Browsers and secure DNS

Most browsers can look up addresses themselves over encrypted "secure DNS", which skips AdBolish entirely. Here's how to tell, and what to do.

What AdBolish handles automatically

In their default automatic mode, browsers fall back to your PC's DNS (that is, AdBolish) when AdBolish blocks the well-known secure DNS services. Firefox is also told not to switch it on by itself. The Encrypted DNS bypass list (Settings ▸ Protection), on by default, is what blocks those services for other apps too.

When a browser isn't protected

If you (or your organisation) set a browser to always use a specific secure DNS provider, AdBolish never sees what it looks up. A banner names it: Chrome isn't protected. It uses its own secure DNS, so AdBolish never sees what it looks up. followed by where to switch it off:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Security → Use secure DNS
• Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Security → Use secure DNS
• Brave: Settings → Privacy and security → Security → Use secure DNS
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → DNS over HTTPS

Turn it off, restart the browser, then click Check again on the banner.

If the banner says the setting is set by your organisation, only an administrator of that PC or organisation can change it.

Letting AdBolish turn it off for Chrome and Edge

In Settings ▸ Protection, Turn off secure DNS in Chrome and Edge does it for you, for both browsers. It needs the protection service to turn on. While it's on, both browsers show "Managed by your organization", because that's how Windows applies the setting. Your previous browser settings come back when you turn it off or uninstall AdBolish (and, like DNS, when the service stops).

What usually goes wrong

• The banner stays after you changed the setting. Fully restart the browser (close every window, including any left in the tray), then click Check again.
• "Managed by your organization" appeared in Chrome or Edge. That's Turn off secure DNS in Chrome and Edge. Turn it off to remove it.