With its domain name server, Cloudflare promises to respect your privacy better and to surf a little faster, provided you modify certain network parameters of your box or your computer. We show you how to do it.
The service provider Cloudflare now offers a DNS (Domain Name Server) which in theory allows faster surfing, and above all with better respect for privacy. A DNS is a server responsible for converting the names you type in a browser into an IP address. For example, if you type the IP address 216.58.209.227 in your browser, you will come to www.google.fr. DNS is usually characterized by a primary IP address (1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare) and a secondary address, in case the primary DNS no longer works (1.0.0.1 for Cloudflare). Here are the different ways to replace your operator’s current DNS:
1 – In the box or the router
This method requires little knowledge of networking. In particular, to know how to access the administration console of your Internet box or your router, in order to modify its parameters. For example, you must enter the address 192.168.0.1 in the web browser to access our SFR test box. You must then enter a username and password provided by your operator (see the box documentation), then find the network settings section. Finally, all you have to do is select the manual entry of DNS addresses and type in the values of the primary and secondary addresses of Cloudflare (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1).
The DNS change is then valid for all devices connected to your network.
2 – In Windows 10
- Right click on the network icon at the bottom right of the desktop (Wi-Fi or wired), then select Open network and internet settings. Then click on Change adapter options (this option is also available by going to Windows settings).
- Right click on the network card and select Properties from the drop-down list.
- Then click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP / IPv4) then on the button Properties.
- To choose Use the following DNS server address and enter the two addresses in the boxes Preferred DNS and Auxiliary DNS. Click on the button OK to confirm.
This method is valid if you are using version 4 of the TCP / IP protocol (this is the most common). For version 6, click on Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP / IPv6) then on the button Properties. The two DNS server addresses to enter are then 2606: 4700: 4700 :: 1111 and 2606: 4700: 4700 :: 1001.
3 – In macOS
- Open them System Preferences (at the top left in the Apple menu), then click on the icon Network. Click on your network card in the list on the left, then on Advanced. Go to DNS tab and change the addresses by clicking on the + button.
- Click on the button OK to validate the changes.
4 – In iOS and Android
To change DNS settings on iOS, follow this guide. However, using Cloudflare DNS with Android is more complex. This is because the system then requires the device to have a fixed IP address. The operation is therefore possible at home by modifying the network parameters of Android, but also those of the box or the router to assign a fixed IP address to the mobile device. For their part, Wi-Fi access points in public places use dynamic assignment of IP addresses (addresses are assigned according to demand), which prevents the use of Cloudflare DNS on Android.