How to enable DNS over HTTPS on Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge now can encrypt domain name resolution queries using DNS over HTTPS, and here's how to enable the feature.

Microsoft Edge enable DoH
Microsoft Edge enable DoH

Microsoft Edge Chromium now includes a security option to enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH). It’s still in development, but you can turn it on beginning with version 86 available through the Canary channel.

Although the internet has transitioned to the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) to secure the communication when using the web, the Domain Name System (DNS) queries to resolve domain names to IP addresses are still send in plane text.

To increase online privacy and security, operating systems and web browsers are now adopting a new protocol known as DNS over HTTPS, which has been designed to encrypt DNS queries using the existing HTTPS protocol to prevent attacks and malicious individuals from snooping.

If you use the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, you can now enable a feature to encrypt domain resolutions for a more secure browsing experience.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to encrypt your DNS traffic using the HTTPS protocol on the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge.

Enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on Edge

To enable DNS over HTTPs on Microsoft Edge, use the following steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Click the Settings and More (three-dotted) button on the top-right corner.

  3. Click on Settings.

  4. Click on Privacy, search, and services.

  5. Under the “Security” section, turn on the Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites toggle switch.

  6. Select the Choose a service provider option.

    Quick tip: If you’re already using DoH on Windows 10, you can select the Use current service provider option.
  7. Click the enter custom provider field and select one of the available providers. For instance, Google, CloudFlare, CleanBrowsing, or Quad9. (In this field, you can also specify a custom service.)

    Microsoft Edge enable DoH
    Microsoft Edge enable DoH

Once you complete the steps, the DNS traffic generated by the browser will be sent encrypted using the HTTPS protocol to improve your online privacy.

If you’re using Google Chrome, you can enable DoH using these instructions, and if you’re using Mozilla Firefox, you can use these steps.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].