Alex Ruben
How To Adjust DNS Settings in Brave Browser
Getting your DNS right can be a game-changer, especially if you’re tired of slow loading times, privacy worries, or domain resolution hiccups. Sometimes Brave’s default DNS just isn’t cutting it, or maybe you want that extra security layer with DNS over HTTPS. Whatever the reason, tweaking these settings isn’t super complicated but can help stabilize your connection, bump up privacy, and maybe even boost speeds. This guide covers the basics: switching to a better DNS provider like Google or Cloudflare, turning on DNS over HTTPS, and fixing common issues if things go sideways.
How to Fix DNS Problems in Brave Browser
Ensure a Stable Internet Connection
Before diving into the settings, make sure your device’s internet connection is rock solid. Flaky Wi-Fi or slow cellular data makes it hard to test DNS tweaks properly. Weird DNS glitches could just be because your network is acting up, so spend a couple of minutes confirming your connection works smoothly—try loading a couple of different sites or pinging a server.
Open Brave and Access Settings
Launch Brave Browser. Tap on the three dotted lines at the bottom right (or the hamburger menu icon if you’re on desktop). From the menu, click on Settings. It’s usually straightforward, but sometimes the menu layout changes a bit with updates. Just follow the gear icon or look for the “Settings” label, because of course, Brave likes to keep us guessing.
Go to Privacy and Security Settings
Scroll down to find Privacy and security or something similar. Tap or click on it. Inside, you’ll want to look for Secure DNS or a related option, because Brave has been pushing DNS over HTTPS as a privacy feature. On one setup it might be called just ‘Use Secure DNS’, on another a checkbox—either way, if you see it, that’s your target.
Enable and Configure Secure DNS
Toggle the switch to enable Use Secure DNS. When you do this, Brave will typically let you pick from some predefined providers—like Google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1), or OpenDNS. If you want to specify your own DNS servers, look for an option like Custom or Choose another provider. Enter the DNS URLs (not the IPs) in the format like: https://dns.google/dns-query or https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query.
Here’s a little tip: sometimes on older versions or certain setups, the DNS over HTTPS setting might be kinda hidden or not fully stable. On those occasions, you might want to verify the DNS configuration directly in your system settings. But for most recent Brave versions, the menu works fine.
Select Your Preferred DNS Provider
- Google DNS:
https://dns.google/dns-query - Cloudflare DNS:
https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query - OpenDNS:
https://doh.opendns.com/dns-query
Choosing the right provider can depend on whether you prioritize speed, privacy, or features. On some machines, these settings seem to stick right away, but on others, Brave might revert or need a restart of the browser (or even the device). Sometimes clearing the cache or resetting Brave’s flags helps if it doesn’t seem to register at first.
Test and Confirm Your Settings
Once you’ve set everything, go back to the previous menu and make sure your selection is saved. Then, test whether the DNS change works by trying to load some sites. A quick way is to open a new tab and visit a site you know was having troubles before. You can also use online tools like WhatIsMyDNS to see what DNS server your browser is currently using.
Optionally Enable DNS over HTTPS in System Settings
If you want an added layer of privacy, enabling DNS over HTTPS system-wide can help. For Windows, that means going to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy > DNS settings, and enabling DNS over HTTPS there, or configuring your network adapter with manual DNS servers that support DoH. For macOS or Linux, different settings apply, but the logic is similar—use DNS providers that support DoH, or configure your local network accordingly.
Troubleshoot Common DNS Snags
If the sites are still slow or DNS errors pop up, double-check your settings—sometimes an old cache, a typo in the DNS URL, or a conflicting VPN can cause issues. Clearing the DNS cache in Brave might help: type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar, then click Clear host cache. You could also try disabling VPNs or firewalls temporarily to see if they interfere with DNS resolution.
Another thing to try: restart Brave, or reboot your computer/router if things stay stubborn. Weirdly, sometimes Brave’s DNS setting doesn’t load until you restart the browser or device, so don’t skip that step.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
- Always keep Brave Browser updated—old versions might not support the latest DNS features properly.
- If you use a custom DNS provider, check their status and privacy policies; some are better for privacy than others.
- Make sure your operating system’s network settings aren’t overriding your browser choices. Sometimes system defaults will hijack DNS queries even if Brave is set for something else.
Summary
- Check your internet connection first.
- Open Brave Settings > Privacy and security.
- Toggle on Use Secure DNS and choose a provider or input your custom URL.
- Test if websites load faster and with fewer errors.
- If needed, enable system-wide DoH or troubleshoot cache issues.
Wrap-up
Getting your DNS tweaked in Brave can seem a little fiddly, but once it’s set right, it’s a smoother browsing experience with a dash more privacy. If nothing else worked, fiddling with cache and DNS cache flushing often resolves lingering problems. Sometimes rebooting the router or device just resets everything in a good way—because of course, Windows or Brave has to make it harder than necessary.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone, or at least gets your DNS behaving properly. Just keep experimenting a bit, and don’t forget to keep Brave up to date.