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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChanging DNS can help if your current DNS resolver is contributing to a Fortnite connection problem, but it is not a guaranteed fix for matchmaking failures, high latency, or packet loss. First check Epic Games server status and ask your internet provider about local service problems. If neither explains the issue, you can try Epic’s documented Google Public DNS addresses—8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4—on Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. Save your current DNS settings so you can restore them if the change does not help.
What changing DNS can—and cannot—fix
DNS translates a domain name into an IP address. Epic Games support explains: “A DNS server translates domain names into IP addresses.” Changing the resolver may help when the resolver you currently use is part of the problem, but it will not repair an Epic service outage or degraded internet service from your provider.
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Epic describes public DNS as something that “may be a step worth trying if other connectivity troubleshooting has failed.” Its guidance does not provide a measured success rate for Fortnite, nor does it establish that switching DNS will lower ping, eliminate packet loss, or make every connection faster. Epic mentions Google DNS and Cloudflare Public DNS, but the platform instructions below use the Google addresses specified in its console guidance.
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- Check Epic Games Server Status. If Fortnite or a related service is experiencing an outage, changing DNS on your device will not restore it.
- Ask your ISP about local outages or degraded service. A problem affecting your area or connection may need to be resolved by the provider.
- Try the relevant basic connection checks. Epic’s connection troubleshooting guide includes restarting the modem or router and other checks; public DNS is one possible step, not the only one.
- Record your current DNS values. Write them down or take a screenshot before editing the settings. Epic gives this advice in its related Fortnite voice-chat troubleshooting guidance. If the change does not help, you can restore the original values.
Google DNS addresses to enter
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Primary DNS | 8.8.8.8 |
| Secondary DNS | 8.8.4.4 |
These are the Google Public DNS values in Epic’s Xbox and PlayStation directions and its separate Switch procedure for a Fortnite update-screen issue. Enter them only in the DNS fields; do not change unrelated network settings unless the instructions for your specific error call for it.
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Change DNS on Xbox
- Open Settings > General > Network Settings > Advanced settings > DNS settings.
- Select Manual.
- Enter 8.8.8.8 as the primary DNS and 8.8.4.4 as the secondary DNS.
- Save the settings, then test Fortnite. Xbox menu wording can vary after system updates.
Change DNS on PlayStation
- Open Settings > Network > Set Up Internet Connection, then choose your Wi-Fi network or LAN. Epic recommends LAN in this setup flow; a wired connection is optional and does not itself change DNS.
- Choose Custom.
- Set IP Address Settings to Automatic and DHCP Host Name to Do Not Use.
- Set DNS Settings to Manual. Enter 8.8.8.8 for primary DNS and 8.8.4.4 for secondary DNS.
- Set MTU Settings to Automatic and Proxy Server to Do Not Use.
- Save the setup and run the internet connection test, then try Fortnite.
These steps are for a general DNS change. Epic has a separate PlayStation Checking for Updates troubleshooting flow that includes additional steps and specifies a manual MTU value of 1500. Do not mix that error-specific flow with the general DNS setup above; if Fortnite is stuck on that screen, follow the dedicated article for the current instructions.
Change DNS on Nintendo Switch
Epic’s general public-DNS guidance refers Switch owners to Nintendo’s manual DNS instructions. The steps below are from Epic’s separate procedure for Fortnite being stuck on Checking for Updates; they should not be treated as a universal fix for every Switch connection error.
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- Check Epic Games server status, close Fortnite, and follow the Switch-specific data-management and manual-DNS references in Epic’s stuck on Checking for Updates article.
- On the Switch, open System Settings > Internet Settings > Connection Settings.
- Select the saved connection, choose Change Settings, and set DNS to manual.
- Enter 8.8.8.8 as primary DNS and 8.8.4.4 as secondary DNS, then save.
- Run the connection test, restart the Switch, and relaunch Fortnite.
Switch menu labels may change with system updates. For another Switch error, use Nintendo’s current network instructions and Epic’s guidance for that specific symptom rather than assuming this update-screen procedure applies.
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What about Windows PC?
Epic’s public-DNS guidance identifies Windows 11 network settings under System > Network & Internet and distinguishes Ethernet from Wi-Fi, but the complete current procedure is not established here. Because the remaining steps and labels are not verified, this guide does not supply a click-by-click Windows path. Use Epic’s current Windows-specific instructions before changing PC DNS, and save the existing values first.
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Test the change, then choose the next step by symptom
After changing DNS, reconnect and try the action that failed—joining a party, matchmaking, or launching Fortnite. If it works, the change may have helped, but one successful attempt does not establish that DNS was the only cause. If the problem persists, check Epic status and your ISP again, then restore the DNS values you recorded and continue with the troubleshooting step that matches the symptom.
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- For console connectivity, Epic’s console network-test guidance points to platform-specific Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo tests.
- For a specific Fortnite error message, Epic recommends searching the exact error and checking for known community issues.
- Other possible checks in Epic’s broader connection guide include device clock synchronization, domain whitelisting, cache reset, operating-system updates, proxy settings, port forwarding, DNS cache flushing, and firewall exceptions. These address different possible causes; select one based on the error and device rather than treating them as automatic DNS follow-ups.
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