Every time I get a new router, I play around with its settings to get the most out of it.
after setting up the spectrum router, i logged in and set up a custom dns.
the specific dns I was using throttled my connection speeds enough that I could notice it, especially when loading web pages.
but after a few weeks, any web page I tried to load would stop loading and show me a dns related error.
I wanted to find out why this happened because I had been using this dns for several years and had never run into a problem like this.
I went online and checked the spectrum support pages and their user forums to find out what people do when they have problems with dns.
This article compiles the information from the hours of research I was able to do so you too can fix dns issues with your internet spectrum in seconds.
if you have dns problems on your spectrum internet connection, use a custom dns like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. if not, you can also try using a vpn or restarting or resetting your router.
Find out later in this article how custom dns can avoid problems with default dns and how you can set up custom dns on your spectrum router.
use cloudflare 1.1.1.1
The DNS or Domain Name Server is a service that everyone on the internet uses to connect to the different web pages and servers.
translates the url you enter in your address bar to an address that network systems can use to connect you to a server.
there are quite a few dns providers, including google, but the easiest to configure on your device would be cloudflare’s dns 1.1.1.1.
you can route your traffic through the dns whenever you want with just one button and it has additional features like a full vpn with the premium version.
go to the cloudflare 1.1.1.1 website and download the tool; It is also available in the android and ios app stores for your mobile devices.
use dns only mode and enable it.
then check if dns errors return when you try to connect to a web page.
try a vpn
VPNs route your network through their own systems to make your internet browsing habits away from prying eyes and offer a lot of privacy.
they use their own dns servers, so it’s a good workaround if you have problems with your dns.
get a free vpn like expressvpn or windscribe and try them out to see which works best.
I would recommend upgrading to their paid versions as they offer higher data limits and faster network speeds on the paid plans.
download any of these vpns and activate them.
try loading a web page to see if you resolved the dns issue.
change your dns
spectrum allows you to manually change the dns by logging into your router’s admin tool.
but first, you’ll need to have the my spectrum app installed and configured.
after you have finished the application, follow these steps:
- go to the services tab.
- under computer, select router.
- scroll down to select advanced settings.
- tap dns server.
- select manage dns. strong>.
- enter 8.8.8.8, which is google’s dns or 1.1.1.1, cloudflare’s dns in the primary and secondary dns fields .</li
- press save.
exit the application and try to load a web page to see if the dns problem goes away after using a custom dns.
disable firewall
Firewalls block traffic that it thinks is malicious and doesn’t allow certain programs to go online according to the rules that it has to follow.
can block your browser connection, which can show up as a dns problem when you try to load a web page.
Turn off your firewall temporarily just to see if it was the culprit, and turn it back on later.
If your firewall allows you to change its inbound and outbound rules, exclude your browser from the list of programs it can block.
This more permanent solution is more convenient than turning off your firewall every time you want to connect.
Try opening a web page after adding the browser to the exclusion list to see if removing the browser from the firewall helped.
reboot router
If the router is still having issues with the DNS server, you can try restarting your router.
the router is rebooted twice as a soft reset, which can fix errors and other problems with your router and your connection to dns per extension.
to reboot your router:
- turn off the router.
- unplug the router from the wall.
- before plugging the router back in, wait at least 30-45 seconds for it to soft reset to complete.
- turn the router back on.
After the router powers up, try loading some web pages to see if the dns issues are resolved.
reset router
When a restart doesn’t fix the DNS issue, go for a factory reset of your Spectrum router.
A factory reset erases all settings, including your custom Wi-Fi name and password, so you’ll need to set it up again after the reset.
To reset your spectrum router:
- Look for the reset button on the back of the router. it should be labeled reset.
- get a non-metallic pointed object and use it to press and hold the button.
- press and hold this button for at least 30 seconds and let the router reboot.
- When the router powers back on, the reboot is complete.
after the reboot, load some web pages to see if rebooting the computer has resolved the dns issues.
contact spectrum
If none of the troubleshooting steps I’ve talked about work for you, don’t hesitate to contact Spectrum’s customer support.
they will be able to guide you through a more comprehensive set of troubleshooting steps that can help you with your dns issues.
If necessary, they can send a technician to your home if they can’t fix the problem over the phone.
final thoughts
dns problems are pretty easy to fix because there are plenty of public dns servers you can use if one doesn’t work.
sometimes dns problems may not be with your device or internet connection and can occur if the dns server is slow to respond.
You could be under a ddos attack by someone malicious which could further delay your connection.
You may encounter dns issues on other isps, such as dns resolution failure on centurylink and dns server not responding on comcast xfinity.
In addition to attacks, the packets you send have a set amount of time before they expire.
if your request packets take too long to reach the dns server, your browser will show you a dns error.
you can also enjoy reading
- spectrum server internal error – how to fix it in seconds
- spectrum modem is not online – how to fix it in seconds
- not getting full speed internet via router – how to fix
- spectrum modem online white light – how to troubleshoot
frequently asked questions
can i change dns on spectrum router?
you can change the dns of your spectrum router with the my spectrum app.
Go to the services section and find your router under the equipment tab to set up your own dns.
what is the best dns server?
the best public dns servers to use are google 8.8.8.8 or cloudflare 1.1.1.1.
you can also use quad9’s 9.9.9.9.
can it be bad to change your dns?
Changing your dns has no negative effect on your internet connection and can even make your connection more efficient.
the change is reversible with a click of a button, so you can go back to the defaults if you run into any problems.
do dns servers affect games?
configuring your router to use a custom dns server will not affect games.
might increase the efficiency of how your connection finds and connects to servers, but its impact is not noticeable.