How to change the DNS settings on a Buffalo WZR-D1800H router

Thumbnail image of Setup Router Staff
Setup Router Staff
(Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This page shows how to change the DNS settings on the Buffalo WZR-D1800H router.

Other Buffalo WZR-D1800H Guides

This is the dns guide for the Buffalo WZR-D1800H. We also have the following guides for the same router:

What is the DNS setting on a Router

When you connect a router to the Internet it gets a few settings from your ISP automatically. One of the settings that the ISP sets in your router is the DNS setting. DNS stands for Domain Name System and it is used to convert Internet names into actual IP addresses. For instance, when you go to "google.com", your are really connecting to an IP address that is mapped through DNS to a number such as:

  • 173.194.33.73

This mapping happens automatically every time you visit any page on the Internet.

Why Change Your Router's DNS Setting

Some ISPs choose to abuse the DNS system and map unknown names to servers that they control. This can be done in a way that you don't know it is happening since your router is getting its DNS settings from your ISP. For instance, if you have one of these ISPs who is hijacking your DNS, and you try to surf the web to "some-random-site.com" and "some-random-site.com" does not exist, you might get a page back from your ISP with local advertisements on it.

By changing your DNS setting in your router you will effectively change the DNS setting for every computer on your network. This is because when a device is connected to your network your router automatically hands out its own DNS settings to that device. This way you can protect your entire network from ISP hijacking with just one setting.

What Should I Change My DNS To

There are 2 really great DNS servers on the Internet that you can choose from right now: Google Public DNS and OpenDNS. If you are not sure which one to pick then just use Google Public DNS.

When you change the DNS settings in your router, you usually have to enter a Primary and a Secondary setting. The secondary is only used if the primary can not be located. Here are common settings:

If you want to use Google Public DNS, use the following settings:

  • Primary: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary: 8.8.4.4

If you want to use OpenDNS, use the following settings:

  • 208.67.222.222
  • 208.67.220.220

Login To The Buffalo WZR-D1800H

To get started configuring the Buffalo WZR-D1800H DNS page you need to login to your router. If you are already logged in you can skip this step.

To login to the Buffalo WZR-D1800H, follow our Buffalo WZR-D1800H Login Guide.

Change the DNS settings on a Buffalo WZR-D1800H

If you followed our login guide above then you should see this screen.

router status mac address internet IP
This is the status page from your Buffalo WZR-D1800H router.

You begin on the Home page of the Buffalo WZR-D1800H. Click the link at the top of this page marked WAN/LAN. This opens new choices, pick the one labeled LAN.

Configure the DNS section of your Buffalo WZR-D1800H

router setup
This is the setup page from your Buffalo WZR-D1800H router.

You are now on a page like the one you see above. First, tick the small box labeled Display next to Advanced Setting.

Look for the heading of DNS Servers and tick the radio button labeled Use Specified IP Address.

Under that, in the Primary box enter the primary address of the DNS server you have decided to use. In the next box labeled Secondary, enter the secondary address of the DNS server.

Click the Apply button.

To get to the next page, click the Internet link at the top of the page.

subManu subModel router
This is the general page from your Buffalo WZR-D1800H router.

On this new page find the words DNS Name Server Address. In the box labeled Primary enter the DNS server's primary address, the same as you used on the previous page. In the Secondary box enter the same secondary address you entered earlier.

Click Apply when you are finished.

Possible Problems when Changing your DNS settings

Most devices on your network will not begin using the new DNS settings until they have been rebooted. After rebooting a device you can go to it's network settings and verify that it is using the DNS servers that you specified.

Other Buffalo WZR-D1800H Info

Don't forget about our other Buffalo WZR-D1800H info that you might be interested in.

This is the dns guide for the Buffalo WZR-D1800H. We also have the following guides for the same router: