Verizon Fios DNS Servers by Region & How to Change Them

What Are Verizon DNS Servers?

Verizon Fios uses regional DNS servers that come in twins ending in .12 and .14: for example 71.252.0.12 and 71.252.0.14 in Reston, Virginia, and 68.237.161.12 and .14 in New York. Your Verizon router normally gets two .12 servers, often from different sites (for example 71.252.0.12 and 71.242.0.12), and answers your devices' lookups itself: devices see the router, 192.168.1.1, as their DNS server.

Unlike Comcast or Spectrum, Verizon doesn't use one nationwide pair, and it doesn't publish the list. The servers only answer devices on Verizon's network. Whether a public resolver is faster depends on your area, so measure it with DNS Robot's DNS Speed Test, which times your current Verizon DNS against Cloudflare, Google and Quad9.

Verizon Fios DNS Server IP Addresses by Region

Verizon doesn't publish its DNS servers. The ones below carry Verizon's own reverse DNS names, which say where each pair sits:

We checked all ten on 26 October 2026: they are registered to Verizon Business, carry these verizon.net names, and time out from outside Verizon's network.

To see the pair your connection uses, open your router's admin page (mynetworksettings.com on the Verizon Router and current G3100 firmware, myfiosgateway.com on older firmware and the G1100) and look at the broadband connection's DNS servers. nslookup on a computer only shows the router (192.168.1.1).

Verizon DNS Assistance (Search Redirect) and the .14 Servers

Verizon has run a service called DNS Assistance: when you mistype an address, its standard .12 servers send you to a Verizon search page instead of returning the normal "not found" answer (NXDOMAIN). Verizon's own opt-out instructions told customers to change their DNS settings to the matching .14 server, which returns NXDOMAIN.

A search page in place of NXDOMAIN breaks software that relies on "not found": mail servers, security tools, VPN split tunnels and development setups.

We can't confirm from outside Verizon's network that DNS Assistance still runs in 2026, so test your own connection:

# Ask for a name that can't exist
nslookup this-domain-does-not-exist-abc123.com

# Redirected: you get an IP address back (a search page)
# Not redirected: "server can't find ... NXDOMAIN"

# Then ask your area's .14 server directly (Reston shown)
nslookup this-domain-does-not-exist-abc123.com 71.252.0.14

Verizon Wireless (Mobile) DNS Servers

Verizon Wireless (mobile/cellular) uses different DNS infrastructure than Verizon Fios. The mobile DNS servers are not publicly documented and change dynamically based on your cell tower location.

On Verizon mobile, you cannot change DNS settings at the network level. However, you can override them:

• Android — Use the built-in Private DNS feature: Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS → enter one.one.one.one (Cloudflare) or dns.google (Google). This encrypts your lookups (DNS over TLS, or DNS over HTTP/3 with dns.google on Android 11 and later) on Wi-Fi and mobile data
• iPhone — Install the 1.1.1.1 app from Cloudflare or configure a DNS profile. iOS does not have a built-in per-network DNS override for cellular connections
• Both platforms — Use a DNS-based app like Cloudflare WARP or NextDNS that routes all DNS traffic through their resolvers regardless of your network

Why Change Verizon's Default DNS?

Verizon's DNS works for everyday browsing. These are the reasons people switch:

• Speed, sometimes — a public resolver can be faster or slower than Verizon's depending on your area: test both with the DNS Speed Test before you switch
• No search redirects — public resolvers return a plain "not found" for mistyped addresses instead of a search page
• A fallback during outages — on 18 December 2019 a widespread Fios outage was blamed on Verizon's DNS servers, and BleepingComputer advised switching to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 as a workaround (BleepingComputer)
• Privacy — Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 keeps no source IP address on disk and deletes its logs within 25 hours, with outside audits; Verizon's DNS falls under its general privacy policy
• Security filtering — Quad9 (9.9.9.9) blocks known malicious domains, and Cloudflare for Families (1.1.1.3) blocks malware and adult content

Best DNS Servers for Verizon Fios Users

These are the best public DNS alternatives for Verizon customers. All are free and work with every Fios plan.

For most Verizon Fios users, Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) is the best overall pick for privacy, with audited logging commitments, and Google (8.8.8.8) for reliability. Full address lists and setup steps: our Cloudflare DNS servers guide and Google DNS servers guide.

For built-in security, Quad9 (9.9.9.9) blocks known malicious domains using threat intelligence from security partners. For families, Cloudflare for Families (1.1.1.3) or OpenDNS FamilyShield filters malware and adult content.

Which is fastest depends on where you are: the DNS Speed Test times them from your own Fios connection.

How to Change DNS on the Verizon Router (CR1000A, CR1000B)

The Verizon Router is the gateway Verizon now ships with Fios. A change here applies to every device on your network (skip it if you have Fios TV, see above).

• Step 1 — On a device connected to the router, go to mynetworksettings.com or https://192.168.1.1. Verizon's guide says you may first see "Your connection is not private": click Advanced, then Proceed to 192.168.1.1 (unsafe)
• Step 2 — Sign in with the password printed next to Network Settings Password on the label on the back of the router
• Step 3 — Go to Advanced → Network Settings → Network Connections, click Broadband Connection (Ethernet), then Settings
• Step 4 — Switch the IPv4 DNS option from automatic to the manual setting, enter your DNS servers (for example 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1), and click Apply
• Step 5 — For IPv6, the router's IPv6 settings page has its own choice between obtaining IPv6 DNS automatically and Use the following IPv6 DNS Server addresses

How to Change DNS on Verizon G3100 Router

The Fios Router G3100 was Verizon's standard gateway before the Verizon Router. Changing DNS on it applies to every device on your network.

G3100 Firmware v3.x (Newer)

• Step 1 — Open your browser and go to mynetworksettings.com or https://192.168.1.1 (older firmware: myfiosgateway.com), then enter the password printed next to Admin password on the router's label
• Step 2 — Click Advanced in the top-left navigation menu
• Step 3 — In the left sidebar, click Network Settings → Network Connections
• Step 4 — Click on Broadband Connection (Ethernet/Coax)
• Step 5 — Scroll down to Settings and click it to expand
• Step 6 — Find the IPv4 DNS dropdown. Change from "Obtain IPv4 DNS Address Automatically" to "Use the Following IPv4 DNS Addresses"
• Step 7 — Enter your preferred DNS: Primary = 1.1.1.1, Secondary = 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare)
• Step 8 — Click Apply and wait for the router to finish (the page can look frozen for a minute or two)

G3100 Firmware v2.x (Older)

• Step 1 — Go to myfiosgateway.com or 192.168.1.1 and log in
• Step 2 — Click the Network box in the top-right area with the ">" arrow
• Step 3 — Click Network Connections in the middle of the screen
• Step 4 — Select Broadband Connection (Ethernet/Coax)
• Step 5 — Click Settings to expand DNS options
• Step 6 — Change DNS from automatic to manual and enter your preferred DNS addresses
• Step 7 — Click Apply and wait for the settings to save

How to Change DNS on Verizon G1100 Router

The older Fios Quantum Gateway G1100 has a slightly different interface.

• Step 1 — Navigate to myfiosgateway.com or 192.168.1.1 and log in (default password on the router sticker)
• Step 2 — Click My Network from the top menu
• Step 3 — Click Network Connections → Broadband Connection (Ethernet/Coax)
• Step 4 — Click Settings to expand the configuration
• Step 5 — Under DNS Server, change from Automatic to Manual
• Step 6 — Enter your DNS addresses (e.g., 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google DNS)
• Step 7 — Click Apply

Change DNS on Windows (Verizon Connection)

Use this if you have Fios TV (so you're leaving the router alone), or want DNS per device. PowerShell needs to run as Administrator.

# PowerShell (Run as Administrator)
# Find your active network adapter
Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq 'Up'}

# Set Cloudflare DNS on your adapter
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -ServerAddresses '1.1.1.1','1.0.0.1'

# Set IPv6 DNS too
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet' -ServerAddresses '2606:4700:4700::1111','2606:4700:4700::1001'

# Flush DNS cache
Clear-DnsClientCache

# Verify
Get-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceAlias 'Ethernet'

For the GUI method: Open Settings → Network & Internet → click your connection → Edit next to DNS server assignment → switch to Manual → enable IPv4 → enter 1.1.1.1 (Preferred) and 1.0.0.1 (Alternate) → Save.

Change DNS on Mac (Verizon Connection)

# Find your network service names ("Wi-Fi", "Ethernet", "USB 10/100 LAN"…)
networksetup -listallnetworkservices

# Set Cloudflare DNS on a service (use the exact name from the list)
networksetup -setdnsservers Wi-Fi 1.1.1.1 1.0.0.1

# Flush the DNS cache
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache && sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

# Verify and time a lookup
networksetup -getdnsservers Wi-Fi
dig @1.1.1.1 google.com | grep 'Query time'

GUI method: System Settings → Network → select your connection → Details → DNS → click + → add 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 → remove the old entries → OK.

Change DNS on iPhone & Android (Verizon Wi-Fi)

When connected to your Verizon Fios Wi-Fi, you can override DNS on your phone without changing router settings.

iPhone / iPad

• Step 1 — Open Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the (i) icon next to your Fios network
• Step 2 — Scroll down and tap Configure DNS
• Step 3 — Switch from Automatic to Manual
• Step 4 — Delete the existing entries (usually your router, 192.168.1.1)
• Step 5 — Tap Add Server and enter 1.1.1.1, then tap Add Server again and enter 1.0.0.1
• Step 6 — Tap Save

Android (Private DNS — Works on All Networks)

Android 9+ has a system-wide Private DNS feature that encrypts your DNS queries and works on both Wi-Fi and cellular — ideal for Verizon users.

• Step 1 — Open Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS
• Step 2 — Select Private DNS provider hostname
• Step 3 — Enter one.one.one.one (Cloudflare) or dns.google (Google)
• Step 4 — Tap Save

How to Verify Your DNS Settings Changed

After changing DNS, confirm the new servers are active.

# Windows — Check active DNS server
nslookup google.com
# "Server:" shows 1.1.1.1 if you set it on this device.
# After a router-level change it still shows the router (192.168.1.1): the DNS Leak Test shows the real resolver

# Mac/Linux — Compare DNS response times
echo '--- Cloudflare ---' && dig @1.1.1.1 google.com | grep 'Query time'
echo '--- Google ---' && dig @8.8.8.8 google.com | grep 'Query time'
echo '--- Verizon ---' && dig @71.252.0.14 google.com | grep 'Query time'

# Test for DNS hijacking
nslookup this-domain-does-not-exist-12345.com
# Correct: NXDOMAIN error
# Hijacked: Returns a Verizon IP address

DNS Robot's DNS Leak Test shows the resolvers your device really uses, with their names and networks, so you can confirm the switch from your browser.

Tip: Visit 1.1.1.1/help in your browser for an instant Cloudflare DNS health check — it shows whether you're using Cloudflare DNS and if encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT) is active.

Common Verizon DNS Issues & Fixes

When Verizon's DNS fails, sites stop loading even though the router shows a working connection. Here are the common problems and their fixes.

Verizon DNS Outage (Internet Seems Down)

Your router's lights look normal but no website loads. That was the pattern in the widespread Fios outage of 18 December 2019, which a Verizon support representative blamed on its DNS servers (BleepingComputer).

• Immediate fix — Change DNS to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 on your device or router. This bypasses Verizon's broken DNS servers entirely
• Check outage status — Visit Verizon's network status page or Downdetector for real-time reports
• Longer term — set a public resolver on your devices (or on the router, if you don't have Fios TV), so a Verizon DNS outage can't take your browsing down. See also how to fix DNS server not responding

Slow DNS Resolution on Verizon

If websites pause before they start loading but then download quickly, slow DNS is a likely cause: each new site name waits for the resolver, and a single page can need dozens of them.

Measure before you switch: the DNS Speed Test times Verizon's DNS against Cloudflare, Google and Quad9 from your own Fios connection and ranks them, so you pick the fastest for your area.

DNS Hijacking Breaking Apps

If Verizon's DNS Assistance redirect is active on your connection (run the test above), it can break software that relies on NXDOMAIN: mail servers checking domains, VPN split tunnels and development tools that expect test names not to exist.

If you must stay on Verizon DNS, use your area's .14 server. Otherwise move to a public resolver: none of the big ones redirect.