How to Setup Cloudflare DNS on Ubuntu Desktop

Computer screen with Windows and Linux apps
Computer screen with Windows and Linux apps

A few days ago, Cloudflare launched its DNS service, promising to be fast, secure, and more focused on privacy than any other DNS services available today for consumers, and it will be free.

If you subscribe to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) like Comcast, Century Link, and others, your computers are probably assigned DNS servers automatically from your ISP.

Although Cloudflare’s speed benefit might not be a significant factor compared to Google and other well-known DNS providers, a private and secure DNS service might appeal to privacy-conscious folks out there.

If what Cloudflare is saying about the privacy benefits of its DNS systems is true, then you may want to take advantage of that.

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to configure an Ubuntu desktop to use Cloudflare’s fast and more secure DNS service.

Continue with the steps below to configure the Ubuntu desktop with Cloudflare DNS service.

How to open the Ubuntu network manager

On the Ubuntu desktop, Network Manager helps manage network settings. Click on the system menu and select system settings.

ubuntu dns change

Then go to Network, as shown in the image below. And select the setting button for the network device you’re using to connect to the Internet. This could be a Wired or Wi-Fi connection type.

You’ll have to do this twice if you have both network interfaces (Wired and Wi-Fi).

When the Interface configuration page opens, select IPv4 and IPv6 and turn off automatic DNS IP settings. Then type the custom Cloudflare DNS IP addresses you want to use.

How to add Cloudflare DNS on Ubuntu Linux

On the Interface configuration page, turn off the Automatic DNS configuration. Then type the Cloudflare DNS IPs. You should select both the IPv4 and IPv6 tabs and enter Cloudflare DNS IP addresses.

The format is shown below:

IPv4 IPs

1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1

IPv6 IPs

2606:4700:4700::1111, 2606:4700:4700::1001

When you’re done, click the green Apply button to save your changes.

You can configure individual computer DNS settings; however, changing the DNS configuration at the router’s level is the best way. Adding Cloudflare DNS on your router ensures that all the devices connected to your router will automatically be configured with Cloudflare’s DNS IP addresses.

That’s it! Your devices should have the fastest and most private DNS systems.

Cloudflare dns ip

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Posted by
Richard

I love computers; maybe way too much. What I learned I try to share at geekrewind.com.

3 Comments

  1. These instructions are not applicable to Ubuntu 16 Studio.

    1. Thank you. You are about the only one who can show this for gui instructions. I’m a long time windows network and sys admin and only on linux a year or so. Could never find out about about the “automatic” toggle in the dns gui setting until thx again.

      And, btw those cloudflare are fast as heck, Been using them a couple months and a noticeable change in speed on linux, windows, and android.

      take care

  2. it doesn’t save or change DNS when I click apply

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