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NextDNS

NextDNS Inc. · Official macOS encrypted DNS client for NextDNS filtering profiles.

CaskNetworkingAuto-updatesApple silicon · Intel
Homepage
From homebrew/cask
30-day installs32#1170 in App
1-year installs32Last 365 days
Latest version2.1.54 days ago · Oct 11
Download size2.4MBarm64 / x86_64 · dmg
Release cadenceIrregular1 release in 30 days

NextDNS is a Networking app for Mac. It needs macOS 15 or later.

About

NextDNS is the official macOS client for the NextDNS encrypted DNS service. Use a NextDNS profile to apply DNS-level security, ad and tracker blocking, and parental-control policies. DNS filtering is not a VPN and does not encrypt all Internet traffic.

Install with brew install --cask nextdns-app, then open NextDNS from Applications. Create or retrieve your profile ID at https://my.nextdns.io, configure the profile in the app, and enable NextDNS; approve macOS network settings if prompted.

The 2.1.5 artifact requires macOS 15.6 or later according to its app bundle and official update feed, although Homebrew currently declares macOS 15. The official feed labels 2.1.5 as beta. This native app is distinct from the open-source NextDNS CLI.

Sources: https://nextdns.io/ · https://github.com/nextdns/nextdns/wiki/MacOS · https://storage.googleapis.com/nextdns_macos/appcast.xml

New What’s new in 2.1.5 Oct 11 · OpenNavo editorial

NextDNS 2.1.5 (build 28), beta; requires macOS 15.6 or later. The official feed provides no detailed change notes.

See all 1 release

Install and uninstall

Homebrew installs the app in your Applications folder.

Install without Homebrew

Download the same file Homebrew uses: storage.googleapis.com/nextdns_macos/NextDNS-2.1.5.dmg

SHA-256 only checks that the download is complete; it is not a security certification. See the SHA-256 and download address

Uninstall command
$ brew uninstall --cask \nextdns-app

A regular uninstall removes the app and keeps its settings and caches.

Deep clean (optional)
$ brew uninstall --zap --cask \nextdns-app

--zap also deletes the settings, caches and other files listed in the Homebrew definition. They can include data shared with other apps and cannot be restored, and it does not guarantee that nothing is left.See which files are removed

Facts and sources

Version 2.1.5
Released by the vendor on Oct 11

Questions

Is NextDNS safe?

NextDNS is in Homebrew’s official catalog and has not been disabled. Since September 2026, Homebrew disables apps that fail macOS Gatekeeper checks. When installing, Homebrew checks the download from storage.googleapis.com against its SHA-256 checksum. It was installed 32 times through Homebrew in the last 30 days.

How do I completely uninstall NextDNS on a Mac?

Run brew uninstall --cask nextdns-app. To delete its settings and caches as well, run brew uninstall --zap --cask nextdns-app. That also deletes 3 files and folders, including ~/Library/Containers/io.nextdns.NextDNSMac.

Does NextDNS run on Apple silicon (M1 and later) Macs?

Homebrew installs it on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs, from the same download. It needs macOS 15 or later.

Where does NextDNS store its settings and data?

Its settings are in ~/Library/Preferences/io.nextdns.NextDNSMac.plist. Its data is in ~/Library/Containers/io.nextdns.NextDNSMac. These locations come from Homebrew’s clean-up list.

What is the latest version of NextDNS?

The latest version is 2.1.5. NextDNS updates itself; to update it with Homebrew, run brew upgrade --cask --greedy nextdns-app.