The 2021 Guide to Setting the Best and Fastest DNS Servers …
Setting the most reliable and fastest DNS servers in your Xbox is critical to achieving the best gaming experience. This article shows you how to change the DNS settings on your Xbox to the very best settings available. This guide includes the Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Changing DNS settings on an Xbox is really easy and can make a big difference. If the DNS servers you are currently using are a long distance away, these can introduce significant time delay/ many online guides just recommend a small number of so-called ‘Public DNS’ servers like Google (8. 8. 8 or 8. 4. 4) or Cloudflare (1. 1. 1), we show that there’s many more options to choose from and some of these may well be even better for your particular location. Using our guide, you can identify the perfect DNS settings for your Xbox and location. Finally, we show how you can extract the very best from your broadband connection to achieve the perfect Xbox to enter DNS settings on your Xbox (the easy bit)DNS server settings can be changed through the Network settings menus. Entering DNS settings on your Xbox is the easy bit of this process (as now described). Bear in mind that the more challenging steps (described later) is making sure that the DNS settings you use really are the best possible settings as you could inadvertently make things worse. Make sure you put effort into determining the best settings for your location (rather than using recommendations from others online) the instructions on how to change DNS settings are provided by Microsoft here:UK Microsoft Xbox support page for Network Settings (applies to Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S)USA Microsoft Xbox support page for Network Settingswe repeat these so that you have all the information in this one guide:Open the guide by pressing the Xbox button on your Profile & system > Settings > General > Network Advanced settings from the Network screen DNS the DNS to find best DNS settings for your Xbox (the more challenging bit)Depending on how much time you are willing to devote to this, and just how important it is to use the very best DNS settings, there are three approaches to selecting your Xbox DNS server settings. These are (in order of increasing effort):just pick two from our list of Public DNS servers shown in Table 1, below. DNS providers such as Google have gained a reputation for reliability and speed (although they may not be the very best settings for your particular location)measure the ping to a range of Public DNS servers and pick the two with the lowest pings (i. e. which should indicate that they are close to you)use software called DNS Benchmark, to comprehensively measure and test a broad range of Public DNS servers to definitely identify the very best for your methods are now described in more roach 1: Just pick two from our list of Public DNS serversJust pick two from Table 1, below, and enter them into your Xbox. While many online guides just generally discuss one or two Public DNS services, such as Google (8. 8 and 8. 4) and Cloudflare (1. 1 and 1. 0. 1), there are many more options available to you. If you have problems with your initial choice, try others to see if they improve oviderDNS serversGoogle8. 4 8. 8Cloudflare1. 1 1. 1OpenDNS208. 67. 222. 222 208. 220. 222Quad99. 9. 9 149. 112. 112Level34. 2. 1 4. 2 4. 3 4. 4 4. 5 4. 6Sprintlink204. 117. 214. 10 199. 252. 10NTT129. 250. 35. 250 129. 251Comodo Secure8. 26. 56. 26 8. 20. 247. 20Verisign64. 6. 64. 6 64. 65. 6Table 1: Public DNS Servers for XboxApproach 2: Measure ping to find the DNS servers with the lowest pingJust choosing two out of our list doesn’t guarantee that your chosen DNS servers are geographically close to you (which is really important). We recommend choosing a DNS server that is close to you as this should minimise the time delay waiting for your DNS request to arrive at the DNS server and minimise the delay waiting for the response sent by the DNS server to arrive back at your Xbox, rather than randomly picking two DNS servers from Table 1, above, we recommend that you measure the ping (e. g. using a desktop or mobile phone application) for all (or some) of the Public DNS servers listed. Table 2, below, shows the results we got, but bear in mind that results will be different for you in your own address of DNS serverAverage ping (ms)Minimum ping (ms)Maximum ping (ms)4. 87. 27. 5129. 2507. 06. 17. 88. 24. 57. 84. 49. 97. 37. 07. 54. 47. 08. 4204. 107. 8129. 2517. 48. 4199. 108. 69. 268. 68. 29. 5149. 11211. 110. 811. 411. 611. 412. 4208. 22211. 711. 0208. 78. 2012. 864. 612. 911. 917. 61. 114. 914. 515. 41. 115. 415. 016. 264. 617. 315. 822. 2Table 2: Ping measurements for DNS serversWe found a large difference (over 10 ms) between the best and worst ping times. Interestingly, Google and Cloudflare had some of the worst ping times for our location. It is vital that you do your own ping measurements as there is no one best solution that works roach 3: Run the DNS Benchmark program (Windows users)While measurement of ping values can be useful to determine DNS servers that minimise transmission delays, they do not really tell you the full story, for example, the nature of any processing delays that take place when the server performs a DNS look-up or the reliability of the server. This is why we recommend that Windows users download a very useful (and free) utility called DNS Benchmark, which can be downloaded here:DNS Benchmark from the Gibson Research Corporation websiteGRC’s DNS Benchmark performs a detailed analysis and comparison of the operational performance and reliability of up to 200 DNS servers. By performing DNS look-ups, the program calculates the total delays to your totally agree with GRC’s comments about the program when it states:“You might see someone talking about how fast some specific DNS nameservers are for them, but unless you share their location, there’s absolutely no guarantee that the same nameservers would perform as well for you. ONLY by benchmarking DNS resolvers from your own location, as DNS Benchmark does, can you compare nameserver performance where it matters…right where your Xbox is. ”Other ways to improve your broadband to make your Xbox gaming experience perfectLatency (delay) is the enemy of the Xbox gamer. Increased latency and dreaded latency ping spikes can completely ruin gameplay. Minimising latency will give you a competitive gaming advantage and there are easy things you can Ethernet and not Wi-Fi for your XboxFirstly, we strongly recommend that you use an Ethernet cable connection between your Xbox and your broadband router. Yes, we know Wi-Fi is really convenient, and that installing Ethernet cables may seem a complete pain. However, it really is worth it and, once installed, you will get the benefits every single time you use your Xbox. You can purchase thin, flat Ethernet cable that is really easy to hide (for example, under carpet) the very best Wi-Fi connections can typically add 3 – 7 ms (milliseconds) to the average latency of a broadband connection, whereas an Ethernet cable connection typically adds less than 0. 5 ms. However, the big problem with using Wi-Fi to an Xbox is that Wi-Fi tends to add sporadic latency ‘spikes’ of 50-100ms or more, which are simply absent with an Ethernet cable. We have found no way to get rid of Wi-Fi spikes, and they occur even using the very best Wi-Fi routers and Access you absolutely insist on using Wi-Fi, please ensure that it is optimally set-up. Read our Wi-Fi Optimisation Guide to get the very best performance possible. High signal strengths are vital so we recommend placing a Wi-Fi Access Point very close to your Xbox. Also, make sure you are using the 5 GHz band rather than 2. 4 GHz and that you’ve chosen the best channel with the least igate bufferbloat so Netflix doesn’t ruin your gaming experienceHave you have noticed that your Xbox gaming experience is degraded when someone else in your home is using the broadband connection? This may be particularly noticeable if someone is watching streamed TV services such as Netflix. If so, then you are suffering from bufferbloat, which is an increasingly common problem that is being made worse by the increased use of services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Plus. Bufferbloat is when the buffers of your equipment (router) get filled up with the packets from Netflix and other such services so that your time-sensitive Xbox gaming packets cannot get through quickly and reliably. If you think Wi-Fi latency (described previously) is an issue, then bufferbloat can be in a different league, and can typically create latency spikes of 200 ms or more. Our How to Fix Bufferbloat guide shows that bufferboat can be easily fixed using an affordable router incorporating Smart Queue Management. Beware that many expensive so-called ‘gaming routers’ do not actually incorporate Smart Queue Management and will not properly fix bufferbloat (however much they cost) more things you can doIf you use the optimum DNS settings for your locations, connect your Xbox using Ethernet cable and use a router with Smart Queue Management, it is highly likely that you will have an incredible gaming experience. If not, please visit our Increase Broadband Speed Guide for even more a full guide and explanation about DNS and what it is, view our guide How to Speed DNS pages you may be interested in:Blog | How to Fix Bufferbloat | How to Set Up and Improve Wi-Fi | 10 Gigabit Ethernet Guide | Guide to Setting the Best and Fastest DNS Servers for PS4/PS5
Best DNS for Xbox One – InVPN
To achieve the best gaming experience, you must use a fast and reliable DNS server. If you feel like your gaming experience is lagging, it may be time to change your DNS settings or DNS server altogether.
Changing Xbox One DNS settings isn’t as tricky as you’d think. Whether it’s your primary DNS or secondary DNS, switching servers can introduce significantly accelerated loading time and fewer delays.
Using our guide, you can narrow down and choose the best DNS for Xbox One. We’ll list six free and public DNS servers you may want to check out to enhance your gaming experience.
Best DNS Servers for Xbox One
Now that we’ve cleared the air by giving some explanation on why DNS servers matter, let’s talk about some of the best and fastest DNS servers for Xbox One. Below, we’ve listed both paid and free DNS servers.
1. Cloudflare
Primary DNS: 1. 1. 1Secondary DNS: 1. 0. 1
The Cloudflare DNS system is one of the most-used and reliable DNS servers. Boasting the assertion as the “fastest DNS system in the world, ” the company built the primary 1. DNS is known to never use clients’ information to pick out advertisements, never give away demographic data, and never log an individual’s IP address.
Through the encryption of web traffic, Cloudfare’s 1. 1 primary DNS stops prying eyes from infiltrating people’s search history and internet activity.
2. Google
Primary DNS: 8. 8. 8Secondary DNS: 8. 4. 4
Google DNS servers were officially launched in December 2009. Their server famously claimed to “make the Internet faster and more secure. ” Since its founding, the Google DNS server manages approximately 400 billion server requests each day, making it the largest public DNS in the world.
Instead of using traditional DNS servers for functional purposes, the Google DNS server supports the most advanced and custom-designed technology.
Google also places a large emphasis on the security of DNS servers. The typical plan of attack is to interrupt a DNS server to redirect the routing of web pages from authentic servers to fraudulent ones. Google takes note of tests to be aware of potential attacks on DNS servers, especially the denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
The DoS attacks are an alternative to cyberattacks, through which the guilty party attempts to make the resource of a system unobtainable to users by temporarily disrupting or interfering with the web-connected services of a host connected with the web.
Cyber-attackers achieve DoS by sending hundreds of unnecessary and phony requests to a server and ultimately overflowing the resource to overload the system. This prevents any legitimate requests from going through. This process eventually causes high volumes of web traffic, which slows down the server speed.
3. OpenDNS Network
Primary DNS: 208. 67. 222. 222Secondary DNS: 67. 220. 220
Over nearly 100 million people worldwide use OpenDNS. The corporation professes complete effectiveness and reliability. It also included parental controls and various filter options.
In correspondence with parental controls, OpenDNS allows parents to block explicit adult content, which the server called the “OpenDNSFamilyShield. ”
Similar to Cloudflare, OpenDNS has data warehouses located all over the world. These warehouses focus on trimming data routes between data centers and networks, making internet access run faster.
4. Comodo Secure DNS
Primary DNS: 8. 26. 56. 10Secondary DNS: 8. 20. 247. 10
Since the early 2000s, the Comodo Secure DNS server has offered reliable, solution-based services to over 85 million devices, and providing control and protection to users from all over the world. That makes this the largest threat-combatting DNS server in the world.
Comodo is an international server system that is operable in over 25 countries. It also is a Cloud-based DNS server that gaming and corporate consoles use to reduce cyberattacks, phishing, and malware formation.
Regardless of the device or network connected to it, Comodo effectively protects and covers the user’s web traffic. The server has customizable functionality, maintaining absolute transparency. Any reports of users connected to the internet are immediately and directly sent to the user’s email.
Comodo works to prevent invasion and ensure maximum security by creating stern and precise guidelines for themselves and their users. The service also allows users to add customized logos to previously blocked pages; that way, users can instantly recognize fraud when it comes their way.
Comodo filters approximately 80 groups of differing content every other hour to maintain the security of domain names. If the server finds any malware, it then adds them to a blacklist, thus shielding them from further intrusion.
Users may sign up for a one-month free trial before purchasing the services. The Comodo Secure DNS server guarantees users a safer, smarter, faster, and streamlined internet experience.
5. QUAD9
Primary DNS: 9. 9. 9Secondary DNS: 149. 112. 112
Supported by IBM and various other noteworthy cybersecurity companies, the Quad9 server system, a non-profit DNS server system, manages a private security-focused free and public DNS server.
Quad9 is a free public service that secures your network, among other devices, from online threats and attacks. The DNS server system mechanically obstructs entry to fraudulent and suspicious websites without giving access to any of the user’s private and personal information enclosed in the files of data.
However, Quad9 does not allow users to block or screen content. The server only blocks domains that include phishing sites or malware.
Thanks to the Quad9 DNS system, cyber attackers cannot infiltrate the identified malicious domain servers, thus inhibiting their control over the system. Additionally, the attackers have less of a chance to damage the information.
The Quad9 system does not keep track of the IP addresses when a user or a group of individuals uses the server. However, Quad9 does include the server’s geographical position, specifically by state or regional location, and uses this evidence to examine the data’s fraudulent elements.
The DNS server system prevents the distribution of registered and stored data to people who are associated with the primary market. What’s more, it doesn’t utilize any real data for testing. The sole purpose of Quad9 is to fight against cybercrime and cyber threats to give users secure access to the web.
While no domain name system server is 100% foolproof from threats and cyber-attacks, decades of extensive research and experience from professionals helped establish Quad9 as a reliable and efficient DNS organization.
Several strenuous factors potentially affect the Quad9 system and its users, but the former continues to test multiple technologies to successfully combat any complications.
6. Oracle Dyn DNS
Oracle Dyn is one of the top DNS providers today. The DNS server system enables its users to choose a customizable hostname for devices compatible with an IP address.
To ensure a user’s device is constantly up to date, Oracle Dyn ensures frequent software updates so the device and data are upgraded. This action reduces any delays and allows users to have as smooth of an internet experience as possible.
Oracle Dyn’s process of automatically and regularly updating the system maintains the user’s connection to accurate and reliable service. And compared to the affordable price Oracle Dyn charges, this feature is undeniably worth it.
If you use an Xbox One, the DNS server can take note of several locations and devices, which prevents the waste of data and saved processes. When you alter a device’s IP address, you also must immediately change the hostname.
Using Oracle Dyn’s DNS server, this modification can happen in just 20 seconds, which cuts back on the amount of time consumed for device upgrades.
Ever since the company’s founding, experts have dedicated years to studying and refining Oracle Dyn’s DNS server, making sure users have access to a faster, more secure, and more reliable internet connection.
Oracle Dyn DNS boasts the status of being one of the leading DNS providers and continues to serve nearly 2, 000 company startups from aspiring entrepreneurs. The company also guarantees user-friendly and secure services for individuals and companies alike.
What Is a DNS Server?
Before we jump into our list of the best DNS servers for Xbox One, let’s define what a DNS server is.
DNS, or the Domain Name System, is a grading system for services, computers, and other internet-related sources. This system interprets information into domain names, which transfers into the IP addresses needed for services and devices to load those internet resources.
The working parts behind DNS are somewhat complicated since information isn’t contained in a single database. Instead, information is divided up in a worldwide catalog, including a wide range of DNS servers.
However, most internet users don’t need to know these technical details. Whenever you go online or enter a URL into your browser, your ISP address gives you immediate access to a DNS server.
Why Is a DNS Server Important?
Domain names essentially make it possible for you to quickly visit websites. Each time you enter a domain name into your browser, your computer uses information from a DNS server to identify the related IP address.
When it comes to how fast those pages load, DNS servers can vary largely in speed, especially in areas that don’t have great internet reception.
Internet coverage in areas like Oceania, South America, and Africa has notable extra waiting time before browsers can load and access new websites. However, these delays might only occur now and then.
Slow or lagging DNS servers can negatively affect your browsing and loading speed. But changing your DNS server can potentially improve your speed.
Is a Paid Dns Server Better Than a Free Dns Server?
While free DNS servers might seem a deal you can’t refuse, they’re often linked to slow, lagging, or spotty internet speeds. Many people choose to use premium or paid DNS servers.
Not everyone wants to pay for the server, however. It also largely depends on your needs and what exactly you’re using your DNS server for. With that in mind, paid servers do offer better quality services. Besides the enhanced website security and performance, you also have access to extra features.
Premium Dynamic DNS services include primary DNS and secondary DNS. These DNS servers work with dynamic IP addresses and allow users to use their computers worldwide. The secondary DNS serves almost as a backup server. This feature is just one of many features that premium DNS offers.
Will Changing My DNS Server Change My Gaming Experience?
Now you may ask, “Does changing my DNS server change anything? Does it improve or lesson the gaming experience? ” Numerous people claim that changing their server offers smoother connection and reduced lag. However, this evidence isn’t solid, and it may just be a happenstance.
The argument generally ends in the answer no, and here’s why: The people who claim that changing DNS servers improved their gaming experience likely don’t understand the networking concepts that are relevant to online gaming.
Delay before the transfer of data is most relevant in online gaming, not bandwidth, or more specifically upload and download speeds. Many use the term “speed” in this context very loosely. When people discuss internet speed, it’s generally very vague, and they often don’t specify whether it’s bandwidth or latency they’re talking about.
These two things are very separate, even though they’re often lumped together. Because of this, DNS servers tend to boast they can provide faster internet, but in saying this, they mean bandwidth, not latency, which is technically more important.
So, it’s not necessarily incorrect that changing DNS servers can give a faster and smoother internet speed regarding bandwidth or more specifically. In terms of upload and download speeds, bandwidth isn’t the more important aspect for a faster internet connection. Latency, or how quickly data is transferred, is the main thing that affects your online gaming experience.
Networking experts ran several thorough tests to find out if bandwidth or latency determines online gaming experience. These tests concluded that DNS can occasionally influence upload and download speeds. However, there’s no hard evidence that it can improve latency, even after conducting thorough tests.
So, that means changing DNS servers does not have any direct positive impact on your gaming experience. While some people argue that it provides a faster connection, this result may be due to several other factors. But since latency is the most important factor, changing DNS servers won’t directly improve online gaming speeds.
Specific cases show that increasing bandwidth may occasionally decrease lags, but not directly. Lags result in slow upload speed and adjusting your DNS servers tends to help increase upload speed, causing less lag.
However, the chances of this happening consistently are low, and in reality, works only in a small number of cases. Regardless, the majority of upload speeds operating with default DNS servers are sufficient for online gaming.
DNS servers can provide different bandwidth improvements, which may be useful for downloading and streaming video content (specifically from sites like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc. ) If you primarily use your console for these types of things, switching out and trying different DNS servers may prove to be effective.
The improvements may not be very large, but it’s always worth a shot. Testing different DNS servers can potentially extract and utilize more bandwidth from your internet connection, causing smoother and faster streaming.
That being said, it’s important to still keep in mind that using different DNS servers does not necessarily have any impact on the most important factor of online gaming, and that is latency.
DNS isn’t resolving Xbox server names? Fix it in 4 steps
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it. He is passionate about… Read more
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The DNS is not resolving Xbox server names error is one that arises on the Xbox One. This is a DNS (Domain Name Server) networking issue in which the Xbox console can’t connect to the internet.
The DNS is not resolving Xbox server names issue usually arises for users utilizing wireless network connectivity. If you’re wondering how to fix that error, check out the potential resolutions below.
How can I fix the DNS is not resolving Xbox server names error?
1. Restart the Xbox console and router
First, try restarting your Xbox One and router. Unplug your router.
Turn the Xbox console on.
Press and hold the Xbox button on the gamepad.
Select the Restart console and Restart options.
Wait for about five minutes. Then plug the router back in.
2. Change the DNS to Google DNS
Some users have said they’ve fixed the DNS is not resolving Xbox server names error by changing their DNS to Google. To do that on the Xbox One, turn the console on.
Select Settings on the console’s menu.
Then select Network to open the options shown directly below.
Select Advanced settings > DNS settings.
Select Manual to open the Primary DNS boxes shown directly below.
Enter 8 in each one of the four Primary DNS text boxes. Thus, the full number entered across all four boxes will be 8888.
Press the Enter button on the input keyboard.
For the secondary DNS, enter 8844 as in the snapshot directly below.
Press B to save the changed DNS settings. Thereafter, it will check your connection and hopefully display a Your console is connected to the internet message.
3. Reset your router
The DNS is not resolving Xbox server names error might be due to your router’s settings, which you can reset. To reset the router, look for the reset button at the back of it.
You’ll usually need something like a pin or paperclip to press the Reset button with. Press the button for about 10 seconds to reset the router.
Note, however, that resetting a router will also remove internet provider settings; so you might have to reconnect devices.
4. Change your WiFi channel width to 20Mhz
Selecting the 20Mhz channel width for your router is another potential resolution for the Xbox DNS server names error if that’s not its current channel width. To do that, press the Windows key and R keyboard shortcut to launch Run.
Enter cmd in Run and click OK.
Enter ipconfig in the Command Prompt, and press the Return key.
Note down the Default Gateway number.
Open a browser.
Enter your Default Gateway number in the URL bar, and press the Return key.
Open the wireless settings within your router’s configuration page.
Select 20Mhz on the Channel Width drop-down menu, which is the most preferable setting for the Xbox One.
Those potential fixes are worth a shot. Although not guaranteed for everybody, one, or more, of those resolutions might fix the DNS is not resolving Xbox server names error on your console.
Frequently Asked Questions about xbox one manual dns settings
What are the best DNS settings for Xbox one?
Best DNS Servers for Xbox OneCloudflare. Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1. Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1. … Google. Primary DNS: 8.8.8.8. Secondary DNS: 8.8.4.4. … OpenDNS Network. Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222. … Comodo Secure DNS. Primary DNS: 8.26.56.10. … QUAD9. Primary DNS: 9.9.9.9. … Oracle Dyn DNS. Oracle Dyn is one of the top DNS providers today.Apr 17, 2021
How do I manually set my DNS on Xbox one?
1 Configure DNSPress the Xbox button to open the guide.Select Settings.Select All Settings.Select Network.Select Advanced settings.Select DNS settings.Select Manual.Enter preferred Primary DNS, then select Enter.More items…
How do I fix my DNS on Xbox one?
1. Restart the Xbox console and routerFirst, try restarting your Xbox One and router. Unplug your router.Turn the Xbox console on.Press and hold the Xbox button on the gamepad.Select the Restart console and Restart options.Wait for about five minutes. Then plug the router back in.May 23, 2020