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Yes: Pi-hole can show DNS queries from a smart TV without blocking them, provided the TV sends its DNS lookups through Pi-hole. That is what Samir Makwana says he did with a Raspberry Pi 4 and an LG C2: he watched Pi-hole’s query log rather than using it to block ads. The log can show which domains the TV asked to resolve; it cannot, by itself, reveal the contents of later connections or prove why each request occurred.
What the reported LG C2 experiment found
In a September 8, 2026, XDA Developers article, Samir Makwana describes running Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi 4, directing an LG C2 to use it, and checking the query log. He reports seeing the TV make requests to services and other domains. Those are observations from his account, not an independently replicated test or a finding that applies to every smart TV.
A DNS query is a request to resolve a domain name. Seeing one in Pi-hole’s log establishes that a request reached the resolver and was logged; it does not establish what data the TV later exchanged, whether a connection succeeded, or what the request was for. A domain may be associated with routine service operation, telemetry, advertising, content delivery, or another function. The hostname alone may not settle which.
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What the query log shows
Pi-hole’s configuration documentation describes query logging as recording DNS queries and replies. When a TV uses Pi-hole for DNS, the log can help you see the domains it asks to resolve and when those requests occur.
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What it does not show
- The contents of the TV’s subsequent network connections, including encrypted traffic.
- A complete record of the TV’s online activity or every connection it makes.
- The purpose of a request, or proof that a domain lookup resulted in data being sent.
Use the log as a DNS-level view, not as proof that the TV is “spying,” recording a particular activity, or transmitting particular personal information.
How to observe DNS without blocking
Query logging and DNS blocking are separate controls in Pi-hole. You can keep logging enabled and turn blocking off, so the device’s DNS requests are observed without Pi-hole blocking domains. The precise setting names and available controls can depend on the Pi-hole version; consult the official configuration documentation for the version you run.
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- Set up Pi-hole as a DNS resolver. Makwana says he used a Raspberry Pi 4, but that is the hardware in his reported setup, not a requirement established by the article. Pi-hole’s post-install guide explains that clients must use Pi-hole as their DNS server for the network configuration to apply.
- Route the TV’s DNS through Pi-hole. Configure the TV’s DNS setting or the network’s DHCP settings so the TV receives Pi-hole as its resolver. The exact menu path varies by model and firmware. Confirm in Pi-hole’s query log that requests appear when the TV is online.
- Keep query logging on and blocking off. Check the Pi-hole configuration for the separate query-logging and blocking controls. If blocking is disabled, the purpose is observation rather than filtering.
- Review the log during a defined observation period. Note which device generated each query if client identification is enabled, and correlate requests with what you were doing on the TV. A query’s timing and domain can provide context, but do not establish intent on their own.
- Stop or reduce logging when finished. Detailed DNS history can reveal household device activity. Choose a privacy level and logging approach that fits your needs rather than retaining more detail than necessary.
Why the log may not show every TV request
The TV must use Pi-hole for its lookups to appear there. If it uses a different DNS resolver, uses encrypted DNS outside the observed path, or otherwise bypasses Pi-hole, the log may be incomplete. The available account of Makwana’s LG C2 setup does not specify how its DNS settings were configured or establish whether the TV bypassed DNS in any way.
For the same reason, an empty or quiet log is not proof that a TV made no network connections. Pi-hole records DNS activity that reaches it; it is not a complete network monitor.
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Protect DNS history while you observe
Pi-hole’s privacy-level documentation describes options for hiding domain and client details. Its most anonymous level disables the query log and long-term database logging, which also removes the detailed history needed for this kind of review. More detailed logging is more useful for identifying activity, but it exposes more household information. Limit detailed logging to the period you actually need, then adjust the privacy settings to suit your household.
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