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How to change the DNS settings on a TP-Link TL-MR3420 router

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Setup Router Staff
(Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 5 minutes

This page shows how to change the DNS settings on the TP-Link TL-MR3420 router.

Other TP-Link TL-MR3420 Guides

This is the dns guide for the TP-Link TL-MR3420 3.12.8. We also have the following guides for the same router:

What is the DNS setting on a Router

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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:

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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 TP-Link TL-MR3420

To get started configuring the TP-Link TL-MR3420 DNS page you need to login to your router. If you are already logged in you can skip this step.

To login to the TP-Link TL-MR3420, follow our TP-Link TL-MR3420 Login Guide.

Change the DNS settings on a TP-Link TL-MR3420

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 TP-Link TL-MR3420 router.

This guide begins on the Status page of the TP-Link TL-MR3420 router. To change the Domain Name System or DNS settings, click the choice in the left side-bar labeled DHCP. Then under that, pick DHCP Settings.

Configure the DNS section of your TP-Link TL-MR3420

router DHCP lan mac address binding internet settings
This is the dhcp page from your TP-Link TL-MR3420 router.

You should now be on a page like the one you see above. Looking down this page, find the box labeled Primary DNS and enter the primary or main address of the DNS server you wish to use. This address is always going to be used first.

Directly below that is the Secondary DNS. Use this space to enter the secondary DNS server address of your choice. Remembering that this address is a back-up and only used when the first can't be found.

That is all for this page, finish by clicking the Save button. We also are recommending that you set the WAN side DNS server. Tick the link on the left labeled Network, and under that WAN.

router wan setup
This is the wan page from your TP-Link TL-MR3420 router.

On this new page, tick the box that reads Use These DNS Servers.

In the box titled Primary DNS, enter the same primary address you entered on the previous page.

Then, in the box labeled Secondary DNS, enter the same secondary address you entered on the last page.

That's all you need to do, just click the Save button before you exit.

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 TP-Link TL-MR3420 Info

Don't forget about our other TP-Link TL-MR3420 info that you might be interested in.

This is the dns guide for the TP-Link TL-MR3420 3.12.8. We also have the following guides for the same router: