What Is Private DNS? How to Set Up Private DNS on Android

Private DNS is an Android feature that encrypts your DNS queries and sends them to a DNS provider you choose. It’s available on Android 9 and later; some manufacturers’ Turkish-language menus call it “Özel DNS” or “Gizli DNS”.

In this article we explain what Private DNS is, how it differs from normal DNS, which providers you can use and how to turn it on step by step.

What Does DNS Do, in Short?

When you visit a site, your phone first asks a DNS server to translate the domain name (e.g. example.com) into an IP address. Normally these queries go unencrypted to the DNS server of the Wi-Fi network or mobile carrier you’re connected to.

Private DNS vs Normal DNS

	Normal DNS	Private DNS (DNS-over-TLS)
Encryption	None	Yes (TLS)
Can the network see your queries?	Yes	No, only the provider you chose sees them
Who decides the provider?	Usually the network or carrier	You
Port used	53	853
Where it’s set	Per network in Wi-Fi settings	In the phone’s general settings, for all networks

Private DNS doesn’t replace the HTTPS encryption between you and websites; it only protects DNS queries. The sites you visit still see your IP address. If you want to hide all traffic, a VPN is a different solution.

The Three Private DNS Modes

• Off: the DNS server provided by the network is used unencrypted.
• Automatic: encrypted DNS is used if the network supports it; otherwise it falls back to normal DNS. This is the default on most Android phones.
• Private DNS provider hostname: queries are always sent encrypted to the provider you chose. If the provider can’t be reached, the internet may not work.

Which Private DNS Provider Should I Choose?

Provider	Hostname	Key feature
Cloudflare	one.one.one.one	Focused on speed and privacy
Google Public DNS	dns.google	Widely used and stable
Quad9	dns.quad9.net	Blocks known malicious domains
AdGuard DNS	dns.adguard-dns.com	Blocks ads and trackers

This field takes a hostname like those in the table, not an IP address. For more on ad-blocking providers, see our article ad-blocking DNS.

How to Set Up Private DNS on Android

Samsung

1. Open Settings → Connections → More connection settings → Private DNS.
2. Select Private DNS provider hostname.
3. Type, for example, one.one.one.one and tap Save.

Google Pixel and stock Android

1. Go to Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS.
2. Choose Private DNS provider hostname, type the address and save.

Xiaomi, Oppo and other brands

Menu names may differ. You can find the screen by typing “DNS” in the search bar in Settings.

Is Private DNS Working? How to Check

• After saving the setting, open a few sites; if they open without problems, the connection is established.
• If you use Cloudflare, the 1.1.1.1/help page in your browser shows whether DNS-over-TLS is in use.
• If sites won’t open and you see a “Private DNS server cannot be accessed” warning, see our guide to fixing that error.

When Should You Use Private DNS?

• When you want to hide your DNS queries on public Wi-Fi networks in cafés, hotels or airports.
• When you want phone-wide blocking of ads or malicious sites.
• When your carrier’s DNS server is slow or unreliable.

School and workplace networks may block encrypted DNS; on these networks Automatic mode works more smoothly.

On Computers and iPhone

Windows 11 offers DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) support in its settings. iPhone doesn’t have a single setting like Android; encrypted DNS is used through configuration profiles or DNS apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Private DNS speed up my internet?

It can slightly affect how quickly pages start loading, but it doesn’t increase your download speed. The difference depends on your provider and location.

Is Private DNS the same as a VPN?

No. Private DNS only encrypts DNS queries; a VPN passes all your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel and changes your IP address.

Does Private DNS drain the battery?

Although encryption adds some overhead, it isn’t expected to cause noticeable battery drain in everyday use.

Is it safe to turn off Private DNS?

When it’s off, your DNS queries are unencrypted, but HTTPS sites still use encrypted connections. Automatic mode is a balanced option for most users.