The simple change that instantly speeds up any Wi-Fi connection Do it now
Over the past two decades, technological advances have dramatically improved internet speeds. Broadband and fiber connections have created super-fast networks where even 4K media files can be downloaded in seconds to both your computer and TV.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement. Changing your DNS settings is often cited as one of the easiest ways to improve your internet speed. Let’s see how DNS works and how to change it.
What is DNS? When you enter a website's URL into your browser, it must be translated into the website's IP address to send and receive data. The Domain Name System (DNS) is the digital equivalent of a phone book, as it provides a number (IP address) for a specific name (URL).
If you try to access a site that is not already cached on your computer, your DNS server will request access from another server. Your default DNS server is likely provided by your ISP and is not guaranteed to be the best performing server.
- How does your location affect DNS speed?
The infrastructure that supports the Internet is a series of optical cables that connect servers around the world. Data is transmitted over these cables in the form of electromagnetic waves, at speeds limited to the speed of light.
Although we can't do anything to increase this speed, we can reduce the distance those waves have to travel. If the DNS server is far away from you, your browsing speed will be affected.
However, the reality of the Internet is more complex than simple distance calculations might lead us to believe. Google Public DNS is one of the most popular DNS server alternatives and uses two IP addresses (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4).
These are known as Anycast addresses, and multiple servers around the world respond to requests for these addresses. The servers that respond to requests vary throughout the day, depending on network conditions and traffic. This is why many people change the DNS on their router.
Now that you understand the role of DNS when browsing the Internet, and to change it on your phone and on your computer with Windows 10 or Windows 11, we invite you to refer to these two explanations:
Once you click to confirm these settings, you will start using the new DNS servers and your internet speed when browsing will be significantly improved, as the time between clicking on the website and interacting is reduced.