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When we access any website, our computer first looks up the server address of the website and sends a query to the DNS server requesting the IP address associated with the website name you entered. However, these requests can only be sent in plaintext (unencrypted data), meaning that third parties can easily find your location, even if your connection to the server is encrypted with HTTPS.
Activating DNS over HTTPS on Web Browsers
Understanding DNS over HTTPS: A Safer Web Browsing Experience
Activating DNS over HTTPS on Web Browsers
Method 1: Enabling DNS over HTTPS on Firefox Browser
To enable DNS over HTTPS on Firefox browser, follow these steps:
Step 1: Access Options or type about:preferences in the browser's address bar.
Step 2: In the window displayed on the screen, select General tab, then scroll down to find and select Settings ... under Network Settings section.
Step 3: In the next window, scroll down until you find Enable DNS over HTTPS option.
Step 4: Select Cloudflare (Firefox's default provider) or Custom to choose another provider like Quad9 or Google Public DNS.
* On Firefox browser for Android:
Step 1: Type about:config
Step 2: Search for the network.trr.mode entry and use the up arrow icon to set it to 2.
Method 2: Enable DNS over HTTPS on Chrome browser
Google Chrome browser also comes with DNS over HTTPS feature integrated, but in the form of a flag (meaning it's an experimental feature not yet released).
If you want to experience the feature beforehand, follow these steps to activate DNS over HTTPS on Chrome browser:
Step 1: In the Chrome browser, type chrome://flags/#dns-over-https into the address bar.
Step 2: Find the option named Secure DNS lookups and use the right-side menu to set the option to Enabled.
Step 3: Restart the browser to apply the changes.
Note: This method applies to both Chrome versions for PC and mobile devices.
Method 3: Enable DNS over HTTPS on the new Edge browser
Previous versions of Edge browser do not support DNS over HTTPS. This feature is only available on the new Chromium-based Edge browser.
To activate DNS over HTTPS on the new Edge browser, type edge://flags/#dns-over-https into the browser's address bar.
Method 4: Enable DNS over HTTPS on Brave browser
Brave is a browser that focuses on users' privacy, blocking ads, and more. The steps to enable DNS over HTTPS on Brave browser are similar to those on Chrome:
Step 1: Type brave://flags/#dns-over-https into the browser's address bar.
Method 5: Enable DNS over HTTPS on Opera browser
Opera browser switched to the Chromium source code in 2013, so the steps to enable DNS over HTTPS on Opera browser are similar to those on other Chromium-based browsers.
Type opera://flags/#dns-over-https into the browser's address bar and search for related settings.
Method 6: Enable DNS over HTTPS on Vivaldi browser
Vivaldi is a Chromium-based browser. Similarly, to enable DNS over HTTPS on Vivaldi browser, we follow similar steps as on other Chromium-based browsers.
Type vivaldi://flags/#dns-over-https into the browser's address bar.
Method 7: Enable DNS over HTTPS on other Chromium-based browsers
On other Chromium-based web browsers, follow these steps to enable DNS over HTTPS:
Step 1: Right-click on the Chrome / Chromium shortcut.
Step 2: In the target section, for all strings ending with 'Chrome.exe', use a space after the double quotes and paste the code snippet below: '--enable-features='dns-over-https
Step 3: In the code snippet above, 1.1.1.1 is the address of the Cloudflare service, replace it with the address of any service provider you prefer.
Step 4: Click Apply and restart the browser to apply the changes.
Note: Safari and Internet Explorer are 2 browsers that do not support DNS over HTTPS.
* DNS over HTTPS Testing
Once activated, you can check whether DNS over HTTPS feature is working correctly by following these steps:
The first option is to visit 1.1.1.1/help to use Cloudflare's test service. The DNS over HTTPS section displays Yes, indicating that the feature is activated and working.
Alternatively, you can use DNSLeakTest to check. Visit HERE, and the service will provide you with information.
This article has just guided you on how to activate DNS over HTTPS on web browsers. Additionally, if you have any further questions or need clarification on topics like How to activate DNS over HTTPS on Windows 10?, readers can leave their comments below the article.
