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Cloudflare is the best first DNS server to try on a PS5: enter 1.1.1.1 as Primary DNS and 1.0.0.1 as Secondary DNS. It is a free public resolver with setup instructions for gaming consoles. But there is no fastest DNS for every household: your ISP’s automatic DNS, Google, or Quad9 may work better from your location. And changing DNS usually will not lower your ping once you are in an online match.
Best DNS servers for PS5 at a glance
| Resolver | Primary DNS | Secondary DNS | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 |
1.0.0.1 |
First general-purpose option to try |
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 |
8.8.4.4 |
A broad, established alternative |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 |
149.112.112.112 |
Security-oriented DNS with known-malicious-domain blocking |
| Your ISP’s DNS | Leave DNS on Automatic | Leave DNS on Automatic | Keeping the current setup if it is already reliable or performs better |
Use each provider’s own pair for a fair trial rather than mixing providers. The secondary address is a backup resolver, not a guaranteed speed boost. Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9 publish their addresses in their respective setup documentation: Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9.
What DNS does on a PS5
DNS is the internet’s address lookup system: it translates a service name into an IP address that the console can contact. Your PS5 uses a DNS resolver when it needs to find an online service, game server, store, or other internet destination. Sony includes DNS among the console’s advanced network settings and describes its role in translating names to IP addresses in its PS5 internet connection guide.
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Will changing DNS lower PS5 ping?
Usually, no. A different DNS server might help if your current resolver is slow, unreliable, or returning an unsuitable service endpoint. It may shorten a lookup or connection setup, which is not the same thing as improving the ongoing ping shown during a match.
Match latency is more directly affected by the game server’s location, your ISP’s route to it, Wi-Fi quality, network congestion, packet loss, and the game’s networking design. DNS will not normally fix those issues, a strict NAT type, a PlayStation Network outage, or your internet plan’s maximum speed.
Research comparing public DNS resolvers has found differences in DNS response times and CDN mappings, but results vary by resolver, CDN, and location; it does not establish a universal winner or a PS5 match-ping improvement. See the comparative study for that distinction. A low ICMP ping to a resolver address is not, by itself, a complete DNS performance test: Google recommends testing name resolution across many domains rather than relying only on ping time (Google Public DNS FAQ).
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- Open Settings.
- Select Network, then Settings.
- Select Set Up Internet Connection.
- Choose your saved Wi-Fi network or wired LAN connection, then open Advanced Settings.
- Set DNS Settings to Manual.
- Enter the chosen provider’s primary and secondary addresses, then save the settings.
- Run Test Internet Connection and check that PSN signs in and your games and services work.
For a Cloudflare trial, leave the other settings as they are unless you have a separate reason to change them. A typical configuration is:
IP Address Settings: Automatic
DHCP Host Name: Do Not Specify
DNS Settings: Manual
Primary DNS: 1.1.1.1
Secondary DNS: 1.0.0.1
MTU Settings: Automatic
Proxy Server: Do Not UseMenu labels can change with system software updates; Sony’s current setup guide is the reference if your screen differs. Avoid changing MTU or proxy settings as part of a DNS test: changing multiple things at once makes it difficult to tell what helped or caused a problem.
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How to find the best DNS for your own connection
The best resolver is the one that behaves reliably on your network—not necessarily the one that wins a global ranking or one quick ping test. Compare settings under similar conditions:
- Test your current setup with DNS set to Automatic. Note whether the console connects, how games and the Store behave, and any available download estimate or in-game ping.
- Try Cloudflare with
1.1.1.1and1.0.0.1. - If it is worse, try Google with
8.8.8.8and8.8.4.4. - If security filtering is a priority, try Quad9 with
9.9.9.9and149.112.112.112. - Reconnect the console or restart it after each change, then repeat the same tests at comparable times. Keep the setting with the best combination of reliable service access and responsiveness; return to Automatic if it does as well or better.
Record the time, connection type, sign-in results, any DNS errors, download estimate, NAT type, and in-game ping if the game shows one. Repeat at more than one time of day if the difference is small. The PS5 connection-test download estimate is not a controlled DNS benchmark or proof that DNS raised sustained throughput: server load, household traffic, Wi-Fi, and the delivery network all affect downloads.
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Choosing between Cloudflare, Google, and Quad9
Cloudflare: a sensible first trial
Use 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 for the standard, unfiltered service. Cloudflare documents those addresses for gaming consoles. It also offers filtered alternatives: 1.1.1.2 / 1.0.0.2 for malware blocking, and 1.1.1.3 / 1.0.0.3 for malware and adult-content blocking (Cloudflare setup options). Filtering can be useful, but a blocked domain can also interfere with a game or service, so start unfiltered if gaming compatibility is your priority.
Google Public DNS: a general-purpose alternative
Google publishes 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 as its public DNS addresses. Try the pair if Cloudflare is slower or less reliable on your connection. Its large public service makes it a practical alternative, not a guarantee that it will be faster from your home.
Quad9: consider it for security filtering
Quad9’s 9.9.9.9 and 149.112.112.112 service blocks known malicious hostnames, according to the provider. Quad9 also describes its privacy and logging practices on its service site. Filtering may suit readers who prioritize that protection, but it can introduce compatibility issues if a required domain is mistakenly blocked. If a game or PSN service stops working, try an unfiltered resolver or return to Automatic.
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Change DNS on the PS5 or the router?
For troubleshooting, start on the PS5. That changes only the console and makes it easier to compare resolvers or reverse the change. A router-level change applies DNS settings to devices throughout the home, as Cloudflare’s router guidance explains, but router menus vary and a change can interact with parental controls, local network names, ISP services, or other filtering. Use the router if you want the same DNS setup for the whole household and understand how to restore its settings.
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The normal PS5 DNS fields take server addresses; they are not a place to paste a DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) URL. Cloudflare and Google document encrypted DNS options for compatible clients, but the PS5’s standard settings screen is not presented as a native DoH or DNS-over-TLS (DoT) configuration interface. If you want encrypted DNS, configure it through a compatible router or intermediary and follow that device’s instructions (Cloudflare setup options; Google Public DNS). Encrypted DNS protects DNS queries on the relevant network path; it does not make the whole gaming connection anonymous.
Troubleshooting after a DNS change
The PS5 cannot connect
- Return to Settings > Network > Settings > Set Up Internet Connection > Advanced Settings and set DNS Settings back to Automatic.
- Save and run Test Internet Connection.
- If needed, restart the PS5 and router, then check PlayStation Status before assuming the resolver is responsible.
The internet works, but PSN or a game does not
Check PlayStation Status and the game’s service status. If you selected Quad9 or Cloudflare’s filtered addresses, switch to unfiltered Cloudflare, Google, or Automatic in case a needed domain is blocked. Router security features, NAT restrictions, or an unsuitable endpoint can also be involved. Testing over Ethernet can help distinguish a Wi-Fi problem from a DNS problem.
Downloads look slower or NAT is still Type 3
Repeat the download comparison under similar conditions; congestion, Wi-Fi quality, and the delivery server can change the result. If the difference persists, use the faster reliable setting, including Automatic if appropriate. DNS changes do not normally change NAT type. NAT is a separate router and network-topology issue, so random MTU changes, port forwarding, or DMZ placement are not routine DNS fixes.
DNS errors continue
A new resolver helps only when the resolver was the problem. It cannot repair a disconnected WAN link, ISP outage, severe packet loss, failing modem or router, or PSN outage. Sony says PS5 supports IPv6 but not IPv6-only networks; if your router is configured for IPv6-only access, it must also support IPv4 (Sony’s connection guidance). Do not disable IPv6 or change unrelated network settings without a specific diagnostic reason.
Quick Recap
Recommendation by situation
- Most PS5 owners: try Cloudflare at
1.1.1.1/1.0.0.1, then compare it with Automatic. - If Cloudflare is worse or unreliable: test Google at
8.8.8.8/8.8.4.4. - If blocking known malicious domains is a priority: consider Quad9, while watching for game or service compatibility issues.
- If your main problem is high in-match ping: investigate Wi-Fi, congestion, packet loss, ISP routing, or server distance; DNS is unlikely to be the cure.
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