DNS settings are an important part of networking and online navigation, and there’s loads of information online about changing DNS settings and finding the “best” one, not least on this site. But what about specifically changing DNS servers/settings on a Wi-Fi extender/booster/repeater? Can this be done? Can you alter DNS configuration within the settings panel of a Wi-Fi extender?
It is not possible to change DNS settings within a Wi-Fi extender’s settings. They need to be changed on individual devices to apply to that device, or on the main router to apply to all devices on the home network. However, you can still alter these settings while being connected to the extender’s network.
And that’s pretty much it. From my testing, I couldn’t find any DNS settings within extenders, but you can still access and modify DNS settings on your router while still being connected to your extender. Let’s look at the issue in more detail, including the different ways you can modify DNS settings.
What Is DNS? (Brief Explanation)
We don’t want to bore readers with loads of technical waffle, but we’ll offer a brief definition of DNS, which stands for Domain Name System. It is a protocol which basically acts as a phonebook for the internet, mapping IP addresses (eg. 77.24.254.98) to actual domain names (eg. google.com).
In other words, DNS is a kind of translation system that allows you to get to websites by typing in their (easy to remember) domain name instead of their (not so easy to remember) actual, exact IP address. Without DNS, you’d have to remember, and punch in, the exact x.x.x.x format IP address of every single website you visit, which would be very tiresome. DNS translates between the two so you don’t have to do this.
We won’t go into it any more as it’s not necessary for this article. But just see DNS as a kind of shortcut/convenience protocol to allow easier navigation online. You can use the default DNS servers assigned by your ISP (which usually work fine), but you can also edit your network settings and use your own custom DNS servers if you like, for privacy, performance or other reasons.
Let’s first explore whether you can actually do this on your Wi-Fi extender as opposed to your main router or devices.
Are DNS Settings Available On A Wi-Fi Extender?
I just looked through my own TP Link Wi-Fi extender’s settings panel and there aren’t any DNS options available, meaning you’ll have to change them on your device or on the router instead.
In all likelihood, if TP Link models don’t have DNS options, then other brands aren’t likely to either. Most or all Wi-Fi extenders probably don’t have DNS settings within their admin panel.
However, there’s nothing stopping you browsing through your own extender’s admin/configuration panel, to see if there are DNS settings. It’s really easy and quick to log in to your extender’s settings panel. Here are the steps:
Step #1 – Connect any device to the extender’s wireless network and open up any browser and type in the default login URL into the address bar. Here are some common ones for different brands:
- TP Link – http://tplinkrepeater.net
- Netgear – http://mywifiext.net
- Linksys – http://extender.linksys.com
- Wavlink – http://wifi.wavlink.com
Then enter the admin username/password in the boxes that come up. If you already set up the extender, you’ll have set custom values for this. If you forgot them, you’ll need to factory reset the extender.
Step #2 – Once inside the extender’s settings/admin panel, browse around for DNS options/settings. The menu of most extenders is pretty easy and minimal, so just check each tab to see if DNS is available.
But honestly, you’re unlikely to find DNS settings within a Wi-Fi extender; you’ll have to use your device or router instead, which we’ll cover below.
Any readers who do find changeable DNS settings within their own Wi-Fi extender, let me know in the Contact Page, along with the brand/model, and I’ll update this article.
Changing DNS Settings On A Device
Your best option for changing DNS settings most easily and quickly is on individual devices. You can change DNS settings on devices connected to any extender without any issue. These changes will still reflect in exactly the same way as if you were connected to the main host router.
The Wi-Fi extender just acts as conduit for data going to and from the router. Therefore, changing DNS settings on individual devices still works when connecting to an extender. I’m currently doing that on my PS4 which is connected via an extender, and it works fine.
Here are quick steps and links for how to find and modify DNS settings for major device types:
Windows:
- Find your network settings under Control Panel/Settings
- Go to Network & Internet….Network & Sharing Center.
- Right click on your connection and select Properties.
- Select TCP/IPv4 Properties.
- Select Use the Following DNS Servers.
- Manually input your own custom DNS Servers
- Click OK to save & exit.
- Your are now using custom DNS servers.
Go to Settings….Wi-Fi.….Click the i button…..Configure DNS….Manual….Enter custom DNS servers
Games Consoles:
PS4/PS5 – Go to Settings….Network…..Set Up Internet Connection…..Custom. Select Wi-Fi or LAN depending on connection. Connect to router if necessary, and then run through and confirm all settings as they are without changing, until you reach DNS. Switch to Manual, and then enter your own custom Primary/Secondary DNS. Confirm and finish/save setup and test connection.
Xbox One/Xbox X – Go to System…Settings….Network….Network Settings. Go to Advanced Settings….DNS settings. Select Manual, and input your own custom DNS servers and confirm. Video here.
Some popular larger, more globally available free public DNS server include:
- Google DNS: Primary: 8.8.8.8 Secondary: 8.8.4.4
- Quad 9 DNS – Primary 9.9.9.9 Secondary 149.112.112.112
- DNS.Watch – Primary 84.200.69.80 Secondary 84.200.70.40
- Free DNS – Primary 37.235.1.174 Secondary 37.235.1.177
- Comodo Secure DNS – Primary 8.26.56.26 Secondary 8.20.247.20
- Norton DNS – Primary 198.153.192.1 Secondary 198.153.194.1
When you change DNS settings, you’re basically just routing all domain name requests/navigation through the new set of DNS servers, instead of the default ones assigned by your ISP, which may be better or worse or about the same from a privacy or performance standpoint, depending on which new ones you use.
Changing DNS Settings On A Router
If you want to make sure the navigation of ALL devices on a home network is routed through a custom pair of DNS servers you select, you need to configure them on your router instead, which will apply these settings to all devices connecting to that router (including devices connecting indirectly through an extender, but still on the same local network).
Here’s how you alter DNS settings on a router:
Step #1 – Log in to your router’s setting by punching in the router’s login URL (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) into the browser address bar of any connected device. You can also do this when connected to an extender which is in turn connected to the router. Therefore, even though you can’t change DNS settings within the extender itself, you can still change them on your main router while still connected to the extender’s network. The URL, along with the username/password, are on the label on the router.
Step #2 – Enter the router admin username/password in the boxes that come up. These are different from the wireless credentials and are on the sticker:
Step #3 – Once inside the router settings, browse around for DNS settings. They may have their own tab/menu, or they might be under Advanced, Network or another menu. It’ll be different for different brands.
If DNS settings are available, there may be an option to alter the DNS servers used away from the custom/automatic ones your ISP uses by default, and enter your own. Do this if you want and save settings and exit. All devices connecting to that router, including any devices indirectly connected via a Wi-Fi extender/repeater, will have their traffic routed through the new DNS servers.
People change their DNS servers for a number of different reasons, but specifically regarding content filtering, here are some options
To unblock restricted websites:
- Google DNS – Primary 8.8.8.8; Secondary 8.8.4.4
- Cloudflare – Primary 1.1.1.1; Secondary 1.0.0.1
- DNS.Watch – Primary 84.200.69.80; Secondary 84.200.70.40
To block unsuitable websites and implement tighter control:
- Open DNS (Family Shield servers) – Primary 207.68.222.123; Secondary 207.68.220.123
