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Blocking known ad and tracking domains can make some smart-TV interactions feel more responsive by cutting network requests, but it does not make the TV’s processor or display faster—and it is not a guaranteed speed fix. A DNS filter such as Pi-hole can block requests from devices that use it, though coverage depends on the TV platform, apps, and blocklists.
Why blocking ads can make a TV feel faster
A DNS filter checks the domain names a device tries to reach against blocklists. When a request matches, the filter can prevent the device from reaching that domain. Pi-hole describes this approach as a DNS sinkhole and says its software can block content on smart TVs and cache DNS queries: Pi-hole documentation. The FTC-hosted smart-TV study likewise explains that DNS blockers compare domain names with curated lists and typically map blocked domains to local or non-routable addresses: the 2020 study.
Fewer requests to known ad or tracking services could reduce some background network activity. Cached DNS answers may also avoid repeating certain lookups. If an interaction was waiting on those requests, it could feel quicker. That mechanism does not establish that the TV’s menus, apps, or video playback are generally faster, and there is no before-and-after speed measurement for the experience described in the title.
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What DNS filtering can and cannot block
A filter blocks domains, not every ad as a distinct item. It can be effective when an ad or tracker is served from a domain on the blocklist, but it cannot be expected to remove content delivered through the same domains a service needs for its ordinary operation. Blocklist coverage and platform behavior vary.
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A 2020 study by Varmarken and colleagues examined 57 smart TVs across seven platforms in 41 homes, and tested the top 1,000 apps on each of Roku and Fire TV in a controlled testbed. In the study’s in-the-wild datasets, tested lists blocked between 5% and 54% of collected advertising and tracking domains across platform/list combinations. The Roku and Fire TV testbed results ranged from 7% to 27%. These are results for the study’s data and tested lists—not current household success rates or a prediction for a particular TV. The study also found that blocklists were generally better at limiting exposure to third parties than to platform-related endpoints: study paper.
Some ads and promoted content are part of the platform experience rather than a separate background connection. Google notes that some free content is ad-supported and that manufacturer-curated content may appear on some devices or in some regions: Google TV help. DNS filtering therefore should not be treated as a promise to remove every ad, recommendation, or promotional placement.
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How to use Pi-hole for a smart TV
Pi-hole is free software that runs on Linux hardware; a Raspberry Pi is one possible host, not a requirement. An existing compatible computer or Linux device may be sufficient. Pi-hole’s documentation describes directing devices to the resolver through router DHCP/DNS settings, or using Pi-hole’s DHCP server or manually configuring devices if the router cannot set DNS: Pi-hole documentation.
- Check what you have. Identify your router model and firmware, and confirm you have a compatible Linux host for Pi-hole. Do not assume a particular board or router menu is required.
- Install and confirm Pi-hole. Follow the project’s current installation instructions and verify that the Pi-hole resolver is running before changing the router.
- Note the current network settings. Record or back up the existing DNS and DHCP settings so you can restore them if devices lose connectivity.
- Change one setting at a time. If your router supports it, configure its DHCP/DNS settings to provide the Pi-hole address to clients. Menu names and capabilities depend on the router and firmware. TP-Link’s examples show entering Pi-hole as primary DNS in its router DHCP server settings and Deco settings, but those paths apply to supported TP-Link products, not every router: TP-Link setup examples.
- Check that the TV uses the resolver. Look for the TV’s DNS requests in Pi-hole’s query log. If it does not appear, review the router’s DHCP configuration and the TV’s network settings; a device may not be using the DNS server you intended.
- Test the TV’s everyday features. Open the home screen and the apps you use. If a desired feature stops working, remove the relevant block through Pi-hole’s allowlist or undo the DNS change. Keep the rollback path available.
What to expect after setup
- Some requests may be blocked while others remain. A TV or app may use domains absent from the list, or platform-related endpoints that a blocklist does not stop.
- An app feature may fail. A blocked domain can be used by a service feature as well as by advertising or tracking. Allowlisting may restore it, though that also permits requests to the domain.
- Some ads or curated content may remain. DNS filtering does not remove every form of advertising or platform promotion.
- Results differ by setup. TV platform, app, blocklist, router configuration, and whether the device actually uses Pi-hole all affect what gets blocked.
Historical testing by RTINGS described ad and suggested-content behavior on particular Samsung, Sony, TCL, Vizio, and LG models, with updates from 2019 and 2021. Those observations are model-specific and dated, so they should not be read as current advice about every TV from those brands: RTINGS’ tested-model discussion.
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- The newest Fire TV experience (2026) – Our biggest update to Fire TV has a new, modern design that gets you to your entertainment fast. Browse dedicated content categories, pin more of your favorite apps, and get personalized recommendations from Alexa+. Spend less time scrolling, and more time watching.
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