Your Mac uses DNS (Domain Name System) every time you open a website — it’s the phonebook that turns apple.com into the numeric address your Mac actually connects to. By default your Mac uses whatever DNS your internet provider hands out, which is often slow, logs what you browse, and sometimes blocks sites. Switching to a free public resolver like Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) can make pages load faster, keep your browsing more private, and fix “this site can’t be reached” errors. It takes about two minutes and nothing is permanent — you can revert any time.
Change DNS on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and later (System Settings)
- Open the Apple menu → System Settings.
- Click Network in the sidebar.
- Select the connection you’re using — Wi-Fi or Ethernet — then click Details… (for Wi-Fi, click the button next to your network name).
- Click DNS in the side list.
- Under DNS Servers, click the + button and type your first server, then + again for the second. For Cloudflare, add
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1. - If your provider’s old servers are listed above yours, select each one and click − to remove it so your Mac uses only the new ones.
- Click OK, then Apply.
On macOS Monterey and earlier the path is System Preferences → Network → (select connection) → Advanced… → DNS tab, then use the same + / − buttons. The idea is identical; only the menu name changed from “System Preferences” to “System Settings.”
The best DNS servers to use
All three below are free, fast, and widely trusted. Add both addresses in each pair — the second is a backup.
-
Cloudflare (privacy-focused, usually the fastest):
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1 -
Google Public DNS (reliable, global):
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4 -
Quad9 (blocks known malware and phishing domains):
9.9.9.9and149.112.112.112
If your main goal is speed, start with Cloudflare. If you want a little built-in security, Quad9 will quietly block domains known to host malware. There’s no harm in trying one, seeing how it feels for a day, and switching to another.
Why change your DNS?
- Speed: a nearby, well-run resolver can shave the delay before a page starts loading — noticeable on a busy connection.
- Privacy: Cloudflare and Quad9 don’t sell your browsing history the way some ISPs do.
- Fewer errors: if sites randomly fail to load or you see “server not found,” a flaky ISP resolver is a common cause — a public DNS often fixes it instantly.
- Access: some content that a provider’s DNS blocks resolves normally on a neutral public resolver.
Flush the DNS cache after switching
Your Mac remembers old lookups for a while, so after changing servers it’s worth clearing that memory. Open Terminal (Applications → Utilities) and run:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderEnter your password when asked (nothing shows as you type — that’s normal) and press Return. Sites will now be looked up fresh using your new DNS. For the full walkthrough of clearing every kind of cache on a Mac, see our guide on how to clear the cache on a Mac.
How to revert to your provider’s DNS
Nothing here is permanent. To go back, return to System Settings → Network → (your connection) → Details… → DNS, select each address you added, and click − to remove it. With the list empty your Mac automatically falls back to the DNS your router or ISP provides. Click OK and Apply and you’re back to default.
Still slow or dropping out? It might not be DNS
DNS only affects the lookup step. If pages are slow to actually load or the connection keeps cutting out, the problem is usually Wi-Fi itself. See what to do when your MacBook Wi-Fi keeps dropping. And if your Mac is generally sluggish — beach-balling, slow to wake — DNS won’t fix that; an older machine on a modern macOS is the more likely culprit. A clean, well-priced MacBook Air (from $450) or anything in our Apple clearance section will feel dramatically faster than a tired Intel Mac, no settings changes required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is changing DNS on a Mac safe?
Yes. You’re only telling your Mac which phonebook to use for looking up website addresses. It doesn’t touch your files, your passwords, or your network security, and you can undo it in seconds.
Will changing DNS make my internet faster?
It can make websites start loading faster because the lookup step is quicker, and a good resolver like Cloudflare is often faster than an ISP’s. It won’t increase your actual download speed — that’s set by your internet plan and Wi-Fi signal.
What’s the difference between 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8?
1.1.1.1 is Cloudflare’s resolver, built around speed and privacy. 8.8.8.8 is Google Public DNS, known for reliability. Both are free and excellent; try Cloudflare first for speed.
Do I need to change DNS on every device?
DNS set on your Mac only affects that Mac. To cover every device at once — phones, TVs, consoles — change the DNS in your router settings instead. Setting it on the Mac is the quickest way to test whether you like it first.
How do I know it worked?
After applying and flushing the cache, open a few sites. If they load normally (or faster), you’re set. Cloudflare also hosts a status page at 1.1.1.1/help that confirms your Mac is using its resolver.