How to unblock a website in 2024 (2024)

It can be frustrating to find that a website you need to access is blocked. There many reasons why this can happen, ranging from government involvement all the way down to simple browser settings on your personal device.

Whether a company policy is keeping you from streaming your favorite music or your go-to sitcom isn’t available while you travel abroad, there are several ways you can circumvent blocked content. Below, we explore the reasons your content may be restricted, how to unblock a website with VPNs or proxy servers and whether or not you should try to access blocked websites in the first place.

Why do websites get blocked?

Websites can be restricted at multiple security levels, either at the machine level (your specific device), the network level (the digital network your device is connected to) or at the ISP/government level.

Sometimes, your browser or search engine may block a website if the page violates one of its policies. For example, Google may block a website if:

• It is spammy or low quality.
• If it has received a legal request to remove the page.
• If the site features malware.
• If a website has been hacked.
• If there have been any additional policy violations.

Ultimately, there are a number of reasons why a website might be blocked for you. If the block is resulting from your device or network, it may be easily resolvable. If it is due to an ISP or government restriction, accessing the site may prove more difficult or ultimately impossible.

Network restrictions

If you are accessing the internet from a public network, like a cafe’s Wi-Fi, or from a network provided by work or school, content may be restricted based on whether or not it is appropriate for your environment.

Websites may also be blocked to protect you and the network from scams and malware if they are identified as potential threats. Work and education networks often also block streaming services, like music and video, because they want to promote productivity and prevent bandwidth issues.

ISP or government restrictions

Your internet service provider (ISP) may block URLs that are associated with criminal activity like pirating content. ISPs may also be federally required to restrict URLs depending on your country’s censorship and internet laws.

Additional censorship may be politically motivated. Governments can block access to certain platforms or information. Most notable is China’s “Great Firewall,” which blocks popular social media websites.

Machine-level restrictions

It is possible that your internet access is being restricted at the machine level, meaning that a setting on your personal device is preventing you from accessing a website. These restrictions can stem from parental controls, safe search settings, certain websites being flagged by your antivirus software as unsafe or firewall settings. It’s even possible that your router has settings that restrict certain URLs.

Geographic restrictions

Streaming services often block access to their catalogs based on your geographic location. Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and Disney+ have to manage contracts that determine which pieces of media can be shared in which regions. Available media differs from country to country, so don’t be surprised if you can’t access your favorite shows while traveling.

How to unblock websites

1. Bypass website blocks using a VPN

VPN stands for virtual private network. This technology encrypts your IP address, which can both protect your digital identity and hide your location, helping you access content that is locally or geographically restricted. Using a VPN can also help protect you from cybersecurity threats by standing between you and suspicious websites.

A good VPN is easy to use, safe, secure and works quickly to grant you access to what you need. There are free and paid private networks available, so you’ll want to weigh your options to find a service that offers verified, quality protection.

Here are some of our top recommendations from our full list of the best VPN service providers.

Private Internet Access (PIA)

PIA is our pick for U.S.-based, remote employees who have access blocked at the machine or network level. PIA’s cheapest subscription runs $11.99 a month, making it one of the more affordable VPN options.

With servers in all 50 states, PIA is a great choice for U.S.-based employees and companies. It also offers robust settings like disabling third-party cookies and ad blocking. On the downside, PIA’s average download speed is on the lower end of the spectrum at 124 Mbps.

To learn more, read our full PIA review.

Proton VPN

The best free VPN we found was Proton, which offers more than 100 servers, unlimited bandwidth and customer support, all starting at the free level. More features are available with a monthly subscription, like multiple connections and high-speed streaming.

At $9.99 per month, you can access 300 servers, secure file sharing, and support for up to 10 devices on all major platforms. Bandwidth is unlimited no matter which plan you choose, and the free plan isn’t bogged down with ads. Proton VPN’s downside is that it has fewer servers than some competitors, but it does boast a 253 Mbps average download speed.

Check out our full ProtonVPN review for more details.

NordVPN

Your best option for business level protection is NordVPN. While it does not offer a free plan, the cheapest subscription level is a reasonable $12.99 per month. Business-level protections are available at all tiers, but especially with business-specific service, NordLayer.

With a fast average upload speed of 235 Mbps and specialty servers, it can be easy to overlook NordVPN’s limit of 10 simultaneous connections, even for higher-tier plans. Still, the service provides alerts if data is compromised, biometric authentication, network segmentation and other sophisticated security measures.

Read more about the provider in our full NordVPN review.

2. Use a proxy server

A proxy server is another service that acts as a protective barrier between you and the rest of the internet. It allows you to filter traffic at the machine or network level so you can manage bandwidth while improving your internet security.

Proxy servers supply their own IP addresses, rather than yours when communicating with websites. There are many kinds of proxy servers, including:

• HTTP proxy: Designed to only work for websites and URLs.
• Forward proxy: Works best for internal networks to act as a single, secure point of entry for shared data and files.
• Transparent proxy: Seamless integration that users won’t notice, well suited for companies, but often provides lower-level security.
• Anonymous proxy: Erases your information before connecting to your destination.
• Data center proxy: Provided by a corporation through a data center.

There are many more kinds of proxies, so do your research to decide which is right for you. Be careful of scams and disreputable websites when looking for how to unblock a website for free, as some proxy servers can be traps to collect your information.

3. View Google’s cached version of the URL

You can view a saved version of a URL by visiting the cached version of the website on Google. If you wanted to stream YouTube videos, for example, you’d first go to Google, and then type the following into the search bar: cache:www.youtube.com.

The content is then not retrieved from www.youtube.com, but first from google’s cache at webcache.googleusercontent.com. This allows you to work around restrictions and firewalls as long as your organization hasn’t blocked the Google cache.

4. Use the site’s IP address

You can use a tool to find a website’s IP address by searching for an “IP Address Lookup.” These search engines produce the unique IP number associated with the website and allow you to access the site without using the blocked URL.

Once you’ve got the IP address for your intended website, enter the number into your address bar, following “http://.” For example, to visit usatoday.com, you would enter “http://151.101.42.62” into the address bar.

5. Use the Tor browser

The Onion Router, or Tor, is an online network built to make internet browsing safer by routing information through a series of nodes that obscure personal information and IP addresses. The Tor browser allows you to access this network and use this “onion routing” method to encrypt and route your information. To use it, you’ll need to download and install the Tor browser from the official Tor Project website.

We suggest reading up on the network, how it works and the safest way to navigate it before committing to this route.

6. Try Google Translate

You can use Google Translate as a quick proxy by first visiting the Google Translate page for websites. Once you’ve entered the URL you want to visit, you’ll want to ensure that your language is selected in the “detect language” options above the search bar. Once you’re ready, visit the URL by pressing the blue button. You can review your language translation settings in the Google Translate toolbar at the top of the page.

Is it illegal to unblock a website?

In most countries, it is completely legal to circumvent blocked websites, but ultimately it depends on the individual country’s online censorship laws. Typically, unblocking content is legal as long as the website doesn’t contribute to illegal activity, like distributing copyrighted content. It is best practice to always check your country’s associated censorship and internet laws before unblocking a website.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)