The Domain Name System (DNS) server matches domain names (like www.netgear.com) to their IP addresses. For more information, see What is a Domain Name System (DNS) server?
If you experience a DNS resolution error when trying to use the Internet, the most likely cause is that your Internet connection is down. For more information about troubleshooting Internet connectivity, see What should I do if I can access my NETGEAR router but can’t connect to the Internet?
However, in some cases, the problem might be with a DNS server and not your Internet connection. By default, your Internet service provider (ISP) uses its own DNS servers. Rarely, their servers might have technical problems even when the rest of your Internet connection is working correctly.
If you think that you might be experiencing DNS resolution issues, you can configure one of your devices to use a popular free third-party DNS service like Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 or Google 8.8.8.8. For instructions, select your type of device in one of the following external articles:
- Set up Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 resolver · Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 docs
- Get Started | Public DNS | Google Developers
If your DNS resolution problems are solved when you configure a device to use a third-party DNS service, your ISP’s DNS servers are likely experiencing problems. If this occurs frequently, you can configure your router to use a third-party DNS service for all devices on your network. For more information, see How do I set static Domain Name System servers on my NETGEAR router?