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How to change the DNS settings on a TP-Link TL-R402M router

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

This page shows how to change the DNS settings on the TP-Link TL-R402M router.

Other TP-Link TL-R402M Guides

This is the dns guide for the TP-Link TL-R402M. 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 TP-Link TL-R402M

To get started configuring the TP-Link TL-R402M 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-R402M, follow our TP-Link TL-R402M Login Guide.

Change the DNS settings on a TP-Link TL-R402M

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-R402M router.

You should begin on the Status page of the TP-Link TL-R402M router. To change the Domain Name System or DNS settings, click the choice in the blue left side-bar, labeled DHCP, then DHCP Settings.

Configure the DNS section of your TP-Link TL-R402M

router DHCP lan mac address binding internet settings
This is the dhcp page from your TP-Link TL-R402M router.

This takes you to a page like the one you see here. First, look down the page until you see the box labeled Primary DNS. Enter the main address of the DNS server you have chosen. Remember that this address is always used first.

Below that is the Secondary DNS box. Enter the secondary address of the DNS server you have chosen. The address entered here is a back-up address and only used when the first can't be located.

That's all that needs to be done on this page, click Save. Then tick Network on the left side of the page. Under that, choose WAN.

router wan setup
This is the wan page from your TP-Link TL-R402M router.

You are now on a different page with a DNS server dealing with updates. Tick the box that reads Use These DNS Servers.

Next, enter the same primary DNS server you entered earlier in the box labeled Primary DNS.

Then, enter the same secondary address of the DNS server you used in the box titled Secondary DNS.

Finally, tick Save and 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 TP-Link TL-R402M Info

Don't forget about our other TP-Link TL-R402M info that you might be interested in.

This is the dns guide for the TP-Link TL-R402M. We also have the following guides for the same router: