Setup guide

Change DNS on iPhone and iPad

iOS lets you set DNS per Wi-Fi network. What it does not do — and the workarounds for that — matters more than the steps themselves.

Before you change anything

The default for every network is Automatic. That is what you return to, and iOS keeps the setting per network, so reverting one network does not affect the others.
On a work, school or campus network, a custom resolver commonly breaks internal hostnames, intranet sites and VPN resources that depend on split DNS. If anything internal stops resolving, that is the cause — revert first, investigate second.
Captive portals on hotel and airport Wi-Fi often will not appear until you go back to the network’s own DNS.
Changing resolver changes what is filtered. Moving to an unfiltered resolver switches off malware or adult-content blocking you may currently rely on; moving to a filtering one can block sites that used to work.
Your chosen resolver can see every domain your device looks up. Changing DNS moves that visibility from your ISP to the new provider. It does not make your lookups invisible, and it does not hide which sites you visit from anything else on the path.

Per Wi-Fi network

Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
Tap the ⓘ button beside the network you are connected to.
Tap Configure DNS and switch from Automatic to Manual.
Remove the existing entries with –, then use Add Server for each of your chosen addresses. Add the provider’s IPv6 addresses too if your network uses IPv6.
Tap Save.

Addresses are in the resolver comparison.

What this does not cover

Only that one network. Every other Wi-Fi network you join keeps using its own DNS. There is no global plain-DNS setting.
Not mobile data. Cellular connections always use the carrier’s resolver unless you install an encrypted-DNS configuration profile or an app that provides one.
Not encrypted. Addresses entered here are used with classic DNS on port 53. Encrypted DNS on iOS requires a DNS settings profile, which several providers publish and which appears afterwards under Settings → General → VPN, DNS & Device Management.

Install configuration profiles only from the provider’s own site. A DNS profile can direct every lookup your device makes, which is precisely why it should not come from a third party.

iCloud Private Relay

With Private Relay switched on, Safari resolves names through Apple’s relay rather than your configured resolver. Your setting still applies to other apps. If a change appears to work everywhere except Safari, this is usually why.

Checking it worked

Reopen Configure DNS and confirm the servers you entered are listed under Manual. Then load a few sites, including any work or school resources, before treating the change as complete. iOS has no user-facing cache flush — toggling Wi-Fi off and on, or flight mode, is the practical equivalent.

Reverting

Settings → Wi-Fi → ⓘ → Configure DNS → Automatic → Save.
If you installed an encrypted-DNS profile: Settings → General → VPN, DNS & Device Management, select the profile and remove it.
Toggle Wi-Fi off and on so the change takes effect.

Last reviewed 2026-08-15. Provider configuration comes from RESOLVER-REGISTRY.json, which records the official source and verification date for every entry.