Written 4 Sep 2026. This is a how-to, not a product card.

Point a phone or laptop at Pi-hole when the router won't

When Nest, Google Wifi, or an ISP gateway will not take custom DNS, set DNS on one phone or laptop so it asks Pi-hole. You don't need a new router for this device.

Haven't installed Pi-hole yet? Start with the first useful thing. Need the computer's number first? Find it on the house network. Prefer router-wide DNS when the router offers it: point common home routers at Pi-hole. Short generic router pass: point the house at the ad block.

Skip until you know the address and the router path is blocked

Write down Pi-hole's address — the computer's reserved or stable number on the house network. Confirm the router will not take LAN custom DNS, or that Nest / Google Wifi / the ISP gateway hides it. If LAN DHCP DNS already works house-wide, skip this page and leave the phones alone.

What you are changing

You are setting DNS on one phone or laptop for that Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) profile only. Other devices keep using whatever the router hands out. This is not a VPN. It is not Private DNS to a public hostname on Android — that path wants a name like dns.example.com, not your house Pi-hole IP, and it is often the opposite of this job. For house Pi-hole, put the IP in the Wi-Fi network's DNS fields and leave Private DNS Off for this device.

1. Write down Pi-hole's address

Example: 192.168.1.50. Swap in yours. Need the number? Find it on the house network. Want it sticky after a reboot? Keep it on the same number, or brand menus in keep the computer on the same address on common routers.

2. iPhone / iPad

Settings → Wi-Fi → tap the (i) next to the house network → Configure DNS → Manual. Remove the ISP entries. Add the Pi-hole IP. For a first pass, leave a second DNS empty — a public failover can bypass blocking when Pi-hole is up. Save. Toggle Wi-Fi off and on once.

This sticks for that Wi-Fi network only. Cellular still uses the carrier. Undo later with Automatic on the same screen.

3. Android

Settings → Network & internet → the house Wi-Fi → pencil / Advanced (wording moves). Prefer editing that network's DNS fields to the Pi-hole IP when the menu offers DNS 1 / DNS 2. Some skins need IP settings → Static so DNS fields appear; keep the IP/gateway/prefix the phone already had if you go Static, and only change DNS.

Private DNS is not this job. Private DNS wants a DNS-over-TLS hostname. You cannot type 192.168.1.50 there and expect house Pi-hole. For this how-to: set DNS on the Wi-Fi network, and set Private DNS to Off so the phone actually asks Pi-hole. If one stubborn phone still shows ads after house DNS works, that is when one phone still shows ads.

4. Windows

Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi or Ethernet → the connection → DNS server assignment → Edit → Manual → IPv4 On → Preferred DNS = the Pi-hole IP. Leave Alternate blank on the first pass. Save. Skip DNS over HTTPS templates for a house Pi-hole IP on day one.

5. Mac

System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi or Ethernet → Details → DNS. Click +, add the Pi-hole IP, remove the old servers for a first pass. Apply / OK.

Check

On that device, open a browser and visit a site that used to show ads. Banners should drop. Open the Pi-hole Query Log on the computer (admin from the first useful thing). Lookups from this phone or laptop should show as their own client. If the admin page or a site breaks oddly, see when a site won't load after Pi-hole or when ads come back, check the ad block.

What this is not

This is not a replacement for router LAN DNS when the router can do it. It is not opening Pi-hole to the internet. It is not buying mesh. It is not a VPN. It is one device asking the computer you already have.

What next

If you get a better router later, set the house once: point common home routers at Pi-hole. Stubborn phone after house DNS works: when one phone still shows ads. Ads back after a power blip: when ads come back. Keep the computer's number sticky: keep the computer on the same address on common routers.

Skip

Skip this if router LAN DHCP DNS already works house-wide.
Skip Private DNS hostname mode when all you have is a house Pi-hole IP.
Skip forwarding port 53 to the internet.
Skip buying a new router just for one phone if this device works.
Skip a second public DNS on the first pass if you want blocking to stick.

Sources

Pi-hole docs. Android: advanced network settings (Private DNS). Microsoft: essential network settings (DNS). Apple: change DNS settings on Mac. Official pages only. Menus move by OS version. For router-wide DNS, see point common home routers at Pi-hole. For install, see the first useful thing.

Also on this topic

Point common home routers at Pi-holeWhere to set DNS on TP-Link, ASUS, eero, Netgear, Nest, and ISP gateways so the house asks Pi-hole. Prefer LAN DHCP DNS. You don't need a new router. Keep the computer on the same address on common routersWhere to reserve DHCP on TP-Link, ASUS, eero, Netgear, Nest, and ISP gateways so SSH and Pi-hole keep the same number after a reboot. You don't need a new router. When one phone still shows adsEveryone else's ads dropped. One phone still shows banners. Check Private DNS, Private Relay, a VPN, then the Wi-Fi lease. You don't need a new router. Point the house at the ad blockAfter Pi-hole is installed, point the house router at the computer for DNS. Phones and laptops need no app. Sites still load. A lot of ads don't. The first useful thingPut a house-wide ad block on the old PC. The rest of the house keeps using the internet as usual. You don't need a Raspberry Pi. When ads come backAds are back, sites won't load, or a phone still shows banners. Check the computer, Pi-hole, router DNS, then the phone. Find it on the house networkThe computer has a number on your house network. You need that number to SSH from the couch. You don't need a new router.