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Set custom DNS servers on Windows (all versions)

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38P8qD8ps1s]

Setting custom DNS servers on your Windows PC can improve performance, increase your privacy and thwart Geo-blocking for some websites and services, and I will show you how to do it in this guide.

Normally your ISP sets your DNS servers via your modem or upstream connection, but you don’t have to use these, and it’s highly recommended you change to free, public DNS servers that don’t necessarily track you.

Before changing DNS servers you’ll need to find a third-party DNS provider, there are plenty of good (and free) services available too. I recommend Google DNS which is what I use and have never had an issue. I will list here the most popular DNS providers:

  • GOOGLE
  • Primary IPv4: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary IPv4: 8.8.4.4
  • Preferred IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888
  • Alternate IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8844
  • OPENDNS
  • Primary: 208.67.222.222
  • Secondary: 208.67.220.220
  • Preferred IPv6: 2620:0:ccc::2
  • Alternate IPv6: 2620:0:ccd::2
  • DNS.WATCH
  • Primary: 84.200.69.80
  • Secondary: 84.200.70.40
  • LEVEL3
  • Primary: 209.244.0.3
  • Secondary: 209.244.0.4
  • NORTON
  • Primary: 199.85.126.10
  • Secondary: 199.85.127.10
  • COMMODO
  • Primary: 8.26.56.26
  • Secondary: 8.20.247.20
  • VERISIGN
  • Primary: 64.6.64.6
  • Secondary: 64.6.65.6
  • MORE SERVERS…
  • See: Free and Public DNS Servers
  • See: Public DNS Server List (extensive)

These instructions apply to Windows XP, VISTA, 7, 8.1 and Windows 10. Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

How to set custom DNS servers on Windows

  1. Click Start > and search for "Control Panel", then click the "Desktop App" result For Windows XP/Vista/7 go to Start > Control PanelSet Custom DNS - Search for Control Panel
  2. Click Network and InternetSet Custom DNS - Click Network & Internet
  3. Now click Network and Sharing CenterSet Custom DNS - Click Network & Sharing Center
  4. Click on Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection (it might named something else, but click on anyway)Set Custom DNS - Click Local Arear Connection
  5. In the Status window, click on Properties buttonSet Custom DNS - Click Properties button
  6. Click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then click on Properties buttonSet Custom DNS - Click on Internet Protocol Version 4, then click Properties
  7. Select Use the following DNS server addresses option, then enter your custom IPv4 DNS server IP addresses, then click OKSet Custom DNS - Click Use the following DNS servers, then enter DNS IP addresses for both fields
  8. (optional) Click on Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), then click PropertiesSet Custom DNS - Click on Internet Protocol Version 6, then click Properties
  9. Select the Use the following DNS server addresses option, then enter your custom IPv6 DNS server IP addresses, then click OKSet Custom DNS - Click Use the following DNS server address, then enter custom DNS server IP addresses for both fields
  10. Click on OK to close the Properties windowSet Custom DNS - Click on OK
  11. Click the Close button to exit the Status windowSet Custom DNS - Click the Close button to finish
  12. Type "CMD" in your desktop search box, then right-click on Command Prompt result and choose to Run as AdministratorCustom DNS - Type cmd in search box, then right-click on Command Prompt and Run as Administrator
  13. Click Yes to allow the app to runCustom DNS - Click Yes to allow the program to run as Administrator
  14. At the command prompt type: ipconfig /flushdns then hit Enter keyCustom DNS - Type ipconfig /flushdns at command prompt
  15. You should see a success message, you can now close the Command Prompt windowCustom DNS - You should now see a success message
  16. Your DNS servers are now set, congrats!

Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 or 8

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvxslZeuew4]

If you’ve recently taken the free upgrade to Windows 10 and for one reason or another, wish to rollback or revert to your previous operating system (Windows 8 or Windows 7) then I will show you how to do so here. It’s actually a pretty easy process too.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Rollback Windows 10 to Windows 7 or Windows 8

  1. Backup your data before attempting a rollback
  2. Click on the Windows Start Windows 10 Start Icon icon
  3. Click the Settings Windows 10 Settings menu item
  4. Now click the Update & Security Windows 10 Settings - Updates & Security icon
  5. Click on the Recovery menu item
  6. Look for the Go back to Windows 7/8 item
  7. Click the Get started button and follow the prompts
  8. Windows will then rollback to your previous OS version
  9. You PC may restart several times, please wait for the final confirmation message
  10. All done!

Perform Disk Check on Windows 10

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wleGRhwEqtQ]

If your Windows 10 computer is throwing up errors, crashing or otherwise behaving badly, sometimes an Error Check (aka: Disk Check) can help improve things and I’ll show you how to do it in this guide.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Perform hard drive Error Check on Windows 10

  1. Click on the Windows Explorer Windows 10 File Explorer folder icon on your taskbar
  2. Click on This PC menu item on the left-pane
  3. Look for the hard drive icon with the Windows logo Windows 10 System Drive
  4. Right-click on the hard drive, then choose Properties
  5. Select the Tools tab, then click the Check button
  6. Now click the → Scan drive option
  7. Windows will scan and fix any errors it encounters
  8. When Windows has finished, click OK to close the Properties window
  9. It’s a good idea to restart your PC when Windows has finished the Error Check
  10. All done!

Defragment hard drive on Windows 10

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4mHJCGxexQ]

Sometimes your hard drive becomes fragmented which can slow your system down, create errors and generally degrade your Windows experience. Today I’ll show you how to fully defragment and optimize your hard drive on Windows 10.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Defragment & Optimize your hard drive on Windows 10

  1. Type "Run" into the Windows search box bar
  2. Click on the top result that says: Run, Desktop app
  3. Type the letters: dfrgui into the Open: text box and click OK
  4. The Optimize Drives window should now be open
  5. Look for the hard drive with the Windows icon Windows 10 System Drive and select it
  6. Now click on the Optimize button
  7. Windows will now defragment and optimize your hard drive
  8. It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on size
  9. Once finished, it will display OK (0% Fragmented)
  10. Close the Optimize Drives window
  11. All done!

Change browser language in Microsoft Edge

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsmuzQD-moQ]

If you speak a language other than English, or speak multiple languages, you can set Microsoft Edge to display web pages in your chosen language and I’ll show you how in this guide. Just a reminder, this guide will also change some (not all) of your program languages too, but not Windows System language.

Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.

Change webpage language settings in Microsoft Edge

  1. Search for "Control Panel" in the Windows Search Bar
  2. Click on the Control Panel Desktop app result at the top of search results
  3. Under Clock, Language, and Region heading, click Add a language
  4. Now click Add a language button
  5. Scroll through and choose your preferred language, then click the Add button bottom-right
  6. Now select your chosen language, then click the Move up button until it’s at the top
  7. Languages will display in order of preference top to bottom
  8. Select each language and move up or down to set your order of preference
  9. Close the Control Panel window
  10. Restart your computer
  11. Open up Edge and web pages should now display in your preferred language(s)
  12. All done!