How to bypass VPN blocks

The leading streaming platforms have impressive technology in place to block VPNs. This guide will explain how to overcome such blocks and the best services for doing so. 

It’s happened to us all: after seemingly endless scrolling through a content library, we discover a title that looks interesting… only to discover that it’s not available in our region. The frustration! The good news for viewers who are, for example, traveling abroad when this happens, is that it’s easy to regain access to your home library using a high-quality VPN.

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server. Users can choose this server from a list provided by the VPN. Once a connection is established, their device is effectively assigned the IP address of the chosen server. If that server is in the US, the user’s device will appear to have a US IP address, which can then be used to access US-only content from streaming platforms. 

How to bypass VPN blocks on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other platforms 

Follow these steps to quickly get connected to your favorite platform:

1. Choose a VPN that has a demonstrable ability to bypass streaming platforms’ VPN blocks. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Sign up for a subscription. Longer terms are usually cheaper. Our recommended providers have 30-day money-back guarantees, so you’re not committing anything financially.
3. Download and install the relevant app for the device you’d like to use with the unblocked streaming platform. 
4. Restart the device once installation is complete. 
5. Open the newly installed app and choose a country from the server list. The chosen country should match the country in which the content was originally intended to be shown. 
6. Click the “connect” button.
7. Wait until the app informs you that a connection has been established.
8. Open the streaming app and play the desired content. 

VPN not working? Try these troubleshooting tips

Accessing geo-restricted content while traveling abroad doesn’t always work the first time round. If you can’t connect, despite using one of our recommended providers, try the following:

• Try a different server in the same region. VPN providers normally have multiple servers in countries like the US. Some VPNs have labeled servers, others require a little trial and error to establish a connection.
• Clear your browser cache, cookies, and hosted app data. These could have recorded a previous failure to connect due to your location or use of a VPN.
• Disable IPv6. To do this, you’ll need to open Network Connections in Windows and uncheck the box that says “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)”. For macOS, you need to turn IPv6 off via the “configure IPv6” menu found in Preferences > Network > AirPort > Advanced>TCP/IP.
• Contact the VPN customer support team. They may be able to direct you to a specific server known to work with a particular provider.
• Check that DNS leak protection is enabled in the VPN app. Use a service like dnsleaktest.com to confirm that there are no leaks.
• Match your device’s time zone to the country of the server you’re connecting to.
• You could opt for a VPN with a dedicated IP address in the country of your choice, giving access to multiple streaming services.

The best VPNs for bypassing streaming blocks

These are the best VPNs for consistently bypassing blocks imposed by streaming providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney+:

1. NordVPN: Our top choice for bypassing streaming blocks. Excellent access to a range of streaming platforms, largely thanks to a SmartPlay feature with a built-in Smart DNS service. Plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN option for bypassing streaming blocks. Offers unlimited device connections, impressively quick connection speeds, and easy access to streaming platforms – including more than 30 Netflix libraries. Unlimited simultaneous connections.
3. ExpressVPN: Highly secure network of RAM-only servers and a presence in 105+ countries. Works seamlessly with all major streaming platforms and can help devices that aren’t compatible with VPNs gain access, too. Strong selection of VPN protocols, speciality servers.
4. Proton VPN: Provides dedicated streaming servers and fast connection speeds – even over long distances. Works well with popular streaming platforms as well as providers like Hotstar, Peacock, and F1 TV. Strong security features, strict no-logs policy.  
5. CyberGhost: Massive network of very fast RAM-only servers. These are optimized for different streaming platforms, making it easy to connect to your chosen provider. CyberGhost also has an audited no-logs policy. 
6. Atlas VPN: Although it has a relatively small network, Atlas VPN provides very fast connection speeds with access to all the major streaming platforms. Subscriptions include unlimited device connections, great VPN for school. 

Summary table

Why do streaming platforms restrict content?

Streaming providers use geo-restrictions as a way to comply with licensing agreements that limit the distribution of content to particular regions. 

It would be far too expensive to buy the rights to show every piece of content in every country in the world. Instead, platforms determine which content will be most popular in certain countries and only pay to make it available there. 

In other cases, the rights to show a particular piece of content have already been purchased. This is the case for Friends, which is only available on HBO Max in the US, but on Netflix in the UK and Canada.

Sometimes, content is restricted due to imposed time delays. For example, big-budget films made in the US are typically released in national theaters first, with a delay before being released in theaters and on streaming libraries abroad.

Copyright regulations and licensing restrictions tend to be the main reason why various streaming sites can't show specific content to users from abroad. 

How do streaming platforms know when a VPN is being used?

There are several ways that third parties – such as streaming providers – can deduce that a VPN is being used. 

VPN-associated IP addresses

When somebody directly accesses a streaming platform from their home, their device uses an IP address that streaming platforms can identify as residential. However, the IP addresses used by VPNs are generated by servers residing in large data centers. It’s therefore easy to block the IP address ranges associated with these data centers. 

The VPNs that are most successful at accessing streaming platforms obtain residential IP addresses that are less easy to associate with VPN use. 

Providers with relatively few servers in their networks tend to get identified more quickly and are thus less successful at accessing streaming platforms. Blacklisting also explains why some VPNs start out being able to access a range of platforms, only to find themselves unable to connect to any. There's also the possibility of your real IP address leaking in the process.

DNS 

When you try to connect to a website, Domain Name System (DNS) requests are sent for resolution to local DNS servers assigned by your ISP. Poor-quality VPNs spoof your IP address, but do nothing about your DNS requests – which can be traced back to your device. 

To properly hide your location, make sure that the VPN provider uses its own DNS servers and has built-in protection that stops DNS requests leaving the VPN tunnel. You can check whether your chosen provider is leak-proof by visiting a free testing site like dnsleaktest.com. Private DNS servers are always helpful in this respect. 

GPS

Using your phone or tablet may provide websites with access to GPS information that isn’t available with desktop computers. This location information can be used to infer whether a VPN is in use. For example, if your IP address says that you’re in the US, but the GPS says you’re in the UK, then it’s likely that you’re using a VPN. The Major League Baseball app uses GPS in this way, and it's ideal for VPN detection. 

To counter this, there are a variety of apps available that can be used to spoof your GPS, though the free versions tend to be a little hit-and-miss. Alternatively, Surfshark includes a GPS spoofing tool as part of its subscriptions. Available on the Android app, this feature automatically matches your GPS location to your VPN location. 

Port blocking

VPNs use specific ports on your device to connect to the internet. These are associated with the particular protocol in use, with each protocol having one or more port numbers. The more protocols a VPN uses, the greater the possible range of port numbers.

Common protocols include OpenVPN, which uses TCP port 443 and UDP port 1194; WireGuard, which uses UDP port 51820; and IKEv2, L2TP and IPsec, which all use UDP port 500 and port 4500.

If a particular website wants to block a VPN connection, it can try blocking the port used by a particular connection protocol. This works less well with OpenVPN, as HTTPS traffic also uses TCP port 443. In any event, given that most VPNs have multiple protocols to choose from, blocking a large number of ports could prevent legitimate users from connecting. 

HTML5 Geolocation 

Your browser may also be revealing your location by answering requests made by websites with the HTML Geolocation API. Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox, and Opera browsers all support its use. The Geolocation API uses a combination of local WiFi networks and their relative signal strengths, together with GPS data, and mobile network information to determine a device’s position. 

Geolocation still operates even when you’re using a VPN, which can make efforts to change your IP address seem a little pointless. However, the good news is that the feature is opt-in by default – so you should be asked for permission before a website uses it. You can also disable geolocation in any of the browsers which support it. ExpressVPN offers a browser extension that can spoof your location when it’s requested by websites using the Geolocation API. 

Deep Packet Inspection

More typically used at a state level, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) examines the contents of data packets as they pass through a network. These can be filtered in real-time, making for an effective way to censor connections. Although VPN traffic is encrypted, DPI may still be able to identify it as such using a combination of behavioral and protocol analysis. 

Fortunately, the better quality VPN providers are able to offer additional obfuscation that disguises VPN traffic as regular traffic. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN all have effective stealth modes that can bypass blocks imposed by restrictive countries like China.  

Can I use a free VPN to access streaming platforms?

You can try, but you’ll most likely be wasting your time – as well as potentially putting your device and privacy at risk. Free VPNs – of the sort reliant on advertising – frequently make use of trackers, with some harvesting your data to sell on. Most have some form of logging policy, which makes them far from private. The worst free VPNs can act as vectors for malware.

Even if we disregard the above, free VPNs just don’t work very well with streaming platforms. They have few servers that are so heavily loaded that it’s easy for streaming providers to identify and block them. The servers’ heavy traffic also means connection speeds are poor – usually far below that needed to stream HD content without buffering.

Most streaming platforms have already blocked free VPN services, making it impossible for internet users to gain access from abroad. There's a chance that a free provider could be leaking your actual IP address while connected, even if they tend to be tempting for first-time VPN users.

How to bypass VPN blocks: FAQs

Is it illegal to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content?

It is not illegal to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content from streaming providers. However, doing so might breach the streaming platform’s terms of service. While this could potentially result in a canceled subscription; in practice, platforms that detect a VPN is being used will simply deny the user access.

For example, the Netflix error screen tells users that they “seem to be using an unblocker or proxy”, while Amazon Prime Video is more blunt, telling users, “Your device is connected to the internet using a VPN or proxy service.” Most other platforms will just inform you that you’re not connecting from the correct country and leave it at that.

How many countries is Netflix in?

Netflix is available in over 190 countries, each of which has its own catalog of original and licensed TV shows and movies. Slovakia has the largest media library, with more than 8,400 available titles. Countries where Netflix isn’t available include China, Crimea, North Korea, Russia, and Syria. To access the greatest range of titles, use a VPN with a presence in a large number of countries. Surfshark has servers in 100+ countries, for example.

Which countries is Amazon Prime Video available in?

Amazon Prime Video is available in 200+ countries and territories. This doesn’t include Mainland China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Syria. The US has the largest content catalog of TV shows and movies, with a combined figure of more than 7,300 titles.

Which streaming platforms can I watch with a VPN?

Potentially, any of them. You just need to ensure that you connect to a VPN server in a country covered by the particular platform. Apart from BBC iPlayer – which requires a UK TV license to watch – you’ll also need to have a subscription to the platform of choice. The good news is that they almost all offer seven-day – or sometimes one-month – free trials. Some of the better subscription-only platforms include:

• Netflix
• Amazon Prime Video
• Apple TV+
• Paramount+
• Disney+
• HBO Max
• Discovery+
• Showtime
• Britbox
• Kocowa
• Pantaya 
• Spuul 
• Shudder
• ESPN+
• The Criterion Channel
• Mubi

Why is my VPN blocked?

Web services that use region locks are aware that consumers can use VPNs to bypass those blocks. As a result, many of those services also block IP addresses associated with VPNs. Due to these blocks, fewer and fewer VPNs actually work to access popular services while on vacation.

No matter why a website is using region locks to prevent people from accessing its service abroad, it is likely that the service is also attempting to block VPNs. This means that you have to choose your VPN provider carefully.

There are hundreds of VPNs on the market and the vast majority of those services do not spend a lot of time, effort, and money on finding ways to bypass VPN blocks. Thankfully, there are still some VPN providers on the market that want to keep providing access to restricted services for their users.

If your VPN is already blocked by the services you use, it is likely that the VPN is not able or interested in bypassing those blocks. Of course, it is possible that you just need to switch servers or change protocol. So we do recommend that you contact your VPN and try to get it working first. If this fails, you may simply need to switch providers to one of the VPNs recommended on this page.

The important thing to remember is that VPN effectiveness can change over time as services and technologies evolve. This is why services that used to work to bypass blocks a few years ago may no longer be suitable today. We recommend that you do your research by using our reviews and VPN lists to evaluate different VPN providers based on your specific needs and requirements.