How to Set Up Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS on Windows, macOS, and Linux? Print

Overview
Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver is one of the fastest and most privacy-focused DNS services available. Replacing your default DNS settings with 1.1.1.1 (or 1.0.0.1 as backup) can help:

• Speed up browsing

• Improve reliability when certain websites won’t load

• Enhance privacy by preventing ISPs from logging DNS queries

This guide will walk you through setting it up on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

DNS Addresses

Before starting, note the DNS addresses you’ll be using:

• Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1

• Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1

(IPv6 users can also use 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001)

Setup on Windows 10/11

1. Open Network Settings

   • Right-click the network/Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar.

   • Select Open Network & Internet Settings.

2. Choose Adapter Settings

   • Scroll down and click Change adapter options.

   • Right-click your active network connection → Properties.

3. Adjust IPv4 DNS

   • Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.

   • Choose Use the following DNS server addresses and enter:

     • Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1

     • Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1

4. Adjust IPv6 (Optional)

   • Select Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) → Properties.

   • Enter:

     • Preferred DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1111

     • Alternate DNS: 2606:4700:4700::1001

5. Save & Test

   • Click OK → Close → Reconnect to your network.

   • Open a browser and test speed or visit a site that wasn’t loading before.

Setup on macOS (Ventura / Monterey / Big Sur)

1. Open Network Settings

   • Go to System Settings (or System Preferences in older macOS).

   • Select Network.

2. Choose Active Network

   • Click Wi-Fi or Ethernet → Details/Advanced.

3. Update DNS

   • Go to the DNS tab.

   • Remove existing DNS servers (if any).

   • Add:

     • 1.1.1.1

     • 1.0.0.1

   (Optional: add IPv6 addresses as listed above)

4. Apply Changes

   • Click OK → Apply.

   • Restart your browser and test again.

Setup on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

There are multiple ways depending on your desktop environment. Here are two common ones:

Method 1: Using Network Manager GUI

1. Open Network Settings

   • Click the network icon → Settings.

   • Select your active connection → Settings/IPv4.

2. Set Manual DNS

   • Under DNS, enter:

     • 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1

   (For IPv6, use: 2606:4700:4700::1111, 2606:4700:4700::1001)

3. Save & Restart

   • Click Apply.

   • Reconnect to the network.

Method 2: Editing resolv.conf

1. Open a terminal.

2. Edit the resolver configuration:

    

   sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf

3. Add:

    

   nameserver 1.1.1.1 nameserver 1.0.0.1

4. Save (CTRL+O, then CTRL+X).

5. Restart networking:

    

   sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

(Note: Some distros overwrite resolv.conf on reboot — in that case, update DNS in NetworkManager or systemd-resolved instead.)

Verify the Setup

To confirm you’re using Cloudflare’s DNS:

• Open https://1.1.1.1/help

• The page will show if your device is correctly using Cloudflare DNS.

✅ Tip: You can also install the Cloudflare WARP app on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android for one-click setup, encryption, and extra privacy features.