{"id":37504,"date":"2026-04-05T16:16:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T23:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?p=37504"},"modified":"2026-04-07T00:45:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T07:45:56","slug":"google-dns-servers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/google-dns-servers\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Google DNS Servers and How to Use Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If your internet feels slow or unreliable at times, your DNS settings might be the problem. Some internet service providers (ISPs) use DNS servers that are slower or less reliable, especially during peak hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google DNS servers are a free alternative that can improve website load times and overall connection stability. In this guide, you\u2019ll learn what Google DNS is, how to find the correct IP addresses (including IPv4 and IPv6), and how to set it up on your device in just a few steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Google Public DNS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Google Public DNS is a free <\/strong>Domain Name System (DNS)<\/strong><\/a> service that lets your device look up website addresses using Google\u2019s servers instead of your internet provider\u2019s.<\/strong> It\u2019s one of the largest public DNS services in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google Public DNS acts as a recursive resolver.<\/strong> It takes your device\u2019s domain name requests (like www.example.com), queries other DNS servers, and returns the correct IP address so your browser can load the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google DNS Server Addresses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Google offers DNS addresses for both IPv4 and IPv6.<\/strong> You can use either one or both, depending on what your device and network support. Here are Google\u2019s official DNS server addresses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protocol<\/strong><\/td>Primary<\/td>Secondary<\/td><\/tr>
IPv4<\/strong><\/td>8.8.8.8<\/td>8.8.4.4<\/td><\/tr>
IPv6<\/strong><\/td>2001:4860:4860::8888<\/td>2001:4860:4860::8844<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can enter these in your device\u2019s DNS settings, as shown in the next section of this guide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google DNS IPv4 vs. IPv6: Which One to Use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Google DNS servers are available in both IPv4 and IPv6 formats. The protocol your device uses depends on how it connects to the internet, which determines the DNS addresses it relies on.<\/strong> Despite the difference in formats, the underlying Google DNS service works the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re unsure which protocol your device is using, open <\/strong>Settings<\/em><\/strong> > <\/strong>Network & Internet<\/em><\/strong>, then select <\/strong>Properties<\/em><\/strong> under your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Scroll down to see whether the connection is using IPv4, IPv6, or both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s both and you enter both sets of Google DNS addresses, your system will automatically choose the best one.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Change Google DNS on Your Device<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Switching to Google DNS is simple; all you need to do is enter Google\u2019s DNS addresses in your device\u2019s settings.<\/strong> Follow the steps below to update your DNS settings to Google DNS on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and your router.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>

Note:<\/strong> You can always revert to your original DNS settings if needed, so keep a note of them.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Set Up Google DNS on Windows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Type \u201cControl Panel\u201d in the Windows search bar and open it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Windows<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Select Network and Internet<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"Windows<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Go to Network and Sharing Center<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \"Windows<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. Click Change adapter settings<\/em> in the left panel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \"Windows<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Right-click your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet), then select Properties<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \"Windows<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP\/IPv4)<\/em> or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP\/IPv6)<\/em> and click Properties<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \"Wi-Fi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              1. In the General tab, choose Use the following DNS server addresses<\/em>, then enter:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                For IPv4:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n