How to unblock websites: 4 safe and free methods

Whether you are trying to access a harmless research site blocked by a strict school or workplace network filter, or you are just trying to access your personal accounts while traveling, being locked out of the web is incredibly frustrating.

The internet is filled with "free web proxies" that promise an instant fix, but many of these sites are highly insecure, log your personal browsing data, or bombard your computer with malicious advertisements. Instead of risking your digital privacy, you can bypass network restrictions using four entirely safe, verified methods.

Learning to unblock blocked websites doesn't have to mean compromising your computer's safety with untrusted tools. In fact, many network restrictions can be bypassed entirely using native settings or highly secure, open-source applications that you can configure in just a few minutes.

🔒 Privacy warning: Avoid uploading sensitive credentials or logging into personal bank accounts while using public unblocking methods. For absolute privacy, always ensure your traffic is fully encrypted using a trusted Virtual Private Network (VPN) or the Tor network.

Method 1: Use Google Translate as a zero-install proxy

If you are on a highly restricted computer (like a library or school PC) where you cannot change system settings or install software, you can use Google Translate as a brilliant, built-in bypass tool. Because network filters see the web traffic coming directly from Google's highly trusted servers, they rarely block the connection.

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to translate.google.com.
  2. In the left-hand text box, paste the full URL of the blocked website you want to visit (for example: https://example.com).
  3. Click the clickable link that generates automatically in the right-hand translation output box.
  4. Google will load the target webpage directly inside its own translation interface, cleanly bypassing the local network filter.
Using Google Translate to open and bypass a blocked website URL inside a web browser

Method 2: Switch to a free public DNS (bypass ISP filters)

Many basic network filters—including standard home router parental controls and internet service provider (ISP) blocks—rely on a system called DNS hijacking. When you try to visit a blocked site, their default server deliberately points your browser to an error page. Switching to a secure, independent public DNS resolver like Cloudflare fixes this instantly.

Option A: Windows 11 setup

  1. Right-click the Windows start menu button and click Settings, or press the Windows ⊞ + I keys on your keyboard to open settings.
  2. In the Settings window, click on Network & internet in the left-hand sidebar menu.
  3. Click on your active network connection type at the top of the menu (either Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
  4. Click Hardware properties.
  5. Click Edit next to DNS server assignment.
  6. Change the top dropdown selection from Automatic (DHCP) to Manual.
  7. Toggle the IPv4 switch to the On position.
  8. In the Preferred DNS text field, type 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare's secure IP address).
  9. Select On (automatic template) at DNS over HTTPS.
  10. In the Alternate DNS field, type 1.0.0.1.
  11. Select On (automatic template) at DNS over HTTPS.
  12. Click Save.

Your internet lookup requests will now bypass your local provider's restrictive filter completely.

Configuring the manual IPv4 DNS settings to 1.1.1.1 in the Windows 11 settings panel

Option B: Android setup (phones & tablets)

Modern Android devices feature a native system setting called Private DNS. This routes all your mobile and Wi-Fi web requests through an encrypted DNS-over-TLS tunnel, making it impossible for local network filters to hijack or block your connection links.

  1. Open your Android device's settings.
  2. Tap Network & internet or Connections.
  3. Tap Private DNS. If you don't see the Private DNS option, you may have to tap on More connection settings or Advanced.
  4. Select Private DNS provider hostname.
  5. In the 'Private DNS' input field, type the following exact text string: one.one.one.one (Cloudflare) or 1dot1dot1dot1.cloudflare-dns.com.
  6. Tap Save.

Your phone will immediately route all internet lookups safely through Cloudflare's servers.

Setting the Private DNS provider hostname to Cloudflare on an Android device

Note for legacy devices: If you are using an older device running Android 8.0 or earlier, the native Private DNS option will not be available in your settings menu. Instead, you can achieve the exact same result by downloading the official, free 1.1.1.1 app by Cloudflare directly from the Google Play Store, which configures the secure connection automatically.

Option C: Browser-level setup (no administrator rights needed)

If you are using a restricted school or work computer where the Windows Settings app is locked down, you cannot change your system-wide DNS. Fortunately, you can enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) directly inside your web browser. This encrypts your website lookups within the application itself, bypassing local network blocks without requiring administrative privileges.

🌐 Chrome, Edge & Brave

Chrome, Edge, and Brave are Chromium‑based browsers, so the steps are identical.

  1. Click the three-dot menu button (Chrome/Edge) or three-line menu button (Brave) in the top right corner.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click Privacy and security (Chrome/Brave) or Privacy, search, and services (Edge) in the left menu.
  4. Click Security.
  5. Ensure the Secure DNS option is enabled.
  6. Click the dropdown menu next to Select DNS provider (Chrome/Brave) or select Choose a service provider (Edge).
  7. Choose Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) from the list.
Enabling DNS over HTTPS inside Chrome, Edge, and Brave browser security settings to route web traffic through Cloudflare

🌐 Mozilla Firefox

  1. Click the menu button in the top right corner.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click Privacy and security in the left menu.
  4. Scroll down to the DNS over HTTPS section.
  5. Change your protection level to Increased Protection or Max Protection.
  6. Ensure the Choose provider dropdown menu is set to Cloudflare.
Enabling DNS over HTTPS inside Firefox privacy and security settings to route web traffic through Cloudflare

Method 3: Use ProtonVPN free (for full data encryption)

If you need to bypass a deep packet inspection (DPI) firewall that tracks exactly what data payloads you are sending across the network, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is required. A VPN creates a fully encrypted tunnel between your PC and a remote server. To keep your information safe, avoid random "free VPN" extensions and stick to a reputable, zero-logs provider.

  1. Open your browser, go to the official website of ProtonVPN, and register for their 100% free tier, which offers unlimited bandwidth and no advertisements.
  2. Download and install the native client application for your device.
  3. Launch the application and click the prominent Connect button.
  4. The software will automatically link your computer to a secure, encrypted server location (such as the Netherlands, Japan, or the US). Once connected, all blocked websites will open normally.
Clicking the Quick Connect option inside the free ProtonVPN desktop application on Windows 11

Premium VPN alternatives for better speeds and more server locations

While free VPN tiers are excellent for basic web browsing, free server nodes can occasionally become crowded during peak hours, resulting in slower video streaming speeds. If you require maximum bandwidth, lower latency, more server locations, or advanced privacy features, these four highly reputable services are exceptional alternatives:

  • Mullvad – Widely recognized for extreme privacy, Mullvad requires no email address or personal information to register and features full WireGuard support.
  • IVPN – An exceptionally transparent, open-source provider built around a strict zero-logs policy and robust WireGuard implementation.
  • Cryptostorm – A high-security, token-based network designed specifically for advanced users demanding raw technical anonymity.

Method 4: Use the Tor Browser (for advanced network censorship)

If you are dealing with an aggressive firewall that actively blocks standard VPN protocols, the Tor Browser is the ultimate tool. Tor anonymizes your web traffic by routing it through three separate volunteer servers (nodes) across the globe, stripping away tracking signatures and local network restrictions entirely.

  1. Download the official Tor Browser setup client from the Tor Project website.
  2. Install and open the browser application on your computer.
  3. Enable the Always connect automatically option.
  4. Click the Connect button on the startup splash screen to establish a secure, multi-layered connection to the network.
Bypass blocked websites using Tor Browser

💡 Advanced security factoid:

If you ever require absolute, ironclad privacy where nothing is written to your computer's local hard drive, the creators of Tor also developed Tails OS—a separate, portable operating system you boot directly from a USB stick. For 99% of web filtering issues, however, the standard Tor Browser desktop app is perfect.

Note: Because your data is bounced through multiple encrypted layers across the world, your baseline internet speed will drop significantly. Use Tor for reading text or accessing basic web utilities, rather than streaming high-definition video.

⚠️ Legacy "tricks" that no longer work

If you read older technical guides online, you will frequently see authors recommending the following two bypass methods. In modern network environments, these old tricks are completely obsolete and will fail on almost any modern firewall setup:

Legacy method The old workaround theory Why it fails today
Using the IP address Pinging a blocked site via Command Prompt to get its numeric server IP (like 93.184.216.34) and typing that address directly into your browser's address bar. Modern network filters use SNI (Server Name Indication) filtering and Deep Packet Inspection. They look at the actual hostname during the initial secure server handshake, blocking the connection regardless of the text string input.
URL shorteners Using a service like TinyURL or Bitly to mask a restricted web link behind a different, generic domain path. Modern corporate and school firewalls automatically resolve redirects instantly via web filters before loading a page. Furthermore, most modern network security systems block URL-shortening domains by default to mitigate phishing risks.

Related:

How to enable DNS over HTTPS in Windows 11 (step by step)

How to use Private DNS on an Android phone or tablet

How to set up DNS on any Android phone (step by step)

How to access blocked websites on Android (6 safe methods)

How to block a website in Windows 10 and 11 (step by step)

Block websites with NextDNS: Chrome, Edge, Brave & Firefox

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