How to Get Around IP Bans with a VPN (4 Easy Steps)

There are many reasons why your IP address is banned, but luckily there are a few good solutions to bypass the ban, the best one being a VPN. 

In this article, we’re going straight into that and afterward, we’re looking at other possible solutions to this annoying problem. 

how to get around ip bans with a vpn

So, how do you get around IP bans with a VPN? Here’s the solution.

How to Get Around IP Bans with a VPN

There are four easy steps you should take when your IP was banned and you want to bypass it with a VPN:

  1. Sign up for a reputable VPN. I recommend:
  2. Download and install the VPN app or client for your device
  3. Open VPN and connect to a server that’s preferably close to your actual location or tap auto-connect in the app
  4. Clean your browser’s cookies and cache and reset the computer before accessing the browser again

As you can see, you can be up and running in no time with a VPN and a new IP address that will bypass the ban. 

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How Does VPN Bypass IP Ban?

vpn diagram

When you connect to a VPN server that could be anywhere in the world or in the same country or even city as you are, you are accessing the internet via an encrypted connection that is using the IP of the server you’re connected to. 

This effectively hides your real IP address that was banned and gives you a new IP address that could be used by hundreds or even thousands of people at the same time (shared IP) or that is unique to you (dedicated IP).

Both shared and dedicated IPs have their pros and cons which you can find in our article Dedicated Vs. Shared IP (What Is Better And When).

Other Ways to Get Around IP Bans

Let’s see some other ways to bypass IP bans. What are some alternatives to VPNs?

1. Use a Proxy 

how proxy works

A proxy server is basically a postal service for the internet. Your request goes to the proxy server first, which forwards it on after anonymizing it, so nobody knows precisely where it came from. 

When your request gets a response, it sends it back to you, once again preventing any other service from knowing where the information is going.

However, proxies aren’t secure, and people or organizations can bypass them. This makes them a poor choice for protecting sensitive data. 

It’s best to choose a VPN when you want a faster connection or more security. On the flip side, proxies are easy to set up and access when all you want to do is get a different IP address or get content that’s geo-restricted and you don’t need to protect your personal information.

2. Use Tor 

Tor Browser is often used by journalists, activists, researchers, criminals, and law enforcers. That doesn’t mean you can use it as well. 

It’s free, and the Tor Browser looks similar to other browsers on the market. It also changes your IP address, blocks ads and trackers, and encrypts your traffic. However, a VPN is still more suitable for normal people as it’s safer and easier to use. 

3. Change IP Address

There are a few things you can try that will change your IP address. Start by checking your current IP address. Then go to your router and unplug it for five minutes or more. During that time, your ISP should change the IP address and give you a fresh one.

You can also try updating your IP address directly from your device by going to the settings and network connections to: 

  • Renew DHCP Lease (macOS) by going to System Preferences > Network > Advanced > TCP/IP > Renew DHCP Lease
  • Configure IP to automatic (iOS), 
  • Forget the WiFi and connect to it again (Android), or 
  • Type cmd in the Run box, then type ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew (Windows) 

You can also type in an IP address manually by following a similar process as above.

What To Do When A VPN Gets Blocked?

no road

But what if your VPN gets blocked as well? If your VPN gets blocked, you can try one or more of the following solutions:

  • Reset VPN
  • Switch Servers
  • Switch VPN Providers
  • Change Ports
  • Use Obfuscated Servers
  • Use A Dedicated IP Address
  • Change The Security Protocol

There are many good VPNs that offer advanced features to trick firewalls into thinking that you aren’t utilizing a VPN. For example, obfuscated servers will let you access ALL of the internet without giving up on your privacy and while keeping organizations in the dark.

Why do VPNs get Blocked?

So, you might be asking why am I recommending VPNs to get around IP bans when VPNs can get blocked as well. Aren’t VPNs designed to bypass all sorts of firewalls and other constraints? 

That is true, but companies, institutions, and governments are working around the clock and have caught up to VPNs and they’re aware that a ton of people are using them to circumvent arbitrary restrictions to access the internet. 

Here are the main reasons why VPNs get blocked.

  • Geo-Restrictions
  • Copyright
  • Institutional Restrictions
  • Government Censorship

Recommended VPNs for IP Bans

Let’s expand a bit more on our three top VPNs to get around IP bans. How many servers do they have and what advanced features do you get? Keep on reading.

NordVPN

nordvpn
  • 5,000+ servers in 60 countries
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • For Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer…
  • Quick Connect
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • For up to six devices
  • Works in China
  • 24/7 live chat

NordVPN will indeed take your cybersecurity to the next level, just like their website states. I have been using NordVPN for years and can clearly see how much progress they’ve made since.  

The company has a bulletproof no-logging policy that has been audited by a third party on several occasions. That’s still extremely rare as many VPNs on the market assert that they don’t save any information about you and your online activities but then turn around and sell it all to advertisers and others. Not cool.

It’s also important to mention that when a VPN doesn’t keep any information about you, they have nothing to share with the authorities even if they serve them a warrant. 

NordVPN also boasts military-grade AES-256 encryption plus a vast range of Double VPN servers, which give you even more protection by routing your internet traffic through additional VPN servers to make you virtually 100% untraceable.

The company also went through some loops to develop its proprietary WireGuard VPN protocol called NordLynx, which allows you to maintain a high privacy profile while still enjoying excellent speeds that are important.

NordVPN has an industry-standard 30-day, money-back guarantee so you have nothing to lose by giving it a shot. Read all about it in our full NordVPN review.

Surfshark

surfshark
  • Over 3,200 servers worldwide
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Unlimited device connections
  • For Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer…
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Works in China
  • 24/7 live chat

Surfshark is the only VPN of the three that has support for unlimited devices that can connect simultaneously. Although the company is relatively new in the VPN industry, it offers everything you’d expect from a good VPN and more. 

They are known for RAM-only servers that don’t demand private keys or even a hard drive. All the information that is stored on the servers gets automatically wiped out when they’re turned off. That makes Surfshark one of the best solutions for security and privacy and Surfshark is still one of a few VPN providers that have RAM-only servers. 

The feature I love the most is the Camouflage Mode that doesn’t let anyone detect you’re using a VPN. In a world where even VPNs are getting banned, staying under the radar is extremely important.

An important feature is also the NoBorders Mode that helps you bypass all geo-restrictions, especially when traveling to China and similar countries that restrict all western media for locals but also tourists visiting.

Read more about Surfshark VPN in our full review that covers all the ins and outs and gets you the best price. 

ExpressVPN

  • Almost 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • For Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer…
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • For up to 5 devices
  • Works in China and the UAE
  • 24/7 live chat

ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and has an extensive network of over 3,000 servers in 100 countries and is still one of the best VPNs on the market and is recommended by almost anyone that has tried it.  

As with the other two VPNs above, ExpressVPN has a native app for routers, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Kindle Fire devices, Chromebook, as well as browser extensions. That way, you’ll always find a device that supports ExpressVPN and lets you bypass IP bans.

It’s important to mention that ExpressVPN supports only five simultaneous VPN connections. That’s one less than NordVPN and far worse than Surfshark’s unlimited number of connections. Still, even five devices should be enough, not only for you but also for the rest of the family. 

For some people, five devices won’t be enough. In that case, you can set up the VPN on your router and protect the whole apartment, house, or office at once. A router setup will still count as only one device, no matter how many are actually connected to it.

With about 3000 servers worldwide, ExpressVPN still has one of the largest server networks of any VPN provider. 

That means that the fastest server is at your fingertips whenever you’re about to log in to your session. I recommend the use of the auto-connect and always-on features for your peace of mind. 

ExpressVPN is however more expensive than most other VPNs and offers one-month, six months, and 12-month plans that all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The best buy is the annual plan where you can save 35%.

Read more and find the lowest price in our full ExpressVPN review

How to Get Around User Account Bans

Apart from getting your IP banned, some forums, games, services, and platforms might ban your user account instead or in conjunction with IP ban. 

Getting your user account banned might mean that you were going against their T&Cs, but not necessarily. Sometimes it isn’t your fault at all and the moderator or admin just had a bad day and decided to take it out on you. 

Some platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and others have started what’s basically internet censorship and are banning users for simply going “against the grain”. 

If your user account got banned, you can start by clearing your browser cache to delete cookie data. If that doesn’t work, you’ll probably have to make a new account. 

Conclusion

It’s easy to bypass IP bans from websites, forums, video games, etc. using a VPN. If a website is only using an IP address ban, you simply download and register for a VPN, if you don’t have one already and connect to a server of your choice. Your IP address will be changed by simply doing this straightforward action.

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