Quick answer: there is no single Private DNS provider that is best for every Android user. Google Public DNS is a simple general-purpose choice, Cloudflare emphasizes fast public resolution and privacy, Quad9 adds threat blocking, and AdGuard DNS can add DNS-level filtering. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize simplicity, security filtering, privacy policy, or blocking.
Android 9 and newer include a system setting called Private DNS. Instead of entering a raw IPv4 address such as 8.8.8.8, the Private DNS provider field normally expects a hostname. If you specifically want Google DNS, our existing Google DNS on Android guide explains the difference between dns.google and the classic 8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4 addresses.
Private DNS hostnames to know
- Google Public DNS:
dns.google - Cloudflare 1.1.1.1:
one.one.one.one - Quad9 secure resolver:
dns.quad9.net - AdGuard public filtering resolver:
dns.adguard-dns.com
These hostnames are for Android’s Private DNS provider field. If you are manually editing Wi-Fi DNS fields instead, the providers also publish IP addresses. The two methods are not interchangeable on every Android screen. If you only need ready-to-copy values, use our Android Private DNS hostname list.
Google Public DNS: a straightforward default
Google Public DNS is easy to recognize and widely documented. On Android Private DNS, use dns.google. For manual Wi-Fi DNS, Google publishes 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. It is a sensible option when you want a general-purpose resolver without content filtering.
Choose it when your goal is mainly to replace an ISP resolver with a well-known public service. Do not expect DNS alone to increase your mobile data speed or guarantee lower gaming latency; DNS mostly affects name resolution, not the bandwidth or route used after a connection is established.
Cloudflare DNS: simple public resolution
Cloudflare’s standard resolver uses one.one.one.one in the Android Private DNS field and publishes 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 for traditional DNS configuration. Cloudflare also provides separate family/security variants, so confirm that you are using the hostname that matches the behavior you actually want.
If you want a direct comparison with Google, see Google DNS vs Cloudflare DNS on Android.
Quad9: security-focused DNS
Quad9’s recommended secure service uses dns.quad9.net. Quad9 documents malware blocking and DNSSEC validation on its recommended resolver. This makes it attractive when you want the resolver itself to reject known malicious domains.
Filtering can occasionally cause a domain to fail intentionally, so a blocked domain should not automatically be diagnosed as a network outage. If a site works on one resolver but not another, check whether filtering is the reason before changing unrelated Android settings.
AdGuard DNS: filtering at the DNS layer
AdGuard’s public Android hostname dns.adguard-dns.com is designed to block ads and trackers at the DNS layer. AdGuard also publishes non-filtering and family-oriented options. DNS-level filtering can reduce requests to known ad or tracking domains, but it cannot remove every type of advertising or page element because not all ads use separate domains.
Which one should you choose?
- Simple general-purpose resolver: start with Google or Cloudflare.
- Threat-domain blocking: compare Quad9 with the standard resolvers.
- DNS-level ad/tracker filtering: evaluate AdGuard DNS.
- Lowest latency: test from your own network. The fastest provider in one country or carrier may not be fastest in another.
How to configure Private DNS on Android
- Open Settings.
- Search for Private DNS, or open Network & internet / Connections depending on the device.
- Select Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter the hostname exactly as published by the provider.
- Save, then test normal browsing and the apps you use most.
If Android reports that the provider cannot be reached, do not keep changing random network settings. Work through our Private DNS troubleshooting guide.
Test before deciding
DNS performance depends on routing, cache state, location, carrier and the provider’s nearby infrastructure. Run several tests at different times instead of choosing a resolver from a single screenshot. SSM APP’s DNS Changer & Net Speed Test can also help you compare DNS options and network behavior on Android.
Official references
- Google Public DNS configuration
- Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 Android setup
- Quad9 Android 9+ encrypted DNS setup
- AdGuard public DNS setup
Featured image credit: Google Pixel 8 Pro.jpg by SimonWaldherr, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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