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What is a web proxy?

A web proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between a client and a target server. When a client makes a request to a target server, the request is first sent to the proxy server, which then forwards the request to the target server. The response from the target server is then sent back to the proxy server, which in turn sends it back to the client. The main purpose of a web proxy is to act as a barrier between a client and the internet, allowing for tasks such as caching, filtering, and anonymity.

How does a web proxy work?

A web proxy is a server or device tunneling requests through it's own IP address, which makes it possible for the end user to unblock content or access restricted websites.

Why do you need a web proxy?

You might need a web proxy for a number of reasons. One of the most common uses is to unblock websites and bypass geographical restrictions or censorship. By routing your internet requests through a web proxy, you can hide your IP address and access websites that may be restricted in your region. Additionally, a web proxy can also be used for security and privacy purposes. For example, it can help protect your identity by hiding your IP address from websites and online services that you access. A web proxy can also act as a filter, blocking unwanted or potentially harmful content. Caching is another important function of web proxies, as they can store frequently accessed content locally, reducing the load on the target server and speeding up access times for users. Overall, a web proxy can provide a range of benefits, including improved security, privacy, and access to restricted content.

Is this web proxy free?

Yes! Our web proxy is completely free of cost and supports websites like YouTube, Twitter and Google. You just need to type in the url you want to access and click browse.

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How to unblock blocked websites (9 easy ways)

Learn how to unblock blocked websites in a few different ways using tricks, free software, online services, and apps.

Blocked websites

When you're bored at your office, school, or at home, and have some spare time, then you might want to go online and visit your favorite site, like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo, Yahoo, Gmail, VK, Reddit, Pinterest, Google, LinkedIn, or another website to check your email, check what your friends are sharing, watch videos, play video games, chat with someone, or do other things online.

So you open your web browser and visit your favorite website but then you find out that the site is blocked.

You might get one of the following messages in your web browser: DENIED , ACCESS DENIED , This site can't be reached , Hmm. We're having trouble finding that site. We can't connect to the server at vimeo.com. or Hmmm...can't reach this page .

There are schools, companies, and even countries that block certain websites like social media, video sharing, political, news, and adult sites.

When it happens only at work or at your school, then it's probably blocked by the network administrator of the company or school.

There are also countries where governments (authorities) block certain websites.

Countries may block websites for the following areas of activity:

• Political : Views and information in opposition to those of the current government or related to human rights, freedom of expression, minority rights, and religious movements.
• Social : Views and information perceived as offensive or as socially sensitive, often related to sexuality, gambling, or illegal drugs and alcohol.
• Conflict/Security : Views and information related to armed conflicts, border disputes, separatist movements, and militant groups.
• Email services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook.com, and AOL Mail)
• Search engines (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Baidu)
• Translation (e.g., Google Translate, WorldLingo, SDL FreeTranslation, and Bing Translator)
• Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services (e.g., Skype, Google Hangouts, and Vonage)
• Censorship or filtering circumvention methods
• Web hosting

In most cases, you can try a few different methods to unblock websites that are blocked.

Many people use a proxy site, but you can also unblock websites without proxy sites.

On this page, I will show you how to bypass and access blocked websites in a few different ways.

How to unblock a blocked website using DNS over HTTPS (DoH)

DNS over HTTPS is a protocol for performing remote Domain Name System resolution via the HTTPS protocol.

You can also use this to try to unblock blocked websites.

Below you will find steps to enable DNS over HTTPS in Windows 11 , Google Chrome , Microsoft Edge , and Firefox

How to enable DNS over HTTPS in Windows 11

2. Click on Network & Internet in the left menu.

3. Click on Wi-Fi or Ethernet . If your PC is connected to the Internet through Wi-Fi, then you click on Wi-Fi . If your PC is connected to the Internet through an Internet (LAN) cable, then you click on Ethernet .

4. Click on Hardware properties .

5. Find the DNS server assignment option and click on the Edit button next to it.

6. Click on the drop-down menu button and select Manual .

7. Click on the Ipv4 button to turn it to On .

8. In the Preferred DNS field, you enter the primary DNS server address of your choice (e.g., 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1).

9. Click on the drop-down menu button below Preferred DNS encryption and select Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS) .

10. In the Alternative DNS field, you enter the secondary DNS server address of your choice (e.g., 8.8.4.4 or 1.0.0.1).

11. Click on the drop-down menu button below Preferred DNS encryption and select Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS) .

12. Click on the Ipv6 button to turn it to On .

13. In the Preferred DNS field, you enter the primary DNS server address of your choice (e.g., 2001:4860:4860::8888 or 2606:4700:4700::1111).

14. Click on the drop-down menu button below Preferred DNS encryption and select Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS) .

15. In the Alternative DNS field, you enter the secondary DNS server address of your choice (e.g., 2001:4860:4860::8844 or 2606:4700:4700::1001).

16. Click on the drop-down menu button below Preferred DNS encryption and select Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS) .

17. Click on the Save button.

All of your DNS requests will be private and secure.

18. You can close the settings window now.

How to enable DNS over HTTPS in Google Chrome

Google Chrome may already have DNS over HTTPS enabled by default, but it's better to double-check and maybe make some changes in the settings, like changing the DNS service provider.

1. Open Google Chrome.

2. Click on the ⁝ menu button in the top right corner.

3. Click on Settings .

4. Click on Privacy and security located in the left menu.

5. Click on Security .

6. Click on the Use secure DNS option to turn it on.

7. Select the With option.

8. Select a DNS service provider.

DNS over HTTPS is now enabled.

You may need to restart your web browser before visiting the blocked website. And if the website is still blocked, try another DNS service provider.

How to enable DNS over HTTPS in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge may already have DNS over HTTPS enabled by default, but it's better to double-check and maybe make some changes in the settings, like changing the DNS service provider.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.

2. Click on the ⋯ menu button in the top right corner.

4. Click on Privacy, search, and services in the left menu.

5. Scroll down to the Security section.

6. Click on the Use secure DNS to specify how to lookup the network address for websites option to turn it on.

7. Select the Choose a service provider option.

How to enable DNS over HTTPS in Firefox

Firefox may already have DNS over HTTPS enabled by default, but it's better to double-check and maybe make some changes in the settings, like changing the DNS service provider.

1. Open Firefox.

2. Click on the ☰ menu button in the top-right corner.

4. Click on Privacy & Security in the left menu.

5. Scroll down to the DNS over HTTPS section.

6. Select the Max Protection option.

7. Select a DNS service provider.

How to unblock a blocked website using different DNS service

DNS (Domain Name System) is what lets users connect to websites using domain names instead of IP addresses. It's the phonebook of the Internet.

You can use Google Public DNS or Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 public DNS resolver to try to unblock blocked websites.

Below you will find steps to enable DNS over HTTPS in Windows 10 , Windows 11 , and Android .

Change DNS settings on Windows 10

1. Open settings.

2. Click on Network & Internet .

3. Click on Network and Sharing Center located at the bottom.

4. Click on your network.

5. Click on Properties .

6. Select (highlight) Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) .

7. Click on the Properties button.

8. Select the Use the following DNS server addresses option.

9. Enter the IP addresses in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields.

For Google, you enter 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 . For Cloudflare, you enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 .

10. Click on the OK button.

11. Click on the Close button.

Your DNS settings are now changed.

Change DNS settings on Windows 11

Change dns settings on android.

2. Tap on Connections or Network & internet .

3. Tap on More connection settings or Advanced .

4. Tap on Private DNS .

5. Select the Private DNS provider hostname option.

6. Enter the DNS provider hostname in the field below.

For Google, you enter dns.google . For Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), you enter one.one.one.one or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com .

7. Tap on Save .

Note: If you have a smartphone with an older version of Android, you can use an app, like Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 app.

How to unblock a blocked website using a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a network technology that allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet.

A VPN can be used to access region-restricted websites, shield your web browsing activities on public Wi-Fi networks, and more.

There are many paid and free VPN services and applications for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, and iPhone (iOs).

Four examples of well-known VPN services are:

• IVPN (WireGuard support)
• Mullvad (WireGuard support)
• Cryptostorm (WireGuard support)
• Windscribe (also offers a free account with 10 GB per month)

Most VPNs are very easy to use.

Some VPNs (like Windscribe) also offer a browser extension for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.

How to unblock a blocked website using the built-in proxy in Epic web browser

Epic Privacy Browser has a built-in encrypted proxy.

You can download Epic Privacy Browser here .

1. Open Epic Privacy Browser.

2. Click on the red plugs icon located at the top right of the browser.

3. Click on the On button.

4. Select a location.

How to unblock a blocked website using Tor Browser

Tor Browser is a web browser that protects you by bouncing your communications around a distributed network of relays run by volunteers all around the world.

Tor Browser allows you to access blocked sites.

You can use this browser on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux computers without installing it.

This browser can also run off a USB flash drive.

You can download the Tor Browser here .

Just open Tor Browser and visit the blocked website.

How to unblock a blocked website using Tails

Tails is a live operating system that you can start on almost any computer from a USB stick or a DVD.

It allows you to use the Internet anonymously and circumvent censorship.

Tails forces all Internet connections to go through the Tor network.

You can download Tails here .

You can install Tails on a USB flash drive, then boot a computer from the USB flash drive, open the web browser and visit the blocked website.

How to unblock a blocked website using proxy sites

A proxy site is a website hosted on a server that redirects your web browsing activity. A proxy site acts as an intermediary between you and the website you want to visit.

You can use proxy sites to access blocked websites.

1. Visit any of the proxy sites listed below.

• https://www.hidemyass.com/proxy
• https://www.proxysite.com
• https://proxysite.site
• https://hide.me/en/proxy
• https://hidester.com/proxy/
• https://whoer.net/webproxy

2. Enter the URL (web address) of the website you want to unblock (e.g., www.reddit.com, www.spotify.com, etc.).

3. Press Enter .

Note: Some companies, schools, or countries block proxy sites, and they might update their list of proxy sites regularly, so you might want to make a list of proxy sites.

How to unblock a blocked website using an IP address

Sometimes only the URL of a website is blocked (e.g., www.facebook.com, www.twitter.com, etc.).

You might still be able to visit the website by its IP address (e.g., 206.189.189.27).

Note: There are websites that cannot be accessed by their IP address.

How to find a website's IP address using an online service

1. Visit any of the online services listed below.

• https://www.site24x7.com/tools/find-ip-address-of-web-site.html
• https://ipinfo.info/html/ip_checker.php
• https://www.iplocation.net
• https://tools.keycdn.com/geo
• https://whatismyipaddress.com/hostname-ip
• https://www.whatismyip.com/dns-lookup/

2. Enter the URL (web address) or domain name of the website (e.g., reddit.com, www.spotify.com, etc.).

The group of numbers is the IP address of the website (e.g., 185.60.218.35).

How to find a website's IP address using Windows Command Prompt

In this example, I'll be using Facebook.

1. Open the Windows Command Prompt.

2. Type the following command:

How to find a website's IP address using the Mac OS X Terminal

1. Open the Mac OS X Terminal.

3. Press Return (Enter).

How to find a website's IP address using the Mac OS X Network Utility

1. Open the Mac Network Utility.

2. Open the Ping tab.

3. Type the site's domain name (e.g., facebook.com, twitter.com, yahoo.com, etc.).

4. Press Return (Enter).

5. Set the number of pings to 1 .

6. Click on the Ping button.

How to unblock a blocked website using a URL shortener

Maybe the URL (web address) of the website you want to visit is blocked, but converting the URL to another shorter URL with the help of a URL shortener might help you access the blocked site.

1. Visit any of the URL shorteners listed below.

• https://bitly.com
• https://tinyurl.com
• https://shorte.st
• https://www.rebrandly.com
• https://tiny.cc
• https://t.ly

The URL shortener will now create a custom short URL, and this URL can be used to visit the blocked website.

How to Unblock Websites (Ultimate Guide)

Blocked websites are an unfortunate reality of the online world — so much so that almost everyone runs into a block at one point or another. Thankfully, there are tons of handy tools and methods for bypassing blocks and accessing restricted content.

If you can’t access your favorite website, you’re not alone. Over 76 %  of Internet users live in countries with at least some form of online censorship. Plus, even if you don’t live somewhere with censorship, you’ve probably encountered blocks from work, school, and other places.

In this guide, we’ll dive into the many tools and methods available for unblocking websites from any device. Before we can do that, however, we’ll first have to find out why (and how) your favorite websites get blocked. Read on to learn more and start unblocking.

Why Am I Getting Blocked From a Website?

While blocks  can happen for any number of reasons, it’s usually because someone is trying to prevent you from accessing a certain website or app.

Most blocks fall into one of three major categories: Being blocked by the network you’re using (such as the WiFi at your work or school) or being blocked by the website itself. Finally, your internet service provider (ISP) or government may even block you.

No matter the block, there’s usually a workaround. However, the workaround you use depends on the type of block and what you’re trying to access. Read on to learn more about the different types of blocks and what tools you can use to bypass them.

It’s Blocked by Your Work or School

Almost everyone has had content blocked by their work or school. But why are these blocks in place, and how do they work?

The reasoning is pretty easy to guess: Schools and workplaces have a vested interest in keeping students and employees productive. As a result, they place heavy blocks on certain kinds of websites, such as social networks and online games.

Usually, your school or work network blocks websites by URL . That means whenever you enter an address into your browser  — the network compares this address to its blocklist. If the address is on the blocklist, it restricts access and blocks you.

A common way around these blocks is to reroute your browsing through a third party, such as a proxy or virtual private network (VPN).

It’s Blocked by the Government

As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, most of the world’s population faces a block imposed by governments. But why?

The exact answer may vary, but it all boils down to a common trend: Governments have a vested interest in preserving their reputation among their citizens. As a result, many governments restrict access to websites that share embarrassing or incriminating information about past events.

One of the most famous examples of a government block is the “Great Firewall”  of China, which was quickly implemented after the Internet first arrived in the country in the early 1990s. The intention of the firewall is to block foreign websites and cross-border traffic that go against China’s constitution and censorship objectives.

Because of the Great Firewall, China’s population of nearly 1.5 billion people can’t access popular websites such as Google and Facebook. However, this hasn’t stopped them:  29 %  of Internet users in China bypass blocks with a VPN.

Of course, China is far from the only country that restricts its citizens’ Internet access. No matter the country, however, the blocks are usually the same, with government networks filtering web traffic based on URLs and host IP addresses.

VPNs are usually the best way to bypass government blocks. However, some users can get by using proxies and other methods .

It’s Blocked by Your ISP

While not nearly as common as the other types of blocks we’ve discussed so far, many users face blocks from their Internet service provider (ISP).

While the reasons for ISP blocks can vary, they’re usually meant to prevent web traffic that could violate local laws or the provider’s terms of service. In contrast to government-level “hard blocks,” ISP “soft blocks” are typically easier to bypass with VPNs, proxies, and other methods. Simply switching DNS servers can even bypass some ISP blocks.

Many Internet users aren’t even aware that they’re being blocked by their ISP. One common reason is that these blocks can be a valuable add-on service meant to safeguard your browsing experience. However, some ISPs may also restrict access to safeguard their own interests.

But how do you know if your ISP is behind a block? While it isn’t always easy to tell, you can usually conclude that a block is from an ISP if you can’t access a website on an otherwise unrestricted network. For example, if you live in a country without censorship and aren’t using a work or school network, then any blocks you experience are likely coming from your ISP.

It’s Geo-Restricted

Many websites block traffic from entire countries or regions. Also known as ‌”geo-restriction,” this type of block is common on streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and more.

Why bother blocking foreign traffic? Streaming services, in particular, must also follow distribution laws that dictate which countries and regions can access certain content. These laws are why your Netflix experience often changes when you enter a new country — even on the same account.

As you may have guessed, bypassing geo-restrictions requires accessing the website from an “approved” country. While that may seem impossible without travel, VPNs and proxies offer this capability by rerouting your traffic through remote foreign servers.

Another reason for other sites is that too much foreign traffic can overwhelm server resources.

You’re Banned

Sometimes blocks come from a website itself. Many popular websites such as Omegle and Twitter can ban users for violating their terms of service or promoting illegal activity.

In this case, it’s pretty easy to tell if you’re banned. But how can you get around it?

The answer varies depending on the website and the method of the ban. Account-based services such as Twitter will simply ban the account itself, meaning that you won’t be able to bypass it by simply using a VPN. Instead, you’ll have to create a new account altogether.

However, many bans are based on the user’s IP address . Instead of banning an account, a website may instead ban all traffic from the user’s IP address . VPNs and proxies are great ways to bypass these bans since they can effectively change your IP address by rerouting your traffic.

Can You Unblock a Website?

Yes, but it depends on the block. VPNs and proxies can usually bypass most restrictions, but it’s not always guaranteed.

As we’ll see in the next section, unblocking capability can vary widely between different providers and software packages. To make things even more difficult, many popular web services are constantly on the lookout for VPN and proxy server IPs, resulting in a never-ending struggle to maintain a vast pool of functional addresses.

Thankfully, even if a VPN or proxy doesn’t work for a certain service, there are still plenty of ways to bypass blocks. Read on to learn more about VPNs, proxies, and some effective alternatives to unblocking your favorite websites.

Top 4 Ways To Unblock Websites

VPNs and proxies are the most popular and effective tools for unblocking websites. However, many users also achieve great results from anonymous browsers such as DuckDuckGo . While there are many other methods for unblocking websites, these four are the most widely used.

1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPNs are by far the most popular tool for unblocking websites. However, bypassing blocks is just a byproduct of their functionality.

True to its name, a virtual private network reroutes your traffic through its own set of secure servers, effectively extending the private network of your home, school, or work onto a virtual public network. In other words, where your traffic would normally be sent directly to a website, a VPN steps in as a “middleman” that takes your data and resends it.

Unlike a proxy, a VPN  also encrypts your outgoing traffic. As a result, both your traffic and your identity stay private and secure. As we’ll see later, this is part of the key to accessing blocked websites.

The process may sound a bit complicated, but it’s actually fairly straightforward:

• You open the VPN client on your desktop or web browser .
• The VPN client encrypts your outbound traffic. Depending on the provider, you may also be able to specify which apps will use the VPN (this option is known as “split tunneling”).
• Your encrypted traffic gets sent to the VPN’s network of secure servers. Like with any connection, your traffic is divided into “packets,” each of which includes source and destination IP addresses. Here, the source IP address is that of your private home, work, or school network.
• The VPN server removes your source IP address from each packet and replaces it with its own. In doing so, the receiving end will think that your traffic came from the VPN server, not your computer.
• Your traffic is decrypted and received by the recipient, who won’t be aware of its true source.

Okay, so maybe not entirely straightforward. However, you likely won’t need to worry about the details of the process. Once it’s up and running, you’ll be able to browse normally while the VPN encrypts and reroutes your traffic behind the scenes.

That’s all well and good, but how does that process unblock websites?

The answer is in your IP. As many blocks and bans are IP-based (websites use it to deduce your location), replacing your IP address during rerouting is usually enough to slip through restrictions. However, as most major websites are constantly trying to block access from known VPN servers, providers need to maintain large networks of distributed servers in order to secure access.

Server numbers and capabilities vary widely between different VPN providers, however. Even a quick search for a VPN will yield hundreds of different options, with each provider having a different number and variety of servers.

As you might imagine, price also varies with performance, with top providers charging $10 or more per month to use networks with thousands of secure VPN servers. While there are some free VPNs, they often aren’t robust — and many people turn to proxies for free unblocking.

2. Use a Proxy Server

Like a VPN, a proxy also reroutes traffic through its own servers — but with a few key differences.

The biggest difference is that proxies don’t encrypt data as VPNs do. As a result, your traffic is fully visible to third parties, which can pose additional security risks if you’re using a less-than-reputable provider. Users should be careful when typing passwords or sending other secure information while using a proxy.

Most proxies also offer far fewer servers than the average VPN provider. While you may still be able to unblock websites, they probably won’t be as reliable as using a VPN.

However, these drawbacks don’t mean that proxies don’t have their place. Since they’re free and widely available, proxies offer a quick way to unblock websites and preserve anonymity. Just be careful when sending secure data and be prepared to try many different servers before you’re able to access restricted content.

3. Use a VPN/Proxy Browser Extension

Many VPNs and proxies can also come as browser extensions  (rather than full-fledged software tools).

These are a great option for unblocking websites. Conventional VPNs will reroute your entire connection rather than traffic sent from individual apps. While some providers do allow users to pick and choose which apps use the VPN network, you may have to pay extra for the privilege.

Another benefit of browser extensions  is that they won’t slow down your connection speed for other apps. Since VPNs add an extra step between source and destination, a slightly slower connection is always expected. However, if only the web browser is using the VPN, you’ll maintain a high connection speed for other apps while you unblock websites from the browser.

The difference isn’t quite as significant for proxies, however. Since most proxies are usually free and often overused, there’s little difference in connection speed unless the browser extension provides access to premium proxy servers.

Short for “The Onion Router,” Tor is a free, open-source network dedicated to preserving online anonymity. While its primary purpose is hiding your identity, it also has the benefit of unblocking websites by rerouting your traffic through its vast network of relays.

While that may sound a lot like a VPN or proxy, it’s not quite the same. Where VPNs and proxies use dedicated servers, the Tor network relies on a large overlay network run entirely by volunteers.

When you use Tor, your traffic and data get rerouted through at least three volunteer relays  until there’s no identifying information left. As of 2022, the Tor network boasts over 6,000 relays.

Using the Tor network is free and easy. You can access the network by downloading the Tor browser  and simply selecting a connection. While some countries block Tor itself, you can bypass these blocks by configuring Tor to use its own network during the download. After installation, you’re good to go.

Tor does have some drawbacks, however. In order to keep your identity private, the Tor browser will often block media plugins (such as Flash) that could be manipulated into revealing identifying information. Similarly, it also automatically disables scripts, resulting in a slightly less feature-rich browsing experience.

Other Ways to Unblock Websites

While using VPNs, proxies, and the Tor network are all great ways to unblock websites, they’re not the only option — and they may even be unnecessary in certain situations.

Before shelling out for a premium VPN or replacing your favorite web browser with Tor, consider some of these simpler alternatives.

Switch from HTTP to HTTPS

One of the easiest ways to unblock certain websites is to simply switch to its HTTPS version . To do this, simply replace the “http://” in the URL with “https://”.

These days, it’s not a surefire solution as HTTPS has become the standard for most websites. But it can be an effective way to bypass blocks on work or school networks.

In these cases, administrators usually specify a complete URL (e.g., http://www.blocked-website.com/) when adding a site to their network’s blocklist. Administrators may forget to include the HTTPS variation, offering you a convenient workaround.

Use the Website’s IP Address

Similar to switching to HTTPS, you can also try using the website’s IP address instead of its URL.

To find a website’s URL, use any of the methods outlined here . Simply enter the IP address into your browser, and you should be able to access the website unless your network administrator has done the due diligence to also block the IP.

For example, one of several IP addresses for the Google homepage is 172.217.204.102. Try entering this address in your browser instead of google.com — you’ll wind up at the same place.

Use a URL Shortener

URL shorteners like TinyURL  provide another way to bypass certain blocks.

These services take an existing URL and return a shortened version that automatically redirects you to the original website. In doing so, you’re only connecting to the shortened URL and not the original, which may be blocked by your administrator. As a result, URL shorteners can sometimes do the trick for URL-based blocks and blocklists, depending on how they’re enforced.

Change Your DNS Server

Switching to a different Domain Name System (DNS) server is an effective way to unblock websites if you’ve been IP banned.

Without getting too technical, your DNS server  is responsible for linking URLs to their IP address(es) (e.g., google.com to 172.217.204.102). Since private networks and ISPs manage blocks from their DNS servers, switching to a public one is usually a good workaround.

You can switch to a different DNS server by entering its IP address in your computer’s network settings. One of the most popular (and easy to remember) choices is Google’s public DNS server, which has an IP of 8.8.8.8.

Use an Online Translators

Submitting a URL to online translators such as Google Translate  provides an alternative link that can evade many blocking filters. Simply enter the URL into the translation field, select your language, and let the translator work its magic.

Check Caches and Website Archives

Google Cache  and archive.org’s Wayback Machine store copies of every website they crawl, which are available to the public. Since you don’t need the original URL to access a cached website, it’s an effective method for viewing blocked websites — albeit older versions.

To access a cached version of a website, you can either Google search the URL and access the cache  from the results or search the Wayback Machine .

Use Opera Browser

The Opera browser includes a free built-in VPN, making it a quick and easy way to unblock websites without purchasing an expensive subscription. However, be careful: According to some reviews, it’s not the best option for securing your privacy or accessing streaming services such as Netflix.

Though there are many ways to unblock websites, VPNs remain the most popular and effective solution. With top providers offering thousands of servers spread across global networks, a VPN is a great way to access restricted content and even secure your privacy.

However, proxies, Tor, and the other tools and methods we’ve covered can also do a great job in many situations. No matter what you use, remember that the key to unblocking websites is either changing your IP address or trying an alternative URL.

Looking for more helpful hints? Visit the Kinsta blog for the latest tips on secure browsing, managed WordPress hosting , application hosting , database hosting , and more.

Salman Ravoof is a self-taught web developer, writer, creator, and a huge admirer of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Besides tech, he's excited by science, philosophy, photography, arts, cats, and food. Learn more about him on his website , and connect with Salman on Twitter .

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How To Unblock Websites 7 Different Ways With Step-By-Step Directions

Updated: Jun 19, 2024, 11:42am

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How to unblock a website 7 different ways, why are websites blocked, who blocks websites, frequently asked questions (faqs).

If you’re struggling to unblock a website, this guide is here to help you. In it, you will find seven ways to unblock a website, including using virtual private networks (VPNs) and proxies, alternative browsers, URL shorteners, public archives, device settings and new account options. We also give you step-by-step instructions on how to use each. Finally, we break down all you need to know about blocked websites, including who blocks them and why.

There are several ways to unblock a website. Some are free while others cost a monthly fee. Some are also more effective than others. We’ve compiled a list of seven ways to unblock websites along with a price point and instructions on how to use each. Our list includes using a VPN, a proxy and Tor; using URL shorteners, changing your device settings and accessing the inaccessible website’s archived history.

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Here is a closer look at each of these options:

1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Price: Free to $13 per month

VPNs, or virtual private networks, help internet users access websites and search the web with anonymity, which is especially useful when using public internet, for example. However, it can also be used to unblock a website due to its ability to hide your IP address and its associated location. Here’s how it works:

• When using a VPN, your data is first encrypted, or scrambled, making it unreadable.
• It is then sent to a secure server and, in the process, both the source IP address (this is your computer’s address) and the destination IP address are hidden.
• Your IP address is then replaced by the VPN server’s IP address, thereby masking your computer’s identity and location.
• Finally, your data is decrypted and sent to the recipient, who still cannot derive the source IP address (your computer’s address).

When using a VPN, your location (as indicated by your IP address) is replaced by the location of the server’s IP address. By hiding your location and your IP address, you can bypass many blockers, including geo-specific blockers, for example. In addition, if your IP address is blocked from a website, the server’s IP address may not be, enabling you to access the website by hiding behind the disguise of the VPN server’s IP address.

Still, this method of accessing a blocked website is not 100% guaranteed. Many websites also block known VPN server IP addresses, which are often listed publicly. In this case, you have two options. You can either turn to another option on this list or search for a VPN with more servers. More servers can mean the VPN is less likely to have all of its server IP addresses known and blocked, meaning you are likely to have more luck accessing blocked websites.

However, be prepared to pay more for more effective VPNs. The cheapest VPNs are free while premium VPNs can cost around $13 per month. Free VPNs have their catches, such as using your data to target you with ads related to your interest or even selling your data to third parties. To learn how to select a VPN and the best VPNs available, read our guide to the best VPNs .

2. Use a Proxy

Price: Free

A proxy is similar to a VPN in that it allows you to access a website anonymously. However, unlike a VPN, you can only do so from one tab or device and it does not encrypt your data. Still, when using a proxy, you can choose a location from which to appear when you access a website. Just as when using a VPN, this can help you bypass some blockers, including geo-specific and even organization-specific blockers.

As an example, when you use the popular HMA blocker, you must first visit the HMA website, then input the URL of the website you wish to access into the search bar labeled “Site you want to access.”

You can specify the location of the server you wish to use or let HMA choose for you by selecting “random server.” When specifying a location, you can choose from New York or Seattle, U.S.; Frankfurt, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; London, U.K., or Prague, Czech Republic. By selecting a distant location from which to access the website, you set up the proxy to bypass location-specific blocks, including government and organizational blockers.

From there, you can select more options that offer slightly more browsing security, such as the option to disable cookies that track your web activity. You can access these extra security options from the “More options” drop-down menu. Finally, click “Agree and connect” to begin browsing the specified website anonymously and under the guise of the access location you selected.

Tor offers free and open networks for the sole purpose of being able to surf the web in total anonymity. While you must download the Tor browser, unlike a proxy and like a VPN, it offers the advantage of being able to surf the web without having selected a specific URL beforehand. It also offers superior data encryption and thousands of servers from which you can access data. Tor’s goal is to help you get past censorship that may block web content.

To use Tor, simply visit the Tor website and click “download browser.” On the next page, you will be given a list of devices. Select the device that matches your own. You can choose to download for Windows, macOS, Linux or Android devices.

4. Use a URL Shortener

URL shorteners change the URL, potentially allowing you to access a website using a URL that is not recognized by blockers. For example, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/ is reduced to https://tinyurl.com/2p9hkzrs when run through the free URL shortener TinyURL.com. Clearly, the shortened link is different from the original one. It is also uniquely made. As such, it is unlikely to be listed as a prohibited URL by website blockers. When website blockers do not recognize the URL as a restricted one, they are more likely to allow you to visit it.

5. Access the Website via Its Crawl History

Internet archive sites such as Archive.org keep a history of all content published on the internet. In doing so, Archive.org aims to allow researchers, historians and the general public to access all knowledge ever published internet-wide. It has 26 years of web history and often allows people to access content they would otherwise be blocked from accessing. Users type in a URL in the site’s Wayback Machine search bar to access a record of its content.

However, some governments have suffered controversies over blocking archive websites, including Archive.org. India, for example, blocked the site and, in doing so, prevented its citizens from accessing prohibited content. Other countries that have blocked the website at least for a time include Russia and Jordan.

6. Change Your Device Settings

Your device may have settings in place to prevent you from performing actions that may be harmful to your device, such as accessing risky websites that could put your device at risk for malicious malware activity, for example. Other device settings may be in place to help you be more productive or to help you make the most of your downtime, such as screen limit times. Disabling or adjusting these settings may help you access blocked websites.

For example, firewall protection can come in the form of hardware, software or via the cloud. Its purpose is to block websites based on its preset security rules. If a site is blocked via your firewall protection and you wish to access it, simply disabling the firewall can help you get around the block.

As a case in point, the Microsoft Defender Firewall can be disabled on a Microsoft 11 device by clicking Start and opening your settings. Find the “Privacy and Security” option. Look under it to find Windows Security, then Firewall and network protection. Click on Windows Security to open it. Select a network profile that applies to you. Your choices are domain network, private network or public network. Under Microsoft Defender Firewall, switch the setting to off.

7. Open a New Account

Price: It depends on the account-based site but this option is often free

Some websites that allow users to create an account to fully access the site can block users by simply disabling their accounts. Twitter, for example, can remove people from its platform by removing the user’s Twitter account. In this case, a user can often access the website by simply creating another account.

However, this is often not the case if an account-based site is blocked due to censorship. For example, Netflix users must create and pay for an account to access Netflix content. However, the citizenry of Syria, North Korea, China, Russia and Crimea are blocked from even creating an account. Unblocking account-based sites that are blocked due to government censorship will require a different approach than opening a new account.

The reason a website is blocked often depends on the source of the block. For example, governments restrict access to websites that contain information government representatives do not wish the public to know or that would help those accessing the website to engage in criminal activity. Schools and places of employment may also prohibit students and employees from accessing sites that pose security risks or hinder productivity.

As a real-life example, Cornell University blocks websites that are known to pose a risk to the organization’s security. They include sites that are known to contain malicious software or scripts that could result in the stealing of pertinent university information, such as login credentials. The University chooses websites to block based on known cybersecurity threats and websites that have proven to be a risk in the past.

As you can see, the reasons behind the blocking of a website should help to determine the seriousness of attempting to bypass blockers. As you look to implement the information in this guide, it is important to first understand why set blockers are in place and the consequences of bypassing them before attempting to do so.

Websites are blocked by many different sources. However, the most common entities that block websites include schools, places of employment, governments and companies that provide goods or services to other businesses or consumers. Here is a closer look at the top sources of website blocks.

• Schools. Schools block content for a number of reasons, such as to prevent students from accessing criminal or inappropriate material, to avoid security risks (such as viruses) and to ensure students and school administrators are as productive as possible during school hours.
• Employers. Employers block content for many of the same reasons schools do. For example, many employers block social media sites to ensure employees are using their time to advance company goals while at work. They also block sites for security reasons, such as to prevent sensitive data from being leaked via malware.
• Governments. Many governments block websites to prevent their citizenry from accessing prohibited information, to protect national security or to prevent crime.
• Companies. Some companies only offer their products or services to certain regions or countries. Some offer different products or services based on region or country. For these reasons, some companies block customers or would-be customers from accessing websites that advertise products or services that are not available to them.

This list is by no means exhaustive. For example, public nonprofits and even individual people—such as parents—block content for a myriad of reasons. Determining the source of the website block, then the source’s reason for blocking a website can often help you determine the best way to get around a website block.

Bottom Line

Clearly, you have many options to help you unblock websites. These include using VPNs, proxies, URL shorteners, your device settings and more. But, it is important to do a little digging before you start trying these options to find out who blocked the website you desire to access and why. Doing so can help you decide if it is legal to unblock the website, the consequences of doing so and, likely, the best approach to unblocking it.

Is it legal to unblock websites?

Unblocking a website can be illegal if you are breaking the laws of the country in which you are performing the action. For example, some countries have laws that make the use of VPNs illegal. Belarus, China, Iraq, North Korea and Russia have all made the use of VPNs illegal. Censorship laws can also render the unblocking of content that contains censored information illegal. Be sure to know the law before attempting to unblock websites.

Why is my internet blocking websites?

There can be a number of different reasons that could be behind a blocked website. These include security protocols, organizational policies, national or local laws, regional restrictions, government censorship and more. To find out why a website is being blocked, first determine the parties responsible for the block, then inquire as to why website blocking is being implemented.

How do I stop my browser from blocking a website?

Some ways to stop a browser from blocking a website include using a VPN or proxy to appear as if you are in a region where that website is allowed to be viewed or changing your browser settings or permissions. You can also opt to use another browser, such as browsers designed to allow access to websites that are often blocked due to regional restrictions or censorship, including the Tor Browser.

How do I unblock a website on a school Chromebook?

Because you are unlikely to be allowed to download a VPN or the tor browser on your Chromebook, use unblocking methods that don’t require downloaded tools to be effective. Some examples include using a proxy or a URL shortener.

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6 Ways to Unblock a Website at Work, Home, or School

Last Updated: June 18, 2024 Tested

Using a Web-Based Proxy Server

Using a translation service, using a virtual private network, using a url shortener, accessing sites through a web cache, using a different dns, expert q&a.

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 36 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 417,924 times. Learn more...

Blocked websites can be frustrating when trying to stay connected to friends and family. Many people around the globe face internet censorship filters put in place by governments or internet service providers. You might even have difficulty surfing the web at school or at work. Some restrictions do not allow browsing on popular sites, like YouTube and Facebook. Luckily, there are free methods to help you bypass these filters and unblock these blocked websites. You don’t even need to be tech savvy to do it.

How to Use a VPN or Translation Site to Unblock Websites

Use a VPN (virtual private network) to change your IP address and reroute your internet use through a private server, which allows you to bypass blocks. If you don’t want to download or purchase a VPN, try running your URL through a translation site.

• A good proxy service will not have too many ads or popups. Advertisements are very common and can be a big downside to using many free proxy servers.

• If you don't have administrative privileges on your computer, as is common for employees at work or students at school, you will not be able to use this method.
• This method is ideal for accessing blocked websites on your phone. All you have to do is visit your app store. Many of the same software brands available for computers also have a version for phones.

• Search engines save a copy of all web pages loaded up to the internet. Accessing these caches will allow you to see the content of a site without actually visiting the page.

• Always be careful about using proxy server. Some proxy websites can track your personal information. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you can't load a page on your phone through the network, the quickest fix might just be to turn your WiFi off and use your cellular data to access the site. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Be careful as for websites, they can give viruses. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• You can unblock websites with online mobile app testers like appetizer.io.
• You can use Tor browser to bypass DNS filtering.

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• ↑ https://www.pcworld.com/article/474144/how-to-unblock-blocked-websites.html
• ↑ https://www.tweakandtrick.com/2011/12/how-to-unblock-websites-at-school.html
• ↑ https://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2009/09/unblock-websites/

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