How to Install AdGuard Home on Windows

If you’re like me, you know the internet is a vast ocean of information, entertainment, and endless possibilities.

But it’s not without its annoyances—like trackers and malwares that can infringe on your privacy and slow down your browsing experience.

Even worse, if you live in certain countries, there’s also a chance that your ISP is actively blocking your favorite websites.

That’s where AdGuard Home comes in. It’s network-wide software that blocks trackers, malwares, and other unwanted content directly from your home network.

It can also bypass your ISP’s DNS filtering so you can visit your favorite websites.

Enough with the intro—let’s get started.

AdGuard Home Installation Steps

Start by opening the Terminal application from the Start Menu.

Install AdGuard Home using the winget package manager. Copy the following command, paste it into Terminal, and press ENTER:

winget install AdGuard.AdGuardHome

Close the Terminal. Then go back to the Start Menu, search for Terminal again, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.

With Terminal now running with admin privileges, enter the following command:

AdGuardHome.exe

Open a web browser and go to http://127.0.0.1:3000/. You’ll be greeted by the AdGuard Home setup wizard.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

To ensure AdGuard Home runs seamlessly in the background, register it as a Windows service. Go back to your admin Terminal and type:

AdGuardHome.exe -s install

Next, tell your computer to use AdGuard Home as its DNS server. This means all your internet DNS requests will go through AdGuard Home first, blocking any unwanted content.

Change your computer’s DNS settings to use your machine’s IP address.

For the best experience, you’ll also want to update your Wi-Fi router’s DHCP settings to use AdGuard Home. This way, all devices connected to your Wi-Fi will benefit from AdGuard Home without needing individual configuration.

It may vary depending on your router, but usually you can find the DHCP Server settings in the router’s web admin page at http://192.168.1.1. If you’re not sure how to access it, ask your ISP.

Video

I also made a video to visualize what I explained here. Hopefully, it’s easy to follow along.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed AdGuard Home on your Windows machine. Now you can surf the web with fewer trackers, enhanced privacy, and a smoother browsing experience. It’s like having a VIP pass to the internet—without the annoyances.

Thanks for reading, and see you around!

References

• AdGuard Home | Network-wide software for Windows, macOS, and Linux