

Family-Safe DNS

• CleanBrowsing: 185.228.168.9 (family filter)
• OpenDNS Family: 208.67.222.123
• Cloudflare Family: 1.1.1.3