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NextDNS on iPhone 6 (iOS 12.5.8) worked once, then after a reboot only ever shows "status": "unconfigured"

I'm trying to get NextDNS working on an old iPhone 6 running iOS 12.5.8. It'll be used as an emergency phone for my child, and I want to use NextDNS to stop the phone being used for entertainment.

Because it's an old version of iOS, I downloaded the last compatible version of the app from my App Store purchase history.

Initially everything appeared to work. I entered my Configuration ID, enabled NextDNS, and https://test.nextdns.io showed:

  "status": "ok"

My NextDNS logs immediately started filling up with blocked domains. It was glorious.

I then power cycled the phone and, since then, I've never been able to get it working again.

I've tried:

  • Deleting and reinstalling the app.

  • Removing and recreating the VPN profile.

  • Using it with and without a Configuration ID.

  • Toggling the VPN on and off in iOS.

  • Rebooting multiple times.

It's always the same. The NextDNS app says it's enabled, VPN shows as connected, but https://test.nextdns.io always returns:

{
  "status": "unconfigured",
  "resolver": "172.71.177.34",
  "server": "anexia-lon-1"
}

No blocking is performed, and nothing appears in my NextDNS logs.

The strange part is that it definitely worked once immediately after the first install. I have the logs to prove it, but it has never worked again since.

Has anyone seen this before or know how to fix it?

2 replies

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    • R_P_M
    • yesterday
    • Reported - view

    A work-around was found for this in the NextDNS sub-Reddit.

    • MrSilver
    • yesterday
    • Reported - view

    Apologies, R P M is correct and I did get an answer on Reddit.

    For anyone who wants a solution:

    • Install DoH Switcher from https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/morhill-doh-switcher/id1451319401
    • Run it and enter the "DNS-over-HTTPS" URL listed in the "Setup" tab of the NextDNS dashboard.
    • Click on the radio button to connect.
    • If this is the first time you've run it then it'll attempt to create a VPN connection that intercepts only DNS queries and pass them to NextDNS. You'll need to accept the prompts from iOS to do this.
    • Watch your NextDNS logs to verify that it works.

    Couple of tips:

    • If you want it to run every single time you power on your phone, go into the VPN settings on your iPhone and ensure that "Connect on demand" is enabled.
    • If you want your logs to identify the device, then append / followed by a unique name - for example "Daughter's iPhone" would be https://dns.nextdns.io/xxxxxx/Daughter%27s%20iPhone. Make sure you use %27 for an apostrophe and %20 for a space

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