π« Remove ads across your entire network: The complete guide to Pi-hole
Published on 2025-10-21
π« Get Rid of Ads Network-wide: The Complete Pi-hole Guide
Tired of intrusive ads that slow down page loads and track your every move?
Browser extensions are good, but what if you could block ads for your entire home network β smartphones, Smart TVs and IoT devices β all at once?
Meet: Pi-hole. It’s a free open-source tool that turns your small computer (for example, a Raspberry Pi) into a DNS server and network-wide ad blocker. It works at a level browser plugins can’t reach, providing a clean and fast internet for all your gadgets.
π§ How Pi-hole Works
Pi-hole is a network-level DNS filter.
When any device on the network requests a site (for example, yandex.ru), the request passes through Pi-hole.
- DNS gatekeeper: Pi-hole intercepts the DNS request.
- Check against the βUnwanted Guests Listβ: the domain is checked against blocklists.
- Instant blocking: if the domain is associated with ads or trackers β a βnullβ response
0.0.0.0is returned. - Caching: subsequent requests are served faster, speeding up site loading.
Example: you open a news portal β Pi-hole blocks dozens of requests to ad networks, and the page loads instantly.
β¨ Why You Should Install Pi-hole
| Feature | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Network-level | Blocks ads on all devices (Smart TVs, set-top boxes, phones) without installing plugins. |
| Privacy | Protects against trackers that collect data about your activity. |
| Flexible management | Convenient web interface for monitoring and manual list management. |
| Customizable lists | You can add hundreds of ready-made blocklists or create your own whitelist/blacklist. |
| Low resource usage | Runs even on a Raspberry Pi Zero or an old laptop. |
| Bandwidth savings | Reduces downloaded data, useful with limited connections. |
π οΈ Installing Pi-hole
Pi-hole installs with a single command if you have basic Linux skills.
1. Preparation
- A device with Linux (ideally a Raspberry Pi, but a VM will do).
- Static IP address β required.
- Internet access.
2. Installation
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash
The installer will guide you through all setup steps (DNS provider, interface, web password).
3. Network configuration
To make the whole network use Pi-hole:
- Best way: set the Pi-hole IP as the primary DNS in your router settings.
- Alternative: set the DNS manually on each device.
β οΈ Characteristics and Limitations
Pi-hole is a DNS-level tool, not a magic wand.
- Does not block embedded/in-video ads (for example, inside YouTube videos).
- Requires periodic updates of the software and lists.
- False positives can occur β resolved by adding the domain to the whitelist.
- If the device running Pi-hole is turned off, the network will lose DNS (set up a backup server).
π Advanced Capabilities
Pi-hole can do more than just filtering:
- DHCP server: manage IP addresses on the network.
- VPN integration: filter ads even when connected remotely.
- Compatibility: easily combines with Unbound, WireGuard, AdGuard Home.
π‘ Summary
Pi-hole is a simple, lightweight, and reliable way to take back control of your internet traffic. Install it once β and forget about ads, trackers, and slow sites.