So, you’ve taken the plunge into a cleaner, faster, and more private internet by installing Pi-hole on your network. The magic is working; you see far fewer ads on your phone, smart TV, and laptop. But where do you go to see this magic in action, to tweak the settings, and to truly understand the sheer volume of traffic it’s blocking? The answer is the Pi-hole Admin Dashboard, accessible at pi.hole/admin.
This web interface is the mission control center for your entire Pi-hole operation. It’s a powerful, information-rich portal that turns the complex data of network-wide DNS traffic into clear, actionable insights. Whether you’re a seasoned sysadmin or a curious hobbyist, understanding the dashboard is key to mastering Pi-hole.
Accessing Your Dashboard
First things first, how do you get there? From any device connected to your Pi-hole-protected network, simply open a web browser and type http://pi.hole/admin or http://<your.pi.ip.address>/admin (replacing <your.pi.ip.address> with the actual IP, like 192.168.1.10).
You’ll be greeted by a clean, modern interface. The main view is a high-level summary, but the real power lies in the tabs on the left-hand side: Dashboard, Query Log, Long-term Data, Whitelist, Blacklist, Tools, and Settings.
A Tour of the Key Sections
Let’s break down what you’ll find in the most important sections.
1. The Dashboard (Overview)
This is the homepage and your “at-a-glance” status report. It’s the most satisfying part of the experience, featuring:
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A Summary of Blocked Queries: A large, prominent percentage shows you the proportion of DNS queries Pi-hole has blocked since the last reset. Seeing a number like 30% or higher is common and deeply gratifying.
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Total Queries & Blocked Domains: Raw numbers showing the total DNS requests processed and how many were identified as malicious or ad-related.
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Graphs: Visual representations of queries over the last 24 hours and the domains that were blocked. This helps you spot trends and peak usage times.
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Top Allowed & Top Blocked Domains: Lists showing which domains are most frequently accessed and which are most frequently blocked. This is invaluable for fine-tuning your lists.
2. The Query Log
If the Dashboard is the summary, the Query Log is the raw, unfiltered data stream. In real-time, you can see every single DNS request made by every device on your network. Each entry shows:
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The domain that was queried.
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The client (device) that made the request.
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The status (Blocked, Allowed, or Cached).
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The time of the request.
This tool is essential for troubleshooting. If a website or app isn’t working correctly, you can open the Query Log, reproduce the issue, and instantly see which domain is being blocked that shouldn’t be. From here, you can quickly whitelist it with a single click.
3. Managing Your Lists (Whitelist & Blacklist)
Pi-hole’s effectiveness comes from its blocklists, but its intelligence comes from your ability to customize them.
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Whitelist: This is your “safe” list. If a legitimate site or service breaks because a necessary domain is blocked (a common issue with some social media “like” buttons or analytics scripts), you can whitelist the specific domain here. The Query Log makes this process seamless.
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Blacklist: Want to go on the offensive? You can manually block any domain you choose. This is perfect for blocking known trackers, malicious sites, or even distracting social media platforms during work hours by adding, for example,
facebook.com.
4. Long-term Data
While the main dashboard shows data since the last reset, this section provides a historical view. You can view statistics for past 24 hours, last week, last month, or even a custom range. This is great for understanding long-term network usage patterns and the overall effectiveness of your Pi-hole setup.
5. Tools & Settings
This is where you manage the engine of Pi-hole.
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Tools: Here you can run a network-wide update to your Pi-hole software and blocklists, restart the DNS service, and test the resolution speed.
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Settings: A comprehensive area where you can configure everything from the DNS resolvers Pi-hole uses upstream (like Cloudflare or Google) to the privacy settings for storing query data. You can also set a custom password for the admin interface here for added security.
Conclusion: More Than Just an Ad-Blocker
The pi.hole/admin interface transforms Pi-hole from a “set-it-and-forget-it” black box into a dynamic, interactive tool for network management. It provides unparalleled visibility into the hidden traffic on your network, empowering you to take control of your digital privacy and performance. By regularly checking your dashboard, reviewing the query log, and fine-tuning your blocklists, you move from being a passive user of the internet to an active administrator of your own little corner of it.