How to use AhaDNS

What is AhaDNS?

AhaDNS is a zero logging encrypted DNS server service supporting DNS over HTTPS (DoH) & DNS over TLS (DoT). AhaDNS servers do not log or save any personal DNS request data. AhaDNS servers automatically block Ads, Malware, Trackers, Viruses & Telemetry. AhaDNS is fully open source. AhaDNS is the brainchild of Fredrik Pettersson. Here is the list of current locations and addresses of AhaDNS servers,

Location	IPv4 Address	IPv6 Address	DoH Address
Netherlands	5.2.75.75	2a04:52c0:101:75::75	https://doh.nl.ahadns.net/dns-query
India	45.79.120.233	2400:8904:e001:43::43	https://doh.in.ahadns.net/dns-query
United States - Los Angeles	45.67.219.208	2a04:bdc770::70	https://doh.la.ahadns.net/dns-query
United States - New York	185.213.26.187	2a0d:5600:33:3::3	https://doh.ny.ahadns.net/dns-query

How to use it?

There are multiple ways in which you can say Aha to a faster, spam-free & secure Internet experience via AhaDNS. Let’s take a look at a few of them. In this article I’ll use addresses of Dutch & Indian servers of AhaDNS but you can use any of the AhaDNS servers listed in the table above.

Windows (10, 8, 7):

Click the Network icon on the bottom right corner of Windows panel toolbar.
Click on Open Network & Internet Settings.
Under Advanced network settings, select Change adapter options.
Right click on the network you wish to change, then click on Properties.
Choose Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
Click on the Properties button at the bottom right.
Select Use the following DNS server addresses option.
Add 5.2.75.75 as your Preferred DNS server.
Add 45.79.120.233 as your Alternate DNS server.
Complete the setup by clicking on the OK button.

For IPv6 setting first four steps will remain same as above.

Choose Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
Click on the Properties button at the bottom right.
Select Use the following DNS server addresses option.
Add 2a04:52c0:101:75::75 as your Preferred DNS server.
Add 2400:8904:e001:43::43 as your Alternate DNS server.
Complete the setup by clicking on the OK button.

GNU/Linux with Network Manager:

Right click on the Network Manager icon in the panel and select Edit connections.
To change the settings for a wired connection, select the Wired tab and/or to change the settings for a WiFi connection, select the Wireless tab.
Select your network, and click Edit.
Click on IPv4 Settings tab.
From the drop-down list select Automatic (DHCP) addresses only as the Method.
And in the DNS servers field, enter these AhaDNS servers separated by a comma like this,
```
5.2.75.75, 45.79.120.233
```
Complete the set up by hitting the Save button.

For IPv6 setup first three steps will remain same as above.

Click on IPv6 Settings tab.
From the drop-down list select Automatic (DHCP) addresses only as the Method.
And in the DNS servers field, enter these AhaDNS servers separated by a comma like this,
```
2a04:52c0:101:75::75, 2400:8904:e001:43::43
```
Complete the set up by hitting the Save button.

GNU/Linux without Network Manager:

Open terminal emulator and create a backup of the original configuration file,
```
sudo cp /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf.bak
```
Open /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf file in your favorite text editor as sudo or root.
In this file look for a line containing something like this,
```
prepend domain-name-servers 127.0.0.1;
```
If such a line exists comment it out like this,
```
#prepend domain-name-servers 127.0.0.1;
```

For IPv4 add following line after it,

prepend domain-name-servers 5.2.75.75, 45.79.120.233;

For IPv6 add following line after it,

prepend domain-name-servers 2a04:52c0:101:75::75, 2400:8904:e001:43::43;

Save the file and close the editor.

Firefox browser:

From the Firefox menu click on Preferences.
Go down to the Network Settings and click on Settings.
Go to the bottom and check Enable DNS over HTTPS.
In the Use Provider option select Custom and enter the following DNS over HTTPS (DoH) address,
https://doh.nl.ahadns.net/dns-query
Click OK.
Finally in the address bar enter about:config and click on Accept the Risk and Continue when prompted.
In the search field type network.trr.mode and click on pencil icon to edit and enter 3 and save it by clicking on yes check mark.

Google Chrome browser:

From the Google Chrome menu open Settings.
Navigate to the Privacy and security section and click on More to expand if necessary.
Toggle on Use secure DNS option.
Select With Custom and in the Enter custom provider field, enter the following DNS over HTTPS (DoH) address,
https://doh.nl.ahadns.net/dns-query.

Routers:

There are way too many routers out there and their setups greatly vary from one another. Sadly, I can’t possibly cover them all. You can Search DuckDuckGo or Google for changing DNS settings of your particular router. For this article I’ll explain how you can use AhaDNS servers on TP-Link AC1750 router.

Open your favorite browser.
In the address bar type tplinkwifi.net and hit Enter.
Enter your username & password on the login screen.
Click on the Advanced tab. Next click on Network menu button on the left side of the screen. And from the Network options select DHCP Server.
Enable DHCP Server if it is disabled.
For IPv4 in the Primary DNS field enter 5.2.75.75
For IPv4 in the Secondary DNS field enter 45.79.120.233
For IPv6 in the Primary DNS field enter 2a04:52c0:101:75::75
For IPv6 in the Secondary DNS field enter 2400:8904:e001:43::43
Click on the Save button to complete the setup.

Android, iOS, MacOS, Microsoft Edge:

AhaDNS iOS setup guide
AhaDNS Android setup guide
AhaDNS MacOS setup guide
AhaDNS Microsoft Edge setup guide

Verifying your AhaDNS setup:

To verify that you are using AhaDNS servers, open your browser and visit,
DNS leak test
And when the site opens click on Extended test button. When the test completes, you should see the address of AhaDNS server you selected in your setup under the Hostname.

Further help on AhaDNS:

If you need any help regarding AhaDNS setup or have a question or a query about it, you can use any of the following official support channels,
AhaDNS Community on Telegram
Official subreddit of AhaDNS

Date: January 13, 2021

Tags: how-to DNS

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