Fixing PS4 Error NW-31172-4 – Multiple Solutions

Written by Oliver in PlayStation Error Codes

The PS4 error code NW-31172-4 comes up with a “Connection to server failed” error message and recommending that the user re-test their internet connection, since the server is likely busy. In very rare cases this may be the case, but most often we will need to look into this error in more detail.

The fact however that this is a server error and is reported to happen when users are trying to SharePlay, suggests one of two things need looking at first to resolve this error – your DNS servers and the strength of the connection between your router and PS4 which is affecting upload speeds especially.

SharePlay uses a lot of upload bandwidth on your internet package, and if your speeds are slow to begin with – due to a weak Wi-Fi connection or a slow internet package – then it won’t take much for the connection to break when streaming gameplay and this error message to occur.

Changing your DNS servers on your PS4 to Google DNS (8.8.8.8; 8.8.4.4) and also taking any steps you can to get a better connection between your PS4 and router (resetting all devices, using a wired ethernet or powerline connection, updating the router and PS4) are the best places to start when trying to fix this error. A poor connection or broken DNS servers may be giving you poor download and upload speeds and stopping you connecting to game servers.

This is a tricky error code to resolve since there are virtually no resources on how to fix it. However, we will run through some speculative things you can try which have a chance of correcting any server errors and getting a better connection between your PS4 and router.

Manually Changing Your DNS Servers on Your PS4

This is the first thing to try with many of the PS4 NW error codes, since a non functioning DNS server can be the main cause of not being able to connect to servers.

Manually inputting your own DNS custom DNS servers can serve two important purposes in relation to this NW-31172-4 error code:

1. If your current DNS servers are incorrectly entered or not working, it gets you back on a working pair and allows you to reconnect to PSN and game servers.

2. Changing your DNS servers can sometimes deliver better download and upload speeds, which can be useful if you are currently getting poor upload speeds and this is causing your connection to break when using SharePlay.

Here are the general steps for manually setting the DNS servers on your PS4:

  • Go to Settings….Network……Set Up Internet Connection
  • Select Wi-Fi or LAN depending on your connection. Plug into your router and use wired if the wifi doesn’t work.
  • Select Custom setup
  • Run through all the settings as they are, without changing them, until you get to DNS Settings
  • For DNS Settings, switch to Manual
  • Input these Google DNS servers: Primary: 8.8.8.8 Secondary: 8.8.4.4
  • Once configured test your internet connection a few times (Settings…..Network…..Test Internet Connection) to see if it delivers better download and upload speeds than the ones you were using before. Concentrate especially on Upload speeds if you are getting this problem when using SharePlay.
  • You can also use other free DNS servers; here are two common pairs:
      • Cloudflare DNS – Primary 1.1.1.1 Secondary 1.0.0.1
      • Open DNS – Primary 208.67.222.222 Secondary 208.67.220.220
      • If one pair don’t work, try another pair.
  • See just below for a video demo of how to do this.
https://youtu.be/cN9W0-ZhCX4

 

Be sure to test out the different pairs of DNS servers, since each pair will be more or less effective for different users depending on their location and network environment. See our full article on the effects DNS servers can have on latency and bandwidth for gaming.

Also be sure to test them several times each to make sure they deliver permanent download and upload speed improvements and not just one off flukes

You may find you get better speeds when using certain DNS servers, to the point where you don’t have the same connection issues and error, especially when trying to use SharePlay.

Get the Best Possible Connection Between Your PS4 & Router

Another step to take getting connection error messages such as NW-31172-4 is to try and get a better connection between your router and PS4. Server and connection errors often result from having such a weak or inconsistent connection to your router that the PS4 cannot get online or stay online.

Here are some basic steps to try getting a stronger connection on your PS4:

  • Quick reset your router and PS4.
  • Power cycle your router and PS4, fully unplugging them for 10 minutes and restarting them, with the router first.
  • Move your router and PS4 closer together if on Wi-Fi
  • Make sure your router and PS4 are up to date. Go to Settings….System Software Update on your PS4 to check.
  • Preferably get off Wi-Fi altogether and onto a wired connection instead. See our article on the numerous benefits wired connections have over wireless ones for gaming.

If you are too far away from the router to easily run a cable directly, then consider a powerline adapter as a next best solution – a pair of plugs which send data through the electrical wiring of the house to deliver an ethernet connection at distance from the router. See the video below for a demonstration of how they work.

https://youtu.be/tRmpQ90uOLw

 

You can find links to the TP Link Nano Powerline adapter pictured above, plus more advanced models, from different retailers, on our Powerline Adapters page.

Other Options To Try For Error NW-31172-4

If you are still having connection problems after trying all these options, there are a couple of other things you can do to ensure your PS4 has a better connection not just with your router, but the wider internet in general and other gamers/servers.

There are a couple of setting changes you can make on your console and PS4 – setting a static IP, DMZ and QoS – to give your console the best possible connection to the internet, hopefully minimizing connection and server errors like the NW-31172-4 error. Let’s run through each of these briefly in turn.

1. Static IP – Setting a static IP address on your PS4 can be a good solution if you suddenly find your connection tests failing at the first hurdle – cannot find an IP. Your PS4 and router will normally automatically select an IP address for you, but you can override this and manually put your own in.

See Solution #3 of this article for a step by step run down of how to quickly set a static IP address on your PS4. For the longer winded, more technically correct way of doing it, see this article we published a while ago.

Here are the general quick steps for setting up a static IP address for your PS4:

  • Go to Settings…Network….Set Up Internet Connection
  • Select Wi-Fi or LAN depending on your connection
  • Select Custom setup for LAN
  • For IP Address, switch to Manual and input the following values:
      • IP Address – 192.168.0.x, where x is any number between 100 and 254 (you choose)
      • Subnet Mask – 255.255.255.0
      • Default Gateway – 192.168.0.1
      • Primary DNS – 8.8.8.8
      • Secondary DNS – 8.8.4.4
  • Run through the rest of the settings as they are, without changing them.
  • Save and test your internet connection to see if you can get back online.
  • See our full article on setting a static IP address for a more in depth look at this.

Setting a static IP can be useful in it’s own right for fixing IP connection errors, but is usually done as a precursor to something else called port forwarding. A quicker way of doing this is simply to jump straight to DMZ settings, which we will cover now.

2. DMZ Settings – Placing your PS4 in the DMZ part of your router is an easier way of port forwarding on your router and PS4, which basically means all firewall filtering is removed to your console and it is fully opened up to the internet for the best connection possible.

This can resolve connection errors that result from having very strict firewall or security settings on your router or home network, that can prevent your PS4 from connecting to servers and other gamers.

See our full article on DMZ for a step by step guide on how to configure DMZ settings on your router for fully open ports to your PS4. Here are the steps in very brief form:

  • Get the MAC address of your PS4 (Connection Settings/Status).
  • Log into your router by typing it’s IP address in any browser (often 192.168.0.1 or .1.1) and the password.
  • Find DMZ Settings under Security or Advanced or similar.
  • Enter or select your PS4’s MAC address and to place it in the DMZ.
  • Save settings and close.

3. Quality of Service (QoS) – QoS settings are another option available on some routers which allow you to prioritize network traffic on your router, placing your PS4 at the front of the queue in terms of traffic demands and priority.

This can be especially useful if your connection problems result from having a very busy and congested home network, with lots of users and devices trying to connect on Wi-Fi to the same router.

Moving off Wi-Fi and onto wired connection helps with this congestion issue, but using QoS settings can also help prioritize your PS4.

See our article on using QoS for a step by step guide on how to do this. Unfortunately, this option is not available on all routers. Here are the quick steps that will work in most cases:

  • Find the MAC address of your PS4 in Connection Settings.
  • Log into your router
  • Find QoS Settings if they are available
  • Select your PS4 using the MAC address you found earlier.
  • Set the priority to Highest or Maximum.

There is currently not much information online about fixing this error code, so we welcome anyone leaving comments below who have tried different steps to the ones we have mentioned and have managed to resolve this error code.

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