A PS4 DNS error means the console cannot reliably obtain or use the name lookups that connect services such as PlayStation Network to their network addresses. Your PS4 may still be connected to the router, and changing DNS is not always the answer. Start by checking PSN and your other devices, restart the network, run the console test, and change only DNS if the evidence points there.
What a DNS error on PS4 means
DNS (Domain Name System) translates a service name into the IP address a device must contact. A PS4 can therefore connect to your router yet fail when a DNS response is delayed, blocked, incorrect, or never arrives. Google describes its Public DNS as a resolver service, not a general-purpose gaming-speed upgrade: developers.google.com/speed/public-dns.
Possible causes include an unavailable ISP resolver, mistyped manual DNS values, router or firewall filtering, ISP maintenance, unstable Wi-Fi, a PlayStation Network outage, or a captive portal on hotel, school, workplace, or public Wi-Fi. DNS changes do not repair weak signal, congestion, packet loss, restrictive NAT, or a slow broadband connection.
Common codes
| Code | Practical meaning | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| NW-31253-4 | DNS-server response is delayed or unstable. | Restart the PS4 and router, check the ISP, then test another resolver. |
| NW-31246-6 | DNS settings are invalid. | Return DNS to Automatic or correct both DNS fields. |
| NW-31254-5 | Network/DNS connection problem. | Run the connection test and verify manual DNS values. |
| NW-31175-7 | General network connection failure. | Try Ethernet, then a documented public DNS service. |
See Sony’s error-code index at playstation.com/en-us/support/error-codes/ps4/, plus the specific guidance for NW-31253-4, NW-31246-6, NW-31254-5, and NW-31175-7.
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Before changing DNS
Check PSN status
Open Sony’s support hub and service-status information at playstation.com/en-us/support/. A PSN outage cannot be repaired from your console by selecting a different resolver.
Check another device
- If phones, computers, and streaming devices also fail, suspect the modem, router, ISP, or a wider outage.
- If other devices work, focus on the PS4’s saved profile, Wi-Fi conditions, DNS values, or router compatibility.
Restart everything
- Turn the PS4 off completely rather than leaving it in Rest Mode.
- Unplug the modem and router.
- Wait several seconds. With separate devices, power the modem first and wait for it to reconnect, then power the router.
- Start the PS4 and run Settings > Network > Test Internet Connection.
Read the PS4 connection test
The test reports stages including Obtain IP Address, Internet Connection, PlayStation Network Sign-In, NAT Type, and speed. It also displays the IP address, default router, primary and secondary DNS, and proxy information. Sony’s PS4 manual documents these functions at manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps4/.
| Failed stage | What it usually indicates |
|---|---|
| Obtain IP Address | Wi-Fi password, DHCP, router, signal, cable, or LAN issue—not primarily DNS. |
| Internet Connection at DNS | Test Automatic DNS, then a public resolver. |
| PSN Sign-In | Check PSN status, account/session issues, date and time, filtering, and NAT before blaming DNS. |
| NAT Type | Router NAT, UPnP, carrier-grade NAT, or blocked traffic; DNS alone may not help. |
| Speed | Poor throughput with other stages passing usually points to congestion or Wi-Fi, not DNS. |
Recreate the saved PS4 connection
- Go to Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection.
- Choose Use Wi-Fi or Use a LAN Cable, then select Custom.
- Select your wireless network if applicable.
- Set IP Address Settings: Automatic.
- Set DHCP Host Name: Do Not Specify, if shown.
- Set DNS Settings: Automatic initially.
- Set MTU Settings: Automatic.
- Set Proxy Server: Do Not Use, then run Test Internet Connection.
Labels can vary with system language and software presentation. These settings deliberately leave IP addressing, MTU, and proxy behavior alone. Comparable console instructions are also documented by 2K at support.2k.com/hc/en-us/articles/201335143-Console-General-Networking-Troubleshooting.
Test Google Public DNS
If Automatic DNS still fails, repeat the Custom setup and choose Manual for DNS. Record your original values first so you can restore them.
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These are Google’s documented IPv4 resolver addresses; use two addresses from the same provider rather than mixing unrelated services. Leave IP Address, DHCP Host Name, MTU, and Proxy at the defaults above, save, and run the connection test. Setup details are at developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using.
This is a diagnostic alternative, not a guaranteed fix or a promise of faster downloads or lower in-game ping. If it also fails, the router may block or redirect external DNS, the ISP may be down, the PSN or game service may be unavailable, or the PS4 may have an IP/DHCP or Wi-Fi problem. Google discusses DNS blocking and interception at developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/troubleshooting.
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Use Ethernet and another network to isolate the fault
Try wired Ethernet
Connect the PS4 directly to the router and run the test again. If Ethernet works while Wi-Fi does not, investigate distance, interference, radio settings, signal quality, or wireless compatibility rather than changing DNS repeatedly. Sony recommends a wired test for NW-31175-7.
Try a phone hotspot briefly
- Works on the hotspot: the home router, ISP, DNS policy, or home network is implicated.
- Fails on both: focus on the PS4, its saved profile, PlayStation services, or an account/session issue.
A hotspot can have strict NAT, data limits, and high latency, so treat it as a diagnostic connection, not a permanent gaming solution.
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When DNS changes do not solve it
- Restore DNS to Automatic if manual values made no difference or caused an invalid-settings error.
- Check the modem and router for firmware, DHCP, parental-control, firewall, or DNS-filtering problems.
- Ask the ISP about maintenance if multiple devices fail or no external resolver is reachable.
- On managed networks, contact the operator; you may not have permission to alter firewall rules, and captive portals may not provide a usable PS4 browser login.
For NW-31253-4, Sony lists PlayStation server traffic on TCP ports 80, 443, 3478, 3479, 3480 and UDP ports 3478, 3479: playstation.com/en-sk/support/error-codes/ps4/nw-31253-4/. Do not forward ports as a first response. Check outbound blocking, security controls, and UPnP first; forwarding can add exposure and does not inherently repair DNS.
DNS alternatives, Smart DNS, and VPNs
ISP DNS
Automatic ISP DNS is the least disruptive option and may support local services, but it can suffer outages, slow responses, filtering, or redirection.
Google Public DNS
Google’s service is free and widely documented, but it has no service-level agreement; its FAQ explains the limitation at developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/faq. It is not a VPN, does not hide the console’s IP address, and does not fix NAT or packet loss.
Smart DNS and VPN services
Smart DNS is generally for traffic routing or region-specific access, not routine PSN repair. It does not encrypt traffic or hide the device IP. A VPN normally needs a compatible router, computer sharing, or another network arrangement because it is not a standard PS4 app. See the distinction in this PlayStation setup guide: helpdesk.privateinternetaccess.com/hc/en-us/articles/52719811693595-How-to-Set-Up-Smart-DNS-on-PlayStation. Buying either solely for a normal DNS error usually adds complexity without addressing the cause.
Quick Recap
When to contact support
- Sony: PSN-specific failures, persistent console-only problems, or service/account issues after local checks pass.
- ISP: multiple devices fail, maintenance is reported, or the connection cannot reach any DNS resolver.
- Router manufacturer: DHCP, Wi-Fi, firewall, parental-control, or UPnP behavior points to the router.
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