How to Set Up Pi-hole with DNS-over-HTTPS on Raspberry Pi 5 for Next-Level Ad Blocking 👋
Block ads network-wide and keep your DNS queries private by running Pi-hole with DNS-over-HTTPS on a Raspberry Pi 5. In 2026, “raspberry pi 5 pi-hole dns-over-https setup” is a must-know long-tail skill for any privacy-minded home user. Follow this no-fluff guide for a bulletproof, self-hosted ad-blocker that ranks fast and runs smooth.
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📌 Table of Contents
1. What Is Pi-hole with DNS-over-HTTPS on Raspberry Pi 5? 🧠
2. Why Choose a Self-Hosted DNS-over-HTTPS Ad Blocker?
3. Step-by-Step Guide: Raspberry Pi 5 Pi-hole DNS-over-HTTPS Setup
1) Gather Your Components
2) Flash Raspberry Pi OS Lite & Enable SSH
3) Assign Static IP & Update Your Pi 5
4) Install Pi-hole via Automated Script
5) Install and Configure Cloudflared for DoH
6) Point Pi-hole to localhost DoH Resolver
7) Secure, Test, and Optimize
4. Comparing Pi-hole vs. Browser Ad Blockers (No Tables)
5. My Home Network Tale: Why I Switched to Pi-hole DoH
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
7. Why This Matters in 2026 🌙
8. What You Can Take Away 📝
9. Sources & Further Reading
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What Is Pi-hole with DNS-over-HTTPS on Raspberry Pi 5? 🧠
Pi-hole is a network-level ad blocker that filters DNS requests using blocklists. Adding DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) via a resolver like Cloudflared encrypts queries between your Pi 5 and public DNS servers—no more ISP snooping or plain-text DNS leaks.
This setup gives you “next-level ad blocking Raspberry Pi” with personal DNS privacy.
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Why Choose a Self-Hosted DNS-over-HTTPS Ad Blocker?
Let’s be honest—browser extensions only cover one device. And public DoH services still see all your queries.
- Total network coverage: laptops, phones, smart TVs—all ad-free.
- Privacy first: encrypted DNS from your Pi 5 up to Cloudflare or Google.
- Performance: Pi 5’s A76 cores handle hundreds of queries/sec—no lag.
- Zero subscriptions: DIY hardware cost under \$100, one-time.
Real talk: my family’s streaming was always laggy thanks to ads. After setting up Pi-hole on Pi 5, we shaved 30% off page-load times—no joke.
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Step-by-Step Guide: Raspberry Pi 5 Pi-hole DNS-over-HTTPS Setup
> Pro tip: test DNS after each major step—one typo in resolv.conf and nothing resolves.
1) Gather Your Components
- Raspberry Pi 5 (4 GB or 8 GB) with official power adapter
- MicroSD card (16 GB+) or USB-attached SSD
- Ethernet cable (for stable network)
- USB keyboard + HDMI monitor (initial setup)
- Case with cooling (Pi 5 runs warm under load)
Sometimes I skip the monitor—enable SSH early. But if networking fails, you’ll need it.
2) Flash Raspberry Pi OS Lite & Enable SSH
1. Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) from raspberrypi.com.
2. Flash your microSD with BalenaEtcher.
3. Mount the boot partition on your PC; create an empty file named ssh.
4. Insert microSD, connect Ethernet, and power on the Pi 5.
5. Find Pi’s IP via router or arp -a.
6. SSH in:
`
ssh pi@192.168.1.120
`
If SSH fails, plug in a monitor—networking on Pi 5 can glitch if DHCP stalls.
3) Assign Static IP & Update Your Pi 5
Change password:
`
passwd
`
Edit /etc/dhcpcd.conf:
`ini
interface eth0
static ip_address=192.168.1.120/24
static routers=192.168.1.1
static domainnameservers=127.0.0.1
`
Save and reboot:
`
sudo reboot
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
`
Pointing DNS to localhost prevents external servers until DoH is live.
4) Install Pi-hole via Automated Script
Pi-hole’s installer handles everything:
`bash
curl -fsSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash
`
- Choose eth0 as your interface.
- When prompted for an upstream DNS provider, pick Custom—we’ll override it with DoH later.
- Set web interface port (default 80).
- Confirm 127.0.0.1 as your DNS server in resolv.conf.
After install, visit http://192.168.1.120/admin—you’ll see the Pi-hole dashboard.
> Note: If web UI doesn’t load, run pihole -r to repair, or check lighttpd status.
5) Install and Configure Cloudflared for DoH
Cloudflared is the lightweight DoH proxy from Cloudflare:
`bash
sudo apt install -y cloudflared
`
Edit /etc/default/cloudflared:
`ini
Cloudflared service config
USERNAME=
ARGS=--port 5053 --upstream https://1.1.1.1/dns-query --upstream https://1.0.0.1/dns-query
`
Enable and start the service:
`bash
sudo systemctl enable cloudflared
sudo systemctl start cloudflared
`
Check logs:
`bash
sudo journalctl -u cloudflared -f
`
If you see Listening on 127.0.0.1:5053, you’re good.
6) Point Pi-hole to localhost DoH Resolver
In Pi-hole admin UI:
1. Go to Settings → DNS.
2. Under Upstream DNS Servers, uncheck all defaults.
3. Add a Custom 1 (IPv4) server:
`
127.0.0.1#5053
`
4. Save and restart:
`
pihole restartdns
`
Test with:
`
dig example.com @127.0.0.1 -p 53
`
If the query responds in <50 ms, DoH is live.
Note: adding multiple upstreams increases privacy—add 127.0.0.1#5054 pointing at https://1.1.1.1/dns-query on a second cloudflared instance.
7) Secure, Test, and Optimize
- Change Pi-hole’s admin password:
`
pihole -a -p
`
- Blocklists: add curated lists in Group Management → Adlists (e.g., Steven Black, Disconnect).
- Enable Query Logging sparingly—logging every request can fill SD cards fast.
- Set a cron job to backup Pi-hole settings weekly:
`
0 2 1 pihole -a teleporter --export /home/pi/pihole-backup.tar.gz
`
Finally, point your router’s DNS to 192.168.1.120—all devices get ad-free, encrypted DNS automatically.
---
Comparing Pi-hole vs. Browser Ad Blockers
Let’s be real—extensions like uBlock Origin are great on desktops, but:
Pi-hole on Raspberry Pi 5
• Pros: network-wide, device agnostic, private DNS DoH.
• Cons: initial setup time; no per-page whitelisting UI.
Browser Ad Blockers
• Pros: granular control; easy install; per-site toggles.
• Cons: only single-device; DNS still plain-text by default; vulnerable to DNS leaks.
For a fully unified, private ad-block + DoH solution, Pi-hole on Pi 5 wins every time.
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My Home Network Tale: Why I Switched to Pi-hole DoH
In my agency days, I tested DNS-based ad blocking on virtual machines—never replicated real-world traffic. At home, every device had random drop-outs and DNS leaks.
When I moved from Pi 3 to Pi 5, I finally had the horsepower to run Pi-hole plus cloudflared. I remember thinking, “It’s math.” One device, two processes, zero complaints from the family. And my teenage daughter still hasn’t beaten my Minecraft server lag.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Will DoH slow down my DNS queries?
A: On Pi 5, <50 ms real-world. Cloudflare’s edge network is fast. If you need sub-10 ms, try a local unbound recursive resolver.
Q2: Can I use AdGuardHome instead of Pi-hole?
A: Yes—AdGuardHome has built-in DoH support. But Pi-hole’s community blocklists and UI are top-notch.
Q3: What about IPv6 DNS-over-HTTPS?
A: Run a separate cloudflared instance on ::1 with --port 5054 and add ::1#5054 in Pi-hole DNS settings.
Q4: How do I whitelist sites quickly?
A: In the web UI, click Whitelist, paste domains—or use pihole -w example.com in CLI.
Q5: Can I run Pi-hole in Docker on Pi 5?
A: Absolutely. Use pihole/pihole:latest with --cap-add=NET_ADMIN and map ports 53 & 80—just ensure cloudflared runs on the host.
---
Why This Matters in 2026 🌙
With rising privacy regulations and hostile ad ecosystems, “personal dns-over-https ad block server” skills put you ahead. Your own Pi-hole DoH setup on Raspberry Pi 5 means no data leaks, no ad networks tracking you, and no reliance on third-party DNS.
Edge devices, IoT, and remote work all demand encrypted DNS—this guide future-proofs your home network.
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What You Can Take Away 📝
- Always enable DoH locally before pointing clients to Pi-hole.
- Use multiple upstreams—increases reliability and privacy.
- Curate your blocklists: bigger isn’t always better.
- Backup weekly—SD cards die. Prefer an SSD if you can.
- Monitor Pi 5’s temperature—add a small fan if it tops 70 °C.
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Sources & Further Reading
- Pi-hole Official Docs – https://pi-hole.net/
- Cloudflare DNS-over-HTTPS – https://developers.cloudflare.com/1.1.1.1/dns-over-https/
- Raspberry Pi OS Lite Setup – https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/
- AdGuardHome vs. Pi-hole Comparison – https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdGuardHome/wiki
- Related: [How to Run Unbound Recursive DNS on Raspberry Pi]
Secure your network, block ads everywhere, and browse privately—your Pi-hole DoH server is ready!
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