Most Google Pixel network issues in Kenya show up as signal bars with no working data on Safaricom. At Mascom International in Nairobi, the fix that has worked on Pixel 7 to Pixel 10 phones is the free personalDNSfilter app, switched on with its VPN permission granted and left running. Pixels like the Google Pixel 10 start at KSh 82,500 here (November 2026).

Key facts

  • The fix has worked on Google Pixel 7, 8, 9 and 10 series phones brought to our Kimathi Street shop, including a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL in November 2026.
  • personalDNSfilter only works after you tap OK on Android's VPN connection request; skipping that step is the most common reason it seems to fail.
  • The app must keep running, so set its battery use to Unrestricted and turn on Always-on VPN.
  • US-bought Google Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL phones have no SIM tray and need an eSIM.

Why do Google Pixel phones have network issues on Safaricom?

Google Pixel phones carry no local Google warranty in Kenya, and most units arrive as imports from the US, UK or Japan. Buyers throughout Kenya tell us the same story: full signal bars, calls go through, but WhatsApp, M-Pesa app and browsing stall on Safaricom data.

Because personalDNSfilter only changes how the phone looks up web addresses (DNS), our working view is that the problem sits in that lookup step on Safaricom data. Google has not published a statement on Safaricom specifically. We have seen far fewer complaints from Pixel owners on Airtel Kenya.

A note before the steps: Mascom International has no link to personalDNSfilter or its developer. We recommend it only because it has worked on phones our customers brought in.

How to set up personalDNSfilter on a Google Pixel

personalDNSfilter is a free, open-source app by independent developer Ingo Zenz, available on Google Play. Setup is quick:

  1. Install personalDNSfilter from the Google Play Store and open it.
  2. Tap the start button inside the app.
  3. When Android shows a connection request asking to set up a VPN, tap OK. Without this, the app does nothing.
  4. Check for a small key icon at the top of the screen. That icon means the app is active.
  5. Turn on mobile data and open a few apps to test.

The developer describes it as a DNS filter, not a real VPN. It does not hide your IP address or change your location, and your data still goes through Safaricom.

How do I keep personalDNSfilter running?

The fix holds only while the app runs. If Android closes it in the background, data stops again until you reopen it. The app's own help page recommends three settings:

  • Battery: Settings, Apps, personalDNSfilter, Battery, then choose Unrestricted.
  • Always-on VPN: Settings, Network and internet, VPN, tap the gear beside personalDNSfilter and turn on Always-on VPN.
  • Private DNS: Settings, Network and internet, Private DNS, set to Off or Automatic while personalDNSfilter runs.

Restart the phone afterwards. If the key icon comes back on its own, the setup is complete.

Can Private DNS fix it without an app?

Possibly. Android 9 and later have a built-in Private DNS setting that also changes how the phone looks up web addresses. We have not yet tested it on Safaricom ourselves, so treat it as a first try, not a proven fix.

  1. Go to Settings, Network and internet, Private DNS.
  2. Choose Private DNS provider hostname and type dns.google.
  3. Save, then test mobile data.

Google's documentation explains that if the phone cannot reach that DNS server, name lookups fail. So if data gets worse, switch Private DNS back to Automatic and use personalDNSfilter instead. Do not run both at the same time.

What if the fix does not work on your Pixel?

personalDNSfilter fixes data that fails to load. It cannot fix a phone with no signal at all. Work through these checks:

  • No SIM tray? Google sold the Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL without a SIM tray in the US. Units from other countries keep one. A US unit needs a Safaricom eSIM, which you can request at a Safaricom shop.
  • After an update? If data stopped after a software update, go to Settings, System, Reset options, Reset mobile network settings. Saved Wi-Fi passwords are cleared, so have them ready.
  • Wrong APN? Safaricom's APN is safaricom, username saf, password data, MCC 639, MNC 02.
  • Carrier lock? A phone locked to a US or Japanese carrier will not register on Safaricom at all. No app fixes that.

Common mistakes

  • Dismissing the VPN connection request on first launch, then concluding the app does not work.
  • Leaving battery optimisation on, so the fix works in the morning and fails by lunchtime on the matatu home.
  • Running personalDNSfilter and Private DNS together.
  • Trying a DNS fix on a phone that shows no signal bars at all, when the real issue is a missing eSIM or a carrier lock.

Google Pixel phones in stock at Mascom International

If you are buying a Pixel, these are in stock at our Nairobi CBD shop at November 2026 prices. Prices change; each product page shows today's price.

  • Google Pixel 10a 256GB, KSh 73,000: the lowest-priced Pixel we stock, with a 5,100mAh battery.
  • Google Pixel 10 128GB, KSh 82,500: the standard model with a 5x zoom camera.
  • Google Pixel 10 Pro 128GB, KSh 103,000: 16GB RAM in a 6.3-inch size.
  • Google Pixel 10 Pro XL 512GB, KSh 145,000: the 6.8-inch model with 45W charging.

See every phone on our Phones page.

Common questions

Why does my Google Pixel show signal but no internet on Safaricom?

On Pixels we have handled, the cause appears to be how the phone looks up web addresses on Safaricom data, not the signal itself. Calls usually work while apps and browsing stall. Installing personalDNSfilter, granting its VPN permission and keeping it running has restored data on Pixel 7 to Pixel 10 series phones at our Nairobi shop.

Is personalDNSfilter safe to install on my Pixel?

personalDNSfilter is free, open-source software by independent developer Ingo Zenz, and its code is public on GitHub. The developer states the app does not collect user data. It is not a real VPN, so it does not hide your location. Mascom International has no connection to the app; we suggest it only because it works.

Do I need to keep personalDNSfilter on all the time?

Yes. On the Google Pixel phones we have seen, mobile data works only while personalDNSfilter is running. Set the app's battery use to Unrestricted and turn on Always-on VPN so Android does not close it. If data drops suddenly, check that the key icon is still showing at the top of the screen.

Can I use another VPN app with personalDNSfilter?

No. Android runs one VPN connection at a time, and personalDNSfilter uses that slot. If you switch to a work or streaming VPN, personalDNSfilter stops and your Safaricom data may stall again. Switch back to personalDNSfilter when you finish with the other VPN.

Where can I buy a Google Pixel in Nairobi and pay on delivery?

Mascom International stocks the Google Pixel 10a, Google Pixel 10, Google Pixel 10 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro XL at Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Prices start at KSh 73,000 (November 2026). We deliver countrywide with pay on arrival, same day within Nairobi, and can walk you through the personalDNSfilter setup.

Where to buy a Google Pixel in Kenya

Visit Mascom International at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521. Email info@mascomintl.com or browse www.mascomintl.com.

We deliver with pay on arrival to all 47 counties. Orders within Nairobi and its environs arrive the same day, and other major cities and towns get delivery within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.

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