8 Simple Ways to Access Blocked Websites on Any Wi-Fi Network

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The best ways to unblock a site at school, work, & home
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WiFi, either in airports, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, universities, or even at home, would be coded to block certain websites. Unfortunately, in many cases, the block can only be removed by the administrator, but in other cases, there are some ways to bypass the block.

Simple Tricks to Get Around Network Blocks

Depending on how your Wi-Fi network is blocking the website, there are a few options you can try. One method is to change to a public DNS server instead of using the one your ISP provided. You can also try setting up a proxy or VPN, or using a private browser like Tor. Hacks like using a URL shortener may also work.

Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Changing Your Network’s DNS Server

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  1. 1
    Open your device’s network settings. Your internet service provider may be blocking certain websites through its DNS (Domain Name System) server. If so, you can get around the block by changing your network’s DNS server settings. This sounds intimidating, but it’s actually pretty easy! To start, you’ll need to access the network settings on your computer, phone, or tablet.
    • Windows 10 & 11:
      • Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
      • Select Network & Internet .
    • Mac:
      • Click Apple menu > System Settings .
      • Select Network in the left-hand menu bar.
    • Android:
      • Open Settings and select Network & Internet .
    • iPhone and iPad:
      • Open Settings , then tap Wi-Fi .
      • Tap the Info icon next to your network.
  2. 2
    Navigate to your DNS settings. Once you’re in network settings, you can change the DNS server addresses listed there. To access your DNS settings:
    • Windows 10:
      • Click Change adapter options .
      • Right-click your Wi-Fi network and select Properties .
      • Click Internet Protocol Version 4 (when you’re done, you’ll need to repeat this process for Internet Protocol Version 6).
      • Click Properties .
      • Select Use the following DNS server addresses .
    • Windows 11:
      • Scroll down and click Advanced Network Settings .
      • Click the down arrow to the right of your network name.
      • Click View Additional Properties .
      • Click Edit in the DNS Server Assignment panel.
      • Select Manual in the dropdown menu (it’s set to Automatic by default).
      • Toggle on the switches next to IPv4 and IPv6.
    • Mac:
      • Click the Details button next to your Wi-Fi network.
      • Click the DNS tab on the left side of the window.
    • Android:
      • Tap Advanced > Private DNS .
      • Select Private DNS provider hostname .
    • iPhone/iPad:
      • Scroll down and tap Configure DNS .
      • Select Manual .
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  3. 3
    Enter your desired DNS server number(s). There are lots of free DNS servers you can use, but the most popular are Google and Cloudflare. To use these servers, you’ll simply need to enter the server numbers in the appropriate area in your device’s DNS settings. Here’s how:
    • Copy the server numbers for your desired DNS server:
      • Google has two IPv4 numbers, and you can use either one. They are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 . [1]
      • The Google IPv6 DNS server numbers are 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844 . If your device requires a longer form of the IPv6 address, you can use 2001:4860:4860:0:0:0:0:8888 or 2001:4860:4860:0:0:0:0:8844 .
      • The Cloudflare IPv4 server numbers are 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 . [2]
      • The Cloudflare IPv6 server numbers are 2606:4700:4700::1111 and 2606:4700:4700::1001 .
    • The method for entering the addresses varies slightly depending on your device/OS:
      • Windows 10:
        • Enter the IPv4 address(es) you want to use, then click OK .
        • You’ll then need to return to Change adapter options > Properties and select I nternet Protocol Version 6 > Properties > Use the following DNS server addresses . Enter the IPv6 address(es) you want to use. Click OK again.
      • Windows 11:
        • Enter your preferred DNS addresses in the IPv4 and IPv6 fields. You can enter a main and alternate address in each area. Click Save when you’re done.
      • Mac:
        • Click the + button at the bottom of the list of DNS servers to add a new address. Type or paste either an IPv4 or IPv6 address into the text field. Repeat this until you’ve added all the addresses you want, then click OK .
        • You can also click the - button to remove any addresses you no longer want to use.
      • Android:
        • Instead of entering the DNS address, you’ll need to enter the hostname. For Google, type in dns.google . For Cloudflare, enter 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com . Tap Save when you’re done.
      • iPhone/iPad:
        • Under the DNS SERVERS header, tap the green + button next to Add Server . Enter the server numbers you want to use. You can also tap the red - icon next to any server you want to remove from the list.
        • Tap Save in the top right corner when you’re done.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Using a Proxy Server

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  1. 1
    Select a proxy provider. Proxy servers route your web traffic through a remote server so it doesn’t appear to be coming directly from your computer, phone, or tablet. Proxies offer an easy way around many Wi-Fi network blocks. Just keep in mind that they aren’t always secure, so be careful about sending any sensitive info (like your credit card number, for example) over a proxy connection. There are lots of options available.
    • Companies like Oxylabs and Webshare offer free proxies. You just need to sign up for an account.
    • If you want additional features (like stronger security) or access to more proxies, you might want to sign up for a paid plan. Popular options include MarsProxies, the paid plans from Oxylabs, and IPRoyal.
  2. 2
    Configure your device to route traffic through your proxy. When you sign up for a proxy service, you’ll receive a certain number of proxy addresses you can use. The right way to set up the proxy depends on your device and operating system.
    • Windows 10/11: [3]
      • Open Settings , then go to Network & Internet > Proxy .
      • Click Set up under Manual proxy setup , next to Use a proxy server .
      • Turn on Use a proxy server .
      • Enter the proxy server name or IP address in the Proxy IP address box. If you want to use a specific port, enter the port number in the Port box.
      • Click Save .
    • Mac: [4]
      • Open Apple menu > System Settings > Network .
      • Select your Wi-Fi network and click the Details button.
      • Click Proxies in the sidebar.
      • Toggle on the type of proxy you want to use (e.g., Web proxy, Secure web proxy, or SOCKS proxy).
      • Enter the server address and port number for your proxy. If your proxy requires a user ID and password, turn on the Proxy server requires password option and enter your login information.
      • Click OK to save your changes.
    • Android:
      • Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Internet .
      • Tap the Settings icon near the top of the screen.
      • Scroll down and select Access Point Names (APNs) .
      • Select your APN (it will be called “Internet” or something similar).
      • Enter your proxy details in the Proxy , Port , Username , and Password fields.
    • iPhone/iPad:
      • Open Settings > Wi-Fi and tapnext to your Wi-Fi network.
      • Scroll down and tap Configure Proxy .
      • Tap Manual .
      • Enter the proxy address or IP and the port number in the appropriate fields. If your proxy requires a username and password, toggle on Authentication and enter your credentials.
      • Tap Save in the top right corner.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Using a VPN

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  1. 1
    Install and activate a VPN to get around network blocks. Just like a proxy, a VPN routes your traffic through a remote server. This is a great way to get around website blocks on your local network. Once you choose a VPN , typically all you need to do is install the app on your device and follow the on-screen instructions to turn it on.
    • You can also configure a VPN manually in your device’s settings , but this isn’t usually necessary for casual web browsing.
    • The main difference between a VPN and a proxy is that VPNs encrypt your connection, which means they’re more secure. VPNs also tend to be faster and more reliable than proxies.
    • While there are many free VPNs, paid ones are usually a little faster and more secure. Most VPN subscription fees are low, typically only a few dollars a month.
Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

Surfing with the Tor Browser

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  1. 1
    Install the Tor browser on your device. Tor is a browser that routes your traffic through remote, secure servers so you can browse the web privately. It may help you get around some network or regional website blocks, although some websites can detect and block Tor’s servers.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

Using a Mobile Hotspot

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  1. 1
    This option lets you use cellular data to surf the web. Most modern cell phones have a mobile hotspot feature, allowing them to create their own Wi-Fi network. If your Wi-Fi network is preventing you from accessing certain websites on a computer, your phone’s mobile hotspot may allow you to get around those blocks.
    • Connecting to a mobile hotspot on your computer works just like connecting to any other Wi-Fi network. Depending on your phone’s hotspot settings, you may need to enter a password to connect.
    • On an iPhone, you can set up a mobile hotspot by going to Settings > Personal Hotspot . Toggle on Allow Others to Join . If you want to set up a password, tap Wi-Fi Password and enter the password you want to use.
    • On an Android, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Hotspot to enable your hotspot. To set up a password for your hotspot, tap and hold Hotspot and select your preferred security option under Security .
Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Using a URL Shortener

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  1. 1
    Enter the address of the blocked website into a URL shortener. This method may not work for all blocked websites, but in some cases, it can be enough to trick the network into letting you in. To get started, visit a free URL shortening website like tinyurl.com or bitly.com . Follow the onscreen instructions to enter and shorten the long URL, then copy the shortened version.
  2. 2
    Paste the shortened URL into a web browser. Once you’ve generated a shortened URL, paste it into the address bar on your browser. Hit Enter or Return to try to load the blocked page.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

Using the Google Translate Hack

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  1. 1
    Paste your website into Google Translate. In some cases, this hack can stump the blocks on your network and allow you to view a blocked website. Keep in mind that it’s not the most reliable method, and it might also mess up the layout of the website. Here’s how to do it:
    • Go to translate.google.com in a browser.
    • Click the Websites tab at the top of the screen.
    • Paste the blocked website’s address into the “Website” field.
    • Select your preferred languages (e.g., you might choose Detect language on the “from” side and English on the “to” side).
    • Click the arrow button to display the translated website.
Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

Visiting the Website’s IP Address

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  1. 1
    Find the website’s IP address using the “ping” command. If the blocks on your network are based on domain names, you might be able to get around them using this trick. First, you’ll need to find the IP address of the website you’re trying to visit.
    • On a Windows computer, open the Start menu and type cmd to launch the Command Prompt.
    • On a Mac, open Terminal. You can find it in Applications > Utilities or open it from the Launchpad in your Dock.
    • In your command line interface, enter the command ping followed by the website address. For example, ping www.facebook.com . Press Enter or Return to see the IP address.
  2. 2
    Copy and paste the IP address into your browser. Once you have the IP address, paste it into the address bar in your browser. Press Enter or Return to try to load the website.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I unblock a website on my phone?
    Yaffet Meshesha
    Computer Specialist
    Yaffet Meshesha is a Computer Specialist and the Founder of Techy, a full-service computer pickup, repair, and delivery service. With over eight years of experience, Yaffet specializes in computer repairs and technical support. Techy has been featured on TechCrunch and Time.
    Yaffet Meshesha
    Computer Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If it was blocked on the browser, all you need to do is go to the "Settings" menu. Once you're there, look for the "Security" or "Privacy" section—be aware that the naming conventions will vary according to your system and browser. Then, look for a "Block Content" page to list or un-list websites that you want to block or unblock.
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  • Question
    How do I connect to WiFi?
    Community Answer
    Find a web proxy site and use that. If that's blocked as well, you can use the TOR as a proxy website and anything normally blocked won't be recognized due to the redirecting.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    How do I do it on a laptop?
    Community Answer
    You have to go into the Google Chrome store and download a free VPN. The best one is ZenMate. I don't recommend Hola.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using
      2. ↑ https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-records/dns-aaaa-record/
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-a-proxy-server-in-windows-03096c53-0554-4ffe-b6ab-8b1deee8dae1
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lb/guide/mac-help/mchlp2591/mac

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