Does your internet connection seem slow? Before changing operator, box, computer or telephone, change this parameter on your different devices: you will see the speed difference!
Having efficient internet access is essential these days, whether to work or to be entertained. The massive deployment of optical fiber and 5G in France has made it possible to offer very high speed to many households, and to greatly improve the comfort of certain online services, such as streaming or cloud gaming.
However, despite these quality infrastructure, things as simple as internet browsing sometimes seem slow and exasperate you. Among the factors that influence your web access speed, the network of your operator as well as your domestic equipment is of course the most important and determining.
But there is also a software element that plays a fundamental role in web browsing, and which can drastically affect the performance of your devices in this area: the Domain Name System. In a very simplified way, it is the mechanism that allows your browser to find the IP address associated with a domain name (like www.commentcamarche.net), in order to access the corresponding website. A bit like a telephone standard that connects a number to a subscriber name.
This service is provided automatically by your operator, as part of your Internet subscription, and you normally do not have to worry about it. However, the translation of domain names in IP address, called DNS resolution, of your access provider is not the only one available … and maybe not the fastest!
Under its apparent simplicity, DNS resolution is actually a complex process, which uses a whole chain of computer servers. However, there are many DNS service providers on the market, which often offer a faster domain names than that of your operator. The good news is that many of them are free, such as Google Public DNS, Cloudflare or Opendns. And you can try them very easily. Indeed, the choice of DNS servers is a simple parameter to modify, whether on Windows, Mac, Android or iOS (iPhone).
If you want to try the experience, you can consult our step-by-step guide for all these devices. By opting for one of the alternative DNS resolvers, you will certainly see a significant improvement in your navigation speed and the display of web pages. And icing on the cake, you can even access sites often blocked by French Internet access providers. Indeed, when they are subject to court decisions, operators modify their DNS servers in order to prevent access to sites accused of illegal practices, such as the download or streaming of films and series.
Finally, be quiet: the modification of the DNS parameters of your devices is completely reversible, and you can easily go back if you are not satisfied with the result. In the event of laborious navigation on the internet, and before considering changing operator or investing in brand new network equipment, therefore go in your DNS settings, you will have everything to win and nothing to lose!