How to Block Ads with Custom DNS Settings in Windows 10/11

Ads are ubiquitous on the internet, often intrusive and disruptive to your browsing experience. Fortunately, you can block ads at the network level by configuring your DNS settings. Here's how to do it on Windows 10: Open Network Settings: Right-click on the network icon in your taskbar and select "Open Network & Internet settings." Access Network Adapter Properties: Under "Change your network settings," click on "Change adapter options." This will open a window displaying your network connections. Choose Network Connection: Right-click on your active network connection and select "Properties." Configure DNS Settings: In the Properties window, scroll down and locate "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" or "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)," depending on your network configuration. Select the appropriate version and click "Properties." Set Custom DNS Server Addresses: In the IPv4 or IPv6 properties window, select "Use the following DNS server addresses." Enter the following DNS server addresses: Preferred DNS server: 176.103.130.130 Alternate DNS server: 176.103.130.131 These are DNS servers provided by AdGuard, a popular ad-blocking service. Apply Changes: Click "OK" to save your changes and close the properties window. Flush DNS Cache: Open Command Prompt as an administrator by searching for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-clicking on "Command Prompt," and selecting "Run as administrator." In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: