How to Enable secure DNS in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11

Step 1Open Edge’s Settings

First, you need to open Microsoft Edge’s settings. Think of this as opening the 🎛️ control panel for your browser.

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
2. Look for the three dots icon (...) in the top-right corner of the browser window. This is the “Settings and more” menu. Click it.
3. A menu will drop down. Scroll down and click on Settings.

Tip: Want a faster way? Type edge://settings edge://settings into your address bar and hit Enter.

Step 2Go to Privacy and Security Settings

Once you’re in the main Settings menu, you’ll see a list of options on the left side. Look for the section about privacy and security.

1. In the left sidebar of ⚙️ the Settings page, click on Privacy, search, and services. This is where Edge keeps its privacy features.
2. Scroll down the page until you find the Security section. It is usually near the bottom of the main area on the right.

Warning: There are many settings here, but we’re only focusing on DNS for this guide.

Step 3Turn on Secure DNS

This is the main part! In the Security section, you’ll find an option to make your DNS lookups more secure.

Here is how to turn it on:

1. In the Security section, find the option that says “Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites.”
2. Click the switch next to it to turn it On.

Tip: After you turn on the main switch, another option might appear below it called “Choose a DNS provider.” By default, Edge will likely use a provider like Cloudflare or Google. These are usually safe and reliable. You can keep the default, or pick another one if you like. For most people, the default is fine.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/securely-browse-the-web-in-microsoft-edge

Summary

Turning on secure DNS in Microsoft Edge helps protect your online privacy. It encrypts your DNS lookups, making it harder for others to see which websites you visit. This guide showed you how to find and enable this feature within Edge’s settings.

What happens when done? When you do this, your DNS requests get encrypted, which adds a layer of security to your browsing. This makes it harder for your internet provider or anyone else on your network to easily track what you’re doing online.