There is a popular chat on the internet forum that changing your DNS on your PC, PS, and XBOX can reduce latency or lag for more reliable performance in online video games.
There are claims on many different online forums and discussions that guarantee that changing DNS can reduce game latency and ping. Is there any truth to this?
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System, DNS is a decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network.
DNS generally comprise of 4 numbers separated by dots. Furthermore, there is normally a Primary and a Secondary DNS server so that if for whatever reason the first DNS fails to look up a particular website, the secondary DNS will control and course the user.
The Secondary DNS goes about as a reinforcement to the Primary DNS.
Can DNS affect your Internet speed?
Even though DNS isn’t directly linked with your Internet speed, it can impact how quickly an individual page shows up on your PC. When a connection has been built up, however, it should not influence download speeds.
Should you use a DNS server?
A DNS server or name server can be best defined as a telephone directory that has all the public IP addresses and domain names that are identified with one another.Â
It serves to interpret domain names for example XYZ.com to a machine-coherent IP address.
Benefits of DNS
1. Avoid restrictions
If you are in a zone where there is censorship to specific webpages? At that point, DNS servers can end up being very useful to you. Net restrictions are normally done by blocking access to the specific site through your ISP’s DNS. Thusly, an incredible method to avoid this is by changing the DNS in your device.
2. Improve internet security
Internet safety has become horrible these days. One of such controls is the use of DNS servers.Â
By guaranteeing that all queries go by a particular DNS server, this might not help that much but organizations are at a better position of insuring themselves against any external attacks.
How to Change Your DNS Servers
it’s very easy to change the DNS. Yet, depending on what operating system or what device you are using, the steps will differ.
Windows
Step 1. Go to the Control Panel.
Step 2. Click Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
Step 3. Select the connection for which you want to configure DNS. For example:
- To change the settings for an Ethernet connection, right-click the Ethernet interface and select Properties.
- To change the settings for a wireless connection, right-click the Wi-Fi interface and select Properties.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Step 4. Select the Networking tab. Under This connection uses the following items, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and then click Properties.
Step 5. Click Advanced and select the DNS tab. If there are any DNS server IP addresses listed there, write them down for future reference, and remove them from this window.
Click OK
Consoles
Playstation 4:
- From the PS4 Menu, scroll right to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection > Select either Wi-Fi or LAN cable (Wired)Â
- Wi-Fi: Custom > Select Network > Enter Password (automatically saved if you are already using this network) > IP Address Settings (automatic) > DHCP Host Name (Do Not Use) > DNS Settings (Manual)
- LAN (Wired): Custom > IP Address Settings (Automatic) > DHCP Host Name (Do Not Use) > DNS Settings (Manual)
- From there, you can change your dns.
- Next > MTU Settings (Automatic) > Proxy Server (Do Not Use) > Test Internet Connection
Xbox One:Â
- From the Xbox One home screen, go to Settings > Network > Advanced settings > DNS settings > Manual. (If Settings doesn’t appear on the home screen, select My Games & Apps, then Settings.)
- From there, you can change your DNS.
Best and most popular DNS.
- Google DNS – Primary DNS 8.8.8.8; Secondary DNS 8.8.4.4
- Open DNS – Primary DNS 207.68.222.222; Secondary DNS 207.68.220.220
- Cloudflare DNS – Primary DNS 1.1.1.1; Secondary DNS 1.0.0.1
Conclusion
As we have mentioned in our article on the topic, latency and bandwidth (download and upload speeds) are two separate factors and it is the latency that is more important for online gaming.
So if you are looking to decrease lag for your online games, then it’s questionable that changing the DNS settings on your device will help.
Changing your DNS server may sometimes give more reliable download and upload speeds though, which may assist with downloading games or other high bandwidth activity like streaming and also with uploading videos to video platforms.
This is a separate matter to latency or lag though and whilst some people have reported that changing their DNS also improved their ping, we could not find any source that has completely tested this and proved it to be accurate.
