NordVPN: Smart DNS Setup For Disney Plus Streaming
NordVPN: Smart DNS Setup For Disney Plus Streaming
Smart DNS is a technology that allows you to bypass geographical restrictions on streaming services like Disney Plus without the overhead of a full VPN connection. Instead of routing all your internet traffic through a VPN server, Smart DNS only reroutes the DNS requests associated with accessing Disney Plus. This targeted approach offers potentially faster speeds, which is crucial for high-quality video streaming. NordVPN provides Smart DNS servers that are configured to work with various streaming platforms, including Disney Plus. Note that Smart DNS does not encrypt your traffic like a VPN does.
To configure NordVPN's Smart DNS, you'll need to obtain the Smart DNS server addresses from your NordVPN account dashboard. These addresses are typically two sets of IPv4 addresses. Once you have these addresses, you need to configure your device or router to use them as the primary and secondary DNS servers.
Device Configuration (Example: Windows):
Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
Click on your active network connection (e.g., Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
Click "Properties".
Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click "Properties".
Select "Use the following DNS server addresses".
Enter the NordVPN Smart DNS addresses in the "Preferred DNS server" and "Alternate DNS server" fields.
Click "OK" and close all windows.
Router Configuration:
The process varies depending on your router's make and model. Generally, you need to access your router's administration panel (usually through a web browser by entering your router's IP address, often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Look for DNS settings, often found under "WAN" or "Internet" settings. Replace the existing DNS server addresses with the NordVPN Smart DNS addresses. Reboot your router after saving the changes.
After configuring your device or router, you must register your IP address with NordVPN's Smart DNS service through their website. This step is essential for the Smart DNS to function correctly.
While Smart DNS doesn't involve full VPN routing, it's important to ensure your firewall isn't blocking DNS requests to the NordVPN Smart DNS servers. Standard firewalls typically allow outbound DNS (port 53) traffic, but if you have custom firewall rules, verify that traffic to the NordVPN Smart DNS server IPs on port 53 (both TCP and UDP) is permitted.
If you are using a custom DNS server locally (e.g., Pi-hole), you may need to configure it to forward DNS requests for Disney Plus domains to the NordVPN Smart DNS servers. This can be done by creating conditional forwarding rules within your local DNS server. For example, in Pi-hole, you can add a new conditional forwarding entry for disneyplus.com and specify the NordVPN Smart DNS server as the target.
After configuring Smart DNS, clear your browser's cache and cookies. Then, try accessing Disney Plus. If you still encounter geo-restrictions, verify the following:
Correct DNS Addresses: Double-check that you have entered the NordVPN Smart DNS addresses correctly in your device or router settings.
IP Registration: Ensure your IP address is registered with NordVPN's Smart DNS service.
DNS Propagation: It may take a few minutes for DNS changes to propagate. Try flushing your DNS cache using the ipconfig /flushdns command (Windows) or restarting your device.
Router Reboot: If you configured Smart DNS on your router, rebooting it can sometimes resolve connectivity issues.
NordVPN Status Page: Check the NordVPN website or support channels for any reported outages or issues with their Smart DNS servers.
Smart DNS generally offers better performance than a full VPN connection for streaming because it only reroutes DNS requests, not all internet traffic. This reduces latency and overhead. However, the actual performance can depend on factors such as your distance from the NordVPN Smart DNS servers and the overall network congestion. If you experience buffering or slow loading times, consider testing your internet speed and ensuring you have a stable connection. If problems persist, contacting NordVPN support is recommended.