7 hours ago
3
Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.
ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- Private DNS encrypts your web postulation to forestall ISP tracking.
- It improves some privateness and online security.
- It's elemental to crook on, but disabling it puts your information astatine risk.
Nearly everything you bash connected your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet begins with a Domain Name System (DNS) query. Essentially, DNS turns domain names (such arsenic ZDNET.com) into an IP code truthful web browsers and apps cognize wherever to get the accusation you want.
Also: The champion Android phones to bargain successful 2025
Without DNS, you'd person to benignant 34.149.132.124 each clip you wanted to spell to ZDNET.com oregon 74.125.21.102 to spell to Google.com. Even by simply moving a Google search, DNS is astatine work. The occupation is that modular DNS isn't encrypted, meaning each your queries are sent implicit the web arsenic plain text.
Why is non-encrypted DNS a problem?
Let's accidental you're connected a nationalist network -- similar a java store -- and you commencement searching for things connected your Android device. Or possibly you person to entree a CMS oregon different enactment tool, and you don't privation the nationalist to cognize the code you're typing. If idiosyncratic other is connected the aforesaid web and has the skills, they could intercept your non-encrypted hunt queries (or the URLs you visit) and cognize precisely what you're looking for.
That's wherever Private DNS mode comes into play. Once you alteration this feature, each of your DNS queries are encrypted, truthful atrocious actors won't beryllium capable to presumption them -- adjacent if they seizure those packets. In different words, Private DNS mode should beryllium an implicit indispensable for anyone who values their privateness and security.
But however bash you alteration Private DNS mode connected Android? It's really beauteous simple. Let maine amusement you how.
How to alteration Private DNS mode (on Android mentation 11 oregon newer)
If you're utilizing Android mentation 11 oregon newer, the aged method of Private DNS nary longer works. Instead of handling this process manually, you person to instal an exertion created by Cloudflare, called 1.1.1.1 + WARP. Once you've installed that app, it volition open, and you'll spot a slider marked Disconnected. Tap that slider, and it volition alteration the service.
The Cloudflare WARP app makes it casual to alteration Private DNS connected Android, starting with mentation 11.
There's a caveat to utilizing the app. If it is disabled and you request to re-enable Private DNS, you won't find the app successful your app drawer. Instead, you'll person to hunt for it successful the Google Play Store and pat Open from there. I'd similar to deliberation Cloudflare could hole this small annoyance, but until they do, you astatine slightest cognize however to entree the app. If, connected the different hand, the app is running, you'll spot a notification introduction that, erstwhile tapped, volition unfastened the app.
How to alteration Private DNS mode (on Android versions older than 11)
What you'll need: An Android instrumentality moving mentation 10 oregon older. I'm utilizing a Pixel 9 Pro (which means I present person to usage the caller method), but beauteous overmuch each modern Android phone is susceptible of enabling Private DNS.
Also: This soundless Android diagnostic scans your photos for 'sensitive content' - however to disable it
Open the Settings app (either from the notification shadiness oregon the app drawer) and past pat Network & internet. If you're utilizing a Samsung Galaxy device, you'll spell to Settings > More Connection Settings.
The Network & net enactment should look astatine the apical of the Settings app.
You'll find the introduction for Private DNS adjacent the bottommost of the Network & net window. On Galaxy devices, it volition beryllium located successful the mediate of the More Connection Settings list. If you don't find it, spell backmost to the main Settings leafage and hunt for Private DNS.
The Private DNS introduction is successful the Network & net conception of the Settings app.
This is wherever it tin get a spot tricky. You request to person the code of a supplier that offers Private DNS. Cloudflare is my supplier of choice, truthful the code for their superior unafraid DNS is:
Also: How to wide your Android telephone cache (and wherefore it makes specified a large difference)
Some different imaginable hostnames you tin use:
- Google DNS: dns.google
- Quad9: dns.quad9.net
- CleanBrowsing DNS: security-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org
- OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222
- NextDNS: 45.90.28.0
- Comodo Secure DNS: 8.26.56.26
- OpenNIC: 192.95.54.3
Note: Although the supra escaped DNS services are each worthy trying, I urge going with Cloudflare (1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com). I find it the fastest, and the astir secure, of the bunch. On apical of the speed, Cloudflare adds DNS filtering, which tin assistance forestall email from being sent from malicious IP addresses.
Also: I upgraded my Pixel 9 Pro to Android 16 - here's what I emotion (and what's inactive missing)
When you pat Private DNS, a caller pop-up volition appear. Tap Private DNS Provider Hostname, and past benignant the hostname for the DNS supplier of your choice.
Adding a Private DNS supplier for Android.
You tin besides take Automatic, which volition automatically power to Google's Private DNS erstwhile it's available. For those who aren't truthful speedy to spot Google for specified a feature, I urge selecting Private DNS and past typing the code for your supplier of choice. Tap Save to prevention the caller mounting and adjacent the Settings app. You could find yourself successful a determination wherever Google's Private DNS servers aren't available, truthful utilizing 1 similar Cloudflare has advantages beyond speed.
Also: Changing these 12 settings connected my Android telephone extended its artillery beingness by hours
You tin past verify it's moving by opening your default Android browser and pointing it to http://1.1.1.1/help. If you spot "Using DNS implicit TLS (DoT)" acceptable arsenic "Yes," it's working.
And that's each determination is to it. Once you've enabled Private DNS connected Android, your DNS queries are encrypted. Enjoy that added privateness and security.
Get the morning's apical stories successful your inbox each time with our Tech Today newsletter.
English (US) ·