Smart DNS on Samsung and LG Smart TVs in 2026: Tizen and webOS Setup That Works

Quick Answer

Samsung and LG smart TVs are the two easiest TVs for Smart DNS because both accept a manual DNS entry directly on the device no router changes needed. On Samsung (Tizen): Settings, General, Network, Network Status, IP Settings, DNS Setting, Enter Manually. On LG (webOS): Settings, Network, Wi Fi or Ethernet, Edit, uncheck Set Automatically, enter the DNS. Then register your public IP in your Smart DNS provider's dashboard and restart the TV. If a streaming app still shows your real region afterwards, the app is pinning its own resolver and you need the router level fix instead.

Why Samsung and LG Are Easier Than Roku or Chromecast

Roku blocks manual DNS entirely and Chromecast hardcodes Google's 8.8.8.8 resolver, which is why both of those devices need router level workarounds. Samsung's Tizen and LG's webOS are friendlier: each has a real DNS field in the network settings, and neither platform forces its own resolver on apps at the firmware level. For most people, a five minute on device setup is enough.

The catch is that the DNS field is buried differently on each platform, the menu paths change between model years, and a few streaming apps ignore system DNS altogether. This guide gives the exact 2026 menu paths for both brands, the verification steps, and the fallback when an app refuses to cooperate.

Samsung vs LG: Where the DNS Setting Lives

Samsung Smart TV (Tizen): Step by Step

1. 1

   Copy your provider's DNS address

   Log in to your Smart DNS account and copy the primary DNS address for your region. Samsung only exposes one DNS field, so use the primary.

2. 2

   Open Network Status

   On the TV remote: Settings, General, Network, Network Status. Let the connection test run, then choose IP Settings at the bottom.

3. 3

   Enter the DNS manually

   Set DNS Setting to Enter Manually and type the provider's DNS address. Leave IP Setting on automatic only the DNS needs to change.

4. 4

   Register your public IP

   In the Smart DNS provider's dashboard, click the activate or update IP button. The provider will not answer your queries until your IP is registered.

5. 5

   Cold boot the TV

   Hold the power button on the remote until the TV fully restarts (the Samsung logo appears). A quick power off leaves the TV in standby and keeps the old DNS cached.

6. 6

   Verify

   Open the provider's status page on a phone on the same network, then open the streaming app on the TV and confirm the expected region's catalogue loads.

LG Smart TV (webOS): Step by Step

1. 1

   Copy your provider's DNS address

   From your Smart DNS account dashboard, copy the primary DNS address for your region.

2. 2

   Open the network editor

   Settings, Network, then select your active connection (Wi Fi or Wired Ethernet) and choose Edit.

3. 3

   Disable automatic setup

   Uncheck Set Automatically. This unlocks the IP and DNS fields. Leave the IP, subnet and gateway exactly as they were only change DNS Server.

4. 4

   Enter the DNS and connect

   Type the provider's DNS address, save, and let the TV reconnect to the network.

5. 5

   Register your public IP

   Activate your IP in the Smart DNS provider's dashboard, same as on Samsung.

6. 6

   Power cycle the TV

   Unplug the TV from the wall for 30 seconds. webOS caches network state aggressively; a standby toggle is not enough.

When the App Still Shows Your Real Region

A small number of streaming apps ignore the TV's system DNS and query a resolver pinned inside the app itself. The symptom is specific: the provider's status page shows your IP as registered, the TV's DNS is correct, but one particular app still serves your home region while others work.

The fix moves to the router: set the Smart DNS addresses in the router's WAN/DHCP DNS settings and, if the app pins a public resolver like 8.8.8.8, add static routes that blackhole those addresses so the TV falls back to the router resolver. The exact static route method is covered in our Chromecast guide and works identically for Samsung and LG sets.

Common Mistakes

• Skipping IP registration in the provider dashboard. The DNS address does nothing until your public IP is activated.
• Using standby instead of a cold boot. Both Tizen and webOS cache DNS; only a full restart picks up the change.
• Changing the IP setting to manual along with DNS. Leave IP assignment on automatic a wrong static IP takes the TV offline.
• Entering the secondary DNS from a different provider on the router as a fallback. Mixing resolvers breaks region checks intermittently.
• Testing with an app that was already open. Force close and reopen the streaming app after the DNS change so it re runs its region check.
• Assuming a VPN app is an alternative. Samsung and LG TVs have no native VPN app support; Smart DNS or a router level VPN are the only options.

Smart DNS vs Router VPN on Samsung and LG

Neither TV platform supports VPN apps, so the choice is Smart DNS on the device or a VPN on the router. Smart DNS is faster (no encryption overhead) and less detectable by streaming apps, but it changes nothing else about your traffic. A router VPN protects every device on the network and also fixes region checks, at the cost of some speed. If you already have a VPN subscription, check whether it includes a Smart DNS feature Surfshark and NordVPN both bundle one, which saves paying for a separate Smart DNS service.

Which Setup Should You Use?

Conclusion

Samsung and LG are the two TVs where Smart DNS just works: enter the provider's DNS in the network settings, register your IP, cold boot, and you are done. The only real complication is apps that pin their own resolver, and that is a router level fix. If you do not have a Smart DNS service yet, the most economical route is a VPN that bundles one Surfshark's Smart DNS is included in its $1.99/mo two year plan.

FAQ