DNS failing inside Gluetun Docker container using AirVPN (WireGuard)

[ThisisGabeB 0]

Hi all,

I'm using AirVPN with a Docker setup running the `qmcgaw/gluetun` image, connected via WireGuard. My VPN connects fine (IP resolves to Netherlands), but DNS consistently fails inside the container. This blocks my use of block lists and apps like qBittorrent inside the VPN tunnel.

---

###  My Setup

- VPN provider: AirVPN
- Protocol: WireGuard
- Config: Using .conf file downloaded from AirVPN (NL-Alblasserdam)
- Docker image: `qmcgaw/gluetun:latest`
- Host OS: Ubuntu 22.04 on a Beelink Mini PC
- DNS inside Gluetun: 1.1.1.1, 8.8.8.8 (also tried AirVPN internal DNS)

---

### The Problem

Inside the Gluetun container, I get repeated logs like this:

WARN [dns] cannot update filter block lists: context deadline exceeded


And when I test:

```bash
docker exec -it gluetun ping 1.1.1.1     # works
docker exec -it gluetun ping google.com  # fails

It looks like DNS isn’t resolving inside the container even though the VPN tunnel is active.

What I’ve Tried

• Manually set DNS_ADDRESS to 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8

• Let Gluetun fallback to default DNS

• Confirmed .conf has working endpoint and is generating an IP

• Verified my WireGuard config connects properly outside of Docker

Are there specific DNS settings or internal AirVPN DNS servers I should be using when routing traffic through Gluetun in Docker? Could there be issues with DNS filtering/blocking or routing at the endpoint level?

Any help appreciated!

 

[Staff 10242]

@ThisisGabeB

Hello!

Before anything else, please discern whether the problem is caused by a failed WireGuard connection or not, by connecting WireGuard directly from the host, because similar problems which were initially thought as GlueTun bugs:
https://github.com/qdm12/gluetun/issues/2458
turned out to be unrelated to GlueTun.

Also check this one, just in case it helps:
https://github.com/qdm12/gluetun/issues/2516
Read in particular this answer https://github.com/qdm12/gluetun/issues/2516#issuecomment-2602591109

Kind regards