Quick Answer
Go to Settings > Network > your network > Network, switch “Name servers” from Automatic to Custom, and enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare). This can fix slow page loads and DNS-related errors caused by your ISP’s default servers.
Why Change DNS
Your ISP’s default DNS servers can be slow, unreliable, or occasionally used for ad injection or logging. Switching to a public DNS provider like Google or Cloudflare often speeds up the time it takes to resolve a website’s address and can resolve certain “site can’t be reached” errors that aren’t really about your internet connection at all.
Setup Steps
Step 1: Open network settings
Click the status area in the bottom-right corner, then the gear icon, or go directly to Settings > Network.
Step 2: Select your Wi-Fi network
Click on the network you’re currently connected to, then click “Network” in the details panel that opens.
Step 3: Switch Name servers to Custom
Find the “Name servers” section and change it from “Automatic (DHCP)” to “Custom name servers.”
Step 4: Enter the DNS addresses
For Google DNS, enter 8.8.8.8 as the primary and 8.8.4.4 as the secondary. For Cloudflare, use 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. Either is a solid, privacy-respecting choice.
Step 5: Save and test
Close the settings and try loading a few different websites. If pages that were slow to resolve now load faster, the change worked.
Step 6: Apply to other networks if needed
This setting applies per network, so repeat it for other saved Wi-Fi networks (home, work, etc.) if you want the change everywhere.
Still Not Fixed?
If pages still won’t load after switching DNS, the issue is likely unrelated to DNS resolution. Check whether you’re getting a specific error like DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN or ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED for more targeted fixes.
FAQ
Is changing DNS servers safe?
Yes, using well-known public DNS providers like Google or Cloudflare is safe and widely recommended. Avoid unfamiliar third-party DNS services you find with no reputation behind them.
Will this fix “connected to Wi-Fi but no internet”?
It can, if the root cause is a failing ISP DNS server. See our full guide on Chromebook connected to Wi-Fi but no internet if the problem is broader than DNS.
Do I need to change DNS on every device, or just the Chromebook?
ChromeOS network DNS settings only apply to that Chromebook. To change DNS for every device on your network at once, set it in the router’s admin settings instead.
