How to Unblock Instagram the Easy Way

By Sandra PattisonAssistant Editor
— Last Updated:
2018-05-29T09:01:12+00:00


Instagram is one of the most widely used social networking platforms in the world. It has millions of users and allows you to connect with people, share images and view types of content that you’re interested in. However, it’s not always accessible from everywhere, which is why we’ll show you how to unblock Instagram in this piece.

Some people face restrictions accessing online content, including when using apps like Instagram. There are countries that view certain online content as offensive or detrimental to political objectives and so censor the internet by using geoblocks. By using such blocks, governments can limit or change what you can see depending on your geographic location.

On the other hand, perhaps the organization you work for or school you attend has implemented its own limits on what you can access. There are a few reasons they may do this; to stop you being distracted, wasting your paid time or they may have limited bandwidth and need to keep a lid on unnecessary usage. This can be frustrating if you want to upload your latest selfie while on a break.

Fortunately, if you find yourself blocked from Instagram, there are ways to get around it. The best approach is to set up a VPN on your device. This is quick and easy to do, and you may already be familiar with the technology. If so, we have a compiled list of the best VPN providers for you to choose from.

Alternatively, if you want to get straight to it, we can recommend ExpressVPN as a top choice providing you with everything you need. The company has a 30-day money-back guarantee that you can take advantage of, so you’ve got nothing to lose (read our ExpressVPN review to find out more).

What is a VPN?

If you’ve never heard of a VPN before, it stands for virtual private network. It will basically allow you to access restricted content by connecting you to a different server through a secure tunnel. This will mask your real IP address and make your computer look like it’s in another location, letting you bypass any restrictions.

A VPN has other benefits, too: it is great for added privacy and it will make your connection more secure by encrypting your incoming and outgoing data. This protects your personal information and helps keep you safe from hackers and other internet dangers. You can check out our beginners guide to VPN if you want to know more.

Choosing a Suitable VPN to Unblock Instagram

There are many VPN services out there, but not all offer the same features. There are a few things to think about before you pick one, especially for the reason you will be using it. There are many important features but below are a few of the best ones.

Choosing one that offers a killswitch is very beneficial. This protects you by completely disconnecting you from the internet immediately if your VPN fails. In doing so it prevents your true IP address from being exposed and keeps your identity and activity secure. This feature is crucial for keeping you anonymous and undetected.

Also using one that has a no-logging policy is best for further protection. This means that the company doesn’t store your information, like where you logged in from, the websites you visited and other activity. Read our article on VPN security to get more insight on what logs are.

Lots of people use Instagram on a mobile device, or perhaps even have it installed on multiple devices. If this sounds like you, then it’s a good idea to make sure that the VPN you choose offers apps for multiple platforms, check out our piece on the best VPN for mobile for ideas.

It’s also worth noting that while there are tempting free VPN services available, it doesn’t mean they are a good choice. Free VPN providers have been found to frequently compromise your safety, security and possibly your personal data. Some of them contain some sort of tracking, log your activity and may even sell your data. You need to make sure you know what you’re signing up for.

Paid VPNs aren’t going to suck the life out of your wallet and they can offer a much better product. It’s definitely better to choose one that has a good reputation than putting yourself at risk.

For all the features mentioned above, plus more, NordVPN is a good choice. It has strong encryption protocols, server networks spread through the world, making it easier for you to find a suitable connection, and has great customer support should you need it. It also provides fast service, minimizing the slowdowns that occur when rerouting traffic (read our NordVPN review for the details, and use our NordVPN coupon to save yourself some money).

How to Set Up a VPN

Setting up a VPN is very simple and you don’t need to be a tech genius to do so. They’re normally pretty user-friendly and often have a wizard to lead you through the steps, although this may differ from one device to another. To get started, do the following:

  • Sign up for your chosen VPN service
  • Download and set up the software on the devices you use
  • Connect to a location without restrictions
  • Now open Instagram on your device and view what you want

Final Thoughts

While it may have seemed like a complicated task at first, you now know you can unblock Instagram easily and bypass any geoblocks or other restrictions in place with a simple VPN setup. As you may have guessed already, you can access other blocked sites using one, too. Check out our guides on how to circumvent the Netflix VPN ban or how to unblock YouTube for more examples.

Sign up for our newsletter
to get the latest on new releases and more.

The added bonus of extra security you’ll get from having a VPN makes having one even more appealing. Defending you from people trying to access your data and helping to protect your privacy is a significant benefit; read our online privacy guide for more on this.

We hope that you enjoyed reading this article and it helps to resolve your issues. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. Let us know if you found another way of unblocking Instagram. Thank you for reading.