Guide: How to Get Free Network Wide Adblock with Adguard Home (Using Windows)

USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 12:34
Last edited 22/10/2023 - 02:30 by 1 other user

Hey all not sure it's right place to put this, or how to put in right place. But I thought I might share with you all how to get free network wide Adblocking here (since a lot of users seems to be paying for like adblock dns services) etc. Additionally a lot of users are nube like me who cannot get head around linux or dont have a raspberry pi etc.

Disclaimers:-

  1. Ad blocking is blocking ads (which may be crucial for revenue of some sites), if you wish to support those sites (add them to your allowed customs lists).
  2. I do not own any interest or benefit from you using these ad blocking software.
  3. Full credits for the software to their respective owner (especially github users), I do not own any of those things.
  4. You may likely face popups from companies saying Adblocker is enabled and prevent access to their site/content.
  5. With time steps and instruction could likely change.
  6. This process assumes you will have the PC running all time (if not then the adblock with adguard home won't run that specific time).

I will be showing steps for windows (10 and 11 in particular, but others probably would be fine too).

How to:

  1. Go to Adguard Home project in github
  2. Navigate to latest release - currently - AdGuard Home v0.107.39
  3. Download your respective file, In case of most windows, it should be " AdGuardHome_windows_amd64.zip ".
  4. Extract the " AdGuardHome " Folder in your C drive (you can extract at other locations as well but for simplicity I would extract the folder to C Drive)
  5. Once extracted folder "AdGuardHome" to C drive, open windows terminal as Admin (for ease press " Windows + X " then select " Terminal (Admin) "
  6. Type " cd C:\AdGuardHome "
  7. Type " .\AdGuardHome.exe "
  8. Allow the connections with firewall in windows
  9. Press " Ctrl + C " or something else anything to stop the current command in the open terminal window.
  10. Type " .\AdGuardHome.exe -s install ". (Congrats Adguard is now installed on your windows system. But it's not configured On just yet To fully configure continue further)
  11. Open a webrowser and go to " localhost:3000 " or " localhost "
  12. Setup a user name and password and follow prompts on that adguard home setup screen.
  13. Verify you can acccess adguard by going to " localhost " or " localhost:3000 " and access their main dashboard (you wont see any filters, or websites their just yet ). Once setup you can access this dashboard on other devices (by going to IP address of this device assisnged by the modem/router it is connected to - something like 192.168.X.X "
  14. At the Adguard Home dashboard, Go to " Setup Guide " near top right. Note down the DNS servers that Adguard Home is listening from. Especially one that is a format something like " 192.168.X.X ", or " 127.0.X.X " or " 172.22.X.X or something else ". Either one of these iP address is going to be needed later. I personally would like to bookmark this address or remember it like how you remember your phone number. In My opinion " 127.0.0.1 " is going to be best, as it doesn't change much ( but this can only be accessed from that windows device only ), if you like to access the adguard dashboard from another device in the LAN, then you need to use the LAN IP address of this machine that was assigned to this device by the higher up router/modem, (can also find it using cmd command " ipconfig ". It should be in the Setup Guide as well, and most likely be "192.168.X.X".

Setup on Windows:

  1. Now we need to change the DNS of the windows OS, to do that open " Control Panel " > select " Network and Internet " > select " Network and Sharing Centre " > select " Change adapter settings " on the top left > Right click on your active connection (e.g. Wifi adapter, or Ethernet ) > select " Properties " > select " Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/lPv4) " > Select " Use: the following DNS server addresses: " type there DNS address you got from your adguard configration page (the one from Step 14) as the " Preferred DNS server: "
  2. You dont need to put fill the " Alternative DNS server: " but you may use another one of the iP addresses you got from Step 14 here.
  3. Select " Validate settings upon exit " and Click " Okay ", you might find troubleshooter running for slight while, just close it after sometime. Anyway Adguard home is now setup on your windows machine. You can verify it by going to some websites, and seeing them on Adguard Home Dashboard, (your adguard dashboard address might also have now changed to that iPv4 address you got from step 14. (" 192.168.X.X ", or " 127.0.X.X " or " 172.22.X.X "). Login there and edit the Adguard Home to your preferences.

Setup on Router:

  1. Before going on with this step, please note it wont work with router's that dont allow DNS changing (like Belong modems), Nevertheless for most modems its gonna be fine and gonna be most important honestly, as you dont want to run the adguard/ablock on just 1 windows device rather on entire network I assume yeah (if No then dont follow these below steps) ?
  2. Go to your router admin page, something like (192.168.0.1, 192.168.8.1, 192.168.1.1 or something like that its going to be specific to your router/modem brand, but you can generally find this address on the back of router/modem)
  3. Naigate to settings in your router that allows changing the iPv4 DNS settings (this is again specific to your router/modem brand) if unsure try googling it for your modem/router model.
  4. In here just like windows setup, enter Primary DNS server to the address you got from Step 14.
  5. IMPORTANT- if your computer is not going to be running all the time, then make sure you put something else at Secondary DNS server, (something like Adguard Public DNS 94.140.14.14, or Cloudfare ( 1.1.1.1 ), or Google ( 8.8.8.8 ). This will ensure your router gets the DNS query resolved whenever it cannot talk your windows computer running Adguard Home (when it is away or shut down or something like that). It just wont be resolved by Adguard Home running on the windows machine.
  6. In case your computer will be runing 24/7 all the time, then put another one of the DNS server addresses there as Secondary DNS server (from Step 14). Keeping in mind incase your modem is unable to resolve DNS by being unable to talk to Adguard DNS server, then you wont be able to access most websites.
  7. Save the new DNS settings on router/modem, and Restart your modem/router to apply the new DNS settings to it.

Similar steps are also available on Setup Guide at Adguard Home Dashboard for setup in individual devices like Android, IOS, linux etc. (but it's kinda similar theme that you need to change DNS query resolver to one the DNS addresses that Adguard Home is listening onto.

Lastly:

  1. Check your devices are actually talking to adguard home, and it is infact working. (if working then on Adguard Home Dashboard you should see DNS queries jump up each time you access a website or app or a DNS query is made by one of your devices connected to Adguard Home).

Additional Tips:

  1. Now After you have Adguard Home up and running, I strongly suggest you configure it to your specifications, (add or remove DNS blocklists from Adguard Home Dashboard by going to " Filters > DNS blocklists > Add blocklist > Choose from the list> Select your desired ones "
  2. Importantly now, As per we our OZbargainers, and more often than not access Cashback sites, and or other websites that rely upon ads, trackers etc to deliver their services to us. If you want to allow them to access trackers, ads etc, (from Adguard Home Dashboard) Go to " Filters> Custom filtering rules " add the exceptions here. Another way to add exceptions easily is by going to " Query Log " and on the blocked domains Click " Unblock " or " Unblock for this client only " depending on your choices. This is gonna be a long and tidious process, to know what things are crashing due to your newly introduced adblocking service (Btw Samsung Smarthings is one of them too)
  3. To temporarily Stop adblock from blocking ads, trackers etc. you may go to Dashboard (I'm referring to Adgauard Home Dashboard by that, just cannot be bothered typing that entire thing again and again) and Click " Disable protection " if you like you may Disabled it for a specific time as well by choosing from one of the dropdown menu options.
  4. Some notable custom filters for Shopback, Cashrewards are "
    @@||tracking.shopback.com^$important
    @@||cashrewards.com.au^$important
    @@||cdp.cashrewards.com.au^$important
    @@||t.cfjump.com^$important
    " - copy and paste them to your custom filters list.
    There could be more custom filtering exceptions needed, and you should test out what filters you need before hand (or disable the adblock for those times). Kindly dont blame me or those service providers for your purchases not tracking. I have already made you aware that this is one of the consequence of running such a service, and it is your responsibility to ensure you set your own rules according to your needs.
  5. One Great feature about the Adguard Home is DNS rewrites, (it means redirecting a domain name, say "yourname.com" to a iP address (which could be any complicated iP address that you may not want to remember or just needed it shorterned on your LAN).
Internet

Comments

  • freefall101 on 15/10/2023 - 14:03
    +1

    This really doesn't seem easier than running pihole. Also you can run pihole on windows with docker pretty easily - https://www.andrewdenty.com/blog/2020/01/25/installing-pi-ho…

    • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 15:21

      You certainly can i just find myself very comfortable and used with adguard home. Never used docker before i believe that's a good way also.
      Thanks for sharing

  • FoxJump on 15/10/2023 - 14:59
    +1

    thanks for the cashbacks filter

    keep in mind some devices don't like router dhcp dns to be changed
    like my tplink smartplugs

    so now i have a brume2 doing same

    • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 15:09

      I had to ofcourse share the filters, (I use cashback sites myself and support actively using adblockers too).

      and thanks for the tip on changing Dhcp to Static.

      • FoxJump on 15/10/2023 - 15:17

        what? no

        on the router you do not change the WAN DNS
        you change the dhcp dns.

        and that didn't work well for my devices

        so i put a brume2 as my router and it runs adguard home and it works well everywhere

        • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 15:19

          I believe brume2 already has adguard home built in
          But yea may want to have the machine running the adguard home has a static ip (instead of assignment changing everytime by modem) that's why i said 127.0.0.1 is going to be best

          For the guide i believe it would be under setup for windows

          Like how it showed in "Step 5 - Give your PC a static IP address " at the docker pihole link by freefall101

  • FoxJump on 15/10/2023 - 15:01
    +1

    these are the filters i have so far

    !msn home page ads
    ||tips-and-tricks.co^
    ||alchemist.go2cloud.org^
    ||akamaized.net^
    !google to search result ads
    @@||ad.doubleclick.net
    !abckids
    @@||iview-vod-hls.akamaized.net^
    !cashback trackers
    @@||tracking.shopback.com^$important
    @@||cashrewards.com.au^$important
    @@||cdp.cashrewards.com.au^$important
    @@||t.cfjump.com^$important

    • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 15:05

      I have these ones too But I am not sure if these are needed for cashback sites. The only way to know is unfourtunately by making a purchase with them with these filters on. It could very well not be needed. But It proabably is needed too I think (for cashback sites).

      If you only want rough idea see the Query log page on Adguard Home dashboard, as you go through the Cashback site to a website (and mimic a purchase)

      @@||cdn.optimizely.com^$important
      @@||pagead2.googlesyndication.com^$important
      @@||cdn.pushcrew.com^$important
      @@||logx.optimizely.com^$important
      @@||pushcrew.com^$important

      • FoxJump on 16/10/2023 - 15:14

        I made an Amazon purchase. I think i had my filters on. Cashrewards claimed to have tracked it

        • USER DC on 16/10/2023 - 15:56

          ah glad to hear, but cashreward is super cluncky with adblocking. and doesnt tolerate tracking easily. One of my 13 boost did not track. i personally dont think its to do with adblock but hmm idk

          Shopback definately a lot lot better IMO with accidentally having some tiny adblock on it will generally track it still (CR wont)

  • deme on 15/10/2023 - 15:39

    I fell asleep reading OP.

    Just go use https://adguard-dns.io/en/public-dns.html

    AdGuard DNS will block ads and trackers.
    IPv4:
    94.140.14.14
    94.140.15.15
    IPv6:
    2a10:50c0::ad1:ff
    2a10:50c0::ad2:ff

    • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 16:07

      You can but that doesn't give you customisation options

      • deme on 15/10/2023 - 16:08

        https://nextdns.io/ does

        • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 16:35

          Free one limited to 300K request a month yes?

          • neoleo on 15/10/2023 - 23:15

            @USER DC: I never reach the limit of 300K requests a month. I use next dns for my ipad, laptop, and secondary phone. I use adguard app in my main phone. I think most people won't reach the limit for personal use.

          • FoxJump on 16/10/2023 - 15:13

            @USER DC: I have about 50k requests per day.
            family of 5

  • deme on 15/10/2023 - 16:10

    IMPORTANT- if your computer is not going to be running all the time, then make sure you put something else at Secondary DNS server, (something like Adguard Public DNS(adguard-dns.io) 94.140.14.14, or Cloudfare ( 1.1.1.1 ), or Google ( 8.8.8.8 ).

    Just FYI this behaviour isn't standard, secondary doesn't mean fallback.
    Some will do round robin, others fallback, others will do all of them and get the first answer.

    • USER DC on 15/10/2023 - 16:46

      Ah really? Thats what i thought was meant by alternative/secondary dns that is used when first one unusable or something.

      But thanks for sharing information

      • USER DC on 23/10/2023 - 16:20

        Hmm edit,
        upon multiple testings, flushing dns etc over multiple days.

        Can confirm that the way how I said was correct. namely "MPORTANT- if your computer is not going to be running all the time, then make sure you put something else at Secondary DNS server, (something like Adguard Public DNS(adguard-dns.io) 94.140.14.14, or Cloudfare ( 1.1.1.1 ), or Google ( 8.8.8.8 )."

        Secondary DNS is indeed a fallback dns server. whenever I turn of the adguard at home my SFF host (not disable rather shut down that windows OS), or plug out the SFF host from power. (Now the adugardhome is not resolving any DNS at all).

        Flushed DNS with "ipconfig /flushdns" in windows now (testing device not adguard host), so it is asking for new DNS again (not relying on old cache).

        ALREADY HAD "94.140.14.14" as the secondary DNS, so the device should now use that secondary dns as the dns server now (as first/preferred/primary dns is down).

        All the interenet still works in the windows (even with flushing dns), DNS rewrite addresses from adguardhome no longer work, personal custom filters dont work either (so more ads/trackers etc.) But normal internet works. - PROOVES that Secondary DNS is indeed fall back.

        Turned back on the SFF auto start the Adguard home (once login into windows OS), and flushed dns cache in windows again (testing device not adguard host). And custom filtering lists, and all DNS rewrites start to work again flawlessly. But some ads still pass though according to this slightly more than if I had not put the secondary dns there in main router modem settings (86% vs 91% meaning some secondary dns resolving the remaining 5%)

        DNS should be auto flushed after some time. Anyway the whole point of me saying that is that your internet wont automatically shut down (cannot resolve DNS) if your adguard home shuts down, ( or you know you aint gonna have it on 24/7 that's my intended fallback meaning and works as expected)

  • USER DC on 22/10/2023 - 01:39

    Hey Guys, One extra Special Adguard Home feature that you may not be aware of yet, "DNS rewrites", access it from "Dashboard > Filters > DNS rewrites". Click "Add DNS rewrite".

    Now here in the "top section" you can input a short webadress you to have (say yourname.com) and have it redirect to a complicated ip address (say someweird iPv6 address, or another complicated iP address, put can put it in the "second option".

    As an example, you might hate remebering the ISP modem router settings page, you could add a custom web address on your LAN that "nbnmodem.com" take you to your nbn modem's settings page (which could be like 192.168.1.1).

    BTW I dont think piHole has this feature, if it does please do correct me.

  • notoriousft on 11/02/2024 - 09:56

    Thanks for the detailed post.

    But I couldn't get this to work on my wireless devices at all.

    As soon as I put the IP address of server that runs AdGuard home into my router (eero 6), wireless devices display the network as "cannot provide internet"

    Any thoughts?

    • USER DC on 11/02/2024 - 10:23

      Did you restart your router eero 6 ?
      After changing is dns ??

      Also what exactly did you put in dns there ??
      Preferably it should be something like 192.168.x.y

      Not 127.0.0.1 or an IPv6 address if your infrastructure don't support IPv6

      Also are you able to access the adguard home dashboard screen ?? Without changing dns on your router to adguard?? -traditionally it should be either ipaddress:80 or ipaddress:3000

      The default dns port is 53 unless you changed it, then the IP address of the service should be the thing you need put at dns server on your main router

      If you changed it from 53 to something, then you need to specify that ip:port as dns address or redo the adguard home setup to make sure you dont change 53 to something else

      • notoriousft on 11/02/2024 - 10:42

        Thanks for the reply and suggestions.

        I put it something like 192.168.x.y for the primary DNS left the secondary empty. I restarted my router a few times after the change.

        I can access Adguard home dashboard screen from the machine it's installed on (while router's DNS is set to default ISP's servers). Other devices in the network cannot reach that (192.168.x.y:PortNumber).

        • USER DC on 11/02/2024 - 10:42

          What is that port number exactly?? You can check by going to setup page on adguard home dashboard
          53 ?? -if 53 then it should be nothing after ipaddress on the setup page of adguard home dashboard (should just say ip addresses of server)

          Are you able to see any queries on adguard home dashboard?? From other devices?

          • notoriousft on 11/02/2024 - 10:49

            @USER DC: Port number is 81.

            Nothing from other devices.

            • USER DC on 11/02/2024 - 10:54

              @notoriousft: your setup guide page should look like this
              https://i.imgur.com/zVRYt23.png

              if it is saying like 127.0.0.1:81 on there then you should either

              1. try to figure out if you can specify port 81 for dns on your router (eero) if not then, remove the adguard home, and reinstall it. (making sure to leave default dns port 53 to be 53 only) and not change that to 81.
              • notoriousft on 11/02/2024 - 11:02

                @USER DC: My screen is like this:
                There is no port number after IP

                Adguard Setup Guide

                • USER DC on 11/02/2024 - 11:05

                  @notoriousft: then everything seems to be correctly done to be honest.

                  try one last thing.

                  without changing your default router dns.

                  change dns on one of the devices connected to your wifi network, (say your phone or laptop or ipad etc. by going to their wifi settings and change dns manually to that adguard home IP address) ?

                  do you see the device on the adguard home dashboard then ??? by manually changing device dns ??

                  • notoriousft on 11/02/2024 - 11:32

                    @USER DC: Tried that on my Android mobile. It's not coming up in the AdGuard dashboard.

                    • USER DC on 11/02/2024 - 11:34

                      @notoriousft: try rebooting everything (server, router, phone).

                      if still not working try reinstalling adguard home and if still doesnt work I am sorry dont know what is wrong

                      • notoriousft on 11/02/2024 - 12:32

                        @USER DC: Thank you.

                        I'll uninstall this and install on another old laptop.

                        This one has Windows Server 2022 with Plex and Jellyfin servers installed.

                      • notoriousft on 13/02/2024 - 17:34

                        @USER DC: Silly me, I forgot to add rules on the firewall for DNS.

                        It works now.

                        Thank you so much.

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