What to Do If Your VPN IP is Blocked?

Gone are the days when you could switch on a random VPN, and any blocked website would get magically unblocked with no issues and no questions asked. With VPNs being widely used, the other side starts taking counter-action. More and more people say that even after using a VPN, they are not able to access particular sites, mostly in the streaming domain.

Streaming websites such as Netflix have begun to crack down on VPN IP addresses in an attempt to prevent users from bypassing their geofence. This has resulted in a quagmire. The very tool that we all use to unblock a website itself gets blocked.

Such a situation has become increasingly common these days. You trust your VPN will keep you safe and not only NOT limit your possibilities but will broaden them.  The question then is: is it even worth buying a VPN?

The answer to that question will always be “yes.” As for if and when your VPN gets blocked, here are a few things you could do to fix that.

Why do Sites Block VPNs?

As you can guess, many internet users today use VPNs to bypass regional restrictions. Even TuxlerVPN is majorly used as a website unblocker.

The sites in question do not like this practice. They have regional restrictions (or geoblocks) in place due to licensing limitations. A streaming site is usually disallowed to stream content in a country where another site may be licensed to stream that content. So, when users bypass such blocks, it puts them in a difficult position in front of distributors. Thus, most sites see bypassing restrictuons as a problem.

VPN blocking then becomes a solution to this problem. 

How Do Websites Block VPNs?

There are several ways in which websites can block VPNs. The most common way is to block entire IP address ranges that are identified to belong to VPN providers (servers). Websites do this by constantly tracking IP addresses that access their content and adding the addresses to their blacklist. The next time a user utilizes one of these blacklisted VPN server IPs, they fail to access the site in question.

As you can guess, this is easier said than done. It is not possible for websites to keep track of all the IP addresses used by all the VPNs in the world. This is also why you will find that some users can access a geo-blocked site while others cannot. Since most websites use this method, there are still some VPNs and VPN IP ranges that are able to slip through the IP filter.

Then there is the method where website administrators conveniently close certain ports used by common VPN protocols. This prevents data transfer within the networks, eventually impairing the VPN action that is supposed to bypass the geofence in the first place.

Another stricter method involves blocking all non-local IPs. For example, an American website may choose to block all IP addresses originating from outside the United States. The concern with this method is that the website will lose genuine international visitors too. Combine this with any of the above two VPN blocking methods, and websites have a foolproof system. 

How to Fix a VPN Ban?

As discussed on our blog before, a website creates a blacklist of IP addresses to execute a VPN ban. It monitors ranges of IP addresses that it suspects are originating from a data center or VPN server. These IP addresses are then added to the blacklist, which are then blocked from accessing the site. For most websites, this is a continuous process, making even newer VPN IP ranges fallible.

So, what can you do to fix this? There are mainly three things that you could do, starting from the easiest option.

1. Change your VPN server or region

If you’re lucky and are using a premium VPN, the easiest way to fix a blocking is to just change the server. Switch between all available servers until you gain access.

We know this is a tedious process, but once you get hold of a good server, you will be sorted for the foreseeable future. If the VPN ban is persistent, you may have to switch servers more frequently.

2. Inform the VPN provider

If you’re paying for a VPN and are not satisfied with the product, you have all the right to complain. Simply contact customer support and explain the issue to them.

3. Switch your VPN provider

Free VPNs are often the first casualties when it comes to such bans. You are better off subscribing to a premium VPN that is capable of producing new ranges of IP addresses and even setting up entire new servers. 

If you feel your existing VPN company is not providing enough support, you should look for alternatives.

4. Opt for a residential VPN

As of 2022, VPN blocks mostly target VPN servers and data center IPs. And since we know that residential IPs are far better at unblocking websites, they also tend to easily pass through the VPN block filters. This is because blocking them can cause websites to lose real traffic from real users. Not to mention the flak that websites may face from genuine users who may complain of inaccessibility when they have not done anything wrong. Case in point: when Netflix users complained about inaccessibility way back in 2016.

TuxlerVPN users have reported smooth website unblocking even as we read reports about streaming sites doubling down on VPN-using netizens.

The advantage of using a residential VPN is that you can randomize your IP address (if you are on a paid plan) and continue to unblock a geofence even if the website detects circumvention and blocks the originally assigned IP. You can always rely on a pool of true residential IPs to stream movies and shows buffer-free.

Websites and countries will continue to strengthen their anti-VPN strategy as we move ahead. This is not ideal from one perspective, especially in this digital age. While IP filters and port closures are the most common methods used to block VPNs, there are residential VPNs that still help in bypassing geofence. 

Are you frustrated with VPN blocking? Check out TuxlerVPN Premium today!

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