How to unblock websites on your phone and computer.
Why sites stop loading, which workarounds actually hold up, and which ones only waste your time.
Available now on iOS and Android.
Short answer
Only one method reliably works — encrypt your traffic.
Your provider can see which site you're requesting and drops the connection when that address is on a blocklist. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a server outside your provider's network, so there's no destination left for them to filter. Everything else — changing DNS, mirror sites, web proxies, browser data-saver modes — is unreliable and usually stops working the moment real filtering is switched on.
Methods
What works and what doesn't.
An honest comparison of the popular methods, including where each one breaks.
VPN — works
Encrypts all device traffic. Your provider sees only a connection to a VPN server, never the sites. Covers every app, not just the browser.
Changing DNS — rarely works
Only helps when blocking happens purely at the DNS level. IP-based blocking and DPI filtering still stop the page from loading.
Web proxies — unreliable
Free online proxies are slow, frequently break logins, and can read your traffic in the clear. Never use them for email or banking.
Browser extensions
Protect browser tabs only. Messengers, social apps and streaming keep connecting directly and stay blocked.
Tor — slow
Strong anonymity, but low speed makes video impractical, and entry nodes are themselves blocked on many networks.
Mirror sites
A stopgap at best: mirrors get found and blocked within days, and fake copies harvest passwords. Not something to rely on.
Getting started
Three steps to open the site again.
- 1
Install TocaVPN
Free from the App Store, Google Play, APKPure or a direct APK.
- 2
Tap connect
One tap. No account, no configuration.
- 3
Open the site
Your traffic is encrypted and your real IP is hidden.
FAQ