If anti-VPN technology has caught up with your VPN provider, I’ll show you both the simple and advanced working solutions to bypass those blocks. You’ll be surfing the internet safely again in no time. After testing 30+ VPNs I found that ExpressVPN works best to overcome blocks. You can try ExpressVPN out risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like it, you can claim a full refund.
Quick Guide: Bypass VPN Blocks in 3 Easy Steps
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Why Do VPNs Get Blocked?
There are many reasons why your VPN is being targeted and blocked, including copyright protection and geo-restrictions. Some of the most common ones are:
Government Censorship
Some governments don’t want citizens to access certain websites, so they block them within the country. Since VPNs can make it look like you’re browsing from another location, authorities use anti-VPN technology to limit their citizen’s internet access. Often, these VPN blocks are politically motivated to restrict the public’s access to information, or used when sites don’t support their culture and values. An example of this type of VPN block is The Great Firewall of China. With this technology, China blocks popular websites like Facebook and news outlets, and prevents most VPNs from accessing them in China. Despite these attempts, a few VPNs like ExpressVPN are strong enough to bypass government blocks. Note that ExpressVPN’s official website is blocked in China, so you have to download it before you travel to the country.
Streaming Location Restrictions
Due to licensing agreements, streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ have different content libraries for each country. Since you can access any country’s library with a VPN, platforms are trying to restrict the use of technology that can bypass its geoblocks. If you use an IP address that Netflix or other streaming services recognize as belonging to a VPN service, you’ll get an error message and be forced to turn off your VPN. Unfortunately, this means that subscribers who travel abroad can’t access some of their favorite movies, shows, and sporting events. Another frustration for paying subscribers is that US Netflix tends to have more content and faster access to popular releases than other countries’ libraries. A VPN can help you to overcome this location bias and access the content that you paid for. The most reliable solution to bypass VPN blocks on streaming platforms like Netflix is ExpressVPN. Its high-performance servers will allow you to stream your shows without interruption. Test ExpressVPN out for yourself risk-free. If you don’t feel it’s right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period.
Copyright Infringement
Using a VPN in itself isn’t illegal. However, some people illegally download copyrighted content or software from torrent sites while using VPNs to hide their identity. Copyright holders and ISPs block all VPNs to stop piracy, but those restrictions also affect legitimate VPN users. Piracy is considered theft in many countries, so the majority of torrent sites are blocked. Although there are still some torrent sites that work great, we do not condone downloading copyrighted work. It’s best practice to only torrent content that is freely available in the public domain if you are uncertain. Even then, some ISPs forbid the use of torrent software completely.
School and Workplace Restrictions
You might already know that some schools and offices block certain websites like Facebook or YouTube as they feel they might distract their students or employees. Workplaces can also block VPNs so that your internet traffic can be monitored. In this article, we’ll discuss all the ways you can bypass workplace firewalls and unblock your VPN, no matter where you are. Bypass blocks with ExpressVPN
8 Easy Tips to Unblock Your Blocked VPN
1. Use a Quality VPN
Using a quality VPN is the best way to avoid being blocked by websites, governments, ISPs, or streaming services. Anti-VPN technology blacklists most IP addresses, which is why the best VPNs regularly change their servers’ IP addresses. As a result, the servers don’t get blocked since they aren’t recognized as VPN traffic. The VPNs in this article successfully bypassed streaming platform and website blocks in our extensive tests. My team and I managed to use these VPNs around the world, even in restricted areas, without having to use specific settings to avoid blocks from highly monitored websites and streaming platforms.
2. Change Your VPN Server or Location
VPN providers usually offer hundreds of servers, many of them in the same country. Each server has a unique IP address, but some of those addresses can be blacklisted by anti-VPN sites. Since companies and websites can’t block all IP addresses, try switching to a different server in the same country. If switching your server or location doesn’t work, try ExpressVPN risk-free. During our tests, all of its servers seamlessly bypassed geoblocks, giving my team immediate access to websites and platforms that were blocked using most other VPNs.
3. Use a Dedicated IP Address
You can purchase a dedicated IP address from some quality VPN services as an added extra to your subscription price. A dedicated IP address is allocated to you alone, meaning that you don’t have to share it with multiple users. This not only prevents geoblocking technology, it also boosts your security. Netflix and other anti-VPN websites target servers with multiple users. Since dedicated IP addresses are unique to you, there’s less risk that they’ll be detected and blocked.
4. Run OpenVPN on Port 443
Your internet traffic is sent and received through different ports, depending on the type of traffic you’re sending. Most website servers are configured to accept HTTP traffic on port 80, and HTTPS traffic through port 443. However, if your VPN sends traffic through a custom port that the network’s firewall recognizes, it will be blocked. You can avoid port-blocking easily by switching to port 443. Port 443 is rarely ever blocked because websites need it to transmit important information, such as your credit card details. Most VPNs allow you to change your port number in the advanced settings area. However, if your software doesn’t provide that option, it’s possible to manually edit the OpenVPN configuration file.
5. StealthVPN/Obfuscation
Although most websites allow Port 443, some firewalls can still detect VPN traffic in the packet header sent with your tunnel data. We were able to sidestep this type of VPN block when we tested VPNs that come with StealthVPN. StealthVPN rewrites data packet headers and hides the data patterns that give your VPN away. Only the best VPNs with advanced cloaking technology, such as ExpressVPN, offer StealthVPN.
6. Use Shadowsocks (SOCKS5 Proxy)
Although it isn’t as safe as using a VPN, SOCKS5 proxy may be the solution you need if you’re persistently struggling to bypass VPN blocks. It is quite popular in China, where it’s used to bypass strict government internet restriction. Shadowsocks uses remote servers to bypass VPN blockers, disguising your traffic so it can move past censorship measures. Keep in mind that Shadowsocks doesn’t encrypt or protect your data like a VPN does, and it isn’t possible to use both at the same time. Some VPNs come with a SOCKS5 proxy option in its software, including Private Internet Access. Try PIA out for yourself with its trusted 30-day money-back guarantee. You can get a full refund if you decide it’s not for you.
7. Change Security Protocols
VPNs use different protocols to transmit your data. While some protocols prioritize privacy and security at the expense of speed, others give you the fastest speeds and lowest latency but aren’t as secure. If you need to avoid VPN blocks then try an alternative protocol, preferably one that focuses on masking or encrypting your data packets for maximum security. Here are some of the best protocols we used to bypass VPN blocks:
L2TP/IPSec – Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) is a tunneling protocol for sending data between users and machines, but it doesn’t provide adequate security on its own. Because of this, L2TP is frequently paired with Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) to encrypt your data and boost your security. L2TP/IPSec is difficult to read, even by VPN blockers, but the enhanced security means you might experience some reduction in speed. IKEv2 – Internet Key Exchange version 2, or IKEv2, is fast and mobile-friendly because it can reconnect you if you temporarily lose your internet connection or switch from WiFi to mobile data. It secures your data with encryption keys and is often combined with IPSec for additional security. Since VPN blockers don’t have the secret key, they can’t decipher your data. SSTP – SSTP uses an SSL/TLS (Secure Socket Layer/Transport Layer Security) channel to send traffic over the TCP 443 port. As I mentioned earlier, port 443 can circumvent almost all types of firewalls. SSTP also offers 256-bit AES encryption, the highest level of security available. However, all that encryption may reduce your browsing speeds when you switch. During our tests, SSTP worked better with Windows devices, but that is no surprise since Microsoft developed it. WireGuard – Using modern cryptography and network coding, WireGuard creates an encrypted tunnel to protect your data and bypass most VPN blocks. WireGuard is one of the fastest protocols available, and it connects instantly when you switch internet connections. It’s open-source, so your VPN provider is likely to offer this option on all types of devices. PPTP – PPTP is historically one of the most widely-used VPN protocols, but it is now dated, so you should only use it as a last resort. Free VPNs usually offer PPTP, but it’s only useful for bypassing free, low-level VPN blockers. It isn’t as secure as other newer protocols. Additionally, its lack of heavy encryption means it is fast enough for streaming HD content.
8. Switch to Mobile Data
You may be on a network that is blocking VPNs, so the simple solution is to disconnect and use mobile data instead. This solution doesn’t even need you to change any VPN settings, but you’ll need to keep an eye on your data usage. When you use an advanced, quality VPN, you shouldn’t have to worry about geoblocks. All of the recommended VPNs in this article bypass restrictions and regularly update their IP addresses to prevent detection. In our tests, ExpressVPN proved to be the best choice for avoiding blocks. Try ExpressVPN risk-free today. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so, if you find you don’t want to keep it, you can get a full refund. Get ExpressVPN risk-free today
5 Advanced Techniques to Bypass VPN Blocks
If the above solutions didn’t work for you because your VPN doesn’t have certain options, don’t worry. We found some advanced solutions that you can use to bypass VPN blocks if you’re tech-savvy.
Tor Browser
Although the Tor browser doesn’t exactly unblock your VPN, it is a good alternative to access certain websites. It’s a free browser that encrypts your traffic and routes it through random servers (or nodes) to keep it anonymous. Tor can unblock some websites, but it is incredibly slow, and there’s a chance your IP will get leaked. For maximum privacy and security, you should combine Tor Browser with a VPN that supports the Tor Network, like ExpressVPN. With ExpressVPN and Tor, you can unblock more websites and even choose which country you want to connect through. You can test ExpressVPN out for yourself without any risks as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
SSL Tunneling
SSL/TLS tunnels are usually used to transmit HTTPS traffic, which is the protocol websites use to send and receive secure information like your banking details. You’ll need a program called Stunnel to create SSL/TLS tunnels. When you use this method, your OpenVPN traffic is disguised, making it appear like regular HTTPS traffic. You can ask your VPN provider if they can set it up for you or guide you through step-by-step instructions in Live Chat.
SSH Tunnel
SSH tunnels are like SSL tunnels because they securely wrap and transmit your traffic. But instead of SSL/TLS tunnels, it uses SSH (Secure Socket Shell). Many websites and applications use SSH tunnels on a daily basis, so it is rarely blocked. However, SSH tunnels will slow down your browsing speed, so I wouldn’t recommend this for streaming or torrenting. Like SSL tunnels, you’ll need to contact your VPN provider for help with setting it up if you want to try this method.
SmartDNS
SmartDNS is excellent for streaming at fast speeds because it doesn’t slow down your connection. It unblocks streaming sites like Netflix and Disney+ that might otherwise block your VPN. Instead of masking your original IP address, it remains intact but is still able to to bypass blocked content. SmartDNS works on all internet-capable devices and comes free with the best VPNs. SmartDNS can even be configured on devices that don’t support VPNs, such as smart TVs and games consoles.
Create Your Own VPN Server
Setting up a manual VPN connection can work if nothing else does. Since you’ll be using your own unique hardware and server, it’s less likely that anti-VPN technology will detect you. Windows 10 has some inbuilt functionality for this, or you can try downloading OpenVPN Connect. It may take a lot of work and time, but it can be worth it. Instead of going through all that hassle, an easier option is to take advantage of ExpressVPN’s massive network of servers. Each server is backed by advanced security and encryption that makes your browsing undetectable in a few clicks — no complex setup needed. Try ExpressVPN out risk-free before attempting to set up your own server. If you don’t like the service, you can get a refund within its 30-day money-back guarantee period.
Types of VPN Blocks
There isn’t just one way of blocking VPN traffic, which is why only the best VPNs can keep up with the latest technologies. These are the most common types of VPN blocks, and how to bypass them:
1. IP Blocking
Many VPNs use shared IP addresses for hundreds of users. Others even publish a list of their IP addresses publicly. When websites that want to deter VPN use learn these IP numbers, they simply block them, meaning you can’t access a particular site or platform when you’re using that server identifier. You can try a different server or buy a dedicated IP address to bypass IP blocking, but using a quality VPN like ExpressVPN is the best solution.
2. Port blocking
VPN protocols usually have specific ports through which they transfer data. For example, OpenVPN uses port 1194 or 443, and PPTP uses port 1173. All a website has to do to block your VPN traffic is to monitor those ports and block any unwanted traffic. My team were able to bypass port blocking by switching security protocols and using StealthVPN/Obfuscation.
3. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)
Your internet traffic consists of two packets: the header and the payload. While other packet filtering services only check the header, deep packet filtering goes further to examine the payload and check your type of traffic. In doing so, it can detect VPN traffic and block it. The way to bypass deep packet inspection is by changing security protocols, using Stealth Mode, or installing a VPN capable of evading it by default, such as ExpressVPN.
4. GPS-Based Blocking
Mobile devices like smartphones store some information about you that desktop computers don’t, including your GPS data. If you try to hide your location with a VPN, but your GPS data reveals to a website that you’re in a specific country then you might be blocked. Turning your GPS off can prevent this. Otherwise, you need either a VPN spoofing app or a quality VPN that completely hides your true location. All of our recommended VPNs can easily bypass this block.
How Do I Know if a Site Has Detected My VPN?
Luckily, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re banned from those websites. Things should return to normal once you turn it off or use a better VPN that can unlock those sites. Be warned though — some websites like online casinos may terminate your account if you’re caught using a VPN, so be sure to check each sites Terms and Conditions for more information. ExpressVPN remains the safest VPN to use to avoid being blocked from your favorite content platforms and websites. Try ExpressVPN risk-free as it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t meet your needs, you can easily get a refund from its online support. Get ExpressVPN risk-free now
Best VPNs for Bypassing VPN Blocks
1. ExpressVPN — Military-Grade Encryption to Bypass All Types of VPN Blocks
ExpressVPN uses the highest standard of encryption, which is almost impossible for VPN blockers to detect or break. Its servers combine military-grade AES 256-bit encryption with StealthVPN technology to ensure your traffic and actual location are never detected. During our ExpressVPN tests, there were no DNS, IPv4, or WebRTC leaks, which anti-VPN methods use to detect VPN connections. You’ll be able to access your favorite websites and streaming platforms without facing blocks. Although powerful security often slows VPN speed, this VPN delivered the fastest speeds of all the services we tried. I had over 300 Mbps on local servers, which means you can use ExpressVPN to watch all of your favorite shows with zero buffering or lag. You only need 25 Mbps to stream in HD, so if the movie you want to watch is streaming in Ultra HD or 4K, ExpressVPN has you covered. It has a huge network of 3000 servers in 94 countries, so you can connect to the country of your choice and access blocked content. My team and I connected to servers around the world using ExpressVPN’s easy-to-use interface and had steady, reliable connections in all of our tests. Because there are so many servers in each location, we never experienced any drop-outs or stuttering caused by congestion. You get what you pay for, and ExpressVPN is slightly more expensive than a lot of other VPNs due to its numerous security and privacy features. You can save 49% off your purchase with a great deal that’s currently on offer. With that, you’ll get an unblockable VPN service at a great price of $6.67/month. My team and I were also able to access our home content catalogs in the following platforms: Of all the VPNs we tested, ExpressVPN proved the best at bypassing VPN blocks, allowing you to browse undetected. It unblocks websites in a single click without the need to constantly tweak protocols, servers, etc. You can try ExpressVPN out for yourself risk-free since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you find out it’s not for you, simply request a refund from its support and get your money back within a week of making the request. I tested this out by asking for a refund on the final day of the money-back offer. The Live Chat agent was helpful and approved my request right away. My money was returned to me in 3 days.
2. CyberGhost — Bypass Stubborn VPN Blocks with Streaming-Optimized Servers
CyberGhost boasts 9740 servers with locations in 91 countries across the globe so you can easily bypass restrictions. My team and I conducted extensive tests on multiple CyberGhost servers and managed to access heavily regulated services in an instant. This included news outlets, streaming platforms, and social media in multiple countries. Each server connected in seconds and, even though I never experienced any blocks, it was easy to switch to a different server in the same location as there are hundreds of options. Optimized servers mean that you can instantly click into the best option for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. You can easily find these by searching or scrolling in the Servers area. It clearly categorizes its optimized servers in a simple-to-use interface, so you can quickly find the best CyberGhost servers to bypass VPN blocks on specific streaming platforms and torrenting sites. This VPN has security-packed native apps for almost every operating system and can work on 7 devices at once, so you get effective block protection on all your devices. CyberGhost’s SmartDNS also lets you bypass VPN restrictions on devices that don’t support VPNs like smart TVs or gaming consoles. In addition to accessing my personal Netflix catalog, my team and I were able to access the following platforms seamlessly with Cyberghost: One downside to CyberGhost is that its monthly plan can work out quite expensive, and it only has a short 14-day trial. However, you can get a fantastic deal with its 2-year + 4 months plan which helps you bypass the blocks for just $2.03/month. You can try CyberGhost out for yourself as the long-term plan offers a 45-day money-back guarantee — the longest on this list. If you don’t feel it’s right for you, you can get your full refund before the 45-day period is over. I tested this out after trying the VPN for 3 weeks, and the customer support rep was extremely helpful. My refund was quickly approved and I had my money back within 1 working week.
3. PIA — Largest Server Network to Instantly Unblock Restricted Sites From Anywhere
Private Internet Access (PIA) has the widest server network of any VPN, making it difficult for VPN blockers to track, blacklist, or stop it. With an impressive 35000+ servers available to its subscribers, you can find multiple choices in the locations you need. It covers 83 countries, so you’ll never run out of server options to access your favorite website or streaming service. It consistently delivers fast streaming speeds because its numerous servers are unlikely to get overcrowded, unlike VPNs with fewer servers in their networks. During testing, it was easy to choose PIA’s best server for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, as the interface clearly shows the lowest latency in each region. You’ll easily find the most reliable server to bypass the blocks, no matter what you want to use it for. Like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, PIA also has military-grade encryption and security features that can bypass anti-VPN technology. It comes with a kill switch, so in the event your VPN cuts out for any reason, the internet will disconnect completely. This prevents your ISP and the streaming platform or website you’re accessing from seeing your true location and identity. One downside to this VPN is that you are not allowed to torrent using PIA’s US servers, so if you regularly torrent in the US then you may wish to choose one of our other recommendations. However, you are able to torrent using its European servers, so there is an alternative option if you decide to stick with PIA. You can take advantage of its vast server network and top security features for just $2.03/month. I was also impressed with PIA’s ability to grant access to the following content platforms for myself and my colleagues around the globe: Try it out for yourself with PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee. I contacted PIA’s Live Chat representatives on the last day of the money-back guarantee and requested a refund because I no longer needed the VPN. The rep quickly approved my request and the money was refunded to my bank account 4 days later.
What is a VPN blocker?
A VPN blocker detects when a VPN protocol is being used and prevents you from accessing certain websites or online content. Governments, streaming platforms, and workplaces often use anti-VPN technology to restrict access to information or content libraries. The best way to avoid VPN blocks is to use a quality VPN that has the ability to bypass blocks and give you instant access to websites and streaming platforms.
Can a firewall block a VPN?
Yes, firewalls can be configured to block VPN traffic. If you suspect that a firewall is blocking your VPN connection, try using StealthVPN or obfuscated servers to bypass it. These are premium features only found in the best VPNs. ExpressVPN is one of few services that offers StealthVPN (obfuscation) by default. It cloaks your VPN traffic to the extent that it bypasses deep packet inspection from the most robust firewalls. You can test ExpressVPN out for yourself and, if you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30 days to claim a refund.
Is it legal to bypass VPN blocks?
If VPNs are legal in your country, it is perfectly within the law to bypass VPN blocks. However, some countries have banned VPNs, so you have to be careful when using one. You should also be mindful of the terms and conditions of the websites and platforms you want to access. Some betting sites might ban you for using a VPN, but most streaming services won’t. Websites and streaming services usually display an error code or ask you to turn off your VPN if it is detected. When you use a quality VPN such as the ones recommended in this article, you shouldn’t have to worry about block error messages.
How do I bypass VPN blocks on streaming services?
The best way to bypass VPN blocks is to download a top-class VPN with military-grade encryption, DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and fast yet secure protocols. These advanced features mean you will be able to connect undetected and stream without interruptions.
Can Netflix ban you for using a VPN?
No, Netflix hasn’t ever banned subscribers for using a VPN, even though it is against the Terms of Service. If its anti-VPN technology detects that you’re using a VPN, you’ll be blocked from accessing Netflix’s library and asked to turn the VPN or Proxy off. If you do get an error message when you’re trying to use a VPN, switch to a different server or upgrade to a better VPN provider, such as the ones recommended in this article.
How can I bypass VPN blocks in China?
To bypass China’s powerful firewall, you’ll need to download a high quality VPN, such as ExpressVPN, before you enter the country. When in China, launch ExpressVPN and connect to a server in a country of your choice. ExpressVPN is one of the few VPNs that are powerful enough to bypass China’s censorship. You can test it out for yourself risk-free as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Can I bypass VPN blocks on my mobile phone?
Yes, you can bypass VPN blocks on your smartphone. Changing servers or switching to mobile-friendly security protocols like IKEv2 or WireGuard can help you avoid anti-VPN technology. If those solutions don’t work, it may mean your VPN isn’t secure enough. The best solution to reliably bypass VPN blocks is to use a VPN with advanced security and privacy features, such as ExpressVPN. It has easy-to-use native apps for mobile operating systems, including Android and iOS.
Can I use a free VPN to bypass VPN blocks?
Free VPNs rarely manage to bypass anti-VPN technology. Even the best free VPNs have a relatively small server network and share their limited IP addresses with millions of users, which means they are easily identified and blacklisted. Also, some free VPNs sell your private data to make a profit, further putting you at risk. Because free VPNs don’t invest in their technology, you won’t find the advanced security features that come with quality VPNs, such as an automatic kill switch, proprietary protocols, and military-grade encryption. This means that they are no match for websites and streaming platforms that invest in anti-VPN technology. Only the best VPNs, such as the ones recommended in this article, can successfully bypass geoblocks and other restrictions every time.
Start Accessing Sites That Block VPNs Today
VPN blockers are here to stay, and they are only getting stronger. Although there are ways to get around them, your current VPN provider may not have the right features to bypass the blocks. The most effective solution to evolving VPN blocks is to use a more advanced, premium VPN service. ExpressVPN combines military-grade AES-256 encryption with its proprietary protocol to make your traffic undetectable to even the most capable VPN blockers. It then ensures that you’re never at risk of exposure during your browsing session with an automatic kill switch, leak protection, no logs policy, and TrustedServer technology. Your purchase is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can download ExpressVPN and test it out for yourself risk-free now. Bypass blocks with ExpressVPN
