Door

How to Set Up NextDNS and Kill ISP Tracking for Good

NextDNS isn’t just another DNS provider, it’s a privacy firewall that replaces your ISP’s data harvesting with encrypted, rule based control. This guide walks you through the complete setup: browser level for quick cover, system level for device isolation, and router-level for total network lockdown. Learn how to build a DNS stack that stops tracking, filters ads, and puts visibility back in your hands.

Your ISP is watching everything you resolve.
Every domain. Every lookup. Every mistake.

That’s the hole NextDNS plugs. It’s not just a faster DNS, it’s a private resolver, a firewall, and a visibility layer rolled into one. This is how you set it up right.

Why You Need a DNS Service Like NextDNS

DNS is the phonebook of the internet. Every time you type a URL, your system asks a DNS server where it lives. Most people let their ISP handle that by default. You know how I feel about defaults. Google is a popular alternative, which I admit they have premo security, but since it’s Google you know every site you visit is logged, profiled, and sold. Cloudflare is a solid choice and is proabably the fastest around but I tend to favor NextDNS due to the level of control it allows.

By using a DNS resolver like NextDNS, it lets you:

  • Encrypt DNS traffic with DoH/DoT so ISPs can’t see what you query.
  • Block ads, trackers, and telemetry at the network level.
  • Log and analyze requests to spot leaks or rogue apps.
  • Build per-device filters for phones, routers, and laptops.
  • Stay fast without sacrificing control.

It’s Pi-hole without the hardware. Cloud based, but still private.

Step 1: Create Your Account

  1. Go to nextdns.io.
  2. Click Try it now, and then Sign Up.
  3. Create an account using a fresh burner privacy respecting email address (Proton, Tuta, etc.).
  4. After confirming, you’ll land in your NextDNS dashboard. This is your command center.

You’ll see a unique ID like abcd1234. That’s your resolver endpoint, keep it. You’ll use it later for setup.

Step 2: Configure Your Settings

You will see the tabs at the top where you can Navigate to Setup, Security, Privacy, Settings, Allow/Deny, and Parental Control.

These are the levers that make NextDNS powerful.

Security Tab

  • Enable Threat Intelligence Feeds and AI-Driven Threat Detection.
  • Turn on DNS Rebinding Protection and Typosquatting Protection.

Personally, I turn everything on except Dynamic DNS Hostnames and Newly Registered Domains. These options are great for malware defense, but tend to break some links.

Privacy Tab

  • Enable Blocklists like:
    • OISD Full
    • Energized Blu
    • NextDNS Ads & Trackers
    • EasyPrivacy

I do not use any of the devices listed but Native Tracking Protection might be worth using if you do.

Settings

  • Disable Logs if you want zero data retention.
    If you want visibility, keep logs for 24 hours or 1 week max.
  • Use Anonymous Logs if you don’t want your IP stored.

Parental Control Tab (Optional)

  • Skip unless you’re building profiles for family devices.
  • More useful for blocking adult or social platforms by category.

Denylist / Allowlist

Add manual overrides here:

  • Denylist: google-analytics.com, doubleclick.net, etc. (suck it Google)
  • Allowlist: For services that break due to filtering (e.g. matrix.org, githubusercontent.com).

Every change is live within seconds.

Side Note: What Level of DNS Control Do I Use?

On the Setup tab at the bottom you will see a Setup Guide for a host of systems and levels.

Browser level DNS (manual setting in browser)

When you change DNS inside Firefox, Brave, or Chrome (i.e., to NextDNS), only that browser sends DNS queries through it. Everything else on your system such as apps, background services, update checks, terminal commands will still use your default system resolver (usually your ISP or router).

Result:

  • Browser traffic is private
  • System traffic is still exposed
  • No real control at the OS level
  • Can be overridden by system or VPN DNS settings
  • No unified logs or device level filtering

Good for: quick setup, casual use, testing filters
Not good for: actual network privacy or enforcement

System level NextDNS (CLI install)

When you install the NextDNS CLI client, it:

  • Hooks into /etc/resolv.conf (or systemd-resolved)
  • Intercepts all DNS queries system wide
  • Encrypts them via DoH (DNS over HTTPS)
  • Enforces your NextDNS profile rules (blocklists, analytics, etc.)
  • Logs everything per-device in your dashboard

Result:

  • Full machine isolation from ISP DNS
  • Unified filtering across browsers, apps, and services
  • Works for terminal, background daemons, Flatpaks, etc.
  • Harder to bypass accidentally

Good for: serious privacy setups, headless boxes, or home servers
Not ideal for: casual users who only care about browser level control

Router level NextDNS (network wide setup)

When you configure NextDNS directly on your router, every device connected to that network inherits the same protection. Laptops, phones, IoT gear, smart TVs, etc all filtered through the same encrypted resolver without needing to touch each device.

Result:

  • Unified network filtering and logging
  • No client side setup required
  • Protects even devices that can’t install the NextDNS client
  • Centralized management from your NextDNS dashboard

But:

  • No per-device configuration or analytics (everything looks like “the router”)
  • Local devices can bypass DNS if they use hardcoded resolvers (e.g., Google or Apple services)
  • If the router doesn’t support DoH/DoT properly, it may downgrade to unencrypted DNS

Good for: households, small networks, IoT heavy environments
Not good for: precise device level control or stealth setups where leak isolation matters

TL:DR

Yes you can just throw DNS controls in your browser settings easily but I do not recommend it.

Browser level DNS is only surface level defense. It hides your lookups inside that single app. It’s fast, convenient, and easy to undo, but every other program on your machine still talks in the clear. Think of it as closing one window while leaving the doors wide open.

System level installation is where control starts to matter. The NextDNS CLI routes every DNS query from the OS through encrypted tunnels. No leaks. No background apps phoning home. You get unified logs, blocklists, and behavior control at the device level.

Router level deployment pushes that control upstream. Everything on the network such as phones, IoT junk, guests routes through the same filtered pipe. It’s the cleanest, broadest layer of defense, but you trade granularity for simplicity. One misstep, and your entire network leaks.

If you have a specific reason or just want to set it and forget it then use router level. I prefer and recommend system level for the ability to control per device.

Step 3: Setup NextDNS on Your Computer

On the NextDNS page on the Setup tab at the bottom you will see a Setup Guide for a host of systems. It walks you through setup for your OS so I will not repeat it here. Afterwards you may have to toggle DNS provider to OS default in your browser security settings but once complete you should see:

All good! This device is using NextDNS with this profile. At the top of the Setup tab on NextDNS.io

Step 4: Install the NextDNS Manager App for Android Phones

You can do everything manually, but the NextDNS Manager app (by @doubleangels), makes setup so easy on your phone.

On Android (or GrapheneOS )

  • Install NextDNS Manager from GitHub, F-Droid, or Play Store.
  • Enter your config ID.
  • Enable Private DNS mode: Settings → Network → Private DNS → Private DNS provider hostname Use: abcd1234.dns.nextdns.io

Confirm by visiting:
https://test.nextdns.io

It should show Connected to NextDNS with configuration ID: abcd1234.

Step 5: Fine Tune and Verify

Open your NextDNS dashboard and hit the Logs tab. You’ll start seeing requests in real time if you chose to allow logs. Check for:

  • Unexpected domains (telemetry, ad networks)
  • Devices making calls when idle
  • Apps bypassing DoH (common on Android)

Use this intel to harden your setup:

  • Add leaks to your Denylist
  • Use DNS Rewrites to redirect internal tools (i.e. vault.local)
  • Rotate your config ID if it leaks publicly

Step 6: Test and Maintain

Run DNS leak tests:

You should see only NextDNS resolvers.
No ISP. No Google. No Amazon.

Once a month:

  • Review logs for new leaks.
  • Update blocklists.
  • Trim allowlist to keep things tight.

The Real Advantage

You’re no longer resolving through by default.
You’re resolving by design.
NextDNS gives you the same insight corporations have over you.

Only now, it’s reversed.

Refuse the default.
Build your own stack.
Claw it back.

-GHOST
Written by GHOST, creator of the Untraceable Digital Dissident project.

This is part of the Untraceable Digital Dissident series — tactical privacy for creators and rebels.
Explore more privacy tactics at untraceabledigitaldissident.com.

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