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Windows 11 DNS Over HTTPS: How to Enable & Use

The DNS over HTTPS protocol encrypts DNS traffic transmissions

4 min. read

Updated onFebruary 20, 2024

updated onFebruary 20, 2024

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Windows 11 has a new feature called DNS over HTTPS that you can use to perform encrypted DNS lookups to bypass certain Internet activity blockages.

In fact, a lot of governments and ISP monitor a user’s DNS traffic to apply bans and censorship. That’s where the DNS over HTTPS steps into place and goes around any of these imposed limitations.

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What is DNS over HTTPS and what does it do?

When you’re browsing online and you go to a website, your PC is communicating with a DNS (domain name system) server to get the IP address of the website.

Well, such a DNS inquiry can be monitored by your government or even by the ISP but if you use a DNS over HTTPS (DoH) that lookup is encrypted and can no longer be interrogated from outside.

You should know that if you’re using a Chromium-based browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Opera, you already have support for DoH.

But that will cover only the browsing activity, not the transfers from the other apps that you’re running on your PC.

By embedding that feature in the OS, you will be sure that all the DNS inquiries will be encrypted.

Can I use the DNS over HTTPS feature on Windows 11?

It’s not the first time that Microsoft is testing the DoH feature. It first appeared in the Windows 10 preview build 20185 for Windows Insiders but it was pulled back pretty fast. Now, with Windows 11, the Redmond giant is taunting the feature again.

The preferred DNS encryption option offers the following choices:

What are the DNS over HTTPS servers available on Windows 11?

There is a tricky part to DoH encryption and that is that the data has to pass through a DoH server for encryption.

However, there are not a lot of servers that support DoH and can be used by default by Windows 11. In fact, Microsoft provided a short list of servers that can provide the DNS-over-HTTPS feature. Here are some popular ones:

For IPv4

For IPv6

Things will get pretty crowded very soon unless something motivates the birth of a lot more of these.

How can I enable DNS over HTTPS on my Windows 11 device?

1. Via Internet Settings

The easiest method to use this feature is via Internet Settings. The process is simple and easy to follow, and does not impose any risk to your PC.

2. Modify the Group Policy

Microsoft allows you to configure the DNS over HTTPS feature in Windows 11 through the group policies as well.

Once you enable DoH, the DNS serverspolicy can be seen in the right pane, and you can set the IP Address in line with the provider that you want to use.

Press theWindowsbutton on your keyboard to open the Windows search box.
Typegroup policyin the search box.
From the results, click onEdit Group Policy.
Go to the following path:Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Network/DNS Client
SelectEnable.
Click on the drop-down menu from theConfigure DoH optionsto select the preferred option.

Can I create custom DoH server definitions?

If you’re an IT manager, you can create your own DoH server definitions by performing the following commands in netsh or PowerShell:

Netsh command:netsh dns add encryption server=[resolver-IP-address] dohtemplate=[resolver-DoH-template] autoupgrade=yes udpfallback=no

PowerShell command:Add-DnsClientDohServerAddress -ServerAddress ‘[resolver-IP-address]’ -DohTemplate ‘[resolver-DoH-template]’ -AllowFallbackToUdp $False -AutoUpgrade $True

We hoped that our guide helped you understand more about DNS over HTTPS and how to set it up.

If you’rehaving any problems with your new Windows 11 build, check out our comprehensive guide where you will find all the current bugs and their solutions.

For more information regarding DNS, don’t miss our guide on thefastest DNS servers near youand how to find them.

What do you think about the new DNS over HTTPS feature from Windows 11? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

Windows 11 DNS Over HTTPS: How to Enable & Use#

What is DNS over HTTPS and what does it do?#

Can I use the DNS over HTTPS feature on Windows 11?#

What are the DNS over HTTPS servers available on Windows 11?#

How can I enable DNS over HTTPS on my Windows 11 device?#

1. Via Internet Settings#

2. Modify the Group Policy#

Can I create custom DoH server definitions?#