SmartDNS
SmartDNS
Unblock geo-restricted streaming and home-country services at full speed, without routing all your traffic through a VPN. SmartDNS changes only the DNS requests needed to unlock content, even on devices that cannot run a VPN app.
What Is SmartDNS?
A full VPN routes every packet through an encrypted tunnel, which is perfect for privacy but adds overhead and is not supported on many devices, such as smart TVs, streaming sticks, and game consoles.
SmartDNS takes a lighter, surgical approach. It allows you to access geo-restricted streaming services without routing all your traffic through a VPN. It works by changing only the DNS requests needed to unlock content, so the streaming service believes you are in the right region, while everything else on your network behaves exactly as before. The result is geo-unblocking with no full-tunnel speed penalty, and it works on devices that cannot install a VPN client at all.
No Speed Penalty
Only the DNS lookups that need redirecting are changed. Your video streams travel their normal, fast path, so 4K playback stays smooth.
Runs Everywhere
Configure SmartDNS directly on smart TVs, routers, streaming sticks, and consoles that cannot run a VPN app, using just DNS settings.
Two-Way Unblocking
Reach foreign streaming libraries abroad and home-country services like local banking or regional content that block foreign IPs, in both directions.
How SmartDNS Works
SmartDNS is powered by OrbMesh's DNS layer, which maintains a database of streaming and regional services and routes only their domains through region-appropriate proxies.
You Point Your Device at OrbVPN's DNS
Set your device or router to use OrbVPN's SmartDNS servers as its primary and secondary DNS resolvers.
OrbMesh Recognizes Service Domains
When a lookup is for a known streaming or regional service, the SmartDNS server handles it specially. All other lookups resolve normally and untouched.
Only the Right Traffic Is Redirected
For unblocked services, SmartDNS steers the connection through a server in the correct region, while the rest of your traffic stays on its direct path.
Content Loads as If You Are Local
The streaming or regional service sees a request from the correct country and serves that region's library, at full speed.
Selective by Design
SmartDNS does not encrypt or reroute your whole connection, it only adjusts DNS for the services you choose to unblock. That is what makes it fast and TV-friendly. For full privacy and encryption, use the complete OrbVPN tunnel instead.
What You Can Unblock
Streaming Services
Enable specific streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, or BBC iPlayer, and select your preferred region for each service to access that region's content library.
Regional & Home-Country Services
Access region-specific services such as banking apps, shopping sites, and local content that may be restricted based on your location, including home-country services that block foreign IP addresses.
Per-Service Regions
SmartDNS lets you choose a different region for each service. Watch one platform's US catalog while another resolves to the UK, all at the same time, without reconnecting anything.
Two Ways to Use SmartDNS
SmartDNS works whether your device runs the OrbVPN app or not.
In the OrbVPN App
On phones, tablets, and computers, enable SmartDNS from the app and pick which streaming and regional services to unblock, with no manual DNS configuration.
On TVs, Consoles & Routers
For devices that cannot run a VPN app, configure OrbVPN's DNS addresses manually, then whitelist the device's public IP so SmartDNS knows to serve it.
Setting Up SmartDNS on a TV or Router
Add your Smart TV, router, or other devices to use SmartDNS without installing the VPN app, perfect for devices that do not support VPN apps.
Whitelist Your IP
In the OrbVPN app, open the IP Whitelist tab and add your device's public IP address. This authorizes SmartDNS to serve that device.
Open Your Device's Network Settings
On your TV, console, or router, find the DNS configuration screen, usually under network or Wi-Fi settings.
Enter the SmartDNS Servers
Set the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS to the addresses shown in the OrbVPN app's SmartDNS setup guide.
Save and Restart
Save the DNS settings and restart your device or streaming app so the new resolver takes effect.
Start Streaming
Open your streaming app. When SmartDNS is active, geo-restricted content from your selected regions becomes available immediately.
Whitelist Keeps Your DNS Private
Because SmartDNS resolvers serve only authorized addresses, you must whitelist each device's public IP. Whitelisted IPs expire after 7 days of inactivity, so re-add a device's IP if you have not used it for a while, or if your ISP changes your public address.
SmartDNS vs Full VPN
SmartDNS and the full VPN tunnel solve different problems. Use the right tool for the job, or combine them across devices.
Choose SmartDNS For
Fast streaming, unblocking regional libraries, and getting geo-unblocking on TVs, consoles, and routers that cannot run a VPN app.
Choose Full VPN For
Privacy and encryption, hiding your real IP, defeating censorship and DPI, and protecting all traffic, not just streaming DNS.
Good to Know
SmartDNS works best for streaming. For privacy protection, use the full VPN. Some services may require the full VPN for complete access, and whitelisted IPs expire after 7 days of inactivity.
Troubleshooting
Content Still Region-Locked
Confirm the service is enabled in SmartDNS and set to the correct region, and that your device is actually using OrbVPN's DNS servers.
SmartDNS Not Working on TV
Make sure your device's public IP is whitelisted and has not expired. Re-add it in the IP Whitelist tab if your IP changed or 7 days passed.
Some Apps Need More
A few services detect IP location beyond DNS. For those, switch to the full VPN with a server in the target region for complete access.
DNS Not Taking Effect
Restart the streaming app or the device after changing DNS, and clear the app's cache so it re-resolves through SmartDNS.
Stream the World at Full Speed
SmartDNS unblocks foreign and home-country content with no full-tunnel slowdown, on every device, including the TVs and consoles a VPN app can't reach.