With the government’s oversight over its citizens’ internet browsing becoming more and more ‘strict’, so to speak, we are hearing more and more about the government cracking down on websites that they deem ‘unfit’ for the public to have access to. The latest example of this is the porn ban that the Indian government has asked ISPs in the country to implement, and which has already been implemented by a bunch of ISPs and network operators as of this writing.
Apart from the issue of banned websites, there’s also the problem that ISPs can easily snoop in on your data, and a lot of DNS providers actually even sell your data to third parties for profit or use it to target you with ads. That’s not right, so if you’re looking for a simple and straightforward solution to all of these issues, you must’ve heard of Cloudflare’s recently launched 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver service. So, in order to help you get the most out of your internet, here’s how you can use Cloudlfare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver to secure your DNS queries and visit blocked websites on the internet.
Why Is the 1.1.1.1 DNS Resolver Good
If you wondered why Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver service is something we’re recommending, first of all, that’s the proper way of thinking about internet services. Second, the reasons behind us mentioning this service as a great way to access an unrestricted internet are multifold, let me just break them down to you:
- Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy explicitly states that they will never sell your data to third parties.
- Cloudflare also states that it will never store any of your personally identifiable information, and will also destroy debug logs and similar data records within a 24 hour period.
- The 1.1.1.1 service is in partnership with APNIC (the Internet registrar for the Asia Pacific and Oceania region) and is completely free to use.
- Unlike VPN services, which might offer similar benefits, there are no usage limits on 1.1.1.1 and you don’t even need to register anywhere.
- You can access any blocked website with the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver, and in some cases, you might see your internet speeds improve as well.
How to Use Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS Resolver on Your Devices
Using a different DNS server than what is currently set on your devices might sound like a mammoth task but it’s actually pretty straightforward, and Cloudflare has tried to make it even easier, especially for mobile users. Still, instead of leaving you with a link to our article on how to change DNS settings on your system, I’ll walk you through how to set up the 1.1.1.1 DNS on all your devices. So read on.
How to Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on macOS
Setting up the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver on a Mac is pretty easy even if it involves a bunch of steps. Simply follow the steps mentioned below to get 1.1.1.1 up and running on your Mac:
- Open System Preferences, and search for DNS Servers. From the drop down, select DNS Servers.
- This will open up a screen showing you the DNS servers on your Mac. Click on the “+” button under DNS Servers and enter 1.1.1.1
- Click on the “+” button again, and enter 1.0.0.1
- Click on the “+” button again, and enter 2606:4700:4700::1111
- Click on the “+” button one more time, and enter 2606:4700:4700::1001
- Click on ‘Ok,’ and then click on ‘Apply.’
That’s pretty much it, you now have the Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS running on your Mac.
How to Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on Windows
If you’re a Windows user and you want to set up the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver on your system, just follow the steps below and you’ll be up and running in no time.
- Open the Control Panel and click on ‘Network and Internet.’
- Go to ‘Network and Sharing Center’ and click on ‘Change Adapter Settings.’
- Now, right click on the WiFi network you use, and click on ‘Properties.’
- Select IPv4, and click on ‘Properties.’
- Click on ‘Use The Following DNS Server Addresses.’
- Replace the addresses with 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
- Once done, click on ‘Ok’ and then click on ‘Close.’
Now you just have to restart your browser and that’s it, your system will be using the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver.
How to Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on iPhone
Using the Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on iPhone is pretty straightforward, and there are actually two methods that you can use depending on what you’re comfortable with.
Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on iPhone with the Cloudflare DNS App
The easiest method to use the 1.1.1.1 DNS service on iOS is to simply use the dedicated app that Cloudflare has released for iOS. It works pretty much like a VPN app and routes all your internet traffic via the 1.1.1.1 DNS while the app is active.
- Install the 1.1.1.1 DNS app on your iPhone from the App Store.
- Once done, simply launch the app, allow it to create a VPN profile and toggle the VPN on.
That’s it. All your network requests will now be routed through the 1.1.1.1 DNS.
Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on iOS by Changing DNS Settings
Alternatively, you can edit the DNS settings on your iPhone to not have to turn on the DNS app everytime you need unblocked access to the internet. Here’s how you can do that.
- On you iPhone, head over to Settings, and tap on WiFi. Here, tap on the WiFi network you’re using.
- Inside the settings, tap on Configure DNS, and then tap on Manual.
- Delete any existing DNS settings, and then add new DNS records by tapping the “+ Add Server” button.
- Add two DNS records: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
- Then, add two more DNS records: 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001
- Tap on the ‘Save’ button.
That’s it, your iPhone will now use the 1.1.1.1 DNS server to access the internet, and you’ll be able to browse the internet without worrying about the DNS provider selling your data.
How to Use Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 DNS on Android
If you’re using an Android phone, the method to use 1.1.1.1 as your DNS is as simple as it is on iOS. Just follow the steps below:
- Install the 1.1.1.1 DNS app on your phone from the Play Store.
- Allow it to create a VPN profile, and then turn the toggle on.
That’s it, all your browsing data will now be routed through Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS servers and you will be able to browse the internet freely.
How to Set Up Your Router to Use 1.1.1.1 DNS
If you’re using multiple devices on your network, and you most probably are, it’s easier to just change your router’s settings to use 1.1.1.1 instead. Fortunately, doing that isn’t difficult either. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be all set:
- While connected to your WiFi or ethernet network, enter your router’s gateway address in the browser. This is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You can find it on your router or by simply searching for your router’s name and model on Google.
- Locate the DNS settings page here and note down the existing DNS settings in case you need to revert back to them later.
- Now replace those settings with 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 for IPv4, and 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001 for IPv6.
- Save your settings and restart your router.
That’s it, your router will now use the 1.1.1.1 DNS to resolve your internet queries and you’ll be able to get unrestricted access to banned websites.
Easily Access Blocked Websites with Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS
So those were all the ways in which you can set up and use Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS service on your devices. You can individually set up 1.1.1.1 on your devices or you can choose to simply change the DNS settings on your router itself to automatically get all your devices to use the 1.1.1.1 DNS instead of whatever DNS you’re using currently. Hopefully this guide will help you use the internet unrestricted and without worrying about your DNS provider selling your data to third parties. If you come across any issues while setting up the 1.1.1.1 DNS on your devices, let us know in the comments down below and we’ll try to help you out.
