{"id":37417,"date":"2026-04-02T07:52:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?p=37417"},"modified":"2026-04-07T05:19:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T12:19:58","slug":"private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, you got the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d message? Don\u2019t fret. This issue is common on Android phones, and usually comes down to one of a handful of causes, most of which have a quick fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common culprit is a typo in your DNS hostname, so that\u2019s the first thing to check. If that\u2019s not it, this guide walks you through the other likely causes and how to resolve each one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"HowtoFix\">How to Fix the \u201cPrivate DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed\u201d Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Restart your device: <\/strong>A simple restart can clear any temporary connection issues. It\u2019s always worth trying before making changes to your settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify the DNS hostname:<\/strong> It could be a simple typo. Double-check that you have spelled the hostname correctly and that it matches the DNS provider you\u2019re trying to use.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Visit your DNS provider\u2019s status page: <\/strong>If there\u2019s a maintenance process or an unexpected outage going on, the most popular DNS providers usually post live updates on their status page. If that\u2019s the case, you simply need to wait.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check whether the issue is device- or network-specific:<\/strong> Try another device or network. If the error persists, the problem likely lies with your DNS settings rather than your internet connection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Test your network:<\/strong> If your network is blocking your private DNS, you can run a few tests to verify. First, connect to another network to see if the private DNS feature works properly. If your network is blocking the specific DNS provider you\u2019re using, you can also try switching to another DNS service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Update your operating system: <\/strong>Sometimes, your device\u2019s latest operating system or app updates include bug fixes that could solve your DNS issue.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Why\">Why Do I See a \u201cPrivate DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed\u201d Message?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While private DNS has become a useful tool to add an extra security layer to your online activity, it isn\u2019t always enabled by default. That means <strong>you may run into errors when trying to use it or during setup<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"TheMostCommon\">The Most Common Reasons for Private DNS Errors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A typo in your private DNS hostname: <\/strong>When you set up private DNS, you can either let your device use the network\u2019s default DNS settings automatically or manually add a private DNS provider\u2019s hostname. If you enter the wrong hostname, you\u2019ll get this error.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The DNS provider is down or overloaded:<\/strong> Sometimes, the DNS server you\u2019re trying to use is temporarily unavailable because of maintenance, outages, or heavy traffic. In that case, your device may not be able to validate the connection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your network connection isn\u2019t stable enough<\/strong>: The DNS over TLS protocol used by Android devices requires a stable connection to work properly. A weak or unstable internet connection can trigger a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/dns-server-not-responding\/\">private DNS server not responding<\/a>\u201d or similar error message.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The network is blocking the connection:<\/strong> If you\u2019re connecting from your school, library, or workspace, the network might be blocking private DNS.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your ISP isn\u2019t allowing the connection: <\/strong>Port 853 may be blocked on your network. This port is required for the DNS over TLS protocol used by Android\u2019s private DNS feature. Although this usually happens more in countries with restrictive internet policies, it can occur anywhere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your VPN is overriding DNS settings:<\/strong> If you\u2019re using a VPN, private DNS probably won\u2019t work. VPNs may route DNS requests through their own servers instead of using Android\u2019s private DNS feature, and use different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/best-vpn-protocol\/\">security protocols<\/a> to encrypt your browsing activity.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p><div style=\"background-color: #cfe2f3; padding: 1em; border-radius: 1em;\"><p><strong>Pro Tip: <\/strong>Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN comes with its own private DNS service, so you don\u2019t have to worry about your VPN conflicting with your DNS. PIA offers full traffic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/vpn-encryption\">encryption<\/a>, which helps mask not only your DNS queries but also your searches, browsing activity, IP address, and other sensitive data.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ButFirst\">What Is a Private DNS Server?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/what-is-dns\/\">Domain Name System (DNS)<\/a> translates the website names you use and remember, like privateinternetaccess.com, into numerical IP addresses that computers use, like 203.0.113.25. DNS servers can be public or private. The majority of the internet uses public DNS servers, but some<strong> organizations and people who want more privacy online often rely on private DNS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the introduction of Android 9 back in 2018<sup>1<\/sup>, <strong>many Android devices include a built-in private DNS feature<\/strong> that encrypts your DNS queries and makes it more difficult for people on the same network to see the websites and services you\u2019re using.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-avoid-the-private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed-error\">How to Avoid the \u201cPrivate DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed\u201d Error<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019ve fixed the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error, there are a few simple things you can do to avoid seeing it again in the future:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use a trustworthy DNS service provider:<\/strong> If you\u2019re configuring your device to use a private DNS service, make sure this provider is reliable.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep your device and apps updated:<\/strong> Having your operating system and your browser apps up to date will help avoid bugs and network connection issues.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be mindful of the networks you connect to:<\/strong> You might forget that you\u2019re using a restrictive network or an unreliable connection that might be disrupting your private DNS service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faq\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1775141221877\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why does my device say \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There are <a href=\"#Why\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#Why\">several reasons<\/a> why you might be getting the error, from incorrectly typing your DNS provider\u2019s hostname to an unexpected outage to a weak internet connection. The most common causes are entering the wrong hostname and a temporarily unavailable service due to maintenance.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1775141233198\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">How do I fix the \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on Android?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><a href=\"#HowtoFix\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#TheMostCommon\">The most common fix<\/a> is to verify the spelling of the hostname. Another option is to verify if your network is blocking the connection. You can use your mobile data or another Wi-Fi network to confirm this.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1775141245243\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What causes the \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d issue on Samsung phones?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">That message usually appears on Samsung devices when the phone can\u2019t establish a secure DNS connection. This error isn\u2019t exclusive to Samsung devices \u2013 it\u2019s common to all Android devices. <a href=\"#Why\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#Why\">The reason<\/a> is most likely the spelling of the hostname in your DNS settings. You can also try updating your Samsung One UI software, in case a bug in your system is causing the error.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1775141257973\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can I test if my private DNS server is reachable?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Go to your device\u2019s settings and make sure you\u2019ve entered your <a href=\"#ButFirst\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#ButFirst\">private DNS<\/a> provider hostname correctly. If you see a message saying it cannot connect when saving the setting, then the server isn\u2019t reachable. You can also visit a DNS leak test page to check which DNS server your device is actually using. If it doesn\u2019t show your private DNS provider, either the server is not working or your settings are incorrect.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1775141270682\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can using a VPN resolve private DNS access errors?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, using a VPN usually doesn\u2019t <a href=\"#HowtoFix\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#HowtoFix\">resolve private DNS access errors<\/a> and can actually cause them \u2013 unless your VPN has its own built-in DNS service. When you use a VPN, it takes over your DNS requests, which can prevent Android\u2019s private DNS from connecting. VPNs encrypt all your internet traffic, including DNS, so if you\u2019re getting private DNS errors, you can try turning off the private DNS feature while the VPN is active.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/android-developers.googleblog.com\/2018\/04\/dns-over-tls-support-in-android-p.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">DNS over TLS support in Android P Developer Preview \u2013 Android Developers Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So, you got the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d message? Don\u2019t fret. This issue is common on Android phones, and usually comes down to one of a handful of causes, most of which have a quick fix. The most common culprit is a typo in your DNS hostname, so that\u2019s the first thing to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151,"featured_media":37416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[845],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.9 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed: How to Fix the Error<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fix the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on your device. Learn what private DNS is, why the error happens, and the fastest ways to solve it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fix the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on your device. Learn what private DNS is, why the error happens, and the fastest ways to solve it.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PIA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/privateinternetaccess\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-02T14:52:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-07T12:19:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Andrea Miliani\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@buyvpnservice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@buyvpnservice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Andrea Miliani\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Andrea Miliani\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/02f14068bd5cafa9047c8b87f897b8f3\"},\"headline\":\"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-02T14:52:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-07T12:19:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\"},\"wordCount\":1258,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\",\"name\":\"Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed: How to Fix the Error\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-02T14:52:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-07T12:19:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Fix the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on your device. Learn what private DNS is, why the error happens, and the fastest ways to solve it.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141221877\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141233198\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141245243\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141257973\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141270682\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"PIA\",\"description\":\"Online privacy news from around the world.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Private Internet Access\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/pialogowhitekglogo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/pialogowhitekglogo.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":1200,\"caption\":\"Private Internet Access\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/privateinternetaccess\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/buyvpnservice\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/piavpn\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UClyJZ47Rizb1xnwuKXDI0_w\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/02f14068bd5cafa9047c8b87f897b8f3\",\"name\":\"Andrea Miliani\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-4-1-96x96.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-4-1-96x96.png\",\"caption\":\"Andrea Miliani\"},\"description\":\"Andrea Miliani is a writer at Private Internet Access with over 10 years of experience creating accessible digital content. With a background in journalism, she has developed a strong passion for tech news, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. When she\u2019s not writing, Andrea enjoys hiking and connecting with nature, spending time with friends, and watching movies and TV shows.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/author\/andrea-miliani\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141221877\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141221877\",\"name\":\"Why does my device say \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"There are <a href=\\\"#Why\\\" type=\\\"internal\\\" id=\\\"#Why\\\">several reasons<\/a> why you might be getting the error, from incorrectly typing your DNS provider\u2019s hostname to an unexpected outage to a weak internet connection. The most common causes are entering the wrong hostname and a temporarily unavailable service due to maintenance.<br\/><br\/>\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141233198\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141233198\",\"name\":\"How do I fix the \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on Android?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"<a href=\\\"#HowtoFix\\\" type=\\\"internal\\\" id=\\\"#TheMostCommon\\\">The most common fix<\/a> is to verify the spelling of the hostname. Another option is to verify if your network is blocking the connection. You can use your mobile data or another Wi-Fi network to confirm this.<br\/><br\/>\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141245243\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141245243\",\"name\":\"What causes the \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d issue on Samsung phones?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"That message usually appears on Samsung devices when the phone can\u2019t establish a secure DNS connection. This error isn\u2019t exclusive to Samsung devices \u2013 it\u2019s common to all Android devices. <a href=\\\"#Why\\\" type=\\\"internal\\\" id=\\\"#Why\\\">The reason<\/a> is most likely the spelling of the hostname in your DNS settings. You can also try updating your Samsung One UI software, in case a bug in your system is causing the error.<br\/><br\/>\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141257973\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141257973\",\"name\":\"How can I test if my private DNS server is reachable?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Go to your device\u2019s settings and make sure you\u2019ve entered your <a href=\\\"#ButFirst\\\" type=\\\"internal\\\" id=\\\"#ButFirst\\\">private DNS<\/a> provider hostname correctly. If you see a message saying it cannot connect when saving the setting, then the server isn\u2019t reachable. You can also visit a DNS leak test page to check which DNS server your device is actually using. If it doesn\u2019t show your private DNS provider, either the server is not working or your settings are incorrect.<br\/><br\/>\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141270682\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141270682\",\"name\":\"Can using a VPN resolve private DNS access errors?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, using a VPN usually doesn\u2019t <a href=\\\"#HowtoFix\\\" type=\\\"internal\\\" id=\\\"#HowtoFix\\\">resolve private DNS access errors<\/a> and can actually cause them \u2013 unless your VPN has its own built-in DNS service. When you use a VPN, it takes over your DNS requests, which can prevent Android\u2019s private DNS from connecting. VPNs encrypt all your internet traffic, including DNS, so if you\u2019re getting private DNS errors, you can try turning off the private DNS feature while the VPN is active.<br\/><br\/>\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed: How to Fix the Error","description":"Fix the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on your device. Learn what private DNS is, why the error happens, and the fastest ways to solve it.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error","og_description":"Fix the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on your device. Learn what private DNS is, why the error happens, and the fastest ways to solve it.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/","og_site_name":"PIA","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/privateinternetaccess\/","article_published_time":"2026-04-02T14:52:09+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-07T12:19:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Andrea Miliani","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@buyvpnservice","twitter_site":"@buyvpnservice","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Andrea Miliani","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/"},"author":{"name":"Andrea Miliani","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/02f14068bd5cafa9047c8b87f897b8f3"},"headline":"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error","datePublished":"2026-04-02T14:52:09+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-07T12:19:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/"},"wordCount":1258,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png","articleSection":["Guides"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/","name":"Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed: How to Fix the Error","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png","datePublished":"2026-04-02T14:52:09+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-07T12:19:58+00:00","description":"Fix the \u201cprivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on your device. Learn what private DNS is, why the error happens, and the fastest ways to solve it.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141221877"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141233198"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141245243"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141257973"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141270682"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Private-DNS-Server-Cannot-be-Accessed-featured-image.png","width":1200,"height":800},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Fix the Private DNS Server Cannot Be Accessed Error"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/","name":"PIA","description":"Online privacy news from around the world.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Private Internet Access","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/pialogowhitekglogo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/pialogowhitekglogo.png","width":1200,"height":1200,"caption":"Private Internet Access"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/privateinternetaccess\/","https:\/\/x.com\/buyvpnservice","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/piavpn\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UClyJZ47Rizb1xnwuKXDI0_w"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/02f14068bd5cafa9047c8b87f897b8f3","name":"Andrea Miliani","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-4-1-96x96.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/image-4-1-96x96.png","caption":"Andrea Miliani"},"description":"Andrea Miliani is a writer at Private Internet Access with over 10 years of experience creating accessible digital content. With a background in journalism, she has developed a strong passion for tech news, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. When she\u2019s not writing, Andrea enjoys hiking and connecting with nature, spending time with friends, and watching movies and TV shows.","url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/author\/andrea-miliani\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141221877","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141221877","name":"Why does my device say \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"There are <a href=\"#Why\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#Why\">several reasons<\/a> why you might be getting the error, from incorrectly typing your DNS provider\u2019s hostname to an unexpected outage to a weak internet connection. The most common causes are entering the wrong hostname and a temporarily unavailable service due to maintenance.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141233198","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141233198","name":"How do I fix the \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d error on Android?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<a href=\"#HowtoFix\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#TheMostCommon\">The most common fix<\/a> is to verify the spelling of the hostname. Another option is to verify if your network is blocking the connection. You can use your mobile data or another Wi-Fi network to confirm this.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141245243","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141245243","name":"What causes the \u201cPrivate DNS server cannot be accessed\u201d issue on Samsung phones?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"That message usually appears on Samsung devices when the phone can\u2019t establish a secure DNS connection. This error isn\u2019t exclusive to Samsung devices \u2013 it\u2019s common to all Android devices. <a href=\"#Why\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#Why\">The reason<\/a> is most likely the spelling of the hostname in your DNS settings. You can also try updating your Samsung One UI software, in case a bug in your system is causing the error.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141257973","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141257973","name":"How can I test if my private DNS server is reachable?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Go to your device\u2019s settings and make sure you\u2019ve entered your <a href=\"#ButFirst\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#ButFirst\">private DNS<\/a> provider hostname correctly. If you see a message saying it cannot connect when saving the setting, then the server isn\u2019t reachable. You can also visit a DNS leak test page to check which DNS server your device is actually using. If it doesn\u2019t show your private DNS provider, either the server is not working or your settings are incorrect.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141270682","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/private-dns-server-cannot-be-accessed\/#faq-question-1775141270682","name":"Can using a VPN resolve private DNS access errors?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, using a VPN usually doesn\u2019t <a href=\"#HowtoFix\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#HowtoFix\">resolve private DNS access errors<\/a> and can actually cause them \u2013 unless your VPN has its own built-in DNS service. When you use a VPN, it takes over your DNS requests, which can prevent Android\u2019s private DNS from connecting. VPNs encrypt all your internet traffic, including DNS, so if you\u2019re getting private DNS errors, you can try turning off the private DNS feature while the VPN is active.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/151"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37417"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37580,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37417\/revisions\/37580"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}