How to Set Up Pi-hole on Raspberry Pi 2026: Complete Ad-Blocking Guide

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Pi-hole remains the single most popular first Raspberry Pi project for good reason — network-wide ad blocking that works across every device on your network, not just a browser with an extension installed.

Any current Pi model handles Pi-hole easily

Pi-hole’s resource requirements are light enough that even a Pi Zero 2 W can run it comfortably for a typical home network, making it a great use for an older or spare Pi board rather than requiring the latest model.

RasTech Raspberry Pi Zero 2W Kit with Pin Header, Aluminum Heatsink, Micro USB OTG Cable, Mini HDMI-HDMI Adapter (with Quad-core CPU,Bluetooth 4.2,BLE,onboard Antenna etc.)
RasTech Raspberry Pi Zero 2W Kit with Pin Header, Aluminum Heatsink, Micro USB OTG Cable, Mini HDMI-HDMI Adapter (with Quad-core CPU,Bluetooth 4.2,BLE,onboard Antenna etc.)
  • RasTech Pi 2W Kit: The Pi 2W pack includes Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W Board x1, Mini HDMI to Standard HDMI Adapter x1, Micro USB OTG…
  • Powerful Performance: Equipped with a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 processor, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W delivers a significa…
  • Compact Size: The tiny size of the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W makes it perfect for space-constrained projects and embedded applications.
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A reliable microSD card, since Pi-hole runs continuously

Pi-hole runs 24/7 as your network’s DNS resolver, so a genuinely reliable, high-endurance microSD card matters more here than for an occasional-use project — SD card failure means your whole network’s DNS goes down.

SanDisk Extreme PRO 256 GB Class 3/UHS-I (U3) V30 microSDXC
SanDisk Extreme PRO 256 GB Class 3/UHS-I (U3) V30 microSDXC
  • The microSDXC memory card features write speed of around 60 MB/s that is sufficient for recording high-definition videos to you…
  • The 256 GB memory card provides you with adequate space to shoot and store ample of videos and loads of snapshots
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A small case with basic ventilation

Pi-hole’s light CPU load doesn’t need active cooling, but a simple ventilated case still protects the board and looks tidier than a bare board sitting on a shelf.

GeeekPi Case for Raspberry Pi 4, Pi 4 Case with Cooling Fan and Pi 4 Heatsink, Retro Gaming Game4Pi Case for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B/4B
GeeekPi Case for Raspberry Pi 4, Pi 4 Case with Cooling Fan and Pi 4 Heatsink, Retro Gaming Game4Pi Case for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B/4B
  • This Game4Pi case is Only for Raspberry Pi 4B;NES style; Lateral heat dissipation.
  • This Game4Pi case can make your Raspberry Pi 4B become a NES retro gaming machine in one second!
  • Built-in 3510 fan can help raspberry Pi 4B cool down during you play games.
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Set your router’s DHCP to hand out the Pi-hole’s IP as the DNS server for the whole network — that single step is what makes the ad-blocking apply everywhere, not just on one device.

For general informational purposes only; not professional advice. Posts may contain affiliate links. Learn more.
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