How to Change DNS Servers on Linux

Aug 19, 2023 · Updated: Jul 27, 2026 · Linux, DNS, Networking

Table of contents

Introduction

Faster DNS servers can speed up domain lookups and improve browsing. This guide shows how to change DNS servers on Linux by editing /etc/resolv.conf, using Cloudflare DNS and Google DNS as examples.

Understanding DNS Servers

DNS servers are crucial in translating human-readable domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers understand. Using faster and more reliable DNS servers can significantly reduce the time it takes to resolve domain names, resulting in quicker website loading times.

Configuring DNS Servers

Configuring DNS servers on your Linux system involves editing a specific configuration file. Below, we’ll guide you through the process of configuring popular DNS servers such as Cloudflare DNS and Google DNS.

Using Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1)

Cloudflare DNS is known for its impressive speed, often outperforming other DNS servers. To set up your Linux system to utilize Cloudflare DNS, follow these steps:

Open a terminal window.
Edit the /etc/resolv.conf file using a text editor such as nano or vim:
```
sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
```
Add the following lines at the top of the file:
```
nameserver 1.1.1.1
nameserver 1.0.0.1
```

These lines specify the Cloudflare DNS servers for domain name resolution.

Using Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4)

Google DNS is another popular choice, valued for its reliability and performance. To configure your system to use Google DNS, follow these steps:

Open a terminal window.
Edit the /etc/resolv.conf file:
```
sudo nano /etc/resolv.conf
```
Add the following lines:
```
nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4
```

These lines indicate the Google DNS servers for your domain resolution needs.

With these configurations in place, your Linux system will utilize either Cloudflare DNS or Google DNS for translating domain names to IP addresses. This can result in improved speed and responsiveness.

Installation on Arch-Based Linux

If you’re using an Arch-Based Linux distribution, such as Arch Linux or Manjaro, you can easily install the necessary tools for working with DNS settings. The dnsutils package provides essential utilities like nslookup and dig. To install this package, follow these steps:

Open a terminal window.
Run the following command to install the dnsutils package:
```
sudo pacman -S dnsutils
```

This will install the required tools for DNS-related tasks on your Arch-Based system.

Verifying Your Configured DNS Server

After configuring your DNS server, it’s important to verify that your Linux system is indeed using the desired DNS server. You can achieve this by using the dig command in combination with grep to extract relevant information. Follow these steps:

Open a terminal window.
Enter the following command:
```
dig | grep "SERVER"
```

This command will display the DNS server information currently in use by your system. By performing this check, you can ensure that your chosen DNS server has been successfully configured and is actively being utilized for domain name resolution.

Conclusion

Changing DNS servers on Linux is a straightforward way to reduce latency. Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) and Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) both offer faster, more reliable domain name resolution than most defaults.