How to set up Smart DNS on XBOX One

In this tutorial we will show you how to set up Smart DNS on XBOX One but first let’s see what are our requirements and recommendations.

Requirements

In order to set up the Smart DNS you will need:

A CactusVPN account. If you don’t have one you can try our services for free.
Your DNS addresses. You can find them in Settings -> DNS Servers in Your Account our website.

If you still want to set up Smart DNS manually, go step-by-step through following instructions:

Part I. Validate Your IP Address

If you have already validated your IP address go straight to the “Part II. Change your DNS addresses” of this tutorial.

Sign in to your account on our website and go to Settings -> Validate Your IP Address.
Click on Validate IP button.

If you see the “Validated” green label near your IP address, go straight to the “Part II. Change your Windows DNS addresses” of this tutorial

Remember! You have to validate your IP address each time it changes. If your Smart DNS service is not working, just try to validate your IP address again.

You also have other two options to validate an IP address:

Validate a specific IP address

Use this option when you need to validate an IP address different to your current IP address. For example, enter your home IP while you are at work.

Validate IP using a web address

Using this method you do not have to sign in to your account each time you need to validate the IP. Add this link to your browser favorites/bookmarks and your IP address will be validated every time you load this URL into your browser.

Important! Do not share this link! It is unique for every CactusVPN user. If you share it, other people will have access to your Smart DNS service and you will not be able to use it.

Part II. Change your XBOX DNS addresses

This has to be done only once.

It is important to save your original DNS settings before making any changes. You might need them in case you will want to switch back to your original settings.

Press on “Settings” button on your XBOX ONE Controler (3).
Click “Settings” (4).
Go to “Network” (5).
Go to “Advanced Settings” (6).
Select “DNS Settings” (7).
Select “Manual” (8).
Enter CactusVPN primary DNS Server address (9). You can find them in Settings -> DNS Servers in Your Account on our website. Press “Enter” (10).
Choose Secondary DNS Server and enter CactusVPN secondary DNS Server address (11) (follow step 7 to find it). Click “Enter” again (12).
After that your XBOX ONE will check if your connection works fine.
If everything is set good you will receive this message. Select “Continue” (13).

Now you have to change your Location. If your Location is already set skip the tutorial to the last step.
Go again to your XBOX ONE Settings, like in the step 1 and 2.
Go to “System” (14).
Go to “Language and location” (15).
Select English from “Languages” (16). Go to “Location” and select it (17).
A list of locations will appear. Select United States or United Kingdom depending on which content you want to access (18).
Go to “Restart now” (19) and select it. Your console will restart, you will have to do this just once.