Windows Smart DNS Services Compared
Note: A select number of Smart DNS providers offer specialist software for Windows, allowing for easy, automatic DNS configuration. However, this guide takes you through the manual setup process instead, which requires no software and can be used to configure any Smart DNS service.
Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system in the world and has a history dating back to the mid 1980s. Today, it is estimated that more than 90 percent of the world's desktop and laptop computers utilise a version of Windows, allowing them to run applications, access the internet and more.
One increasingly popular use of computers is for streaming TV shows and movies from sites like Netflix. However, these sites automatically scan a customer's internet settings, in order to determine their location. As manual region switching is not allowed, this restricts the amount of content users can access. Smart DNS services offer a solution to this problem, allowing Windows users to change their region and stream a far wider selection of videos.
Best Smart DNS Services to use on Windows
» View the Step-by-Step Smart DNS Setup Tutorial for Windows
- Amazon Fire TV,
- Android,
- Apple TV,
- Boxee,
- Chromebook,
- Chromecast,
- Google TV,
- iOS,
- Kindle Fire,
- LG Smart TV,
- Linux,
- Mac OS X,
- NOW TV Box,
- Panasonic Smart TV,
- Philips Smart TV,
- PS 4,
- PS3,
- Roku,
- Samsung Smart TV,
- Sharp Smart TV,
- Sony Smart TV,
- Toshiba Smart TV,
- WDTV,
- Wii,
- Wii U,
- Windows,
- Windows 10,
- Windows Phone 8,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
- 1 Month: $4.90
- 3 Months: $12.90
- 12 Months: $39.90
- 24 Months: $49.90
- Life Time: $150
- Android,
- Android TV,
- Apple TV,
- Boxee,
- Chromecast,
- iOS,
- Mac OS X,
- NOW TV Box,
- PS 4,
- PS3,
- PS4,
- Raspberry Pi,
- Roku,
- Windows,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
Offers VPN and SmartDNS Plans
31 Days Money Back Guarantee
7 Day Trial
- 7 Day Trial: $0.99
- 1 Month: $10.95
- 6 Months: $8.33/Mo
- Offers VPN & SmartDNS Plans combined!
- Amazon Fire TV,
- Amazon Fire TV Stick,
- Android,
- Android TV,
- Apple TV,
- Boxee,
- Chromebook,
- Chromecast,
- iOS,
- Linux,
- Mac OS X,
- NOW TV Box,
- PS 4,
- PS Vita,
- PS3,
- Roku,
- Samsung Smart TV,
- Windows,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
- 1 Month: $4.86
- 3 Months: $11.86
- 12 Months: $34.96
- Amazon Fire TV,
- Android,
- Apple TV,
- Boxee,
- Chromecast,
- Google TV,
- iOS,
- Kindle Fire,
- LG Smart TV,
- Mac OS X,
- Nexus Player,
- NOW TV Box,
- Panasonic Smart TV,
- Philips Smart TV,
- PS 4,
- PS3,
- Roku,
- Samsung Smart TV,
- Sharp Smart TV,
- Sonos,
- Sony Smart TV,
- Toshiba Smart TV,
- WDTV,
- Wii,
- Wii U,
- Windows,
- Windows 10,
- Windows Phone 8,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
30 Days Moneyback Guarantee
- 1 Month: $4.95/Mo
- 6 Months: $4.58/Mo
- 12 Months: $4.16/Mo
- 24 Months: $3.29/Mo
- Amazon Fire TV,
- Android,
- Apple TV,
- Chromebook,
- iOS,
- LG TV,
- Linux Ubuntu,
- Mac OS X,
- NOW TV Box,
- PS3,
- PS4,
- Roku,
- Samsung Smart TV,
- Sony Android TV,
- Windows,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
- 1 Month: $4.89
- 3 Months: $12.59
- 12 Months: $38.49
- 24 Months: $66.49
- Android,
- Apple TV,
- iOS,
- Linux,
- Mac OS X,
- PS3,
- PS4,
- Roku,
- Smart TV,
- Windows,
- Xbox 360,
- Xbox One,
7 Day Trial
- 1 Month: $6.99
- 3 Months: $5.99/Mo
- 12 Months: $4.99/Mo
Smart DNS
By utilising Smart DNS technology, customers can redirect part of their internet connection, sending it through a proxy server. The main benefit of doing so is that it can obscure the true origin of an internet connection.
Upon accessing a site like Netflix, the automatic region detection will mistakenly believe the Smart DNS user is in the location of the server they have connected to. So, for example, a customer who connects to a server in North America will gain access to the North American Netflix content library.
Advantages of Smart DNS include its easy setup process, its range of compatibility and its lack of an impact on internet speeds, which makes it especially useful for streaming. In addition, only visits to supported websites are sent through the proxy server, ensuring emails and communications are not compromised.
Step-By-Step Smart DNS Setup
When you register with a Smart DNS service, you will be allocated new DNS settings. These must be altered on your PC, which can be done by following the steps below. Although these instructions are intended for Windows 7 and Windows 8, they can also be used as a more general setup guide for other versions of the operating system.
Windows 7
- Click on the 'Start' button and open the 'Control Panel'.
- Select 'Network and Internet', then 'Network and Sharing Centre'.
- On the left hand side, click on 'Change Adapter Settings'.
- Choose either 'Local Area Connection' or 'Wireless Network Connection', depending on how your computer connects to the internet.
- Deselect 'Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)' and select 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)'.
- Click on 'Properties', then 'General' and enter your new DNS settings into the 'Preferred DNS Server' and 'Alternate DNS Server' fields.
- Press the 'OK' button to complete this part of the setup.
Windows 8
- Open up 'Windows Explorer' and then click on 'Open Control Panel'.
- Select 'Network and Internet', followed by 'Network and Sharing Centre'.
- Click on 'Change Adapter Settings' and then select your network.
- Press the 'Properties' button at the bottom left.
- Deselect 'Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)' and select 'Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)'.
- Click the 'Properties' button at the bottom right.
- In the 'General' tab, go down to the 'Preferred DNS Server' and 'Alternate DNS Server' fields and enter your new DNS settings.
- Press 'OK'. Allow the 'Windows Network Diagnostics' to run. Assuming no issues are found, press 'Close' to complete this part of the setup.
At this stage, it is important to restart your PC and, ideally, your router as well. Once it has rebooted, continue on with the setup instructions below. If you want to utilize a VPN instead (which makes sense on a PC), all information can be found on VPN Windows 8
IP Address Entry
In order to complete the configuration process and make use of Smart DNS on your PC, you must verify your IP address with your Smart DNS provider. With some providers, this can be achieved by logging in to your account and clicking on a verification link. However, others may require the address to be manually added to their database.
To find your IP address, you can Google "my ip address", log in to your router's admin area, or utilise a website which checks your IP address for you. Once you have taken a note of your address, or copied it to your PC's clipboard, simply go to your Smart DNS provider's main website and follow their specific instructions for adding it.
This process will need to be repeated each time your IP address changes. After registering your IP address with your provider, you are now ready to benefit from Smart DNS. Region settings and other options can be adjusted by logging in to your client area.