How to unblock websites in 2025: 8 easy ways

There’s a high possibility you’ve encountered the problem of blocked websites. This can be incredibly frustrating, whether it's due to geo-restrictions, school and network blocks, or even firewalls. Luckily, there are simple ways to get around these barriers.

By using a VPN, you can change your virtual location and appear as if you’re in a different country or city. VPNs are very versatile and can be installed on computers, smartphones, TVs, and even smartwatches.

Websites are often blocked by the government, so you might need a way to bypass restrictions on websites like TikTok. Streaming services like Netflix may only offer specific content in certain regions, while others, like Hulu, may only be available in a single country.

While using a VPN is the easiest way to bypass restrictions, in this article, I explore all the ways how to unblock websites.

How to unblock a website with a VPN

1. Pick a reputable VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 77% OFF
2. Register to get your account
3. Install the VPN and log in
4. When you connect to a chosen server, your IP address will be changed, and you will be able to access blocked websites

How to unblock websites: 8 simple methods

Let’s take a look at a few different solutions you can try if you cannot access certain websites due to blocks.

1. Use a VPN to unblock any site you want

Using a VPN is possibly the best method to unblock websites, especially if you need to access restricted content on a regular basis.

In short, a VPN is a tool that encrypts your internet traffic and lets you spoof your IP address so that nobody can see your real location. It allows you to access geo-blocked websites, like US Netflix, or certain adult sites, which are blocked in several US states.

At the moment, it’s also the most popular tool to combat online censorship – instead of accessing a website directly, you’re doing so through a VPN server, which means your ISP (internet service provider) doesn't know what you're doing and can't block you. A great example is using a TikTok VPN to access TikTok in countries where it’s restricted.

The best thing about VPNs is they can even hide your online activity from your ISP. That means that your ISP won’t be able to track you when you unblock websites that are restricted in your country or office.

In addition, most top VPN providers offer apps for different platforms. For example, NordVPN has native apps for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android. This allows you to unblock sites whenever you want, no matter what kind of device you’re using.

2. Unblock sites with an open proxy

If you’re in a hurry or need to unblock a page on a public computer, using a proxy server is the best way to go.

Just like VPNs, proxies hide your real IP address from the website and the website's IP address from your government, workplace, or university. Using an open proxy is free and requires no installation. Proxies can also unlock some geo-restricted pages, but you won't have any luck with big streaming services like Netflix, as open proxies often get blacklisted.

Speaking of downsides, proxies are also less secure and anonymous than VPNs, as they don’t offer encryption, and some might even monitor your online activity.

3. Install a VPN or proxy browser extension

If you need to unblock a dynamic site like YouTube, X (Twitter), or Amazon, a website-based proxy might not be enough. Instead, you can install a proxy as a browser extension (I recommend Smartproxy) for your Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browser. This kind of website unblocker tool will help you browse with ease, letting you choose different servers depending on your needs.

You might also want to try a VPN browser extension instead of installing the program onto your computer. Most big-brand VPNs offer add-ons that you can use with your preferred browser. Just keep in mind they usually don’t offer all the features that a desktop app has.

4. Use an IP address instead of a URL

There’s a chance that your institution blocks specific URLs instead of IPs. If that’s the case, you can unblock a website with the help of its IP address.

A URL is the website address string you see in your address bar (e.g., https://facebook.com or https://reddit.com), while an IP address is a specific sequence of numbers that is unique to the server hosting the website. You can paste the IP address into the search bar and access the site you need.

Finding a website's IP address is simple using online lookup tools. However, be cautious and ensure these tools are trustworthy, as some may simply be scams.

For a safer method, here's how you can find a website's IP address on Windows:

1. Type in cmd into your start menu
2. Open Command Prompt
3. Enter ping and the name of the website you want to unblock (for example, reddit.com)

4. Then, press Enter on the keyboard, and you’ll get the IP address of the site you want to unblock. Paste it into your search bar and enjoy access to restricted content

Keep in mind that other operating systems have different tools for locating IP addresses. Linux users can find theirs by typing dig websitename.com into the command line, while macOS users can run a traceroute via the terminal.

5. Use the Tor Browser to unblock banned sites

The Tor Browser is a free, open-source internet anonymity tool created as a response to online censorship.

By sending your data through a network of volunteer servers, Tor hides your IP from the destination server and the destination server IP from your ISP. As a result, the Tor Browser is a great tool to unblock sites.

If you want to try it, download Tor and use it as your regular browser. Keep in mind that your connection speed might decrease when using Tor and that some websites might still be blocked.

6. View blocked content with Google Translate

Even though this might sound like a joke, you can actually access blocked websites using Google Translate.

Simply paste the website you want to unblock into the field where you would type the text that needs to be translated. Then, click on the link that comes in the translation section to access the page.

However, be aware that the quality of the content displayed can be disappointing. You might even see only text instead of the usual layout. In addition, you might not be able to click the links on the website.

As a result, Google Translate is useful only when you need to unblock a site for its information, e.g., an article or a forum thread.

7. Take advantage of a dynamic IP

This method helps you access sites that specifically block your IP address. However, it works only if your ISP has given you a dynamic IP address, which changes occasionally.

So, if you can’t access a particular website, simply restart your router and see whether the page you want to visit can load.

Unfortunately, if you have a static IP address, restarting your router won’t work for you. To determine the kind of IP you have (dynamic or static), write it down and compare it with the one you get after the router restart.

Tip: To find your current IP address, type what is my IP address into your browser’s search bar.

8. Use HTML to PDF converter to download restricted content

If you don’t really need to access a restricted website and only need to read its contents, then this HTML to PDF converter may do the trick.

This free tool takes any URL and converts it to a PDF document, displaying the text and pictures as they appear on the site. You can then download the file or simply preview it online.

Best VPNs to unblock websites

After evaluating more than two dozen VPNs, I found 3 options that work the best for unblocking websites. These providers showed high success rates in bypassing geo-restrictions. They also offer strong security features, including obfuscation and dedicated IP options, which help access restricted content. Here are my top 3 recommended VPNs to unblock any website:

• NordVPN – best VPN for website unblocking in 2025
• Surfshark – budget-friendly VPN for unblocking websites
• Proton VPN – top freemium VPN to unblock websites

4 reasons why websites are getting blocked

If you find yourself unable to access a web page, there can be multiple reasons behind it. All in all, whether you’ve accidentally left a parental control filter on or the site got blocked by the government, there’s usually a reason why you cannot access the website normally. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons:

1. Website blocked by school or work administrator due to being NSFS/NSFW
2. Website blocked by ISP providers due to network management and other reasons
3. Website blocked by government due to existing regulations
4. Sites like Netflix may block access themselves due to licensing or legal reasons

If a website is inaccessible at work, school, or university, it's likely deemed risky or inappropriate and thus banned, especially in educational settings responsible for minors' safety. In the US, the Children’s Internet Protection Act mandates blocking inappropriate content. Business owners may also block distracting sites, like social media, for business reasons.

If you can't use streaming services or gaming platforms, ISPs may limit access to high-bandwidth websites, especially during busy times, to manage network traffic and maintain a stable internet connection for all users.

If politically and culturally sensitive websites are inaccessible, this might be due to censorship. Believe it or not, online censorship remains a significant issue even in 2025, with various governments imposing restrictions on content that conflicts with political or religious views. This isn't just limited to countries like China. For example, in some US states, online adult platforms have implemented self-blocking measures to comply with new laws or regulations regarding adult content.

How to unblock websites at school

If you want to access restricted content on your school’s computers, it’s unlikely that you will be able to install a VPN. However, there are other methods you can try to unblock restricted websites. For example, you might be able to install a VPN extension on a browser.

You could also try to unblock websites using one of the methods detailed above. Try bypassing restrictions using Google Translate or an HTML-to-PDF converter.

If that fails, you can use your own mobile device to access restricted content. If you have permission to use mobile devices, download a trustworthy VPN app compatible with your device’s OS. I recommend NordVPN, which is available for Android and iOS users.

How to unblock websites at work or home

If you can’t access a specific website at home or work, this is likely due to work or ISP restrictions. The best solution is to use a reliable VPN. A VPN can easily bypass these restrictions and grant you access to the website. It assigns you a different IP address in a different location and hides your traffic, thus avoiding any restrictions.

When choosing a VPN, make sure you pick one with plenty of servers and server locations. NordVPN has 7400+ servers in 118 countries, making it my top choice.

That said, if you can’t download a VPN on your device, you can install a browser extension or use it from your smartphone.

If you want to access restricted content directly from your computer, try one of the other methods to unblock restricted websites above.

Is it legal to unblock websites?

While some countries have enforced laws that make the use of VPNs illegal, using the tool is entirely legal in most countries. This is as long as you don’t involve yourself in illegal activities like torrenting copyrighted content.

So, if you simply want to unblock Facebook at work, you won’t break any laws. Sure, you go against your work policy and might still get in trouble, but that’s about it. The same goes for unblocking geo-restricted content on streaming sites like Netflix, YouTube TV, or adult sites. It’s legal, but it might go against the site’s terms of use.

However, keep in mind that every country is different. Countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea have much stricter laws regarding VPN usage. It’s wise to research the regulations in your country before trying to access restricted websites.

Final thoughts

If you're dealing with heavy network or government restrictions or simply want to stream foreign Netflix libraries, having reliable ways to unblock sites is essential. Fortunately, no matter how strict the censorship, there are always new tools developed to defend your right to information.

A reliable VPN is your best option for unblocking websites. NordVPN is a solid choice, with over 7400 servers in 118 countries, fast speeds, and excellent unblocking capabilities.

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