Many websites are often blocked by internet providers or authorities for various reasons. But there’s a simple way to bypass these blockades and gain access without requiring a VPN – by changing the standard DNS servers to public alternative ones. In this article, we’ll show you how to easily do this on different devices.
DNS or the Domain Name System is essentially the phone book of the internet. It translates domain names (e.g. www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers understand. When you enter a website address in your browser, DNS finds the corresponding IP address and connects you to the desired site.
Sometimes internet providers or government entities block access to certain websites for legal or ethical reasons. They do this by preventing DNS servers from providing the IP addresses of blocked sites.
Public DNS servers are alternative DNS servers provided by third parties such as Cloudflare, OpenDNS and others. They allow circumventing local provider blockades since they don’t adhere to restrictions on blocked sites.
Popular public DNS servers
- Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
- OpenDNS: 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220
- Quad9: 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112
Here’s how to change the DNS server on different devices
Windows
- Open “Control Panel” -> “Network and Sharing Center”
- Right-click on the active network connection and select “Properties”
- Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click “Properties”
- Select “Use the following DNS server addresses”
- Enter preferred DNS addresses (e.g. 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 for Cloudflare)
Mac OS
- Go to “System Preferences” -> “Network”
- Select the network connection from the list on the left
- Switch to the “DNS” tab
- Add the desired DNS addresses in the respective field
iOS
- Go to “Settings” -> “Wi-Fi”
- Tap the “i” icon next to the connected network
- Under “DNS”, tap “Configure DNS” -> “Manual”
- Remove any existing addresses and enter the new public DNS
Android
- Open Settings -> “Network & Internet” -> “Private DNS”
- Tap “Private DNS provider” and enter the desired address
- Or in WiFi settings, tap the connected network
- Go to “Advanced options” and change “IP settings” to “Static”
- Change “DNS 1” and “DNS 2” to preferred public DNS
While using public DNS is simpler, it doesn’t always bypass blockades implemented at another level. A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all internet traffic and routes it through a remote server, guaranteeing access to any blocked website. But VPNs may have monthly fees.
If changing your DNS doesn’t work, using a reputable paid or free VPN service is the only reliable solution to unblock websites.
