Want to enable OpenDNS or Google DNS on your iOS device? Most default ISP DNS servers are quite slow, so you can both speed up your connection and help make it safer by switching to OpenDNS or Google DNS. Unfortunately, you can’t change DNS settings on cellular internet connections in iOS, but you can change your WiFi DNS settings to help speed up your connection. But whenever you’re on your using WiFi at your college, home, work, library, Starbucks, or anywhere else, here’s how you can switch to using the DNS server you want.
First, enable WiFi on your device and connect to the WiFi network you want to use. Then, tap the blue arrow button on the right side of the network name to tweak its settings.
Now, select the DNS field, select the DNS that’s already listed, then enter the DNS settings you want. Separate different DNS addresses with commas. You’ll need to know the IP addresses of the DNS resolution system you want to use. There are several common ones, including OpenDNS, Google DNS, and a couple lesser known ones such as Norton DNS or Comodo Secure DNS. I’d personally recommend using OpenDNS or Google DNS, but you can give the others a try and choose the one that works best for you
Here’s the addresses you should use for these:
| Service: | OpenDNS | Google Public DNS | Norton DNS | Comodo DNS |
| Primary IP: | 208.67.222.222 | 8.8.8.8 | 198.153.192.1 | 156.154.70.22 |
| Secondary IP: | 208.67.220.220 | 8.8.4.4 | 198.153.194.1 | 156.154.71.22 |
Once you’ve added the settings, you’ll be ready to browse the internet using your new DNS service without any extra changes. Enjoy!
Do note that you have to set your DNS settings on each network, so do note that you’ll need to change this the next time you connect to a new network. The good thing is, your device will remember your recently used networks, so you shouldn’t have to change the settings once you’ve got them set for your favorite networks. To make it easier, you could save a note in your favorite note app with the DNS settings you prefer so you can copy and past them to new networks easily.
So, what DNS do you use by default? Google DNS, OpenDNS, or your local ISP’s default DNS? I usually use OpenDNS, but lately have had some problems with OpenDNS and iTunes, so I’ve been using Google DNS. Surprisingly, it’s seemed faster, lately, though that’s highly subjective. Let us know your favorite in the comments.
Hi Matthew,
I got my ipod touch for 2 weeks now
, what is the use of “search domain” form in setting? can I just fill it with google.com?
Nice and informative website.
Thanks.
Search domains are actually the default domain your browser will check when you type in an incomplete address. For example, if you set your search domain as “google.com”, then when if you entered just the word “images” in the address bar in Safari, it would see if “images.google.com” is a real domain. If so, it would take you directly to that site; if the word you entered was not part of the main search domain, then it would simply do a default search for that word. This will be autofilled by your network’s DHCP settings by default, or you can set it manually if you wish. So, for the most part, just leaving that field blank is fine. If you have a site you regularly visit as I mentioned above, then you could add it.
If you did want to change your search engine, then go to Settings -> Safari -> Search Engine. There you can select from Google, Bing, or Yahoo! search in Safari. Or, if you use an alternate browser, you’ll have to change the search engine in the settings.
Hope that helps, and glad you like Techinch.com!
Thanks for the info. So my iPod is connected to my home network (ICS), and the mail works fine but I can’t access the Internet on Safari or other apps. Please help
Hi, i just wanna say thank you very much for sharing this tip as it has helped me a great deal in making my facetime work on my ipad2. Cheers!
Awesome, glad it helped!
what is the ”search domains” for?
Hi Matt,
My ipod touch can connect to google then find a specific website for example NBA but It would not be able to open that specific website. I change the DNS setting to both googleDNS and OpenDNS, still not working. Please help
My friend recently change the setting on my jail broken itouch and it increases the amount of ram on my itouch but because the extra ram comes from the memory card ,so the battery starts running out quickyly.
How do I undo the change? I think my friend did it on Cydia or installous
Hmm, I’ve never actually jailbroken my iOS devices. I’d recommend restoring the official version of iOS through iTunes, as that will undo any changed made by Cydia or Installous apps. You’ll have to stick to official App Store apps, but sometimes, making sure everything works perfect is better than having to deal with apps that can mess stuff up.
How do u Chang the I.M.E.I number on ah iPhone 4 or 4s using red snow or pineapple or I faith
Ok so I’ve tried both the OpenDNS and the GoogleDNS, both helped a little, but its makes no sense because my connection is fast, all except for YouTube.
thank you very much for sharing this tip.
Hi.
I’m using my work VPN system. When I’m login to the VPN with my iOS device, I’m not able to open any of the privet web sites. If I use a PC and I log in using the VPN, i can open these sites without any issues.
I’m using IPSec connection for the VPN and I tried to add to the dns settings of the wifi the dns server of the VPN system. So it looked like what you have suggested: dns1, dns2 ( wifi dns, work dns )
This didn’t work as it always defaulted to the first dns and because it was working, it never tried to use the other one.
If I only put my work dns then everything works, but I have to be always connected to the VPN and this is not easy as this is a secure login.
So, is there any other way to put in my iOS device the dns setting of my work so if the safari ( or any other browser ) will search a site and can find it, it will try with the other dns, or the other way. Is there a cyida twik that changes the dns if the VPN is connected? Any soother suggestions?
Thanks.
Hi I got an iPod touch for my birthday last year but something strange happened to it.
I connect to my router but the WiFi wasn’t working so I decided to reset my network settings
after that my IP address router DNS everything was blank so I waited for a while then my IP and
subnet mask was different.
My IP was 169.254.178.26
My subnet was 255.255.0.0
all the others were blank I had 3 bars but it wouldn’t work
Mainly the IP was 192.168.0.100
the normal IP addresses are like that but mine wasn’t
So i was wondering how do i fix it and change my IP back to normal
I have tried resetting, restoring resetted my router.
But it wont work
How do i fix this?
now i can use iMessage and Facetime now. Thanks so much!!!!!!!!
Thank you ;D
yeah yeah yeah!!! at last! I’m in such a joy, thanks a lot people, I must say I feel a piece of a hacker now, strange glitch btw, why wouldn’t it work without adding 8.8.8.8 ?
I can change the dns to 8.8.8.8 but is is not saved. After going back to the settings and then again to the wifi settings the dnschange is gone. The old value is back agin. How come?
Thank you for your info regards on DNS setting.After all been set my FaceTime still shown user not available .
What is wrong ?
Thank you
Dear Sir,
Well i got a gift from my relative in london an iphone4. I am not able to use my facetime as it shows only WAITING FOR ACTIVATION. i am connected to WIFI. i came accross the DNS SETTINGS and in my iphone i had put 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4 but still it is showing the same as waiting for activation. IT is not getting activated. Kindly help me resolve this problem. I am very anxious to use facetime.
Thanks,
zubin.
I don’t understand how to do this how do I know what my ip address is and what do I type into DNS and search domain ? Please help I can’t use FaceTime or iMessage
Just bought an ipad2 and trying to connect to home wifi network. The IP Address/Subnet it is showing are incorrect. I had no problem with my ipad1 which has no trouble finding and connecting to my home wifi. How can I change the IP Address and Subnet Mask on the ipad2?
After trying for Four days to uPgrade To ios 5.1 w/o being able to connect to the server (either via wifi or USB cable) I tried this and it worked like a charm. Thanks!
I’m with Doug–tried for two days to upgrade to iOS 5.1 without connecting to the iPhone update server (either via wifi or iTunes). I reset my DNS and now am watching the software update OTA
Many thanks!
Hey.. i have had some problems with my IPod touch.. I tried all the thing u said… but it wont work… i text with Imessage with like every one i know! but my one friend just got an IPhone 3rd gr. and if i wanna send her a message on imessage it wont let me send it.. do u know what i can do? i have updated my IPod and everything!!