Online privacy and security should not be taken lightly, so you should always do whatever you can to protect yourself from any risks. If you have a Windows 11 system, you can encrypt DNS requests and enhance user privacy. This tutorial will show you how to enable DNS over HTTPS on Windows 11 to enhance online privacy.
DNS over HTTPS Windows 11
To enable DNS over HTTPS, you will have to choose two pairs of DNS servers. One pair for IPv4 and the other for IPv6. Here is a list of available DNS addresses for IPv6 and IPv4:
IPv4:
- Google DNS Primary: 8.8.8.8
- Google DNS Secondary: 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare DNS Primary: 1.1.1.1
- Cloudflare DNS Secondary: 1.0.0.1
- Quad9 DNS Primary: 9.9.9.9
- Quad9 DNS Secondary: 149.112.112.112
IPv6:
- Google DNS Primary: 2001:4860:4860::8888
- Google DNS Secondary: 2001:4860:4860::8844
- Cloudflare DNS Primary: 2606:4700:4700::1111
- Cloudflare DNS Secondary: 2606:4700:4700::1001
- Quad9 DNS Primary: 2620:fe::fe
- Quad9 DNS Secondary: 2620:fe::fe:9
You will need these details for the section below. So, keep them in front of you when you follow the enabling section below.
Enable DoH Feature
Step-1: Click on the Windows icon on the taskbar. Select Settings app. (You can also use shortcut keys Win + I)
Step-2: From the left pane, select Network & Internet.
Step-3: Select your primary internet connection. This is the WiFi option from the left pane in my case. (Don't click on the toggle switch)
Step-4: Select Hardware properties.
Step-5: Locate the DNS Server Assignment option and click on Edit.
Step-6: Select Manual from the drop-down menu.
Step-7: Turn the toggle switch On next to IPv4.
Step-8: Once you turn the toggle switch On, you will see a bunch of new options. In the Preferred DNS and Alternate DNS, pick a primary and secondary pair from the section above. For example, you can add 8.8.8.8 in Preferred and 8.8.4.4 in Alternate DNS.
Step-9: From the drop-down menu under Preferred DNS encryption and Alternate DNS encryption, select Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS)
Step-10: Now, turn the toggle switch On for IPv6.
Step-11: Follow steps 8 and 9 for IPv6. In step-8, add the DNS server details given for IPv6 in the section above.
Step-12: After you are done with both IPv4 and IPv6, select Save.
Step-13: Close the settings app.
This will encrypt your DNS, and you will have a safe and secure browsing experience from now on.
