Ubiquiti UniFi Ad Blocking

Ubiquiti UniFi offers a native, gateway-level Ad Blocking feature that functions as a DNS sinkhole, filtering out advertisements and trackers across all connected devices.

It requires a UniFi Gateway (UDM, UDR, UXG) and is designed for easy, single-click activation, reducing the need for device-specific ad blockers.

Key Details About UniFi Ad Blocking

• How it Works: It functions as a DNS sinkhole, intercepting and dropping DNS requests that match a list of known ad/tracker domains.
• Implementation: It can be enabled for specific networks (VLANs) or across the whole network in the UniFi Site Manager.
• Performance: It is a “set-it-and-forget-it” feature, offering better efficiency than browser-only extensions because it works on TV boxes, IoT devices, and mobile apps.
• Limitations: It can sometimes be too aggressive, causing issues with some legitimate site loading, and lacks granular customization for custom blocklists.
• Customization: While you cannot customize the default block lists, users can create “Domain Allow” rules to override accidental blocks.

How to Enable It:

1. Open the UniFi Network Application
2. Navigate to Settings > Security > Ad Blocking
3. Toggle the feature On
4. Select which networks to apply it to