Instagram not loading with PiHole enabled (iOS device)

[technicalpyro]

is there anything in your query log showing a blocked domain that has to do with instagram? the blocklists are community maintained and will sometimes whange on a whim.

the other thing you can try is query the blocklists for instagram, related domains and removes those blocklists

[psobchak]

I will edit my main post to include this info, but I actually already checked for this as well. The only domain I have blacklisted is graph.instagram.com (which should not affect loading), all of the other relevant domains are whitelisted to the best of my knowledge

[jacob.salmela]

Did you see this:

How do I determine what domain an ad is coming from?

Block ads or fix broken sites This FAQ is written in the context of finding out how to block an ad that isn't blocked automatically, but the same steps can be used to troubleshoot issues with sites that don't function properly. An example is that sometimes certain payment gateways try to collect metrics on the sale, but these domains are blocked by Pi-hole, so the payment cannot be processed. Also, some links send you through several referrers and if one of them is blocked, you may land on a …

[psobchak]

After watching this I have not found that it is blocking anything. The issue is also localized to my iphone as it does not happen on my PC. I also find that if I visit the site on my PC, then the mobile app will work for about 30 minutes after the visit.

[jacob.salmela]

I can replicate this. It loads fine on other devices but not the iPhone. I'll dig more into it.

[psobchak]

Thanks Jacob, I appreciate you taking a look at this for me and the rest of the pihole user-base, let me know if you need any additional info on the setup of my phone.

Out of curiosity, when you say you can replicate the issue, do you replicate it on your home pihole setup or do you set up a pihole using the settings from my debug log?

[psobchak]

After updating to iOS 11.4 today the issue is still there but seems to occur much less frequently

EDIT: maybe I have spoke too soon, the issue is back after about 2 hours of good operation

[jacob.salmela]

I don't think it has anything to do with the OS. I don't have the problem when using FTLDNS using NXDOMAIN blocking.

If you don't want to switch to that, can you make sure you've run through the solutions here:

Why Some Pages Load Slow When Using Pi-hole And How To Fix It (for versions < v4.0)

Originally published at: https://pi-hole.net/2018/02/02/why-some-pages-load-slow-when-using-pi-hole-and-how-to-fix-it/ Update: 2018-08-06 As of v4.0, this should no longer be a problem unless you choose to deviate from the new default blocking mode and return to the IP-based mode. Update: 2018-05-26 This problem is far less likely to happen when using NXDOMAIN or NULL blocking: https://pi-hole.net/2018/05/18/nxdomain-and-null-blocking-with-ftldns/ Pi-hole can make your network run…

[psobchak]

I would not mind switching to use FTLDNS and the NXDOMAIN blocking, I am just unsure if I have the knowledge to be able to do it.

I do believe the only thing I have done in that article is change the IP Tables, because I don't believe I am using IPv6, but if it helps I can run another debug token and you can take a look to see if it was done correctly.

[technicalpyro]

run pihole checkout dev
then sudo nano /etc/pihole/pihole-FTL.conf and add this line (without quotations) "BLOCKINGMODE=NXDOMAIN"

then save and do sudo service pihole-FTL restart

[SoNic67]

@technicalpyro

NXDOMAIN

I was using the NULL method and my daughter told me that, on her iPhone, she cannot see the Instagram too... and I said "Good!", because I hate that site. But then she started using cell data instead of WiFi (at home), so that's not good.
I'll try the alternative with NXDOMAIN.

[psobchak]

I updated to FTLDNS and still have the issue

[RamSet]

That’s strange. All my iOS devices load instgram without any issues. I am using the default blocklists (no other 3-rd parties). I had some loaded at some point and legitimate sites were blocked by some.

Reverted to the main ones and a couple that I maintain and I experience no issues.

[SoNic67]

I wonder if it is about some pictures posted there. Some third-party lists I saw that they are blocking GIF's that are transparent 1x1, 1x2...

[jacob.salmela]

Same, it loads fine for me using FTLDNS/NXDOMAIN...

How many domains are on your blocklist?

[RamSet]

FTLDNS/NXDOMAIN here also.

Domains in gravity: 138.120

[psobchak]

I am only using the default blocklists, but I went in and saw that I had my phone set to Manual for the DNS setting, so I set it back to automatic after updating to NXDOMAIN and it appears to be working much better. I will post an update after I know for sure.