DNS Server Cannot Be Used – PS4 | Easy Fixes That Work

The “dns server cannot be used – ps4” error means your console cannot reach a DNS server and usually clears with a few quick network tweaks.

When this message appears during a connection test or while you try to join an online match, the console stops before it can sign in to PlayStation Network. The screen simply reports that the dns server cannot be used – ps4 and leaves you sitting on the Network settings page instead of in your game lobby.

DNS, short for Domain Name System, works like an address book between your PS4 and the internet. The console sends a domain such as playstation.com, and the DNS service answers with the numeric address that game servers understand. If that step fails, downloads, online play, voice chat, and even the PlayStation Store can stall or refuse to load.

What The PS4 DNS Server Error Actually Means

When the PS4 reports a DNS problem, it is telling you that it tried to reach a DNS service and did not receive a clean response in time. The console may still see your router and show solid Wi-Fi bars, yet it cannot turn domain names into usable IP addresses, so traffic has nowhere to go.

This often appears along with error codes such as NW-31253-4 and other network messages that mention DNS. In each case, the pattern is the same. Name lookups fail, so the internet test either times out or stops at the DNS line while other steps like obtaining an IP address still pass.

Several common triggers sit behind this kind of message. Your router may need a reboot, your internet provider’s DNS service can be slow or unstable, or the DNS address stored on the console may point to an address that no longer works. Wireless interference or a loose ethernet cable can also break the path between the console and the DNS server long enough to cause failures.

Wrong network settings on the console — A manual IP or DNS entry can point to an address that does not match your current router setup.
Router stuck in a bad state — Home routers sometimes keep glitchy state after long uptime, which can break DNS lookups for games and streaming apps.
Unreliable provider DNS — If the DNS service from your internet provider drops packets or responds slowly, the PS4 test marks it as unusable.
Poor Wi-Fi quality — Weak signal, crowded channels, or distance from the router can corrupt packets and cause DNS queries to fail even when signal bars look good.

Quick Checks Before You Change Any Settings

Before you touch DNS entries on the PS4, it helps to run a few quick checks. These steps take only a short time and often clear the error without any deeper changes.

Check PlayStation Network status — On a phone or laptop, open the official PlayStation Network status page and confirm that online services show as up.
Test the internet on another device — Load several sites on a phone, tablet, or computer that uses the same router to confirm that general access works as expected.
Reboot the PS4 and router — Turn off the console fully, unplug the router for about thirty seconds, then power both back on and rerun the connection test.
Switch between Wi-Fi and cable — If you usually use Wi-Fi, try a temporary ethernet cable; if you already use a cable, move it to another port on the router.
Move the console closer to the router — For wireless setups, place the PS4 in the same room as the router to cut down on walls and other sources of interference.

If the DNS line turns to “Successful” after these checks, you likely had a temporary network glitch. If the warning comes back right away, the next step is to walk through a clean connection setup on the console itself.

Fixing The DNS Server Cannot Be Used – PS4 Error Step By Step

Your PS4 can take DNS details automatically from the router or use values that you type in by hand. When this error appears often, setting the connection up from scratch clears many hidden mistakes and mismatches.

Reset The Connection With Automatic Settings

Start with a simple reset that keeps most values on automatic. This clears out stale data that may have built up after router changes, a new modem, or a move to a different home network.

Open the Network menu — On the PS4 home screen, go to Settings, choose Network, then pick Set Up Internet Connection.
Pick Wi-Fi or LAN — Select Use Wi-Fi or Use a LAN Cable based on how the console connects, then choose Easy when asked for the method.
Let the console scan — Choose your network, enter the password if needed, then allow the PS4 to apply automatic IP and DNS settings from the router.
Run Test Internet Connection — After setup finishes, select the test option and watch for the DNS line to change from Failed to Successful.

If the connection test passes after these steps, the console now takes DNS details from the router again and you can head back to your games. If the DNS step still fails, manual settings give you more control over which DNS service the PS4 uses.

Set Reliable DNS Servers Manually

Many players clear stubborn DNS errors by switching the PS4 to well known public DNS services that reply more quickly and consistently than the default ones from their internet provider.

Go back to Set Up Internet Connection — Follow the same path in the Network menu, but this time select Custom instead of Easy.
Leave IP settings on automatic — When prompted for IP Address Settings, pick Automatic, and set DHCP Host Name to Do Not Specify.
Choose Manual for DNS settings — Enter primary and secondary DNS values from a trusted provider, such as 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google Public DNS.
Keep MTU and Proxy on defaults — Leave MTU Settings on Automatic and set Proxy Server to Do Not Use so only DNS changes.
Test the connection again — Run the internet test once more and confirm that both PSN sign-in and DNS show as Successful.

If the error clears when you switch to public DNS, that points toward a problem with the DNS service from your provider. You can leave the manual entries in place, or contact the provider and ask whether they have any known DNS issues in your area.

Best DNS Settings To Try On PS4 Safely

Different households have different network gear, lines, and loads, so there is no single DNS choice that fits every setup. The table below lists several common options that work well with PS4 consoles in many homes.

DNS Option	Primary Address	Secondary Address
Automatic from router	Set by router	Set by router
Google Public DNS	8.8.8.8	8.8.4.4
Cloudflare DNS	1.1.1.1	1.0.0.1
OpenDNS Home	208.67.222.222	208.67.220.220

Start with the automatic option. If the DNS test still fails often, try one of the public services for a few days. Watch how downloads, party chat, and online matches behave during busy hours on your line. Once you find a setting that keeps the PS4 test green across several sessions, stick with it.

Whenever you switch DNS services, it also helps to restart the router once. That clears cached entries and forces a fresh path between your home network and the new DNS addresses.

When The Error Keeps Coming Back

If the warning returns after you reset the connection and try different DNS servers, the problem may sit deeper in your network path. Work through the checks below step by step, starting with the ones that match your hardware.

Check The Router And Modem

Update router firmware — Log in to the router’s admin page from a browser and look for a firmware section, then install any pending update from the vendor.
Reduce double routing — If your provider gave you a modem with built-in Wi-Fi and you also use a second router, try placing the PS4 on the main device or enabling bridge mode on one of them.
Reserve a stable IP for the PS4 — Use the router’s reservation feature to tie the console’s MAC address to a fixed IP so leases do not shuffle during the week.

Look For Filters And Parental Tools

Disable DNS filters as a test — If you use content filters, custom DNS filters, or safety apps on the router, turn them off briefly and see whether DNS tests start passing.
Check firewall rules — Make sure that ports used by PlayStation online services are not blocked and that the console is not placed in a restricted profile.
Try another home network — If possible, take the console to a friend or family member’s house and connect it there to see whether DNS tests succeed on a different line.

Decide When To Call Your Provider Or Sony

Call the internet provider with details — Tell them that other devices work but the PS4 fails DNS tests, and mention any error codes you saw on the console.
Use Sony’s online help tool — Visit the official error page for codes such as NW-31253-4 and follow any console-specific directions listed there.
Ask about known regional issues — Sometimes the problem sits between the provider and wider network peers, which needs changes on their side rather than more home tweaks.

By the time you reach this stage, you have already ruled out the common causes inside your own setup. That gives the provider or Sony clear, concrete information to work with when they look at the line from their end.

Preventing DNS Server Errors On PS4

Once you have cleared the error, a few simple habits can make repeat problems far less common. None of these steps take long, and together they keep the link between your PS4 and DNS services in better shape.

Restart network gear regularly — Give the router a short power cycle every week or two so memory does not fill with stale connections.
Keep firmware and system software current — Install updates for both the PS4 and the router when they appear, since many patches improve network handling.
Prefer wired links for serious play — A simple ethernet cable removes wireless noise, which also removes many DNS and packet loss problems.
Avoid random DNS servers — Stick to your provider’s DNS or well known public services instead of small ones that might shut down without warning.
Bookmark status and help pages — Save links to the PlayStation Network status site and your provider’s service page so you can check them quickly next time.

With these habits in place, the “dns server cannot be used – ps4” warning should fade from a regular headache into a rare event. When it does appear, you will already know the path to a clean fix and a quick return to online play.