Changing DNS settings on Android doesn't work

Question

My device is a LeMaker Guitar Kit. I do not have root access on the device. I followed the guide from XSLAB - How to Change DNS Settings on Android to change the DNS. I am accessing my WiFi at home. When I set my DNS on my Android device and go to DNS leak test, it's not the DNS that I set in the DNS settings. It's the DNS set by my ISP.

How can I get it to use the DNS that I want?

---

Maybe I need to have root and/or use an app like the one mentioned on How to change mobile connections's DNS on Android KitKat? - Override DNS. Also need to work out what version of Android it is, but think it is the most recent version.

Related question on Change DNS but stay on DHCP leaving the IP as dynamic (currently giving it static IP from the router) and using apps to change the DNS.

Related question on where are DNS settings under 4.4.2?, but he can't save the new DNS settings.

A possible option from Can't change DNS on S3 mini, in one of the answers is use debugging mode and adb to change the DNS settings, but my problem is not changing the DNS, it is getting the DNS I change it to work.

Answer 1

First you must have dnscrypt installed. These scripts require root access:

#!/bin/sh
#root is required 

#daemonize dnscrypt
dnscrypt-proxy --daemonize --resolver-address=208.67.220.220:443 --provider-name=2.dnscrypt-cert.opendns.com --provider-key=B735:1140:206F:225D:3E2B:D822:D7FD:691E:A1C3:3CC8:D666:8D0C:BE04:BFAB:CA43:FB79

#this will redirect dns query traffics to localhost
iptables -t nat -A OUTPUT -p udp --dport 53 -j DNAT --to-destination 127.0.0.1

If you want to restore DNS to default, run this:

#!/bin/sh
iptables -t nat -D OUTPUT -p udp --dport 53 -j DNAT --to-destination 127.0.0.1

Answer 2

You can change the DNS but you will need to set a static IP as well. If you long press on the WiFi name you can change the options from there.

Answer 3

On Android, in addition to using settings. You can still use a third-party application to change DNS. Such as:

1. DNS Changer | Mobile Data & WiFi | IPv4 & IPv6
2. Net Optimizer | Optimize Your Internet Speed
3. DNS Smart Changer - Web content blocker and filter
4. 1.1.1.1: Faster & Safer Internet
5. Turbo VPN- Free VPN Proxy Server & Secure Service

Answer 4

This question (2016) is 6 years old and I had the same problem recently. Because I used my own DNS server (BIND 9), I finally found that there was a problem with the BIND settings. According to the prompts in /var/log/named/named.log, I corrected my own DNS server settings and the problem was solved.