How to Fix a Google DNS Problem on Any Device

A Google DNS problem usually looks like websites timing out, pages refusing to load, or one device failing while the rest of your Wi-Fi works. The fix depends on where DNS was changed: the device, browser, router, VPN, or a managed work profile. Start with the setting that was changed most recently, then move down to cache resets and network resets.

1. Put DNS back to automatic

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Wi-Fi > info button > Configure DNS, choose Automatic, and remove any custom Google DNS addresses for that Wi-Fi network.

On current Android, open Settings > Network & internet > Private DNS, choose Automatic or Off, then tap Save.

On Android 9, Google documents the path as Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced > Private DNS, and the menu varies by phone maker, so search Settings for Private DNS if you do not see it.

This checks whether Google Public DNS, including Google Public DNS reached through Android's Private DNS feature, is the thing breaking lookups.

2. Enter Google Public DNS correctly

1.Use 8.8.8.8 as the preferred IPv4 DNS server.
2.Use 8.8.4.4 as the alternate IPv4 DNS server.
3.Use 2001:4860:4860::8888 as the preferred IPv6 DNS server.
4.Use 2001:4860:4860::8844 as the alternate IPv6 DNS server.
5.Select Save, restart your browser, and test the website again.

3. Update Windows DNS settings

This fixes a wrong Windows DNS entry or a bad manual DNS setup.

Open Start > Settings > Network & internet.

For Wi-Fi, open Wi-Fi > Manage known networks, then choose your network.

For Ethernet, open Ethernet, then select the connected network.

To change DNS only, scroll to the separate DNS entry on the network screen, shown as DNS server assignment or DNS settings depending on your build, and select Edit.

Choose Automatic (DHCP) to stop using Google DNS, or choose Manual to enter Google DNS again.

For manual setup, turn on IPv4 or IPv6, type the addresses into Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS, choose the DNS over HTTPS setting on Windows 11, then select Save.

If you go through IP assignment > Edit > Manual instead, Windows also expects the IP address, Subnet mask or Subnet prefix length, and Gateway values, so use that route only when you actually want a static IP.

4. Change Mac DNS settings

macOS keeps DNS settings per network service, so edit the connection you are using right now.

Open Apple menu > System Settings > Network > network service > Details > DNS, then use the Add button to enter Google DNS or select an existing server and use the Remove button to delete it.

Click OK when finished, then use Apple menu > Restart to refresh the Wi-Fi networking state.

5. Fix ChromeOS and router DNS

On Chromebook, select the time in the bottom right, then open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > your network > Network.

Under Name servers, choose Google name servers.

To enter addresses yourself, choose Custom name servers, then enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.

For IPv6 on ChromeOS, choose Custom name servers, then enter 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844.

Click outside the Network section to apply the change.

For Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi, open Google Home, then go to Home > Wifi > Network settings > Advanced Networking > DNS.

Choose Automatic, ISP’s DNS, or Custom.

With Custom, enter a primary and secondary server address, then tap Save.

On another router, open the router admin page in a browser, using an address such as 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, or 192.168.1.100.

Enter the router password, find the DNS server settings, record the current primary and secondary DNS values, enter Google DNS or restore the old DNS values, then save and exit.

6. Clear Windows DNS cache

Select Search on the taskbar, type Command Prompt, then select Run as administrator and Yes.

Run ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

For a deeper reset, run netsh winsock reset.

Run netsh int ip reset.

Run ipconfig /release.

Run ipconfig /renew.

Run ipconfig /flushdns again.

Restart the PC so the netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset changes finish applying, then test the site again.

To use Windows Network reset instead, open Start > Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now > Yes, then wait for the PC to restart.

PowerShell users can clear the same Windows DNS cache with Clear-DnsClientCache.

7. Check Secure DNS in your browser

This fixes DNS trouble that happens in Chrome or Firefox while other apps still connect.

In Chrome on desktop or Android, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Security > Use secure DNS.

Turn Use secure DNS off for testing, or turn it on and choose a provider shown by Chrome.

Update Chrome after browser-specific network trouble. On desktop, click New Chrome available, then Relaunch to Update.

In Firefox desktop, open Firefox menu button > Settings > Privacy & Security > DNS over HTTPS > Advanced settings.

Choose Default Protection, Increased Protection, Max Protection, or Off, then test the site again.

8. Remove VPN and stale Wi-Fi settings

On iPhone or iPad, uninstall the VPN or security software that may intercept DNS.

Restart the device and test the Wi-Fi connection again.

When Wi-Fi still fails on iPhone or iPad, unplug the router and cable modem, then plug them back in.

To reset iPhone or iPad network settings, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

On Chromebook, open Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Known networks, find the network, select More, then choose Forget and rejoin it.

On Mac, open Wi-Fi from Control Center or the menu bar and look for Wi-Fi Recommendations, then choose it if it appears. It only shows up when your Mac has detected an issue, and it is unavailable on personal hotspots and on networks using enterprise security such as WPA Enterprise or WPA2 Enterprise.

For Wireless Diagnostics on Mac, hold Option while clicking Wi-Fi, then choose Open Wireless Diagnostics.

9. Skip outdated or managed DNS advice

Skip older Android per-Wi-Fi DNS tutorials unless the phone is running a version older than Android 9.

On current Android, use Settings > Network & internet > Private DNS > Private DNS provider hostname, enter dns.google, then tap Save.

Skip older Firefox instructions that point to Options > General > Network Settings.

On current Firefox desktop, use Settings > Privacy & Security > DNS over HTTPS > Advanced settings.

For a school, office, or managed device, stop changing DNS when the setting is locked or returns after restart.

Contact the IT admin or VPN/security software provider, because Chrome, Edge, Apple devices, and managed ChromeOS environments can control DNS by policy.

Locked DNS controls usually mean the device is following an enforced policy, not a broken Google DNS setting. Google notes that Chrome's secure DNS cannot be used when the device is managed or parental controls are turned on, so work, school, family, or security-software policy can all be the cause.