How to Unblock URL With or Without Website Unblocker 6 Ways
Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she manages a column at Inc. Magazine.
How To Unblock Websites 7 Different Ways With Step-By-Step Directions
Over the last decade, Alana has served as a business operation, technology, and marketing consultant for countless businesses — from start-ups and mid-sized businesses like Fit Small Business to Fortune 500 tech firms like Adobe. She currently serves as a business consultant, operations manager, and content strategist at Doubting Thomas Research Foundations’ Afghan Liberty Project, a small non-profit organization. She graduated with an MBA in leadership from Excelsior College.
Alana Rudder Contributor
Over the last decade, Alana has served as a business operation, technology, and marketing consultant for countless businesses — from start-ups and mid-sized businesses like Fit Small Business to Fortune 500 tech firms like Adobe. She currently serves as a business consultant, operations manager, and content strategist at Doubting Thomas Research Foundations’ Afghan Liberty Project, a small non-profit organization. She graduated with an MBA in leadership from Excelsior College.
Contributor
Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she manages a column at Inc. Magazine.
Kelly is an SMB Editor specializing in starting and marketing new ventures. Before joining the team, she was a Content Producer at Fit Small Business where she served as an editor and strategist covering small business marketing content. She is a former Google Tech Entrepreneur and she holds an MSc in International Marketing from Edinburgh Napier University. Additionally, she manages a column at Inc. Magazine.
Updated: May 11, 2023, 2:00pm
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
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Table of Contents
- How To Unblock a Website 7 Different Ways
- Why Are Websites Blocked?
- Who Blocks Websites?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you’re struggling to unblock a website, this guide is here to help you. In it, you will find seven ways to unblock a website, including using virtual private networks (VPNs) and proxies, alternative browsers, URL shorteners, public archives, device settings and new account options. We also give you step-by-step instructions on how to use each. Finally, we break down all you need to know about blocked websites, including who blocks them and why.
How To Unblock a Website 7 Different Ways
There are several ways to unblock a website. Some are free while others cost a monthly fee. Some are also more effective than others. We’ve compiled a list of seven ways to unblock websites along with a price point and instructions on how to use each. Our list includes using a VPN, a proxy and Tor; using URL shorteners, changing your device settings and accessing the inaccessible website’s archived history.
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Here is a closer look at each of these options:
1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Price: Free to $13 per month
VPNs, or virtual private networks, help internet users access websites and search the web with anonymity, which is especially useful when using public internet, for example. However, it can also be used to unblock a website due to its ability to hide your IP address and its associated location. Here’s how it works:
- When using a VPN, your data is first encrypted, or scrambled, making it unreadable.
- It is then sent to a secure server and, in the process, both the source IP address (this is your computer’s address) and the destination IP address are hidden.
- Your IP address is then replaced by the VPN server’s IP address, thereby masking your computer’s identity and location.
- Finally, your data is decrypted and sent to the recipient, who still cannot derive the source IP address (your computer’s address).
When using a VPN, your location (as indicated by your IP address) is replaced by the location of the server’s IP address. By hiding your location and your IP address, you can bypass many blockers, including geo-specific blockers, for example. In addition, if your IP address is blocked from a website, the server’s IP address may not be, enabling you to access the website by hiding behind the disguise of the VPN server’s IP address.
Still, this method of accessing a blocked website is not 100% guaranteed. Many websites also block known VPN server IP addresses, which are often listed publicly. In this case, you have two options. You can either turn to another option on this list or search for a VPN with more servers. More servers can mean the VPN is less likely to have all of its server IP addresses known and blocked, meaning you are likely to have more luck accessing blocked websites.
However, be prepared to pay more for more effective VPNs. The cheapest VPNs are free while premium VPNs can cost around $13 per month. Free VPNs have their catches, such as using your data to target you with ads related to your interest or even selling your data to third parties. To learn how to select a VPN and the best VPNs available, read our guide to the best VPNs.
2. Use a Proxy
Price: Free
A proxy is similar to a VPN in that it allows you to access a website anonymously. However, unlike a VPN, you can only do so from one tab or device and it does not encrypt your data. Still, when using a proxy, you can choose a location from which to appear when you access a website. Just as when using a VPN, this can help you bypass some blockers, including geo-specific and even organization-specific blockers.
As an example, when you use the popular HMA blocker, you must first visit the HMA website, then input the URL of the website you wish to access into the search bar labeled “Site you want to access.”
You can specify the location of the server you wish to use or let HMA choose for you by selecting “random server.” When specifying a location, you can choose from New York or Seattle, U.S.; Frankfurt, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands; London, U.K., or Prague, Czech Republic. By selecting a distant location from which to access the website, you set up the proxy to bypass location-specific blocks, including government and organizational blockers.
From there, you can select more options that offer slightly more browsing security, such as the option to disable cookies that track your web activity. You can access these extra security options from the “More options” drop-down menu. Finally, click “Agree and connect” to begin browsing the specified website anonymously and under the guise of the access location you selected.
In summary, there are disadvantages to using a proxy over a VPN. It is less secure than a VPN but a proxy does offer some advantages. Namely, most proxies are free and easily accessible. And, of course, they can help you bypass geo-specific blockers.
3. Use Tor
Price: Free
Tor offers free and open networks for the sole purpose of being able to surf the web in total anonymity. While you must download the Tor browser, unlike a proxy and like a VPN, it offers the advantage of being able to surf the web without having selected a specific URL beforehand. It also offers superior data encryption and thousands of servers from which you can access data. Tor’s goal is to help you get past censorship that may block web content.
To use Tor, simply visit the Tor website and click “download browser.” On the next page, you will be given a list of devices. Select the device that matches your own. You can choose to download for Windows, macOS, Linux or Android devices.
Once you’ve specified your device, you will be given step-by-step instructions on how to add Tor browser to your device applications. Once added, simply click on the Tor icon from your device’s applications folder to begin browsing privately for free. 
4. Use a URL Shortener
Price: Free
URL shorteners change the URL, potentially allowing you to access a website using a URL that is not recognized by blockers. For example, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/ is reduced to https://tinyurl.com/2p9hkzrs when run through the free URL shortener TinyURL.com. Clearly, the shortened link is different from the original one. It is also uniquely made. As such, it is unlikely to be listed as a prohibited URL by website blockers. When website blockers do not recognize the URL as a restricted one, they are more likely to allow you to visit it.
5. Access the Website via Its Crawl History
Price: Free
Internet archive sites such as Archive.org keep a history of all content published on the internet. In doing so, Archive.org aims to allow researchers, historians and the general public to access all knowledge ever published internet-wide. It has 26 years of web history and often allows people to access content they would otherwise be blocked from accessing. Users type in a URL in the site’s Wayback Machine search bar to access a record of its content.
However, some governments have suffered controversies over blocking archive websites, including Archive.org. India, for example, blocked the site and, in doing so, prevented its citizens from accessing prohibited content. Other countries that have blocked the website at least for a time include Russia and Jordan.
6. Change Your Device Settings
Price: Free
Your device may have settings in place to prevent you from performing actions that may be harmful to your device, such as accessing risky websites that could put your device at risk for malicious malware activity, for example. Other device settings may be in place to help you be more productive or to help you make the most of your downtime, such as screen limit times. Disabling or adjusting these settings may help you access blocked websites.
For example, firewall protection can come in the form of hardware, software or via the cloud. Its purpose is to block websites based on its preset security rules. If a site is blocked via your firewall protection and you wish to access it, simply disabling the firewall can help you get around the block.
As a case in point, the Microsoft Defender Firewall can be disabled on a Microsoft 11 device by clicking Start and opening your settings. Find the “Privacy and Security” option. Look under it to find Windows Security, then Firewall and network protection. Click on Windows Security to open it. Select a network profile that applies to you. Your choices are domain network, private network or public network. Under Microsoft Defender Firewall, switch the setting to off.
7. Open a New Account
Price: It depends on the account-based site but this option is often free
Some websites that allow users to create an account to fully access the site can block users by simply disabling their accounts. Twitter, for example, can remove people from its platform by removing the user’s Twitter account. In this case, a user can often access the website by simply creating another account.
However, this is often not the case if an account-based site is blocked due to censorship. For example, Netflix users must create and pay for an account to access Netflix content. However, the citizenry of Syria, North Korea, China, Russia and Crimea are blocked from even creating an account. Unblocking account-based sites that are blocked due to government censorship will require a different approach than opening a new account.
Why Are Websites Blocked?
The reason a website is blocked often depends on the source of the block. For example, governments restrict access to websites that contain information government representatives do not wish the public to know or that would help those accessing the website to engage in criminal activity. Schools and places of employment may also prohibit students and employees from accessing sites that pose security risks or hinder productivity.
As a real-life example, Cornell University blocks websites that are known to pose a risk to the organization’s security. They include sites that are known to contain malicious software or scripts that could result in the stealing of pertinent university information, such as login credentials. The University chooses websites to block based on known cybersecurity threats and websites that have proven to be a risk in the past.
As you can see, the reasons behind the blocking of a website should help to determine the seriousness of attempting to bypass blockers. As you look to implement the information in this guide, it is important to first understand why set blockers are in place and the consequences of bypassing them before attempting to do so.
Who Blocks Websites?
Websites are blocked by many different sources. However, the most common entities that block websites include schools, places of employment, governments and companies that provide goods or services to other businesses or consumers. Here is a closer look at the top sources of website blocks.
- Schools. Schools block content for a number of reasons, such as to prevent students from accessing criminal or inappropriate material, to avoid security risks (such as viruses) and to ensure students and school administrators are as productive as possible during school hours.
- Employers. Employers block content for many of the same reasons schools do. For example, many employers block social media sites to ensure employees are using their time to advance company goals while at work. They also block sites for security reasons, such as to prevent sensitive data from being leaked via malware.
- Governments. Many governments block websites to prevent their citizenry from accessing prohibited information, to protect national security or to prevent crime.
- Companies. Some companies only offer their products or services to certain regions or countries. Some offer different products or services based on region or country. For these reasons, some companies block customers or would-be customers from accessing websites that advertise products or services that are not available to them.
How to Unblock URL With or Without Website Unblocker [6 Ways]
Do you need a URL unblocker or website unblocker to unblock URL/link? Here are 6 ways that help access blocked URLs at school, work with no hassle.
By Jane Updated on Dec 27, 2022
It happens! Unavailable connection warning message pops when typing a URL in the browser. The first thing comes to your mind is that network is broken. But in some cases, it is prone to be a blocked URL that restricts you to access website online. Some people seek for alternatives that give similar information with restricted content, but more people hope to unblock URL or unblock website/link for obtaining unique stuffs.
Why are some URLs blocked? How to unblock URL? Do you need a website unblocker or link unblocker? Read on and you can get answers and all working ways to unblock website URL with ease.
- Way 1. Unblock URL with a VPN
- Way 2. Unblock URL Using Proxy Services
- Way 3. Unblock URL from Restricted Sites List on Browser
- Way 4. Unblock Website URLs by Editing Hosts File
- Way 5. Unblock URL with Bypassing Warning Message
- Way 6. Unblock URL with URL Shortener
Why Do You Need a URL or Website Unblocker?
It is common that you find a URL or website get blocked while accessing. The URL restriction can be applied by government, the network administrator at school, workplace or the online service provider. A working URL or website unblocker can help you easily beat restriction. Well, why do you need a URL unblocker and what can it do for you? Check reasons.
Bypass Geo-blocking
Geo-blocking is widely used by video streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney Plus, and so on, for copyright protection. It is a technical scheme to restrict access to the website based on geographic location. It confirms visitors’ regions by checking IP addresses and then allows or denies someone’s visit. If you live in an area that is included in the geo-blocking list, you should unblock website for watching desired movies/TV shows or other content freely.
Break Restrictions at School and Workplace
Schools and business offices usually block distracting websites. Schools are responsible for protecting students. Therefore, they utilize internet filters to ban porn URLs or other inappropriate content, e.g. URLs related to violence, gamble and more. On the other hand, employers restrict workers from accessing SNS, online shopping malls, video streaming services, or other entertaining URLs for keeping high productivity and reducing bandwidth consumption.
Circumvent Government Censorship
Some countries, like United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Turkey, North Korea, and China, apply censorship to lots of URLs for political reasons. If you live in or travel to those countries, you probably can’t use almost all social networking services, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc., as well as some news websites.
Protect Security
Browsers, website administrators, and antivirus programs make a blacklist to stop netizens from accessing unauthorized URLs. Those URLs are commonly recognized as showing unsafe content or even leading malicious things to a computer or online privacy.
URL unblocker indeed points out the easiest way to unblock links. Also, there are some other working ways that help unblock URLs online. In the following, we will not only introduce the best website unblocker for you but list all possible ways to browse blocked websites at school, workplace or anywhere.
Six Easy Fixes – How to Unblock URL and Website?
Way 1. Unblock URL with a VPN
VPN is the best website unblocker for you to access restricted URLs. It can easily hide IP address to bypass controls empowered by online services, schools/companies, governments, ISPs or other organizations. Well, iTop VPN is a highly-recommended free URL unblocker at school, work and home.
- Safe VPN for Windows, Mac, iOS
- Connect up to 5 devices simultaneously
- 1800+ VPN servers in 100+ locations
- Block ads, split tunneling, Kill Switch
- Dedicated servers for streaming, gaming, and social media
It offers thousands of servers in hundreds of locations so that you can enjoy worldwide internet to ignore various restrictions hassle-free. It delivers the easiest way to unblock a URL. You just need to connect to an available VPN server, the new IP address can replace the blocked old one. Now, you’re free online.
In addition, iTop VPN excels in security. It implements the strongest data encryption to make all your online activities and information classified. You will not be tracked by hackers or other online evils while getting far ways from threats. Kill Switch is another feature that can further protect security. It can cut the internet connection the moment the free URL unblocker stops working. It also declares and performs VPN no-log policy. You don’t worry about privacy exposure online.
Moreover, the high compatibility makes iTop VPN more than a VPN for Windows, but a URL website unblocker for macOS, iOS.
Then, let’s learn how to unblock URL with iTop VPN.
Step 1. Download and install iTop VPN on your device.
Step 2. Launch it. Click the big Connect button to automatically connect the server which features the highest performance. Otherwise, you can choose a specific server from All Servers list according to your requirements. For example, connect to US servers for watching on Netflix US. When Connected appears, you can unblock website URL with the new IP.
Way 2. Unblock URL Using Proxy Services
Besides VPN, proxy services are also commonly used to unblock URL websites. They are convenient to use and tiny enough without occupying storage. There are two types of optional proxy services.
1. Web Proxy/Proxy Site
There are many free sites that enable visitors to browse blocked websites. After searching for a reliable link unblocker, for example, ProxySite, you can simply enter the URL, select a server, and Go to unblock the URL.
2. Proxy Extension
Proxy extension is another kind of proxy service that is convenient for you to unblock websites and URLs. Open your browser. Download and install an available proxy extension from the plug-in store. Then, you can connect to a server for accessing restricted sites. What should be mentioned that some proxy extensions are VPN extensions which allow you quickly build a connection in one click while some need manual settings requiring knowledge about proxy or a detailed guide.
If you are stopped downloading a VPN at school or work, proxy services can be the best alternative choice. However, you probably come across the issues like unstable to unblock URL, slow speed, privacy not being protected, and annoying ads.
Way 3. Unblock URL from Restricted Sites List on Browser
To unblock a website on Chrome or other browsers, you need to remove the site URL from the restricted list in Internet Options on Windows.
1. Go to Control Panel and click Internet Options.
2. Tap on Security tab and select Restricted Sites. Now, click on Sites button.
3. Now, you can get the list of restricted websites. Select the URL you want to unblock, and click Remove. Later, restart the browser can check if the URL is unblocked.
Way 4. Unblock Website URLs by Editing Host File
Some network administrators put the restricted URL in the host file instead of the Restricted Sites list. If so, you should reset or edit the host file to unblock URL on Windows.
1. Open File Explorer and input C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.
2. Find hosts.txt and open it with Notepad.
3. Search for a line starting with 127.0.0.1 followed by a URL. Now, delete the line.
Way 5. Unblock URL with Bypassing Warning Message
Sometimes, one URL is blocked not for intentional restriction from an organization but browsers think the URL is not secure and show a warning message when you enter the URL. If you want to unblock the URL or find a link unblocker, you need to bypass the message.
Chrome usually gives the message “Your connection is not private” when discovering the entered URL is insecure. If you get the message, click Advanced > Proceed to.
For Firefox
The warning message on Firefox is “Your connection is not secure”. When it appears, click Advanced > Add Exception > Confirm Security Exception.
If you find a “Your connection is not private” message on Safari, please click Show Details > visit this website. Then, a message box pops up. Click Visit Website to unblock the URL and get access to the website.
Otherwise, you can choose to temporarily close the firewall or antivirus software for access. However, both ways – bypass warning messages or turning off security software, probably involve you in danger.
Way 6. Unblock URL with URL Shortener – Link Unblocker
In order to deliver a better user experience, social networking services and online communities may block URLs that are recognized as harmful, insecure, or offensive. If you’re trying to share a URL to Facebook, Reddit, or other sites but fail, you can use a URL shortener to unblock link for posting again. Bitly is a popular URL shortener. Simply enter the blocked URL and click Shorten. Then, your link/URL is unblocked.
In a Nutshell
Unblocking URL is not a hard task through easy fixes here. iTop VPN is proved to be the best choice, which can be treated as the best URL Website Unblocker, to unblock a URL or a website. With it, you can easily and quickly break the restrictions while guaranteeing high security for your data and privacy. No matter what you want, a URL unblocker for accessing global video streaming services or website unblocker for school or work, this fast VPN free can absolutely satisfy you.
- Get 1800+ servers to visit sites freely worldwide
- Hide your IP address to protect your privacy
- Automatic kill switch to protect your data
- Keep safe with strong encryption & no log info