How To Open Blocked Sites on Android Without a VPN

Open a blocked site on your Android phone right now by switching your DNS to Cloudflare, installing Intra, or using Opera's built-in proxy. These methods cost nothing and take under two minutes.

Use a DNS Override App Like Intra or DNS66

Intra is a free app from Jigsaw (a Google-owned company). It blocks DNS-based censorship by routing your DNS queries through DNS-over-HTTPS. Install it from the Google Play Store. Open it, tap the switch to turn it on. It uses Google's DNS-over-HTTPS by default. You can switch to Cloudflare under settings. It works on Wi-Fi and mobile data.

DNS66 is another option. It's free, open-source, and available on F-Droid (not Google Play). DNS66 blocks hosts-level blocking with a local VPN. The app creates a local VPN on your device to intercept DNS requests. Enable it, select a DNS provider like AdGuard or Cloudflare, and start it. It also blocks many ads. DNS66 is more technical than Intra but more powerful. You cannot use DNS66 and another VPN at the same time.

Both apps work immediately. Intra is simpler. DNS66 gives you more control.

Switch Your Android DNS to Cloudflare or Quad9 (No App Needed)

Android 9 and later let you set a private DNS system-wide. No app required. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS. Select "Private DNS provider hostname." Enter one.one.one.one for Cloudflare, or dns.quad9.net for Quad9. Tap Save.

Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) is fast and privacy-focused. It encrypts your DNS with DNS-over-TLS. This bypasses most ISP-level blocks. Quad9 blocks malicious domains but does not bypass censorship as reliably.

This method stops your ISP from seeing which sites you request. It does not hide your IP address. The website you visit still sees your IP. It works on Wi-Fi and mobile data, persists across restarts, and you can toggle it off anytime.

Use a Proxy Browser Like Opera or Tor Browser for Android

Opera Browser for Android has a built-in proxy. Open Opera. Go to the menu (three dots) > Settings. Look for "VPN" under Privacy & Security. Enable it. It's a proxy, not a full VPN, but it routes your traffic through Opera's servers. It only works inside the Opera browser. It is free, unlimited, and requires no signup.

Opera's proxy hides your IP from the site you visit and bypasses DNS blocks. It's fast enough for video streaming.

Tor Browser for Android (version 14.0, free) is more secure. It routes your traffic through three random nodes in the onion network. This hides your IP and makes you very difficult to block. It is slow. Browsing feels like using a 3G connection. Strict networks like schools often block the Tor network. If it fails, try a bridge. Bridges are secret Tor relays. Tor Browser includes a "Request a Bridge" button in settings.

Use Opera for speed. Use Tor for maximum privacy.

Try a Free, Ad-Supported Proxy App Like Psiphon

Psiphon is a proxy app for Android. It is free but shows ads. It uses SSH, VPN, and HTTP proxy protocols. It is not a full VPN. It creates a tunnel that bypasses censorship. Install it from the Google Play Store. Open it, tap Connect. It selects a server for you. You can choose a region manually.

Psiphon handles blocking and throttling well. It is used in Iran, China, and other countries with heavy censorship. Speeds are decent for browsing and email. Video streaming can be choppy on the free tier. There is no data cap. It works on Wi-Fi and mobile data. The ads appear as small banners and are not intrusive.

Change Your Device's DNS Manually in Wi-Fi Settings

For Wi-Fi networks only, you can change the DNS manually. This works on any Android version. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi. Tap the gear icon next to your active network. Tap "Advanced" or "Modify Network." Look for "IP settings" and change it to "Static." Enter 1.1.1.1 for DNS 1 and 1.0.0.1 for DNS 2 for Cloudflare. Or use 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for Google Public DNS. Tap Save.

This change applies only to that Wi-Fi network. You must repeat it for each network. It does not work on mobile data. It bypasses DNS-based blocks but does not hide your IP. It is simple and reliable.

Use a Web-Based Proxy Like Kproxy or Hide.me

Kproxy is a free web proxy. No app install required. Open your browser, go to kproxy.com, enter the blocked URL, and click Go. It fetches the page through Kproxy's server. The free tier has limited speed and bandwidth. It handles text pages fine. Videos and downloads pause often.

Kproxy works in any browser and hides your IP from the site. The free version shows ads. A paid version offers more speed.

Hide.me proxy is another web-based option. Go to hide.me/en/proxy. Enter the URL. Choose a server location: Netherlands, Germany, or US. It supports HTTPS. The free tier gives you 2GB of data per month with no signup. That is enough for a few days of light browsing. After 2GB, the proxy stops working until the next month.

Hide.me is more secure than Kproxy. It uses HTTPS encryption and is faster on the free tier than most competitors. Both are temporary fixes. Use them for one-off access to a specific site. For regular use, pick a DNS method or a proxy browser.

Part of our guide to How Network Blocks Work, and How To Get Around Them.