DNS Director on Asuswrt-Merlin showing per-device DNS control on the ASUS RT-BE92U WiFi 7 routerAsuswrt-Merlin Update

DNS Director on Asuswrt-Merlin Routers: Per-Device DNS Control for Modern Networks

DNS Director is now available on supported Asuswrt-Merlin routers, adding long-requested per-device DNS control directly at the router level.

Instead of relying on a single global DNS setting—or configuring DNS manually on each device—you can now define DNS behavior by device, use case, or policy.

In short: Put kids’ devices on filtered DNS, keep your work laptop on a privacy-focused resolver, and leave streaming devices on compatibility-friendly DNS—without installing apps or touching client settings.

Official documentation: DNS Director on the Asuswrt-Merlin Wiki

What is DNS Director?

DNS Director is a feature built into Asuswrt-Merlin that lets you enforce DNS resolvers per device or globally.
This turns DNS into a policy-driven layer of your network instead of a one-size-fits-all setting.

All rules are enforced at the router, meaning devices automatically follow assigned DNS policies whenever they connect—no apps, no manual reconfiguration, and no drift over time.

DNS Director settings in Asuswrt-Merlin showing per-device DNS routing, global DNS redirection, and client-specific DNS rules

If you’re new to DNS customization in Merlin, this guide provides a helpful baseline:
DNS Setup for Asus Merlin.

Why DNS Director matters

  • Privacy segmentation: Route personal and work devices to privacy-focused DNS while isolating IoT and guest devices.
  • Family filtering: Apply content filtering only to the devices that need it.
  • Fewer compatibility issues: Exempt streaming boxes or smart TVs from aggressive DNS changes.
  • Cleaner VPN setups: DNS Director complements router-level VPN routing by keeping DNS behavior aligned with traffic policy.

Related reading

Choosing the right hardware matters when you start layering advanced features like Merlin, VPN routing, and DNS policies.

Best Open-Source VPN Routers for 2026

Common DNS Director use cases

Default secure DNS with exceptions

Set a privacy-forward DNS resolver as your default, then bypass DNS redirection for specific devices such as work laptops or test hardware.

Kids’ devices without breaking everything else

Apply stricter DNS filtering to children’s devices while leaving adult devices untouched.

Streaming and smart TVs

Some apps are sensitive to DNS behavior. DNS Director lets you pin specific devices to the DNS that works best without compromising the rest of your network.

IoT and guest networks

Place low-trust devices on restrictive DNS resolvers to reduce exposure to malicious or unwanted domains.

How to enable DNS Director

  1. Confirm your router is running Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.
  2. Log into the Merlin web interface.
  3. Navigate to the DNS Director section.
  4. Choose a default DNS policy (optional).
  5. Add per-device DNS rules as needed.
  6. Test from each device category.

If you need help installing or configuring Merlin itself, start here: Asuswrt-Merlin Router Setup Guide.

Supported models and positioning

Model Positioning Why DNS Director fits
RT-BE92U WiFi 7 performance router Ideal main router for mixed devices and households
GT-BE19000AI High-end WiFi 7 flagship Combines advanced optimization features with clean DNS policy control
RT-BE88U Balanced WiFi 7 platform Strong choice for modern homes without flagship pricing
RT-BE58U / RT-BE58 GO Entry and travel WiFi 7 Perfect for secondary networks or portable Merlin setups
RT-BE86U / RT-BE96U Higher-capacity WiFi 7 tier Designed for dense device environments
GT-BE98 PRO Enthusiast WiFi 7 router Power users benefit most from per-device DNS segmentation

Next steps (recommended FlashRouters resources)