How to Set Up AdGuard DNS on Any Device

What Is AdGuard DNS?

AdGuard DNS is a free, privacy-oriented DNS service that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains at the DNS resolution level. Unlike traditional ad blockers that run on your device, AdGuard DNS works by intercepting domain name lookups and refusing to resolve domains known to serve ads or track users.

When your device tries to load an ad from ad-network.example.com, AdGuard DNS simply returns an empty response instead of the ad server's IP address. The result? The ad never loads, and your browsing is faster and more private.

Why Use AdGuard DNS?

There are several compelling reasons to switch your DNS to AdGuard:

Zero installation required - Just change a network setting on your device
Works on any device - Smart TVs, gaming consoles, IoT devices, and more
Faster browsing - Blocked requests mean less data to download
Privacy protection - Trackers are blocked before they can collect data
Malware protection - Known malicious domains are blocked automatically
Free tier available - Basic protection at no cost

AdGuard DNS Server Addresses

AdGuard provides several DNS server configurations depending on your needs:

Mode	IPv4 Primary	IPv4 Secondary	Description
Default	94.140.14.14	94.140.15.15	Blocks ads and trackers
Family Protection	94.140.14.15	94.140.15.16	Blocks ads + adult content
Non-filtering	94.140.14.140	94.140.14.141	No blocking, just fast DNS

Setting Up AdGuard DNS on Windows

Configuring AdGuard DNS on Windows is straightforward. Follow these steps to protect your entire system:

Windows 11

Open Settings by pressing Win + I
Navigate to Network & Internet
Click on your active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
Click Hardware properties
Next to DNS server assignment, click Edit
Switch from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual
Enable IPv4
Enter 94.140.14.14 as the Preferred DNS
Enter 94.140.15.15 as the Alternate DNS
Click Save

Windows 10

The process on Windows 10 is similar but uses the classic Control Panel interface. Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. Right-click your active connection, select Properties, then select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties. Choose "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the AdGuard DNS addresses.

Setting Up AdGuard DNS on macOS

Mac users can configure AdGuard DNS through System Settings:

Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
Click Network
Select your active network interface
Click Details (or Advanced)
Go to the DNS tab
Remove existing DNS servers by selecting them and clicking the minus button
Click the plus button and add 94.140.14.14
Click the plus button again and add 94.140.15.15
Click OK, then Apply

Setting Up AdGuard DNS on Your Router

The most powerful approach is configuring AdGuard DNS on your router. This protects every device on your network automatically, including smart home devices, game consoles, and guest devices.

Important: Router configuration varies by manufacturer. The general steps below apply to most routers, but consult your router's documentation for specific instructions.

General Router Setup Steps

Open your router's admin panel (typically at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
Log in with your admin credentials
Navigate to WAN settings, Internet settings, or DHCP settings
Find the DNS server fields
Replace the existing DNS addresses with AdGuard DNS addresses
Save the settings and restart the router

DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS

For maximum privacy, AdGuard DNS supports encrypted DNS protocols. Traditional DNS queries are sent in plain text, meaning your ISP and anyone on the network can see which websites you visit. Encrypted DNS solves this problem.

DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH)

DoH encrypts DNS queries inside HTTPS traffic, making them indistinguishable from regular web browsing. The AdGuard DoH endpoint is:

https://dns.adguard-dns.com/dns-query

DNS-over-TLS (DoT)

DoT uses TLS encryption on a dedicated port (853). The AdGuard DoT endpoint is:

tls://dns.adguard-dns.com

Both protocols provide the same level of protection. DoH is generally easier to set up because it works through standard HTTPS infrastructure, while DoT may offer slightly better performance due to less protocol overhead.

Setting Up a Personal AdGuard DNS Profile

AdGuard offers a personalized DNS service at adguard-dns.io that gives you a custom DNS endpoint with configurable blocking rules, statistics, and query logs. This is particularly useful if you want to customize what gets blocked beyond the default filter lists.

After creating an account, you can:

Create multiple DNS profiles for different devices or family members
View detailed query logs and statistics
Add custom blocking and allow rules
Enable or disable specific filter categories
Set up parental controls per profile

Verifying Your Configuration

After setting up AdGuard DNS, it's important to verify that it's working correctly. Visit adguard.com/test.html in your browser. If AdGuard DNS is active, the page will confirm that your DNS is properly configured and ads are being blocked.

You can also check by visiting a website that normally shows ads. If the ads are gone or significantly reduced, your AdGuard DNS setup is working. Keep in mind that DNS-level blocking cannot remove all ads, especially those served from the same domain as the content. For comprehensive blocking, consider pairing AdGuard DNS with the AdGuard browser extension or desktop application.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If AdGuard DNS doesn't seem to be working after configuration, try these steps:

Flush your DNS cache - On Windows, run ipconfig /flushdns. On macOS, run sudo dscacheutil -flushcache.
Check for DNS override - Some browsers like Chrome use their own DNS settings. Check your browser's DNS/security settings.
Restart your device - A simple restart often resolves DNS configuration issues.
Verify the DNS server - Use nslookup example.com 94.140.14.14 to test if the AdGuard server responds.