How to Change DNS on Firestick (2026)

How to change DNS on Firestick is simpler than it sounds: you open your Wi-Fi settings, forget the network, reconnect, and type in a new DNS address when the setup asks for it. The whole process takes about five minutes and can give you faster streaming, fewer buffering issues, and a way around some ISP-level blocks. This guide walks you through every step, explains what DNS actually does on a Firestick, and lists the best free DNS servers to use in 2026.

No technical background is needed. If you can connect a Firestick to Wi-Fi, you can change its DNS.

What DNS Does on Your Firestick

DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet’s phonebook. Every time your Firestick opens Netflix, YouTube, or any app, it asks a DNS server to translate the app’s domain name into an IP address. By default, your Firestick uses your internet provider’s DNS servers — and those are often slow, log your browsing, and sometimes block or redirect certain sites and services.

Changing to a faster, privacy-focused DNS server means your Firestick resolves addresses more quickly, your ISP sees less of what you stream, and some region or ISP-level blocks simply stop applying. It does not hide your IP address like a VPN does, but it is free, takes minutes, and often noticeably speeds up how fast apps and streams start loading.

Best Free DNS Servers for Firestick in 2026

Pick one provider and use both of its addresses (primary and secondary). Any of these is a solid choice:

• Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) — Primary: 1.1.1.1, Secondary: 1.0.0.1. Famous for speed and a strong no-logging privacy policy.
• Google (8.8.8.8) — Primary: 8.8.8.8, Secondary: 8.8.4.4. Extremely reliable and fast worldwide, though Google does log queries.
• Quad9 (9.9.9.9) — Primary: 9.9.9.9, Secondary: 149.112.112.112. Blocks known malicious domains automatically; great for security.
• OpenDNS (208.67.222.222) — Primary: 208.67.222.222, Secondary: 208.67.220.220. Long-running service with optional content filtering.

For most people, Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 is the best default: it is consistently among the fastest DNS resolvers measured worldwide, and its privacy policy is the strictest of the big providers.

How to Change DNS on Firestick: Step by Step

Fire TV does not offer a simple “edit DNS” field on an active connection. Instead, you forget your Wi-Fi network and reconnect, entering the new DNS during setup. Follow these steps exactly:

• Step 1: From the Firestick home screen, go to Settings (the gear icon), then Network.
• Step 2: Highlight your connected Wi-Fi network and press the menu button (three lines) on your remote, then choose Forget This Network. Confirm.
• Step 3: Select your Wi-Fi network again from the list and enter your Wi-Fi password.
• Step 4: After the password, you will see an Advanced option — select it. This opens the manual network configuration screen.
• Step 5: Leave the IP address settings as they are (DHCP/automatic is fine) and move to the DNS fields.
• Step 6: Enter your chosen DNS addresses — for example, 1.1.1.1 as DNS 1 and 1.0.0.1 as DNS 2 for Cloudflare.
• Step 7: Select Connect. Your Firestick will reconnect using the new DNS servers.

That is it. Open an app and try streaming something — most people notice apps and thumbnails loading a little snappier right away.

How to Check Your New DNS Is Working

After reconnecting, it is worth confirming the change took effect. The easiest method: open the Silk browser or Firefox on your Firestick and visit a DNS leak test site (search “dns leak test”). It will show which DNS servers are handling your queries — you should see your new provider (for example, Cloudflare) instead of your ISP.

If the test still shows your ISP’s servers, repeat the steps above carefully — the most common mistake is skipping the Advanced screen and reconnecting with automatic settings, which silently keeps the old DNS.

How to Change DNS on Firestick Without Forgetting Wi-Fi

There is one alternative that avoids the forget-and-reconnect dance: change the DNS on your router instead. Log in to your router’s admin page (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the DNS settings under WAN or Internet settings, and enter your chosen DNS addresses there. Every device on your network — Firestick included — will then use the new DNS automatically, with no per-device setup.

The router method is actually the better option if you have several streaming devices, since you configure it once. The Firestick-only method is best when you cannot access the router (a rental, a dorm, or a shared connection).

DNS vs. VPN on Firestick: Which Do You Need?

Changing DNS and using a VPN solve different problems, and people often confuse them:

• DNS change: faster lookups, some ISP blocks bypassed, better privacy from your ISP’s DNS logging. Free and simple. Does not hide your IP address or change your apparent location.
• VPN: encrypts all traffic, hides your IP, and can change your virtual location. Costs money (for a trustworthy one) and can slightly reduce speed.

For faster, cleaner streaming on a budget, a DNS change is enough. If you need privacy from your ISP entirely or want to access content from other regions, add a VPN on top — the two work fine together.

Troubleshooting: Firestick DNS Problems

• Apps won’t load after the change. Double-check the DNS addresses for typos — one wrong digit breaks everything. Reconnect with the correct values.
• Still seeing the old DNS. You likely skipped the Advanced screen. Forget the network and redo the setup, making sure to open Advanced before connecting.
• Slower instead of faster. DNS performance varies by location. Try a different provider from the list above — Quad9 or Google may beat Cloudflare where you live.
• Some apps still blocked. DNS only bypasses DNS-level blocks. If your ISP blocks by IP, you will need a VPN instead.
• Want to go back? Repeat the process and leave DNS on automatic, or enter your ISP’s default — your Firestick returns to normal immediately.

FAQ

Is changing DNS on Firestick safe?

Yes. You are only telling your Firestick which phonebook to use for looking up addresses. Reputable providers like Cloudflare, Google, Quad9, and OpenDNS are used by hundreds of millions of devices. Nothing is installed and nothing can break permanently — you can always switch back.

Will changing DNS make my Firestick faster?

It can make apps, menus, and streams start faster, because slow ISP DNS is a common bottleneck. It will not increase your internet speed or fix buffering caused by a slow connection itself.

Do I need to change DNS on every Firestick?

Yes, the Firestick method applies per device. If you have several, changing DNS once on your router covers all of them at the same time.

Can changing DNS unblock streaming apps?

Sometimes. If your ISP blocks a service at the DNS level, a third-party DNS bypasses it. But many geo-blocks and app restrictions work at the IP or account level, where only a VPN helps.

What is the best DNS for Firestick in 2026?

Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 is the best all-round pick for most users — consistently fast in global measurements with a strict no-logging policy. If security filtering matters more to you, Quad9’s 9.9.9.9 is the better choice.

Conclusion

Learning how to change DNS on Firestick is one of the quickest free upgrades you can give your streaming setup. Forget your Wi-Fi network, reconnect through the Advanced screen, type in 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, and you are done in five minutes — with snappier app loading, less ISP snooping, and fewer DNS-level blocks. And if you ever want to revert, the same steps with automatic settings put everything back exactly as it was. For a change that costs nothing and risks nothing, it is hard to beat.