If you’re setting up a VPN connection, configuring the right DNS for VPN settings is essential for secure and reliable access to internal resources. You’ve likely already come across the term DNS during your VPN setup — but what does it actually do, and how should you configure it? In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about using DNS for VPN, including how to set up private DNS servers and fix common DNS issues on Mac, iOS, and more.
What Is DNS and Why It Matters for VPN Connections
DNS stands for Domain Name System. When using DNS for VPN connections, it translates domain names (e.g. “vpntracker.com”) into IP addresses your device needs in order to reach the service.
Public vs Private DNS for VPN Explained
When talking about DNS, it's helpful to distinguish between two different kinds of DNS:
Public DNS
This refers to the DNS records of websites that are publicly available to everyone on the internet (i.e. google.com, amazon.com, etc.). This is usually provided by your internet service provider.
Private DNS
Private DNS is for network resources that aren't publicly available to everyone (e. g. an intranet webpage, the internal address of a server, etc.).
When to Use Private DNS Servers with VPN
IP addresses are difficult to memorize, so it's useful to set up a private DNS so users can quickly and easily access internal services like intranet, file servers, etc. via URLs (e.g. intranet.greenhaven.net) instead of having to enter IP addresses.
In order for this to work, the network admin needs to configure a private DNS server for the network.
Choosing the right DNS for VPN setup ensures secure name resolution for both public and private network resources.
How to Set Up a DNS Server for VPN Access
The easiest way is to enable local DNS lookups on the router or gateway for your internal network. You can also set up a dedicated DNS server on another server (e.g. a Synology NAS or a Raspberry Pi). Once your DNS server is configured, you’ll be ready to use it as part of your DNS for VPN setup to resolve internal services over a secure connection.
VPN DNS Settings: How to Add DNS Servers and Search Domains
Use Remote DNS Server
Select this checkbox to tell VPN Tracker that you have configured a private DNS server for your network.
You will then have two options:
Receive settings from VPN Gateway
Select this option to tell VPN Tracker to receive DNS settings from your VPN gateway. This doesn't work with all setups, but is worth trying first.
Manually add DNS settings
If your VPN doesn't automatically provide DNS settings, you can uncheck that option to manually enter the DNS servers you want to use.
DNS Servers
Enter the IP address of your DNS server. VPN Tracker will tell your device to query this server when you're connected to VPN.
Search Domains
Enter the domain name you have registered for your network to reach internal services (e.g. "internal.example.com").
Use DNS Server for
Here you have the option to choose between only using the DNS server for your internal search domains - and using your ISP for all other services - or using your DNS for all domains (including public). Please see the troubleshooting section for further tips. This gives you greater control over how DNS for VPN is used during your connection.
Reverse lookup
If DNS allows us to find the IP address for a given hostname, reverse DNS allows us to find the hostname for a given IP address. This is used by certain networking tools to let you figure out which hostnames you can use on the VPN.
Fixing DNS Problems with VPN: Common Issues and Solutions
No DNS settings configured on the VPN gateway
Misconfigured DNS for VPN settings are a common cause of connection failures. If you select the option in VPN Tracker to "Receive DNS Settings from VPN Gateway", please ensure you or your admin has configured DNS on your gateway. If not, you will not be able to reach websites and other services, as VPN Tracker will be referring to settings which do not exist.
Use DNS for all domains
If you tell VPN Tracker to use your DNS server for all domains when your server has only been configured for specific search domains, your internet access will be restricted whenever you connect to VPN.
To rectify this, select search domains only and enter the domains you need to use DNS for (e.g. greenhaven.net.)
Why VPN Tracker?
VPN Tracker is the best secure remote access solution for Mac, iPhone and iPad and is compatible with the most popular VPN gateways, including UniFi, NETGEAR, TP Link, Draytek, and many more. Whether you’re connecting to your office or home network, setting up the right DNS for VPN ensures everything works seamlessly — especially for internal apps and hostnames.
Your VPN Tracker benefits
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