SwearGuard DNSNeed help?

Setup guide

SETUP GUIDE

Set up SwearGuard in 3 easy steps

Most people are done in about 5 minutes. For your home Wi-Fi you do not need to install anything.

  1. 1Choose what to protect
  2. 2Follow the steps
  3. 3Check it works
1

What do you want to protect?

Start with your home Wi-Fi: it covers every device at home in one go. Add phones and laptops too if they leave the house.

RecommendedEverything at homePhones, laptops, TVs and game consoles on your Wi-FiAbout 5 minutes · At homeA Windows computerProtected at home, at school and on any Wi-FiAbout 5 minutes · EverywhereAn iPhone or iPadProtected on Wi-Fi and mobile dataAbout 3 minutes · EverywhereAn Android phoneProtected on Wi-Fi and mobile dataAbout 5 minutes · EverywhereA MacProtected at home and awayAbout 3 minutes · EverywhereJust a web browserChrome, Edge or Firefox on any computerAbout 2 minutes · Only in that browser
2

Follow the steps

Open the one you chose. Copy buttons put the numbers on your clipboard.

Nearest server: United States · change
DNS server

Checking which server answers this network fastest…

Every server applies the same rules. The fastest one is chosen for you; you can pick another. Routers can use both: the second is a backup.

Everything at homeAbout 5 minutes · Works: at home

You need: Your router's login. It is usually printed on a sticker on the router.

  1. On the Home page, press Link this network while you are connected to your home Wi-Fi. This tells us the requests are yours.
  2. Open your router's settings: type its address into your browser. It is usually on the sticker too, for example 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Log in with the password from the sticker.
  3. Find the DNS settings. Look under Internet, WAN, DHCP or LAN. On TP-Link routers: Advanced → Network → Internet (or DHCP Server).
  4. Set Primary DNS to 162.35.187.199 and Secondary DNS to 102.203.81.230. Remove any other DNS numbers.
  5. Save, then restart the router (turn it off and on again). Phones and computers pick up the change when they reconnect.

Can't find the DNS settings, or are they greyed out? Some routers from internet providers lock them. Set up each device instead: choose it above. If your home internet address changes often, add your router's DDNS name under Home → Advanced.

Done?Check it works ↓
How to undo this

Put back the DNS numbers your router had before (or set DNS to automatic), then restart it.

A Windows computerAbout 5 minutes · Works: everywhere

You need: Windows 11. (On Windows 10, use "Just a web browser" instead.)

  1. On this computer, open Devices and press Add device (name it, for example, Sam's laptop). Keep that page open: it shows the computer's private address once.
  2. Open Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) → Hardware properties.
  3. Next to DNS server assignment, press Edit. Choose Manual and turn on IPv4.
  4. Preferred DNS: 162.35.187.199. DNS over HTTPS: On (manual template). DNS over HTTPS template: paste the private address. Fallback to plaintext: Off. Press Save.
  5. If the computer also uses a cable (Ethernet), do the same for that connection.

Prefer a helper that does it for you? On the new-device page choose Download Windows setup and follow START-HERE inside the download.

Done?Check it works ↓
How to undo this

Set DNS server assignment back to Automatic (DHCP).

Official instructions from the maker ↗

An iPhone or iPadAbout 3 minutes · Works: everywhere

You need: The iPhone or iPad itself, and Safari.

  1. On the iPhone or iPad, open this website in Safari and go to Devices. Add the device (for example Alex's iPhone).
  2. Tap Download Apple DNS profile, then Allow.
  3. Open the Settings app and tap Profile Downloaded near the top (or General → VPN & Device Management).
  4. Tap Install, enter the passcode and tap Install again. Apple may say the profile is not signed; that is normal.

Each iPhone or iPad needs its own profile, so its activity shows under its own name.

Done?Check it works ↓
How to undo this

Open Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → SwearGuard DNS → Remove Profile.

Official instructions from the maker ↗

An Android phoneAbout 5 minutes · Works: everywhere

You need: The free Intra app from the Play Store.

  1. On the phone, go to Devices, add the phone and press Copy next to its private address.
  2. Install Intra (free) from the Google Play Store.
  3. Open Intra, then Settings → Select DNS over HTTPS server → Custom server URL. Paste the address and tap Accept.
  4. Switch Intra on and allow the connection request. Android shows it as a VPN; that is how Intra works.

Don't paste the address into Android's own Private DNS setting: that setting needs a different kind of address.

Done?Check it works ↓
How to undo this

Switch Intra off, or uninstall it.

Official instructions from the maker ↗

A MacAbout 3 minutes · Works: everywhere

You need: macOS 11 or newer.

  1. On the Mac, open Devices, add the Mac and choose Download Apple DNS profile.
  2. Double-click the downloaded file.
  3. Open System Settings → General → Device Management (older Macs: System Preferences → Profiles), double-click SwearGuard DNS and press Install.

If the Mac uses a VPN, it may bypass SwearGuard while the VPN is on.

Done?Check it works ↓
How to undo this

Open System Settings → General → Device Management, select SwearGuard DNS and press the minus (–) button.

Official instructions from the maker ↗

Just a web browserAbout 2 minutes · Works: only in that browser

You need: Chrome, Edge or Firefox.

  1. Go to Devices, add the browser (for example Work laptop – Chrome) and copy its private address.
  2. Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Security → Use secure DNS → choose Custom and paste the address.
  3. Edge: Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Security → Use secure DNS → Choose a service provider and paste the address.
  4. Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → DNS over HTTPS → Max Protection → Custom and paste the address.

Only that browser is covered. Other browsers, apps and games are not; use the Windows or Mac option for the whole computer.

Done?Check it works ↓
How to undo this

Set the browser's secure DNS back to its default.

3

Check it works

This takes one minute and shows for certain that it is working.

  1. Turn on activity history: Home → Settings → Activity history (for a phone or laptop: Devices → its Settings).
  2. On the device you set up, open a website you have not visited today.
  3. Open Activity. Within a few seconds you see that website, with the device's name next to it. That means it works.

Want to see a block? In Block apps & sites, tick TikTok, wait a minute, then try opening tiktok.com: it should not load.

Questions

Nothing shows up in Activity

Check that activity history is on for the right place: Home → Settings for your home network, or Devices → Settings for a device. A VPN, or a browser's own secure DNS setting, can go around SwearGuard; switch them off. Then open a website you have not visited today.

A blocked website still opens

Wait a minute and close the browser or app: devices remember websites for a short while. Check that the website is not under Always allow on Home. Some apps reach the internet without looking up names.

I lost the private address

Go to Devices → the device → Manage device → Replace DNS address, then set the device up again. The old address stops working.

Which server should I use?

We pick the fastest one for you automatically. Both servers block exactly the same things.

Will it slow my internet down?

No. It is a tiny lookup that happens before a website opens.

Can my child just switch it off?

On a router, only someone with the router password can change it. On a computer or phone, someone with admin rights can. Keep the router and admin passwords to yourself.

Still stuck? Email support@swearguard.com and tell us what you see.