SwiftSieve
SwiftSieve
DNS proxy for iOS

FAQ

SwiftSieve FAQ

A few common questions about how SwiftSieve works. If you do not see your question here, feel free to email or open a GitHub issue.

Is SwiftSieve a VPN?

No. SwiftSieve uses Apple’s DNS Proxy API (NEDNSProxyProvider). It does not require a VPN setup, and does not show the VPN badge in iOS settings. It only handles DNS lookups.

For more on the security model and limitations, see the Security page.

SwiftSieve isn't working... what do I do?

First, check if SwiftSieve is enabled in iOS: Settings -> General -> VPN & Device Management -> DNS -> SwiftSieve which should show SwiftSieve DNS as "running".

If SwiftSieve is not enabled, or if the block log is empty, you may need to reinstall the app. If you've already tried re-installing, please email support@swiftsieve.com and we will help you troubleshoot!

Which DNS provider does SwiftSieve use?

SwiftSieve forwards non-blocked DNS queries to Cloudflare DNS-over-HTTPS at https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query. Blocked domains receive NXDOMAIN.

At this time, the app does not expose a setting to choose a different upstream resolver.

Can I change the upstream DNS?

Not in this version. SwiftSieve is currently hard-wired to use Cloudflare DoH as the only upstream. This keeps the configuration surface small while the core DNS proxy behavior matures.

What does SwiftSieve log?

SwiftSieve maintains a local block log in its App Group. Each entry includes:

  • The domain that was blocked.
  • A timestamp.
  • Which list (or custom rule) caused the block.

This log is stored locally and is used to show you what was blocked. SwiftSieve does not upload this log to a SwiftSieve-owned analytics backend.

For more detail on data handling, see the Privacy page and the privacy.md in the repo.

Does SwiftSieve see my full browsing history?

SwiftSieve only sees DNS queries, not full HTTPS URLs. It also does not attempt to intercept HTTPS or proxy application traffic. The block log records only blocked domains and related metadata, not a complete browsing history.

Do I need an Apple Developer account?

If you install SwiftSieve from the App Store, you do not need a developer account. If you want to build and run the app from the GitHub source, you will need an Apple Developer account to set up the app group and DNS Proxy extension on your own device.

How do I report a bug or suggest a feature?

You can either: