Four Ways to Unblock Websites Which are not Available in Your Country

There are four methods to unblock websites: using a VPN, a proxy server, the Tor browser, and Smart DNS. However, the simplest option is often a VPN. In this article, we will introduce four ways to unblock such websites and detail the steps for using VPN services. Additionally, we will provide recommendations for specific VPNs.

Why Aren’t Some Websites Available in My Country?

Two common reasons that websites aren’t available in certain countries are:

• Video owners have chosen to make their content available only to certain countries/regions (usually due to licensing rights)
• Specific websites or content may be blocked to comply with local laws.

The practice of restricting access to websites based on your location is also called geo-blocking. For example, some streaming services which are available around the world, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, display content differently country by country. If you access websites unavailable in your country, you may see the wording below or something similar.  

This video is unavailable in your country

In the case of YouTube, if you access a video unavailable in your country, you will see the screen below.

How Do Websites Block Access?

Websites determine where they are accessed from based on the location of the IP address, and show content based on that determination. This includes language, pricing, and so on. For example, an IP address accessed via an internet provider in the US is shown below.

If you access websites restricted to Japan from this IP address, the content will not be shown.

Four Ways to Unblock Websites Which are not Available in Your Country

There are four ways to unblock these kind of websites.

1. Use a VPN

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a secure connection method between your device and the internet. By using a VPN, your online activity goes through an encrypted tunnel. So, you can keep your online activity private and safe, and ensure that hackers can’t steal your data. Using VPN services is helpful in terms of privacy and security. 

Using a VPN changes your IP address. Using a VPN allows you to access content as if you were in a different country. For example, if you connect to a VPN server in Japan and access websites restricted to Japan, you can get access to their content even if you are outside of Japan.

Pros of using a VPN	Cons of using a VPN
Easy to use just by downloading an app Access to a lot of information about unblocking websites because there are many VPN users in the world Offers other benefits by unblocking websites No worries about privacy and security (unless using a free VPN)	Need to pay a VPN subscription fee

After you’ve registered with a VPN, you can easily browse the internet just by downloading their app.

There are free VPNs. But we recommend paid services in terms of privacy and security because we don’t know how free VPNs manage our log traffic data. Using paid services costs, around  $2.50 – $7.00/month. It’s quite a low price. For more detailed information, please refer to the following articles.

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2. Use a Proxy Server

A proxy server is an intermediary between you and websites that you browse. You connect to the proxy site, which then accesses websites directly, receives data from websites, and then shows you the content. By using a proxy server, you can shield your IP address and unblock websites. In addition, using a proxy server does not require installation of software because it can be managed through a web browser.

However, most data which goes through proxy servers is not encrypted. So, there may be worries in terms of security and trustworthiness.

Pros of using a proxy server	Cons of using a proxy server
Doesn’t require installation	Worries in terms of security if using a free proxy server Limited servers

3. Use Tor Browser

Tor Browser is a web browser similar to Chrome and Edge. Using Tor browser, your traffic is relayed and encrypted via multiple servers over the Tor network. So you can keep a high degree of anonymity while browsing, including shielding your IP address.

But, encrypting and routing your traffic through the Tor network can slow down your internet connection. This may cause trouble while watching videos.

Pros of using Tor server	Cons of using Tor server
Free to use	Much slower connection Has the possibility of going through vicious servers

4. Use Smart DNS

Smart DNS is a technology that allows you to access content as if you were in a different country while hiding your IP address. Smart DNS is not the same as a proxy or VPN. Smart DNS only helps to provides access to streaming content. Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic data, so it provides fast internet speed while watching TV and playing games. On the other hand, it’s less secure and less capable of unblocking websites.

Pros of using smart DNS	Cons of using smart DNS
Fast internet speed	Worries in terms of security Limited websites which can be unblocked

An Example of Unblocking a Website by Using a VPN

If you access ITVX from outside of country where access is allowed, like UK, you will see a screen which displays, “Not available. Sorry, this show isn’t available right now”.

After registering with ExpressVPN, download and launch the app and connect to a VPN server in the UK. Click the power icon in the middle. Now, you can connect to a server in the UK easily.

You will be able to see the content.

For more detailed information, please refer to the following articles.

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