Private DNS is the one network setting on Android that most people never touch. It's also the subject of countless videos promising that the "right" hostname will fix your ping, block every ad and double your speed. It does a few genuinely useful things, but none of those three, at least not the way the videos claim.
Below you'll find which hostname to use for what, how to set it up on Pixel and Samsung phones, and honest answers to the questions people actually search for.
Short answer: for everyday speed and reliability, use dns.google or one.one.one.one. Use dns.adguard-dns.com to cut ads and trackers inside apps and browsers (it won't block YouTube ads). Use dns.quad9.net to block known malware sites. None of them will lower your in-game ping in Free Fire, PUBG or MLBB.
Table of Contents
What Private DNS Actually Does
Every time an app opens a website or connects to a game server, your phone first asks a DNS server, "What's the IP address for this name?" It works like a phone book lookup. Normally that question goes to your mobile operator or WiFi provider, unencrypted, so anyone on the network can see which sites you look up.
Private DNS is a feature that arrived in Android 9. It sends those lookups to a DNS provider you choose, and it encrypts them with DNS-over-TLS. The setting applies to WiFi and mobile data alike. What it changes is who answers the lookup and whether others can read it. It doesn't change the route your actual traffic takes, and that's why it can't fix ping.
The Best Private DNS Hostnames
Android asks for a hostname, not an IP address, so you can't type 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 here. These are the hostnames each provider publishes for Android:
| Provider | Hostname to type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Google Public DNS | dns.google | Speed and reliability almost everywhere |
| Cloudflare | one.one.one.one | Speed and privacy |
| Cloudflare (malware filter) | security.cloudflare-dns.com | Blocks known malware domains |
| Cloudflare for Families | family.cloudflare-dns.com | Blocks malware and adult sites (a kid's phone) |
| Quad9 | dns.quad9.net | Malware blocking, non-profit |
| AdGuard DNS | dns.adguard-dns.com | Blocks many ads and trackers in apps |
| NextDNS | your-id.dns.nextdns.io | Your own block lists (needs a free account) |
So which is the best Private DNS for Android? There isn't one winner. It depends on what you want. For most people, Google or Cloudflare is the sensible default, and AdGuard is the one to pick if ads are the problem.
How to Set It Up
Pixel and most stock Android phones:
- Open Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS. On some versions it sits under Advanced.
- Choose Private DNS provider hostname.
- Type the hostname exactly, for example
dns.google, and tap Save.
Samsung Galaxy: Settings → Connections → More connection settings → Private DNS, then follow the same steps.
Other brands (Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Realme): the menu moves around, so open Settings and search for "Private DNS".
To check it's working with Cloudflare, open 1.1.1.1/help in your browser. It should say you're using DNS over TLS. If a site or app stops loading after you change it, check the hostname for a typo first. A wrong hostname makes Android fail every lookup, and it looks exactly like "connected but no internet".
Best Private DNS for Gaming: Does It Lower Ping?
This is the big one. "Best DNS for PUBG Mobile ping" and "BGMI ping DNS" videos get millions of views. Here's the honest answer: DNS doesn't change your in-game ping.
The game uses DNS once, when it first connects, to find the server's address. After that, every packet of the match goes straight to that IP address. Your ping depends on the route between your phone and the game server: your WiFi or signal, your provider's network, and the distance. DNS isn't part of that route.
So why do some people swear it helped? A few real reasons:
- Their provider's DNS was slow or flaky. Switching to Google or Cloudflare makes the game log in faster and stops "network error" at launch. The match itself doesn't get faster.
- A different DNS sometimes points you to a different server for downloads and updates, which can speed up patches.
- Placebo and timing. Ping changes throughout the day anyway, so a test at 3pm and another at midnight aren't comparable.
For gaming, pick a reliable resolver (Google or Cloudflare) and move on. Then fix what actually affects ping: see our guides for MLBB lag, Free Fire high ping and PUBG Mobile.
Can Private DNS Slow Down Your Internet?
It can't make downloads or videos slower once they've started, because DNS isn't involved in that part. It can add a small delay before each new site starts loading. That happens if the provider is far from you or overloaded, or if encrypted DNS is being slowed on your network. You'd feel it as a short pause when opening links, not as slower streaming.
Blocking resolvers such as AdGuard can also break things now and then, for example a shopping or email link that redirects through a tracking domain. If something stops working, set Private DNS back to Automatic and see whether it comes back.
Can Private DNS Block YouTube Ads?
No. YouTube serves ads from the same servers as the videos. A DNS filter can't block one without blocking the other, and AdGuard says the same in its own guide. What an ad-blocking DNS does block is a lot of banner and pop-up ads inside free apps and games, plus trackers. On a cheap phone, that alone can make apps feel lighter.
Private DNS and a VPN
When a VPN is connected, Android sends DNS through the VPN instead. Quad9's own documentation says Private DNS isn't used while a VPN is on. So you don't need both for privacy: CarrotVPN already sends your lookups through its encrypted tunnel, with DNS leak protection.
The one case to watch: if you've set a custom Private DNS and your VPN suddenly shows "connected" with nothing loading, switch Private DNS to Automatic and reconnect. More on that in our VPN not connecting fix guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Private DNS for Android?
For most people, dns.google (Google) or one.one.one.one (Cloudflare). They are fast and reliable in most countries. Choose dns.adguard-dns.com to block ads and trackers in apps, or dns.quad9.net to block malware sites.
What is the best Private DNS for gaming?
A reliable resolver like Google or Cloudflare. No DNS lowers in-game ping, because the match traffic goes straight to the game server once you are connected. DNS only affects how fast the game finds the server at login.
Can Private DNS slow down my internet?
It does not slow downloads or streaming, but a distant or overloaded DNS provider can add a short delay before each new site loads. If browsing feels slower, switch back to Automatic.
Can Private DNS block YouTube ads?
No. YouTube serves ads from the same domains as its videos, so DNS filtering cannot separate them. Ad-blocking DNS does block many ads inside other apps and games.
Should I use Private DNS with a VPN?
You do not need to. While a VPN is connected, Android sends DNS through the VPN instead, and CarrotVPN encrypts those lookups in its tunnel.
Sources
- Cloudflare: Set up 1.1.1.1 on Android
- Quad9: Android 9+ (Encrypted) setup guide
- Google: Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) on Android
- AdGuard: How to block ads on YouTube (why DNS can’t)
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