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How to change the DNS settings on a Buffalo WCR-GN router

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Setup Router Staff
(Last Updated: ) | Reading Time: 4 minutes

This page shows how to change the DNS settings on the Buffalo WCR-GN router.

Other Buffalo WCR-GN Guides

This is the dns guide for the Buffalo WCR-GN. We also have the following guides for the same router:

What is the DNS setting on a Router

When you connect a router to the Internet it gets a few settings from your ISP automatically. One of the settings that the ISP sets in your router is the DNS setting. DNS stands for Domain Name System and it is used to convert Internet names into actual IP addresses. For instance, when you go to "google.com", your are really connecting to an IP address that is mapped through DNS to a number such as:

  • 173.194.33.73

This mapping happens automatically every time you visit any page on the Internet.

Why Change Your Router's DNS Setting

Some ISPs choose to abuse the DNS system and map unknown names to servers that they control. This can be done in a way that you don't know it is happening since your router is getting its DNS settings from your ISP. For instance, if you have one of these ISPs who is hijacking your DNS, and you try to surf the web to "some-random-site.com" and "some-random-site.com" does not exist, you might get a page back from your ISP with local advertisements on it.

By changing your DNS setting in your router you will effectively change the DNS setting for every computer on your network. This is because when a device is connected to your network your router automatically hands out its own DNS settings to that device. This way you can protect your entire network from ISP hijacking with just one setting.

What Should I Change My DNS To

There are 2 really great DNS servers on the Internet that you can choose from right now: Google Public DNS and OpenDNS. If you are not sure which one to pick then just use Google Public DNS.

When you change the DNS settings in your router, you usually have to enter a Primary and a Secondary setting. The secondary is only used if the primary can not be located. Here are common settings:

If you want to use Google Public DNS, use the following settings:

  • Primary: 8.8.8.8
  • Secondary: 8.8.4.4

If you want to use OpenDNS, use the following settings:

  • 208.67.222.222
  • 208.67.220.220

Login To The Buffalo WCR-GN

To get started configuring the Buffalo WCR-GN DNS page you need to login to your router. If you are already logged in you can skip this step.

To login to the Buffalo WCR-GN, follow our Buffalo WCR-GN Login Guide.

Change the DNS settings on a Buffalo WCR-GN

If you followed our login guide above then you should see this screen.

router status mac address internet IP
This is the status page from your Buffalo WCR-GN router.

Begin on the System Info page of the Buffalo WCR-GN router. You have to fill out the DNS Server settings in two locations for this router. To get to the first page, click the choice at the top labeled Internet/LAN, then under that, click LAN.

Configure the DNS section of your Buffalo WCR-GN

router setup
This is the setup page from your Buffalo WCR-GN router.

This screenshot, unfortunately, does not show the expanded view. First, click the small box labeled Display next to Advanced Settings.

When this expanded view opens up, find the section labeled DNS Servers. Tick the radio button labeled Specified IP Address.

You are now able to change the DNS Server addresses. In the box labeled Primary enter the primary address of that DNS Server. In the box below that labeled Secondary enter the secondary address of that same DNS Server.

Click the Apply button at the bottom of the page.

To get to the second page where you should also enter your new DNS server addresses, click the small link at the top of this page labeled Internet.

router dns setting
This is the dns page from your Buffalo WCR-GN router.

You should now be on a page like the one you see above.

Under the Advanced Settings, find the words Address of DNS Name Server. To the right of this, enter the primary address of the DNS server you chose earlier in the Primary box. In the Secondary box enter the secondary address of that same DNS Server.

When you are finished, click the Apply button.

That's it!

Possible Problems when Changing your DNS settings

Most devices on your network will not begin using the new DNS settings until they have been rebooted. After rebooting a device you can go to it's network settings and verify that it is using the DNS servers that you specified.

Other Buffalo WCR-GN Info

Don't forget about our other Buffalo WCR-GN info that you might be interested in.

This is the dns guide for the Buffalo WCR-GN. We also have the following guides for the same router: