How to Set OpenDNS Servers on Router and Devices

If you searched for “opendns servers ip“, you are probably looking for the addresses to type into your router or device so your internet traffic uses OpenDNS instead of your default provider. This guide gives you exactly that, with a practical setup walkthrough for your own router, computer, and phone. The public OpenDNS resolver addresses are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. Use the first as your primary server and the second as your secondary server, and this guide shows you where to enter them.

Before changing anything, it helps to understand what you are changing. Every time you type a website name into a browser, your device asks a Domain Name System server to translate that name into a numeric address the internet can route to. By default, that job is done by your internet provider’s servers. Searching for opendns servers ip is how most home users find the alternative addresses to enter. Switching to OpenDNS means your own devices send those translation requests to OpenDNS servers instead. Nothing about your broadband connection itself changes, and you are only ever configuring equipment you own or administer.

What “Opendns Servers Ip” Means

The phrase “opendns servers ip” is simply the search-friendly way of asking for the IP addresses of OpenDNS servers, and it is worth understanding before typing anything into a settings screen. An IP address is a set of numbers that identifies a server on the internet, just as a phone number identifies a telephone. OpenDNS publishes its public resolver addresses so anyone can point their own devices at them. The two addresses in this guide, 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220, are the well-known public pair, and they have been stable for many years.

You always enter two addresses, not one, for a good reason. The primary server handles your requests first. The secondary server is a backup that takes over if the primary is unreachable for any reason. If you enter only one address and that server has a brief outage, your device may fail to load websites even though your internet connection is fine. Entering both addresses costs nothing and removes that single point of failure.

Before You Start: Safety Notes for Your Own Network

Only change DNS settings on networks and devices you own or are authorised to administer, such as your home router, your personal laptop, or your own phone. Do not change DNS settings on a work computer, a school network, or a shared network without permission from the person who manages it, because DNS affects every website lookup on that device and could conflict with security policies.

It is also wise to write down your current DNS settings before you change them, even though finding the opendns servers ip values themselves takes only a moment. On most routers, the DNS fields show “automatic” or display your provider’s addresses. Take a photo or a note of those values so you can restore them if you ever want to switch back. Switching DNS is reversible: you can return to automatic settings at any time, and your internet will simply go back to using your provider’s servers.

Finally, remember that changing DNS does not make your connection anonymous, does not hide your activity from your internet provider, and does not replace a VPN. DNS is only the address book lookup. It can affect speed, reliability, and some filtering features, but it is not a privacy tool on its own.

How to Set OpenDNS on Your Router

Setting OpenDNS on your router is the most efficient option, because it covers every device on your home network at once, including phones, tablets, smart televisions, and game consoles. Start by opening a browser on a computer connected to your home network and signing in to your router’s admin page. The address is usually printed on a sticker on the router itself, and common examples include addresses in the 192.168 range. If you are unsure, check your router’s manual or the sticker on its base.

Once signed in, look for a section labelled Internet, WAN, DNS, or Network Settings. This is where the opendns servers ip pair belongs. The exact wording varies by manufacturer. You are looking for two fields, usually called Primary DNS and Secondary DNS, or DNS Server 1 and DNS Server 2. Change them from Automatic to Manual or Custom if that option is offered, then enter 208.67.222.222 as the primary and 208.67.220.220 as the secondary. Save the settings and restart the router if prompted.

After the router restarts, devices on your network may need to reconnect or renew their network settings before they pick up the change, which is the most commonly missed step in any opendns servers ip setup. The simplest way to do this is to disconnect and reconnect your device’s Wi-Fi, or restart the device. Then test by visiting a familiar website. If pages load normally, the change has taken effect. If nothing loads, double-check that you typed the addresses correctly, with dots in the right places, and that you saved the router settings.

How to Set OpenDNS on Windows and Mac

If you only want to change one computer, you can set OpenDNS on the device itself instead of the router, using the same opendns servers ip pair. On Windows, open Settings, then Network and Internet, then select your connection, then Edit the DNS settings. Change the setting from Automatic to Manual, enable the IPv4 option, and enter 208.67.222.222 as the preferred DNS and 208.67.220.220 as the alternate DNS. Save the changes and restart your browser.

On a Mac, open System Settings, then Network, then select your active connection, then Details, then DNS. Use the plus button to add 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 to the list, and remove or leave the existing entries below them, since the Mac tries servers in the order listed. Click OK and Apply. As with the router method, test by loading a website. If a site fails, revisit the settings and confirm both addresses are typed correctly.

Device-level changes override router settings for that device only, which is useful if you want to try OpenDNS on one computer before rolling it out to the whole house, and it keeps an opendns servers ip trial low-risk. Other devices on the same network will keep using whatever the router provides until you change the router too.

How to Set OpenDNS on Your Phone

On an Android phone, the easiest reliable method is to change DNS for your home Wi-Fi network specifically, again using the opendns servers ip pair from this guide. Open Settings, then Network and Internet, then Wi-Fi, then tap your connected network, then Edit, then Advanced options, then change IP settings from DHCP to Static. You can then enter 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 in the DNS fields. Note that switching to static settings also requires you to confirm the IP address and gateway shown, so only change the DNS fields and leave the rest as they were.

On an iPhone, open Settings, then Wi-Fi, then tap the information icon next to your connected network, then Configure DNS, then change it from Automatic to Manual. Add 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 as servers and save. This change applies only to that Wi-Fi network, which is exactly what you want: your phone will use OpenDNS at home and your provider’s servers elsewhere.

Changing DNS on a phone over mobile data is a different, more involved process and is not covered here, because most users who search for opendns servers ip want the home Wi-Fi setup. The Wi-Fi method above is sufficient for everyday home use.

How to Test and Troubleshoot Your OpenDNS Setup

Testing is simple, and it is the step that confirms your opendns servers ip change actually took effect. After changing settings, open a browser and visit several familiar websites. If they load at normal speed, your setup works. If pages fail to load entirely, the most likely cause is a typo in one of the addresses, so re-check each digit. Another common cause is a router that needs a restart after saving, or a device that needs to reconnect to Wi-Fi to pick up the new settings.

If some sites load but others do not, clear your browser cache and try again, since old DNS results can linger in the browser for a short time after an opendns servers ip change. If problems persist, revert to automatic DNS settings and confirm that your connection works normally again. That test tells you whether the problem is the DNS change or something else on your network. You can then re-enter the OpenDNS addresses carefully and test once more.

Speed differences after switching DNS are usually small, so do not judge an opendns servers ip change on download speed alone. Some users notice slightly faster lookups, others notice no change at all, and a few find their provider’s servers were already fast. DNS changes affect only the initial lookup for a website, not the download speed of the page itself, so do not expect a faster broadband connection overall.

OpenDNS Public Resolver Addresses

Role IP Address Where to Enter It
Primary DNS server 208.67.222.222 Primary or DNS Server 1 field
Secondary DNS server 208.67.220.220 Secondary or DNS Server 2 field

For related home-network help, see our guides on how to turn on Wi-Fi on an LG smart TV and another name for network.

Frequently Asked Questions About OpenDNS Servers IP Setup

What are the OpenDNS server IP addresses?

The public OpenDNS resolver addresses are 208.67.222.222 for the primary server and 208.67.220.220 for the secondary server. Those are the two opendns servers ip values to memorise or bookmark. Enter both, in that order, in your router or device DNS settings.

Is it safe to change my DNS to OpenDNS?

Yes, on your own network it is a standard, reversible setting, and the opendns servers ip pair has been published for public use for many years. OpenDNS is a long-established public resolver service. You can switch back to automatic DNS at any time if you prefer your provider’s servers.

Should I set OpenDNS on my router or on each device?

Setting it on the router covers every device at home at once, which is simplest, and it means you enter the opendns servers ip pair once instead of on every device. Setting it on one device is better if you only want to try it on a single computer or phone before changing the whole house.

Will OpenDNS make my internet faster?

It may make website lookups slightly faster or more reliable, but it will not increase your broadband download speed. DNS only affects the initial step of finding a website’s address.

What should I do if websites stop loading after the change?

Check both addresses digit by digit, restart your router, reconnect your device to Wi-Fi, and clear your browser cache. If problems continue, restore automatic DNS settings to confirm your connection works, then re-enter the addresses carefully.

Conclusion

Setting up OpenDNS on your own network comes down to two numbers and a few minutes of careful typing: 208.67.222.222 as your primary server and 208.67.220.220 as your secondary server, entered in your router for whole-home coverage or on a single device for a trial run. Write down your original settings first, change only equipment you own or administer, and test with familiar websites afterwards. If you searched for opendns servers ip to get your home network running on a public resolver, those two addresses and the steps above are everything you need.

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