In this segment, we are going to show you how can you resolve the “Pi-Hole unable to Block ADS !” on your Network
What is Pi-Hole?
Pi-Hole is a popular network-wide ad blocker that can be run on a Raspberry Pi or other devices. It blocks ads by acting as a DNS server, redirecting requests for known ad-serving domains to a blackhole IP address. However, sometimes Pi-Hole may not be able to block ads for various reasons. In this post, we’ll look at some common issues that can prevent Pi-Hole from blocking ads and how to fix them.Read Full Article
Recommended Articles
Pi-Hole not able to Block ADS
- In this segment, we are going to show you how to resolve the issue of Pi-Hole not blocking ADS!
1. Outdated blocklists
Pi-Hole uses blocklists to determine which domains to block. These blocklists are updated periodically to add new domains that are serving ads. If your blocklists are outdated, new ads may slip through. To update the blocklists, run the following command in the terminal:
pihole -g
This command will update the blocklists and ensure that Pi-Hole has the latest information about ad servers.
2. Incorrect DNS settings
Make sure that all devices on your network are using Pi-Hole as their DNS server. To check this, go to the network settings on each device and make sure that Pi-Hole’s IP address is set as the DNS server. If devices are using a different DNS server, Pi-Hole won’t be able to block ads.
3. Pi-Hole gravity database issues
Pi-Hole uses a database called the gravity database to store the blocklists and ad server information. If there is an issue with the database, Pi-Hole may not be able to block ads. To check the gravity database, run the following command in the terminal
pihole -g -f
This command will force a rebuild of the gravity database, which can fix any issues that may be preventing Pi-Hole from blocking ads.
4. Conflicts with other DNS servers
If you have other DNS servers running on your network, they may be conflicting with Pi-Hole and preventing it from blocking ads. Make sure that Pi-Hole is the only DNS server running on your network. If you have a router that is also acting as a DNS server, you may need to disable its DNS functionality.
5. Pi-Hole FTL service issues
The Pi-Hole FTL (Faster Than Light) service is responsible for handling DNS requests and blocking ads. If there is an issue with the FTL service, Pi-Hole may not be able to block ads. To restart the Pi-Hole FTL service, run the following command in the terminal:
sudo service pihole-FTL restart
This command will restart the Pi-Hole FTL service and ensure that it is running correctly.
If none of these solutions work, you may want to try resetting Pi-Hole to its default settings and starting from scratch. You can do this by running the following command in the terminal:
pihole -r
This command will reset Pi-Hole to its default settings and prompt you to set it up again.
In conclusion
Pi-Hole is an excellent ad-blocking solution, but sometimes it may not be able to block ads due to various issues. By following the solutions above, you should be able to fix any issues that are preventing Pi-Hole from blocking ads.
I also had this issue. I resolved it by disabling IPV6 internet access on my router. Since I didn’t setup the PiHole to be a DNS server for IPV6 addresses, devices were still able to download ads.