How to Enable Secure DNS in Microsoft Edge

Choose secure DNS in the Microsoft Edge browser.

Secure DNS Microsoft Edge settings let you route your web traffic through a custom provider instead of your internet service provider for better privacy. Open Microsoft Edge, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, select Settings, and go to the privacy section to turn on secure DNS and choose your preferred provider from the list.

Custom secure DNS providers offer better privacy, and Edge gives you full control over them.

Here’s how to configure the feature.

Open Microsoft Edge, click the 3 horizontal dots button for Settings and more (Alt+F) in the top right corner, and select Settings.

Select Privacy, search, and services from the left-hand menu.

In the Settings -> Privacy, search, and services pane, look under the Security section. Toggle the switch on the tile that reads "Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites" to On or Off.

Activating this setting requires picking a DNS provider from the available list:

• Use the current service provider
• Choose a service provider:
  • NextDNS
  • OpenDNS
  • Google (Public DNS)
  • Cloudflare
  • CleanBrowsing (Family Filter)

Enable or disable the use of secure DNS in Edge via the Windows Registry Editor

Registry Editor lets you turn secure DNS on or off in Microsoft Edge using system-level policies. Open the Windows Registry and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge to create or change the necessary values. This method is useful if you manage settings across multiple computers or want to lock the configuration in place.

Open the Windows Registry and navigate to the registry folder path shown below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

If the Edge folder key isn't there, right-click the parent Microsoft key and create a new subkey named Edge.

Right-click inside the Edge folder key's right pane, select New › DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name the new item BuiltInDnsClientEnabled.

Double-click BuiltInDnsClientEnabled. Enter 1 for the Value data to enable secure DNS in Microsoft Edge, or enter 0 to disable it.

Restart the computer to apply the registry modifications.

Edge routes traffic through the chosen compatible provider once configured. Unsupported providers cause the browser to fall back to standard unencrypted resolution.

Selecting a provider directs all browser DNS queries through that specific network infrastructure.

System-wide protection is also available by configuring DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Windows 11.

All set!

Conclusion:

• The article provides comprehensive guidance on enabling or disabling secure DNS in the Microsoft Edge browser.
• Users can choose from a list of trusted secure DNS providers, including NextDNS, OpenDNS, Google Public DNS, Cloudflare, and others, to enhance their browsing security.
• It also offers an alternative method, using the Windows Registry Editor, to turn on or off secure DNS in Microsoft Edge.
• Users are reminded to restart their computers for the changes to take effect.
• Additionally, it suggests enabling DNS over HTTPS (DoH) as an alternative option for enhancing browsing security in Windows 11.