DNS Speed Test

Why Change DNS on iPhone

Your iPhone uses whichever DNS server your network provides. On your home WiFi, that is usually your router, which gets it from your ISP. On cellular, your carrier assigns a DNS server automatically. In both cases, the default is rarely the fastest or most private option available.

ISP DNS servers are built to handle millions of users at the lowest possible cost. They sit in data centers that may be far from you, and they often serve stale results because aggressive caching reduces their infrastructure load. The result is slower page loads on your phone, especially on sites that pull resources from multiple domains.

Changing your iPhone's DNS to a provider like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Google 8.8.8.8 can cut domain lookup times by 30 to 80 milliseconds per query. A typical website triggers 30 to 50 DNS lookups during load. That adds up to one or two seconds saved on every page you visit.

Privacy is another reason. Many ISP DNS servers log your browsing history and retain those logs for months. Some even redirect failed DNS lookups to ad pages. A privacy-focused resolver keeps your activity out of your ISP's records and does not inject ads into failed lookups.

There is also the matter of security. Providers like Quad9 9.9.9.9 block known phishing domains at the DNS level before your browser ever connects to them. On an iPhone, where you are more likely to tap links in messages and emails, this adds a meaningful layer of protection.

WiFi DNS Configuration (Per-Network)

iOS lets you change DNS on a per-WiFi-network basis. The setting lives inside the network details screen for each WiFi connection. When you change it, the new DNS applies only to that specific network — your other WiFi networks and cellular data stay unchanged.

Step-by-Step: Change DNS for a WiFi Network

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Wi-Fi near the top of the settings list.
3. Find the WiFi network you are currently connected to. It will have a checkmark next to it.
4. Tap the blue info icon (i) to the right of the network name. This opens the network details screen.
5. Scroll down until you see Configure DNS. By default it says "Automatic."
6. Tap Configure DNS to open the DNS settings.
7. Switch from Automatic to Manual by tapping it.
8. Under DNS SERVERS, tap Add Server. Type 1.1.1.1 and tap Add Server again.
9. Type 1.0.0.1 for the secondary DNS server.
10. If you see your ISP's DNS server listed (it usually starts with your router's IP like 192.168.1.1), tap the red minus icon next to it, then tap Delete to remove it.
11. Tap Save in the top-right corner.

Your iPhone immediately starts using the new DNS servers for this WiFi network. There is no restart required. Every time you connect to this WiFi in the future, your iPhone will automatically use the DNS servers you just configured.

If you want to revert, go back to Configure DNS and switch it back to Automatic. iOS clears the manual entries and resumes using whatever DNS the router provides via DHCP.

Adding More Than Two DNS Servers

iOS lets you add more than two DNS servers. If you want a fallback chain — for example, Cloudflare as primary, Google as secondary, and Quad9 as a tertiary option — just tap Add Server for each one. iOS tries them in order from top to bottom. If the first server does not respond, it moves to the next.

IPv6 DNS on iPhone

If your network supports IPv6, the DNS configuration you set also applies to IPv6 queries. iOS handles this automatically — you do not need to enter separate IPv6 DNS addresses. The servers you type (like 1.1.1.1) support both IPv4 and IPv6 natively.

DNS Profiles for System-Wide Coverage

The per-WiFi DNS setting has a limitation: it only works on WiFi networks you manually configure. If you connect to a new WiFi network — at a coffee shop, hotel, or friend's house — it reverts to automatic DNS unless you configure that network too. And there is no way to change DNS for cellular data through Settings alone.

DNS profiles solve both problems. A DNS profile is a configuration file that installs a DNS provider across your entire device — WiFi, cellular, and any network you connect to. It also enables encrypted DNS (DNS over HTTPS or DNS over TLS), which the manual WiFi configuration does not.

What DNS Profiles Do

• Set DNS servers for all WiFi networks, including ones you have not manually configured
• Set DNS servers for cellular data connections
• Enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) or DNS over TLS (DoT) to encrypt your DNS queries
• Work with iOS 14 and later (some features require iOS 15+)

How to Install a DNS Profile

Several DNS providers offer iOS profiles. Here is how to install one using Cloudflare as an example:

1. Open Safari and go to 1.1.1.1.
2. Tap Install DNS Profile or follow the on-screen instructions. The page detects your device and offers the iOS profile.
3. iOS asks for permission to download a configuration profile. Tap Allow.
4. Open the Settings app. You will see a new entry near the top called Profile Downloaded. Tap it.
5. Tap Install in the top-right corner. Enter your passcode if prompted.
6. Review the profile details and tap Install again.
7. Tap Done.
8. Go back to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. You should see the DNS profile listed under DNS.
9. Tap on the profile name and switch it to On.

Once installed and enabled, the DNS profile covers all your connections — WiFi and cellular. Queries are encrypted using DNS over TLS, which means your ISP cannot see which domains you are looking up.

Other Providers That Offer iOS Profiles

• NextDNS — offers a full iOS profile with DoH/DoT and custom blocklists. Visit apple.nextdns.io to download.
• Quad9 — provides a configuration profile at quad9.net that enables DNS over TLS.
• AdGuard — has an iOS app and DNS profile at adguard-dns.io that blocks ads and trackers system-wide.

Removing a DNS Profile

To remove a DNS profile, go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management, tap on the DNS profile, and tap Remove Profile. Enter your passcode to confirm. Your iPhone immediately reverts to the default DNS behavior.

Managing Per-Network DNS Settings

One of the useful things about iOS is that DNS settings are stored per WiFi network. When you configure DNS for your home WiFi, it does not affect your office WiFi, your friend's network, or any other network you join. Each one keeps its own DNS configuration.

How Per-Network DNS Works

When you connect to a WiFi network for the first time, iOS uses Automatic DNS by default. Once you manually configure DNS for that network, iOS remembers your settings and applies them every time you connect to it. You can have different DNS servers on different networks without any conflict.

Setting Different DNS for Home vs. Office

For example, you might want Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 at home for speed, but Quad9 9.9.9.9 at the office for the extra security filtering. Configure each network separately and iOS handles the rest. When you walk into the office and connect to the office WiFi, your iPhone uses the office DNS. When you get home, it switches to your home DNS.

Quick Check: Which DNS Is Active?

To see which DNS servers your iPhone is currently using for the active WiFi network, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info icon next to the connected network, and scroll to Configure DNS. The servers you see there are the ones currently in use.

If you installed a DNS profile, the profile's servers override any per-network manual DNS settings. The profile takes priority across all networks.

Verifying Your DNS Change

After changing your DNS, you want to confirm that the new servers are actually handling your queries. iOS does not provide a built-in tool to check this, but a few quick tests do the job.

Method 1: Provider Verification Pages

Most DNS providers have a verification page you can visit in Safari:

• Cloudflare: Visit https://1.1.1.1 — the page confirms you are using Cloudflare DNS
• Google: Visit https://dns.google — it shows your current DNS provider
• Quad9: Visit https://quad9.net — it confirms Quad9 is active

If the page says you are still using your ISP's DNS, the change did not take effect. Double-check that you saved the DNS settings and that you are connected to the correct WiFi network.

Method 2: DNS Leak Test

Visit a DNS leak test site like https://dnsleaktest.com and run the standard test. The results show which servers are responding to your DNS queries. If you configured Cloudflare, you should see Cloudflare IPs in the results — not your ISP's servers.

Method 3: Run a DNS Speed Test

Our DNS speed test measures response times across 17+ DNS providers. Run it before and after changing your DNS to see the actual performance difference on your iPhone. This is the most practical way to confirm that your new DNS is both working and faster than what you had.

What If the Old DNS Is Still Active?

If verification shows your ISP's DNS is still being used, try these steps:

1. Make sure you are connected to the WiFi network where you changed the DNS settings
2. Toggle WiFi off and back on to force a reconnection
3. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off to reset all network connections
4. Check that you removed the ISP's DNS server from the manual list — iOS may still query it if it is listed alongside your new servers

Flushing DNS Cache on iPhone

After changing DNS settings, your iPhone may still have old results cached from the previous resolver. While iOS does not have a command-line tool to flush DNS cache like macOS or Windows, there are a few effective methods.

Method 1: Airplane Mode Toggle

The simplest way to clear the DNS cache on iOS is to toggle Airplane Mode:

1. Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner on iPhone X and later, or swipe up from the bottom on older models)
2. Tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on
3. Wait 15 to 30 seconds
4. Tap Airplane Mode again to turn it off
5. Reconnect to your WiFi network

This forces iOS to drop all network connections, clear cached DNS entries, and start fresh when you reconnect.

Method 2: Restart Your iPhone

A full restart clears more aggressively than Airplane Mode. On iPhone X and later, hold the side button and either volume button until the power slider appears, then drag to shut down. On older models, hold the side or top button. After the device powers off completely, wait 30 seconds and turn it back on.

Method 3: Delete and Reinstall DNS Profile

If you are using a DNS profile and want to force a fresh start, remove the profile, toggle Airplane Mode, then reinstall the profile. This clears any cached entries from the old DNS provider and establishes a clean connection with the new one.

Does iOS Automatically Flush the Cache?

Yes. iOS has a built-in TTL (time to live) system for DNS entries. Cached entries expire automatically based on the TTL set by each DNS record. Most records have TTLs of 300 to 3600 seconds, so old entries are replaced within minutes to an hour without any manual action. But if you want immediate results — for example, to test a DNS change — manually flushing through Airplane Mode is the way to go.

Recommended DNS Providers for iPhone

Here are the best DNS providers to use on your iPhone, ranked by what matters most on a mobile device.

Run our DNS speed test to see which provider is fastest from your current location. Geographic proximity matters more than brand reputation for DNS speed. See our complete DNS server comparison for additional options and detailed benchmarks.

Which DNS Should You Pick?

For most iPhone users, Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the best starting point. It is the fastest global resolver, has a free iOS profile for system-wide coverage, and purges all query logs within 24 hours. If speed is your top priority, start there.

If security matters more, Quad9 9.9.9.9 blocks known malicious domains before your browser connects to them. It also has an iOS profile with DNS over TLS support.

For families, Cloudflare's 1.1.1.3 filtering blocks adult content and malware at the DNS level. OpenDNS (208.67.222.222) offers more granular content filtering categories if you want fine-grained control.

If you want ad blocking on your iPhone without installing a separate app, AdGuard DNS 94.140.14.14 blocks ads and trackers at the DNS level. It works across all apps, not just Safari.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

DNS Not Changing After Configuration

If you save DNS settings but the old resolver is still active, the most common cause is that the ISP's DNS server is still listed in the manual DNS server list. iOS queries all listed servers, so if your ISP's DNS is still there alongside your new servers, iOS may still use the old one. Remove all existing entries before adding your new servers.

Sites Not Loading After DNS Change

This usually means the DNS servers are unreachable from your network. Try switching to a different provider. If you are on a corporate or school network, the firewall may be blocking external DNS queries. In that case, a DNS profile with DNS over HTTPS may work since it uses port 443, which is typically not blocked.

DNS Works on WiFi But Not on Cellular

Manual DNS configuration only applies to the specific WiFi network where you configured it. Cellular data always uses the carrier's DNS unless you install a DNS profile. If you want consistent DNS across WiFi and cellular, install a DNS profile from a provider like Cloudflare or NextDNS.

DNS Profile Not Installing

iOS requires you to approve configuration profiles manually. If the profile does not appear in Settings after downloading, check that Safari allowed the download. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management — if the profile is there, tap it and install. If it is not there, try downloading it again in Safari (not Chrome or another browser, since third-party browsers have restrictions on profile downloads on iOS).

DNS Settings Reset After iOS Update

iOS updates occasionally reset network settings. After updating, check your DNS configuration to make sure your custom settings are still in place. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the info icon on your network, and verify the Configure DNS section. If it reverted to Automatic, reconfigure it.

For more general DNS troubleshooting, see our complete DNS change guide that covers all platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions