How to Enable secure DNS in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11

Step 1Open Edge’s Settings

Opening Microsoft Edge settings to configure secure DNS Edge options starts by clicking the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of your browser window. From the dropdown menu that appears, select Settings to access all browser configurations, preferences, and security controls needed for the next step.

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.

Type edge://settings into the address bar and press Enter to jump to the configuration panel.

Step 2Go to Privacy and Security Settings

Navigating to the privacy and security section for secure DNS Edge setup requires clicking Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar of the Settings ⚙️ page. This specific area houses all browser controls related to tracking protection, certificates, and network security features.

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: Numerous privacy controls populate this screen. Focus exclusively on the DNS configuration settings outlined below.

Step 3Turn on Secure DNS

Turning on secure DNS Edge features involves scrolling down to the Security section on the Privacy, search, and services page. Once you locate the option for encrypted lookups, click the toggle switch to turn the feature on and protect your web browsing traffic.

Activate the feature using the following steps:

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.

Toggling this switch reveals an option labeled "Choose a DNS provider." Edge defaults to reputable third-party services like Cloudflare or Google. Leaving the default selection active works well for most setups, though alternative providers remain available.

Summary

Using secure DNS Edge settings improves your online privacy by encrypting the requests that translate website names into server IP addresses. This extra layer of security prevents internet service providers and network observers from seeing the specific websites you visit.

What happens when done? Encrypted requests add a defensive layer against tracking. Internet service providers and network sniffers can no longer inspect unencrypted hostname queries.