How to enable dns over https in windows 11

In today’s digital age, protecting your online privacy and security is more important than ever. One way to do this is by enabling DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on your Windows 11 device. DoH is a protocol that encrypts your DNS requests, making it more difficult for hackers or internet service providers to intercept and track your online activity.

In this article, we’ll explain what DoH is and why it’s important, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to enable it on your Windows 11 device.

What is DNS over HTTPS (DoH)?

DNS (Domain Name System) is the system that translates domain names (e.g. www.example.com) into IP addresses (e.g. 192.168.1.1) so that your device can connect to the correct website. By default, DNS requests are sent in plain text, which means that anyone with access to your network can see which websites you are visiting.

DoH is a protocol that encrypts these DNS requests, making them more secure. It works by sending DNS requests over an HTTPS connection, which is the same type of secure connection used for online banking and shopping. This means that your DNS requests are hidden from prying eyes and cannot be intercepted or tampered with.

Why is DoH important?

There are several reasons why enabling DoH on your Windows 11 device is important:

• Privacy: DoH prevents your internet service provider (ISP) from seeing which websites you are visiting. This is especially important if you are using a public Wi-Fi network, as anyone on the same network can potentially see your DNS requests.
• Security: By encrypting your DNS requests, DoH makes it more difficult for hackers to intercept and manipulate your internet traffic. This is particularly important when accessing sensitive information, such as online banking or personal emails.
• Bypassing censorship: In some countries, governments or ISPs may block access to certain websites by manipulating DNS requests. DoH can help bypass this censorship by encrypting your DNS requests and preventing them from being manipulated.

How to enable DoH on Windows 11

Enabling DoH on your Windows 11 device is a simple process. Just follow these steps:

Step 1: Check your current DNS settings

Before enabling DoH, it’s important to check your current DNS settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type Control Panel.
2. Click on Control Panel to open it.
3. In the Control Panel, click on Network and Internet.
4. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
5. In the left-hand menu, click on Change adapter settings.
6. Right-click on your active network connection and select Properties.
7. In the Properties window, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
8. Make a note of your current DNS server addresses. If they are set to automatic, you can skip to the next step.

Step 2: Change your DNS server addresses

To enable DoH, you will need to change your DNS server addresses to a DoH-compatible server. There are several options available, including Google, Cloudflare, and OpenDNS. In this guide, we’ll use Cloudflare as an example.

To change your DNS server addresses, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and type Control Panel.
2. Click on Control Panel to open it.
3. In the Control Panel, click on Network and Internet.
4. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
5. In the left-hand menu, click on Change adapter settings.
6. Right-click on your active network connection and select Properties.
7. In the Properties window, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
8. Select the option to Use the following DNS server addresses.
9. In the Preferred DNS server field, enter 1.1.1.1.
10. In the Alternate DNS server field, enter 1.0.0.1.
11. Click on OK to save the changes.

Step 3: Enable DoH in your browser

Now that you have changed your DNS server addresses, you can enable DoH in your browser. In this guide, we’ll use Google Chrome as an example.

To enable DoH in Google Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the top right corner.
2. Click on Settings.
3. In the Settings menu, click on Privacy and security.
4. Scroll down and click on Security.
5. Under the Advanced section, click on Use secure DNS.
6. In the drop-down menu, select With your current service provider.
7. Close the Settings tab.

Step 4: Verify that DoH is enabled

To verify that DoH is enabled, you can use a DoH test website. Simply open your browser and go to https://1.1.1.1/help. If DoH is enabled, you will see a message that says “Using DNS over HTTPS (DoH): Yes”.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while trying to enable DoH, here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Check your DNS server addresses: Make sure that you have entered the correct DNS server addresses in your network settings. If you are using a different DoH-compatible server, make sure to enter the correct addresses.
• Clear your browser cache: If you are having trouble accessing certain websites after enabling DoH, try clearing your browser cache and cookies.
• Disable DoH: If you are experiencing issues with DoH enabled, you can disable it by following the same steps outlined in this guide and selecting the option to Use your current service provider in your browser settings.

Conclusion

Enabling DNS over HTTPS on your Windows 11 device is a simple and effective way to protect your online privacy and security. By encrypting your DNS requests, you can prevent your internet service provider from tracking your online activity and make it more difficult for hackers to intercept your internet traffic.

Follow the steps outlined in this guide to enable DoH on your Windows 11 device and enjoy a more secure online experience.