Fix: Play in Browser Can't Connect (Change Your DNS)

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Playing CS 1.6 in your browser on counter-strike-boost.com sends the game through our relays, small servers that connect your browser to the game server. To reach a relay, your browser first looks up its address with your DNS server, which is usually the one your internet provider gives you by default. Some providers' DNS servers do not answer those lookups. Your browser then never reaches a relay, and the game cannot connect, even though every other website works.

You will see one of these:

• Our relays cannot be reached from your network.
• relay DE-2 cannot be reached from your network. Switched to relay DE-1. (the game tried the other relay for you)
• Lost the connection to our relay. right after pressing Play, or the game staying on "Connecting" forever.

The fix is to use a public DNS service such as Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8). It takes a minute and is safe to keep: both are free, fast and used by millions of people.

1. The quickest fix: Secure DNS in your browser

This changes DNS for the browser only. Nothing on your computer or router changes, and you can switch it back any time.

Chrome, Brave and Opera

1. Open Settings, then Privacy and security, then Security.
2. Turn on Use secure DNS.
3. Under Select DNS provider choose Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Settings, then Privacy, search, and services, and scroll to Security.
2. Turn on Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites.
3. Choose Choose a service provider and pick Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).

Firefox

1. Open Settings, then Privacy & Security, and scroll to DNS over HTTPS.
2. Choose Increased Protection (or Max Protection).
3. As the provider choose Cloudflare.

Now close the game tab, open the server again and press Play. That is all most players need.

2. Change DNS for the whole computer

If your browser has no Secure DNS option, or you want every program to use the new DNS, change it in the operating system.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings, then Network & internet, then Wi-Fi or Ethernet (whichever you use), and click your connection.
2. Next to DNS server assignment click Edit and choose Manual.
3. Turn on IPv4. Preferred DNS: 1.1.1.1. Alternate DNS: 1.0.0.1. Click Save.

Windows 10

1. Open Control Panel, then Network and Sharing Center, then Change adapter settings.
2. Right-click your connection, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
3. Choose Use the following DNS server addresses: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. Click OK.

Then clear the old answers so Windows asks the new DNS at once. Open Command Prompt and run:

<code>ipconfig /flushdns</code>

macOS

1. Open System Settings, then Network, and choose Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
2. Click Details next to your connection, then DNS.
3. Click + and add 1.1.1.1, then again for 1.0.0.1. Click OK.

Linux

In your desktop's network settings, open the connection, set IPv4 DNS to manual and enter 1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1. Reconnect to the network afterwards.

Restart the browser after any of these changes.

3. Change it on your router (every device at home)

Log in to your router (often 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, the address and password are usually on a sticker on the router). Find the DNS setting under Internet, WAN or DHCP, set it to 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1, and save. Each router names these menus differently; your provider's support page or the router's manual shows where.

4. Still not connecting?

• Try the other relay. On the game's start screen, pick the other relay in the list before pressing Play.
• Antivirus web protection. Some antivirus programs check every website you open and can block the game's connection. Turn the web protection off for a moment and try again. If the game connects, add an exception for counter-strike-boost.com and turn the protection back on.
• Work, school or public Wi-Fi. These networks often block game traffic. Try at home or on another network.
• Send us a report. In the game press Esc, open Debug and click Report a problem, or use Copy debug report and send it to us. It includes no IP address or passwords.

Verification checklist

1. Secure DNS (or the system DNS) is set to Cloudflare 1.1.1.1.
2. You closed the old game tab and opened the server again.
3. The game passes "Connecting" and loads the map.

For connection problems that are about the game server itself, not your network, see Connection failed after 4 retries.