What Are the Best DNS Servers for Gaming? PS5, Xbox, and More

If your games take a long time to load, connect, or update, your Domain Name System (DNS) settings might be the problem. DNS settings won’t change your in-game ping, but they can affect how quickly your device reaches login servers, matchmaking services, and download servers.

Switching to a faster, more reliable DNS server can cut down on connection errors and get updates to start sooner. Find out which providers offer the best DNS servers for gaming and the steps you can take to change DNS settings on different devices.

What Are the Best DNS Servers for Gaming?

Each DNS provider gives you a primary and a secondary address. Your device uses the primary one by default, while the secondary one acts as a fallback if the first becomes slow or unresponsive. This helps maintain a consistent connection while gaming.

With that in mind, here are three popular public DNS services you may want to try: OpenDNS, Google Public DNS, and Cloudflare DNS. All of them offer free options and are easy to set up on most devices.

Cloudflare DNS

Primary DNS Address	1.1.1.1
Secondary DNS Address	1.0.0.1

Cloudflare DNS is among the fastest public DNS resolvers. Its huge global network uses an anycast system. This incorporates servers around the globe with the same IP address and attempts to route your connection to the closest one. Anycast networks may help your games check for updates, load account data, and connect to online services with less stalling at the start.

Cloudflare also puts a focus on privacy. It keeps minimal logs and supports encrypted DNS options like DoH (DNS over HTTPS). 

Google Public DNS

Primary DNS Address	8.8.8.8
Secondary DNS Address	8.8.4.4

Google Public DNS is backed by Google’s large anycast network, which assists it in delivering fast and consistent DNS queries. For gamers, this can reduce the delay your device experiences when it tries to reach game-related services.

Google Public DNS doesn’t include built-in content filtering. Instead, it automatically validates Domain Name System Security Extension (DNSSEC) signatures to protect against forged DNS responses. This adds an extra layer of security without introducing filters that could interfere with game services. It also supports IPv6 and encrypted DNS protocols like DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) and DNS-over-TLS (DoT).

OpenDNS

Primary DNS Address	208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS Address	208.67.220.220

OpenDNS, a resolver owned and operated by Cisco, claims to run the most up-to-date and largest DNS caches. A DNS cache could be considered a “phonebook” for the internet. Since OpenDNS answers billions of DNS lookups daily, most popular sites are already stored in its memory (or cache). This allows them to be faster than other resolvers. That speed could possibly help you start gaming with fewer delays.

OpenDNS focuses on filtering and security features, including blocking malicious domains. This may be helpful if you download mods, patches, or game files from the web. However, its support for encrypted DNS depends on your configuration and platform. 

What Is a DNS Server?

A DNS server translates website and server names to IP addresses. It works in the background when you use an internet-connected app, like a web browser, email client, or video game. For example, when you enter a site’s name into a browser’s address bar, your browser asks a DNS server (also called a resolver) for the corresponding IP address. That’s how the browser knows which site to connect to.

In gaming, DNS servers help your device find the online services a game needs before you can start playing. If your DNS server is slow or unreliable, these steps take longer or fail. 

Do DNS Servers Affect Gaming Performance?

Yes. DNS servers affect gaming performance, but only in the steps that happen before you start playing. DNS generally affects:

• • Connection times: Devices use DNS to translate game server domain names to IP addresses. A slow DNS server could delay the lookup, increasing the time it takes for you to join a server.
  • Matchmaking: Some online games, like Fortnite, use multiple domains for matchmaking. A faulty or slow DNS server could fail to return IPs, causing errors or delays when connecting to matchmaking servers.
  • Update/DLC downloads: Slow or outdated DNS servers could cause delays before updates begin or even fail to connect to a download server.

However, DNS doesn’t impact your experience of actual gameplay. It doesn’t increase in-game ping, cause lag spikes, or affect your internet speed.

Why Use a Public DNS Server for Gaming?

Most devices use your ISP’s default DNS servers, but these aren’t always the fastest or the most reliable. Some ISP DNS servers may experience congestion or slower response times, depending on local infrastructure

Public DNS providers like Cloudflare, Google, and OpenDNS use larger global networks that are often quicker and more stable under heavy load. They also tend to offer better security and privacy. For gaming, this means your device might be able to connect to the servers it needs faster and with fewer interruptions.

How to Find the Fastest DNS Server for Gaming

The easiest way to do this is to use GRC’s free DNS Benchmark tool. It tests the reliability and speeds of up to 200 DNS servers. It also offers an in-depth analysis and comparison, detailing which servers provide the best performance. 

When you first run the utility, it puts together a list of relevant DNS servers. You can manually add the DNS resolver you wish to test if it isn’t already there. After that, click Run Benchmark and wait a few minutes for the app to display the fastest servers.

How to Change Your Device’s DNS Settings

Windows

1. Open Settings, then choose Network & Internet. 

2. Click Change adapter options. 

3. Right-click your active connection and select Properties. 

4. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

5. Click Use the following DNS server addresses, add the DNS server details, and select OK.

macOS

1. Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings. 

2. Select Network and choose your connection type (Wi-Fi, for example). 

3. Tap your active network connection and select Details.

4. Click DNS, then select the + sign.

5. Add the new DNS servers and click OK. 

Routers

The steps vary depending on your router model and firmware, but you usually have to do the following:

1. Access your router’s IP address in your web browser and log in to your admin account. The IP and login details are usually on a label attached to the router.
2. Look for the router’s DNS settings. You should find them in sections called Network, Internet, or Advanced. 
3. Add your chosen primary and secondary DNS addresses.
4. Save your settings and restart your router if prompted.

PlayStation 5

1. Access Settings in the top-right corner of your home screen.

2. Select Network. 

3. Go to Settings, then choose Set Up Internet Connection. 

4. Tap your active network and press the Options button on your controller. This will open a dropdown menu on your screen. Choose the Advanced option.

5. Set DNS Settings to Manual, add the DNS server addresses, and select OK.

Xbox Series X

1. On your home screen, press your controller’s Xbox button to open the Guide, then go to Profile & system.

2. Go to Settings.

3. Select General > Network settings.

4. Go into Advanced settings. 

5. Set DNS settings to Manual. 

6. Add the DNS addresses. 

Is It Safe to Use a Public DNS Server for Gaming?

Yes, it’s safe to use a public DNS server for gaming as long as you stick to well-known providers. Services like Cloudflare, Google Public DNS, and OpenDNS are widely used, properly maintained, and generally just as safe as your ISP’s default DNS. In some cases, they can even be more private, since providers like Cloudflare and Google support encrypted DNS (DoH/DoT), which stops your ISP from seeing your DNS lookups.

The main risks appear when you use unknown or untrusted DNS servers. Smaller or shady providers might redirect your traffic, log your browsing, or route you to unsafe sites, which could expose you to malware if you download game files or updates from spoofed pages.

DNS Settings Can Help When Setting Up Online Gaming Sessions

Using a different DNS resolver doesn’t give you an edge when you’re in the middle of a match. However, it may still improve gaming if you’re experiencing connectivity issues. For instance, it could be beneficial if your game isn’t updating or if it’s taking too long to connect to a server.

To improve in-game speeds, you should play in your region, make sure your Wi-Fi signal is strong, or use a wired connection. A VPN can also help in some cases if your ISP slows down gaming traffic. When your connection goes through a VPN, your ISP can’t easily identify and throttle your gaming data, which can help keep speeds more consistent during busy hours.

If you want to game with a VPN, CyberGhost VPN has servers in 100 countries, optimized gaming locations, and intuitive apps for most devices. You can also try it risk-free with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

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