Fix: Pi-hole Admiral List Not Updating Issue

Aug 5, 2025 by Mei Lin 45 views

Troubleshooting Pi-hole Admiral List Not Updating

Hey guys! Ever run into the head-scratching issue where your Pi-hole's Admiral list just refuses to update? It's like it's stuck in time, even though the online list has clearly been updated. Well, you're not alone! Let's dive into this and figure out what might be going on and how to fix it.

Understanding the Issue

So, you've noticed that your Pi-hole is telling you the Admiral list hasn't changed, even though you know it has. You see the dreaded "[✓] Status: No changes detected" message. Meanwhile, the number of domains blocked seems off when you compare it to what the list should have. This can be super frustrating, especially when you're trying to keep your network protected with the latest blocklists.

The Specific Problem: Admiral List Sticking

The main issue we're tackling here is that the Pi-hole isn't recognizing updates to the Admiral list, which is hosted at https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Admiral.txt. Even though the list has been updated upstream (meaning the source list on Firebog does have more entries), your Pi-hole stubbornly reports, "No changes detected". This is despite the fact that when you manually check the current list on your Pi-hole, it shows a lower count of blocked domains than expected. For instance, you might see your Pi-hole showing a count of 2686 domains blocked, while the actual list should contain more.

Comparing with Other Lists: A Clue

What makes this even more puzzling is that other lists hosted on the same domain (v.firebog.net) are updating just fine! You might have tested lists like EasyList or AdguardDNS, and they update without a hitch. This tells us that the problem isn't a general connectivity issue with Firebog's server. It's something specific to the Admiral list or how Pi-hole is interacting with it. When other lists are updating successfully, it helps narrow down the issue. If EasyList and AdguardDNS are updating, but Admiral isn't, it points to a potential problem with the specific Admiral list URL or its content, or even a caching issue on the Pi-hole side.

Why This Matters: Keeping Your Network Secure

Keeping your blocklists updated is crucial for effective ad-blocking and protection against malicious domains. If your Admiral list isn't updating, you're essentially missing out on the latest protections, leaving your network vulnerable. An outdated blocklist means that new ad servers, tracking domains, and malware distributors can slip through your defenses. This is why it's so important to troubleshoot and resolve this issue promptly. You want to ensure your Pi-hole is operating at its full potential, providing the comprehensive protection you expect.

Potential Causes and Solutions

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and explore the possible reasons why your Admiral list isn't updating. We'll also walk through some solutions to get things back on track.

1. Caching Issues: The Stubborn Memory

Sometimes, Pi-hole can get stuck with an old version of the list due to caching. It's like your Pi-hole has memorized the old list and refuses to believe there's a new one out there. Clearing Pi-hole's cache can often resolve this.

Solution:

Flush the DNS resolver cache: You can do this through the Pi-hole web interface. Go to Settings > Flush logs, then click on Flush DNS resolver cache. This tells Pi-hole to forget its current DNS cache and fetch fresh data.
```
pihole -f
```
Restart the DNS resolver: Sometimes, a simple restart can do the trick. You can restart the DNS resolver from the command line:
```
sudo systemctl restart dnsmasq
```
or
```
sudo pihole restartdns
```
Restarting the DNS resolver ensures that the changes you've made are fully applied.
Update Gravity: Manually updating gravity forces Pi-hole to retrieve the latest lists and update its database. This can help clear out any lingering cached information.
```
pihole -g
```
The pihole -g command is a powerful way to refresh your blocklists and ensure your Pi-hole is using the most current data.

2. Network Connectivity Hiccups: The Internet's Mood Swings

Although you've confirmed other lists are updating, there might be intermittent network issues affecting the connection to the specific Admiral list URL. It's like a momentary blip that prevents Pi-hole from grabbing the updated list.

Solution:

Check DNS Resolution: Ensure your Pi-hole can resolve the domain v.firebog.net. You can use the dig command to check this. Dig is a network administration command-line tool used to query the Domain Name System (DNS). It's a powerful utility for troubleshooting DNS issues.
```
dig v.firebog.net
```
If the DNS resolution fails, you may need to check your Pi-hole's DNS settings or your upstream DNS servers. If you see an IP address returned, DNS resolution is working correctly.
Test with wget or curl: Try downloading the Admiral list directly from your Pi-hole using wget or curl. These tools allow you to fetch content from a URL and can help identify if there are any network connectivity issues specific to that URL. Testing with wget or curl can help isolate the problem, determining if it's an issue with Pi-hole's retrieval process or a more general network connectivity problem.
```
wget https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Admiral.txt
```
or
```
curl -O https://v.firebog.net/hosts/Admiral.txt
```
If the download fails, it indicates a network issue or a problem with the server hosting the list. If the download is successful, the issue is likely within Pi-hole's processing of the list.

3. List Format or Content Issues: The Tricky List

Sometimes, the format or content of the list itself can cause problems. If the list has changed in a way that Pi-hole doesn't expect, it might fail to update correctly.

Solution:

Inspect the List: Manually download the list and examine its contents. Look for any unusual entries, formatting errors, or changes in the file structure. Sometimes, a simple typo or unexpected character can throw things off. Inspecting the list manually can reveal if there are any obvious issues with the formatting or content that might be causing Pi-hole to fail the update.
Compare to Previous Versions: If you have a backup of a previous version of the list, compare it to the current version. This can help you identify what has changed and whether those changes might be causing the issue. Comparing the list versions can pinpoint specific changes that might be causing the update failure, such as new types of entries or formatting inconsistencies.

4. Pi-hole Configuration: The Settings Snag

It's also possible that there's a configuration issue within Pi-hole itself that's preventing the list from updating.

Solution:

Check the List URL: Double-check that the URL for the Admiral list is correctly entered in your Pi-hole settings. A simple typo can prevent Pi-hole from fetching the list. Verifying the URL ensures that Pi-hole is trying to retrieve the list from the correct location.
Review Adlist Settings: Make sure the adlist is enabled and that there are no conflicting settings. Sometimes, multiple lists can interact in unexpected ways, so it's worth reviewing your adlist configuration. Reviewing your adlist settings can help identify any conflicts or misconfigurations that might be preventing the Admiral list from updating.

5. Firebog Server Issues: The External Factor

In rare cases, the issue might be on the Firebog server side. If the server is experiencing downtime or other problems, it could prevent Pi-hole from accessing the list.

Solution:

Check Firebog Status: See if there are any reported issues with the Firebog server. You can check online forums, social media, or website status checkers to see if others are experiencing similar problems. Checking the Firebog status can help determine if the issue is on their end, saving you time troubleshooting your own setup.
Try Again Later: If the server is down, the best course of action is to wait and try again later. Server issues are often temporary and resolved quickly. Trying again later is a simple but effective solution if the problem is on the Firebog server's side.

Real-World Examples and Scenarios

Let's look at some real-world examples to illustrate how these solutions can be applied.

Scenario 1: Caching Issue

Problem: Your Pi-hole shows the Admiral list with 2686 domains, but you know the list has been updated to include more. Other lists are updating fine.

Solution:

Flush the DNS resolver cache using pihole -f. Flushing the DNS resolver cache clears out old cached data, allowing Pi-hole to fetch the latest version of the list.
Update gravity with pihole -g. Updating gravity forces Pi-hole to refresh its blocklists, ensuring it pulls the most recent information.
Restart the DNS resolver using sudo pihole restartdns. Restarting the DNS resolver ensures that all changes are applied, and the new list is loaded.

Scenario 2: Network Connectivity Problem

Problem: You can't download the Admiral list using wget or curl, but your internet connection seems fine otherwise.

Solution:

Check DNS resolution with dig v.firebog.net. This verifies that your Pi-hole can resolve the domain, ensuring it can connect to the server.
If DNS resolution is working, investigate potential firewall or network restrictions that might be blocking access to the specific URL. Firewall rules or network configurations might be preventing Pi-hole from accessing the Admiral list, even if general internet connectivity is fine.

Scenario 3: List Format Issue

Problem: After a recent update, the Admiral list stopped updating. You suspect a formatting issue.

Solution:

Manually download the list and inspect its contents. Look for any unusual characters, formatting errors, or unexpected changes in the list structure. Manual inspection can reveal if there are any issues with the formatting or content that might be causing Pi-hole to fail the update.
If you find an issue, report it to the list maintainer. Reporting issues to the list maintainer helps them fix the problem, benefiting the entire Pi-hole community.

Conclusion: Keeping Your Pi-hole Up-to-Date

Troubleshooting why your Pi-hole's Admiral list isn't updating can be a bit of a detective game, but by systematically checking these potential causes and applying the solutions, you'll get things sorted out. Remember, keeping your blocklists updated is vital for maintaining a secure and ad-free network. So, dive in, try these steps, and get your Pi-hole back to its optimal performance! You got this! And remember, the Pi-hole community is a great resource if you get really stuck – don't hesitate to ask for help.