Getting blocked while using a VPN is common—especially on streaming sites, banking apps, ticketing platforms, and ecommerce. “VPN detected” usually means the site is confident you’re not a normal residential user. The good news is you can often fix it by changing the VPN endpoint or removing network leaks.
Diagnose first (2 minutes)
Before changing settings, verify what the site can see:
How websites detect VPNs (high-level)
- IP reputation: the IP range is known to belong to a VPN/data center.
- Leak signals: DNS, WebRTC, or IPv6 reveals your real network.
- Fingerprinting: browser/TLS characteristics correlate with VPN usage patterns.
- Behavioral checks: too many logins/requests from the same IP.
Most common reasons your VPN is detected
1) The VPN IP is in a data center ASN
Many VPN providers use data center IP space. Detection vendors often flag these ASNs as “non-residential.”
Fix: Switch servers (especially to a less popular city). If your provider offers it, try residential or ISP endpoints.
2) The VPN IP is overused or previously abused
Even a good VPN can have “burned” IPs due to bots, scraping, or fraud. Sites may block the IP regardless of your behavior.
Fix: Change server, change protocol, or temporarily use a different VPN provider for that site.
3) DNS leak (site sees your real ISP DNS)
If your device continues to use ISP DNS while your traffic goes through the VPN, it’s a strong signal that something is misconfigured.
Fix: Enable the VPN’s DNS setting (often “Use VPN DNS”). Then confirm via:
4) IPv6 leak (VPN tunnels IPv4 only)
Some VPN setups don’t fully handle IPv6. You browse over IPv6 outside the tunnel while IPv4 is protected.
Fix: Use a VPN with IPv6 support or disable IPv6 temporarily. Learn more:
5) WebRTC leak (browser reveals local/private network info)
WebRTC can expose network routes in some configurations. Modern browsers are better than they used to be, but it’s still worth checking.
Fix: Disable WebRTC in the browser (or use a privacy-focused profile) and avoid “VPN + browser extensions” conflicts. Use:
6) Cookies / account history ties you to a real location
If you previously logged in from your real IP, the service may treat VPN use as risky and trigger verification.
Fix: Log out, clear site cookies for that service, and re-login. For some services, you can’t bypass “risk rules” without support.
Fix checklist (fast → advanced)
- Switch server/city (most effective).
- Switch protocol (e.g., WireGuard ↔ OpenVPN) if the app supports it.
- Check for leaks: DNS, IPv6, WebRTC.
- Use a fresh browser profile for that site.
- Try a different network (mobile hotspot) to rule out local routing issues.
Control what sites see
- Verify VPN: VPN Detection
- Hide IP guide: How to Hide Your IP
- IP basics: Public vs Private IP