How to Unblock TikTok: Access TikTok From Anywhere in 2023

How to Unblock TikTok: Why Is TikTok Banned in Some Countries?

TikTok as a social media network doesn’t seem to pose any threat. What has raised some red flags, however, is ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company. The company is listed as privately owned, but it’s headquartered in China, leading to international concerns that the company may share customers’ personal data with the Chinese government. 

Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over the platform’s data, including data it has on foreign users, which could potentially expose sensitive information. China’s National Intelligence Law requires any organization to cooperate with the country’s intelligence agencies, so ByteDance would have to abide by a data request. 

For this reason, many countries have restricted citizens or government employees from installing the app on their devices. 

Additionally, some U.S. states are considering bans, including Montana; although that state’s legislature passed the law, it still requires a signature from the governor to become law — it also faces many legal challenges.

What Countries Have Banned TikTok?

Several countries have imposed some kind of restriction. Most have banned it only on government-issued devices, citing national security concerns, but also some have bans in place for private users. Here are all the countries where you can’t freely use and access TikTok. 

The U.S. TikTok Ban

Back in 2020, the Trump administration attempted to ban the social network in the United States. The attempt was blocked by a federal judge. In June 2021, the Biden administration revoked three of Trump’s executive orders regarding TikTok, but continued investigating how the company uses data. 

In December 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act, which bans the app from any device owned by the federal government. The FBI and the Department of Justice have an ongoing investigation into ByteDance and its use of TikTok to spy on journalists. 

Do U.S. States Have TikTok Bans?

At the time of writing, the only U.S. state that has taken legal action to ban users from accessing the platform is Montana. The state legislature passed a bill on April 14, 2023, and it would restrict all users from being able to engage with the app on any device. 

At the time of writing, it requires only the Montana governor’s signature to become law. However, it has stalled in the revision process to include other social media apps, and the law also faces legal challenges. 

In addition to this, the social media platform has been completely banned from any U.S. government-issued devices and systems as of February 27, as part of the No TikTok on Government Devices Act. 

Here is a list of states that have blocked it from government-issued devices at the time of writing: 

Why Is TikTok Blocked in Schools?

Also citing security, plenty of schools and companies have restricted access or completely blocked TikTok for those connected to their network. This restriction also includes access to the social network on devices that have been issued by the school or company. 

There is a way around such a restriction — you can use a VPN to unblock access to the app while you’re at school. To add to this, you’re also securing your connection, and making sure the school network administrator can’t snoop on your browsing session. 

Is Using a VPN to Unblock TikTok Legal?

At the moment, using a VPN to unblock TikTok is legal — you can use VPN providers such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN or Surfshark to access the app and all its content. This may change in the future if a TikTok ban is implemented by more countries, or if your school network administrator decides to restrict VPNs.

How to Access TikTok With a VPN

Accessing the platform via a VPN app is fairly easy — here’s how to do so. We’ll use ExpressVPN on an iOS smartphone as an example of how to unblock TikTok. 

1. Sign Up For and Download ExpressVPN (on Desktop)

   Go to ExpressVPN’s website and click “get ExpressVPN.” Follow the instructions to sign up for ExpressVPN and download the app for your device.

   

2. Sign Up for and Download ExpressVPN (on Mobile)

   Go to your device’s app store and download ExpressVPN. Open the app, then follow the instructions to sign up and log in.

   

3. Choose a VPN server

   Once you’ve downloaded and signed in to the VPN app, click the location to open the server list. From the server list, choose a server in a country that hasn’t blocked TikTok. We used Switzerland — you can search for it using the bar at the top and choose it as your location.

   

4. Connect to the Server

   When you’ve chosen a server, hit the “connect” button. After a few seconds, you’ll be connected, and you should be able to access TikTok.

   

{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”HowTo”,”name”:”How to Access TikTok With a VPN”,”description”:”These step-by-step instructions show how to access TikTok with a VPN.”,”totalTime”:”P00D02M00S”,”supply”:0,”tool”:0,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/unblock-tiktok\/#how-to-access-tiktok-with-a-vpn”,”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”inLanguage”:”en-US”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/How-to-Unblock-TikTok-Bypass-Country-or-School-Bans.png”},”step”:[{“@type”:”HowToStep”,”name”:” Sign Up For and Download ExpressVPN (on Desktop)”,”position”:1,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/unblock-tiktok\/#sign-up-for-and-download-expressvpn-on-desktop”,”itemListElement”:{“@type”:”HowToDirection”,”text”:”Go to ExpressVPN\u2019s website and click \u201cget ExpressVPN.\u201d Follow the instructions to sign up for ExpressVPN and download the app for your device.\n”},”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”inLanguage”:”en-US”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/signup-expressvpn-desktop.png”}},{“@type”:”HowToStep”,”name”:”Sign Up for and Download ExpressVPN (on Mobile)”,”position”:2,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/unblock-tiktok\/#sign-up-for-and-download-expressvpn-on-mobile”,”itemListElement”:{“@type”:”HowToDirection”,”text”:”Go to your device\u2019s app store and download ExpressVPN. Open the app, then follow the instructions to sign up and log in.\n”},”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”inLanguage”:”en-US”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/signup-expressvpn-mobile.png”}},{“@type”:”HowToStep”,”name”:”Choose a VPN server”,”position”:3,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/unblock-tiktok\/#choose-a-vpn-server”,”itemListElement”:{“@type”:”HowToDirection”,”text”:”Once you\u2019ve downloaded and signed in to the VPN app, click the location to open the server list. From the server list, choose a server in a country that hasn\u2019t blocked TikTok. We used Switzerland — you can search for it using the bar at the top and choose it as your location.\n”},”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”inLanguage”:”en-US”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/servers-expressvpn.png”}},{“@type”:”HowToStep”,”name”:”Connect to the Server”,”position”:4,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/unblock-tiktok\/#connect-to-the-server”,”itemListElement”:{“@type”:”HowToDirection”,”text”:”When you\u2019ve chosen a server, hit the \u201cconnect\u201d button. After a few seconds, you\u2019ll be connected, and you should be able to access TikTok.\n”},”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”inLanguage”:”en-US”,”url”:”https:\/\/www.cloudwards.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/connect-expressvpn.png”}}]}

Can I Use a Free VPN to Access TikTok?

There are very few free VPN apps that we’d recommend as safe to use. Our usual suggestions are Windscribe, Proton VPN and TunnelBear, with TunnelBear being the best option to unblock TikTok. Windscribe comes with a fairly small server list, and Proton VPN has only three free server locations.

TunnelBear gives you access to all of its servers on the free plan, though it does have a 2GB data limit. If you only need it for casual use, and don’t intend on watching too many videos, you can certainly use it to unblock TikTok. 

When you’re looking into how to unblock TikTok, you will undoubtedly come across proxies. While proxies can deal with countries or a school blocking the app, they offer no security or privacy and may collect your user data. We always suggest using a VPN instead of a proxy to get a new IP address.

How to Install the TikTok App in Countries Where It’s Banned

If you live in a country where TikTok is completely blocked, you may find it’s not available on your local app store. You can unblock and access TikTok even despite such limitations — here’s how to do so on both an iOS device and Android device.

Install the TikTok App on iOS 

1. Open the Apple App Store

   From your home screen, open the app store. 

   

2. Open the Settings

   Hit the profile icon in the top-right corner.

   

3. Go to your Account Settings

   Tap your name and email address to open the account settings.

   

4. Go to the Country and Region Settings

   Tap “country/region” to open the list of locations.

   

5. Choose a New Location

   From the list, choose a new location where there aren’t any TikTok bans. Agree to the terms and conditions, and select “none” as the payment method.

   

6. Enter a Billing Address

   In the billing settings, enter a billing address from the country you chose. You can use an address generator to get a random address in any country.

   

7. Download TikTok

   Now that you have changed your location, you should be able to go to the app store and download TikTok. 

   

Install the TikTok App on Android

1. Open the Settings

   On your Android device, open the settings. 

   

2. Go to the Apps List

   From the settings, open the list of installed apps.

   

3. Open the Play Store

   In the list, find and open the Google Play Store. 

   

4. Clear the App Data

   Click on “storage,” and then at the bottom tap “clear data.” 

   

5. Connect to a VPN

   Use your VPN of choice to connect to a location where TikTok isn’t banned.

   

6. Download TikTok

   With the VPN open, you should be able to see and download TikTok from the Play store.

   

The 3 Best VPNs for Unblocking TikTok

Plenty of VPNs can unblock TikTok, but the three below can do so while providing the best possible performance and security. They also topped our best VPN for TikTok list. All of them have easy-to-use apps for all devices that you can use TikTok on, both mobile and desktop. 

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is our top pick if you want to unblock TikTok. It has a large server network with servers in 94 locations, many of which don’t block the TikTok platform. The apps on both desktop and mobile are very easy to use, which is why we put it at the top of our list of best VPNs for beginners. You can find out more about it in our ExpressVPN review. 

ExpressVPN doesn’t compromise on performance and security. Its proprietary Lightway protocol has a lightweight database and minimal impact on performance, while still offering both AES and ChaCha20 encryption. The only downside is ExpressVPN’s pricing, though if you want a new IP address in a secure way, it’s very much worth it. 

ExpressVPN Plans

• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.95/month

6-months plan

$9.99/month

$59.94 billed every 6 month

Save 22%

15-months plan

$6.66/month

$99.95 billed first 15 months and 12 months thereafter

Save 48%

2. NordVPN

If you’ve read our comparison on NordVPN vs ExpressVPN, you probably won’t be surprised that NordVPN takes the second spot on this list, as well as on our list of best VPNs. NordVPN boasts a large server network, with over 5,000 servers in 60 countries, many of which don’t have TikTok blocked. We talk more about the server list in our full NordVPN review.

NordVPN has apps for all platforms where TikTok is available, making it easy to bypass the block. This includes even smart TVs and gaming consoles, though we found the mobile apps — especially the settings menu — to be a bit complicated to use. The prices are affordable in comparison to ExpressVPN, making NordVPN an excellent alternative VPN for TikTok. 

30-days money-back guarantee

Standard

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$11.99/month

1-year plan

$4.99/month

$59.88 billed every year

Save 58%

2-year plan

$3.49/month

$83.76 billed every 2 years

Save 70%

Plus

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$12.99/month

1-year plan

$5.99/month

$71.88 billed every year

Save 53%

2-year plan

$5.19/month

$124.56 billed every 2 years

Save 60%

Complete

• Unlimited GB
• 6
• Yes

1-month plan

$14.49/month

1-year plan

$7.49/month

$89.88 billed every year

Save 48%

2-year plan

$6.69/month

$160.56 billed every 2 years

Save 53%

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is a very solid VPN all around, with consistently high speeds as seen in our VPN speed comparison, and a strong focus on security. It comes with unlimited simultaneous connections, making it easy to share a subscription with others and enjoy videos on multiple devices with a single subscription. 

The Surfshark app’s menu also shows MultiHop servers, which tunnel your connection through multiple VPN servers, adding security and concealing your real IP address even better. It’s also a great budget VPN. Surfshark’s only downside is the sometimes inconsistent latency, which you can find out more about in our Surfshark review. 

Surfshark Plans

• Unlimited GB bandwidth, Unlimited devices
• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

30-days money-back guarantee

1-month plan

$12.95/month

1-year plan

$3.99/month

$47.88 billed every year

Save 69%

2-year plan

$2.49/month

$59.76 billed every 2 years

Save 80%

How to Stay Safe on TikTok

If you’re using TikTok and want to make sure you’re staying safe, there are a few things you should consider. The first thing to do is head to your TikTok app settings and make sure your profile is set to private. This ensures that other users can’t follow you or interact with your TikTok account without your explicit approval. 

Once you’ve made your profile private, disabling mentions and tags is a great way to make sure you don’t get tagged in unsafe videos. You can even choose who you want (or don’t want) to message you on the app. 

Practice common sense when using TikTok. Avoid engaging with users you don’t know, don’t click on links that seem suspicious, and don’t use TikTok when connected to a network you aren’t sure is private and secure. The same applies for other social media networks. 

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to unblock TikTok can get you access to all its content even when your location has banned TikTok. Using a virtual private network lets you enjoy videos despite a block, and you’re also adding security to your internet connection. 

ExpressVPN is the best way to unblock TikTok in locations where restrictions are in place. If you want to watch videos at school without paying ExpressVPN’s high prices, NordVPN and Surfshark are excellent alternatives. 

Do you live in a country where TikTok is blocked? Or are you having issues accessing the app while you’re at school? Which VPN is your choice to unblock TikTok? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thank you for reading. 

The post How to Unblock TikTok: Access TikTok From Anywhere in 2023 appeared first on Cloudwards.