4 Main Reasons Users Face IP Blocks

An IP address is a unique identifier that contains data about the location of a specific device and identifies it on the Internet. An IP address includes a set of numbers that include a network number and a host number. Today, there are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.

An IP block refers to the inability to use a specific website or platform because the service blocks access to the user by looking at the user's IP address. A website can block all users from a specific location or a specific IP address.

Unfortunately, not all services warn their users about the block and its reasons. To be sure that a specific website has blocked you, try to access the website from another device or ask someone else to check it. If you are the only one who cannot access the service, I'm sorry, you are 100% blocked.

1. Spam

Popular websites and services have their own rules of conduct on their platforms, which include allowed and prohibited behaviors.

Based on these rules and policies, websites can block access to specific users or even blacklist them. The duration of the blockage can range from a few hours to several months. For some violations, users can be blocked for life, with no possibility of regaining access.

2. Links to third-party websites

Every website and service wants to keep users on their platform for as long as possible. To achieve this goal, websites offer useful content, interesting games, rewards and entertainment.

Some websites prohibit publicly sharing links to external websites. If a user violates this rule and posts an external link, the website may block him, either temporarily or permanently.

If the website itself does not prohibit posting external links, users may also be blocked for sharing links that violate the law or platform content. Before using any website, check the website's policies for prohibited content: believe me, this information can save you a lot of time. For example, here you can check Google's external link policy.

3. High-speed data collection

Digital experts often use web crawler tools to automatically collect data from websites. For example, emails, usernames, phone numbers, etc. These programs send multiple requests to the server of a specific website, which can cause the server to be overloaded and crash.

Let's say a website can handle 20 requests per minute, and then all users decide to make 100 requests. No server can handle this kind of pressure, so each website has its own limit on the number of requests allowed. If a particular IP address exceeds this limit, the service will block its access.

These restrictions are temporary and last from a few hours to a few days. However, some services may block users permanently.

4. Restrictions for users from specific countries

Countries can block their citizens from accessing specific websites. This happens if a country believes that a service violates its laws and spreads banned content. For example, Russia blocks access to LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Last.fm, and many other websites.

This is what users see when they try to access a blocked website in Chrome.

3 Ways to Bypass IP Blocking

Method 1: Remove the program from your computer

Removing a program is one of the basic ways to bypass IP blocking.

By removing the program, you can clear the files on your computer that save the history of your actions in a specific service. This method can also help to solve some system errors.

How to do it

To uninstall a program on Windows, follow these steps:

Step 1. Find the program

Type "Uninstall a program" in the search box next to "Start".

Step 2. Remove the program

Select the program and click "Uninstall".

If the website is causing the problem, uninstall the browser.

Advantages

Free. You can manually remove any program from your computer without using additional software.

Quick. It usually takes only a few minutes to uninstall the program.

Disadvantages

This method is only suitable for simple blocks on services with weak anti-fraud protection.

As a stand-alone method, it is almost ineffective. In addition, you need to clear the cache of the browser and PC, use a proxy and anti-detection browser.

When to choose this method

This method is suitable for basic solutions, used to bypass simple blocks of users. For example, if an IP address was blocked due to a malfunction, accident or the behavior of a previous user. This method is almost ineffective if you are blocked by a search engine or social network.

Method 2: Clear the program cache on your computer

This method of bypassing the block is a consequence of the previous method.

You may have been blocked because of files saved on your computer when using the program or website. Even if you uninstall the program, these digital remnants may still be there.

How to do it

Step 1 — Open the folder

Go to the folders:

C:/programfiles

C:/programfiles (x86)

C:/Users/%username%/AppData/Local

Step 2 — Find the program

In each folder, enter the name of the program you have used and delete the files.

Step 3 — Open the Registry Editor

Using the Windows + R command, type “Regedit” to open the Registry Editor.

Step 4 — Delete the files

In the window, you will see a complete list of folders with the location of the program files. Copy and paste the path of the folders into the search bar and delete them.

For Windows 11 users, you can watch this 3-minute tutorial from Help Cloud, here: Click here to watch, which explains what else DNS is used for and how to clear it. Although, personally, I didn’t have any problems even the first time I cleared DNS.

Pros

Free. You can clean your computer manually without buying special programs and services.

Cons

Helpful to bypass simple bans. This method will not work if you are banned by a service with strong anti-fraud protection.

It may take time. For example, if the program files are stored in different folders.

When choosing this method

Like deleting programs, clearing the cache can be a one-time solution for simple types of bans. It may be helpful for ordinary users who are banned due to mistakes or minor violations. To bypass bans on search engines, social media, or mail services, you need to use multiple techniques at the same time.

Method 3: Use PIA S5 Proxy: Efficiently bypass IP bans

PIA S5 Proxy is one of the highly regarded tools for bypassing IP bans in 2024. Compared with ordinary proxies, Socks5 proxies not only provide higher connection speeds, but also handle a wider range of application scenarios, including ad verification, affiliate testing, brand protection, etc.

As a well-known privacy service provider, PIA has several advantages. First of all, it covers 200+ countries/regions around the world, with more than 350 million+ real residential IPs. Users can switch IPs according to their needs and flexibly bypass IP bans in different countries or regions. Secondly, with SOCKS5 encryption technology, up to 99.99% successful connection rate, which makes PIA S5 Proxy particularly suitable for users who need high-performance connections.

Unlike traditional proxies, PIA S5 Proxy has stronger anti-blocking capabilities, can bypass the platform's identification of proxies, and ensure a more stable access experience. By using a Socks5 proxy, you can not only easily bypass IP bans, but also ensure smooth network connections without being restricted by IP address restrictions.

When to choose this method

Proxy servers are a universal method to bypass IP bans. That's why both ordinary users and digital professionals use them.

If a service bans you for serious violations, simply changing your IP address is not enough. In this case, it is better to use a proxy server as well as an anti-detection browser.

How to avoid IP blocking

Avoiding IP blocking is a concern for many Internet users, especially those who need to frequently access specific websites, platforms or services. IP blocking is usually a measure taken by the platform to prevent abuse, enhance security or restrict access to certain regions. However, there are some ways to help you effectively avoid IP blocking and reduce the risk of restricted access. Here are a few effective tips:

1. Avoid frequent repetitive operations

Many websites and platforms will respond to abnormally frequent behaviors, especially frequent logins, page refreshes, or data crawling. In order to avoid triggering the security mechanisms of these platforms, try to avoid performing a large number of operations in a short period of time and maintain a reasonable frequency of use.

For example, if you try to log in to your account multiple times in a short period of time, it may trigger a temporary IP ban. You can avoid giving the platform the impression of malicious behavior by setting a reasonable operation interval.

2. Use a dynamic IP address

Most Internet service providers (ISPs) provide dynamic IP addresses to home users, which means that your IP address may change every time you reconnect to the network. If you find that your IP address is blocked, you can get a new IP by restarting your router or disconnecting from the network. This method is very simple, but in some cases it may take multiple attempts to avoid the block.

If you are using a static IP address, you can consider contacting your ISP and requesting to switch to a dynamic IP solution so that it is easier to solve the problem by changing the IP when you encounter an IP block.

3. Clean up browser cache and cookies regularly

IP blocks sometimes do not rely solely on IP addresses. Platforms may also identify users through browser cookies or other cache files. If you find that your IP has been blocked, or want to prevent it, you can clean your browser cache and cookies regularly. This will make the website "forget" your previous visit history and avoid being blocked due to device recognition.

After clearing the cache, you can reconnect to the website or proxy to get a new IP address. This method can help you reduce the risk of being blocked due to device or browser information.

Hopefully, the practical tips collected in this article will help you find the best way to bypass IP blocking and work efficiently online.