ChatGPT has taken the world by storm since its release in November 2022, quickly becoming one of the most popular AI chatbots globally. However, some schools, universities, and workplaces have chosen to block access to ChatGPT due to concerns around plagiarism or productivity.
If your organization has blocked ChatGPT, don‘t worry – there are several methods you can use to access ChatGPT even when it‘s blocked. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the main techniques to unblock and use ChatGPT:
Why Might ChatGPT Be Blocked?
Before jumping into the methods for unblocking ChatGPT, let‘s first understand why it may be blocked in the first place:
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Plagiarism concerns – Schools and universities worry students will use ChatGPT to cheat on assignments and essays. The AI is skilled at generating high-quality content, so administrators block it to prevent plagiarism.
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Productivity concerns – Employers may block ChatGPT out of fear it will distract employees and reduce productivity. There are also concerns about data privacy if employees use ChatGPT extensively on workplace networks.
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Bandwidth concerns – ChatGPT requires substantial bandwidth to operate. Organizations may block it to preserve bandwidth for other educational or business applications.
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Ethical concerns – There are ongoing debates about whether AI like ChatGPT can spreading misinformation or exhibit harmful biases. Some organizations block ChatGPT due to these ethical concerns.
Methods to Unblock ChatGPT
Now let‘s explore proven techniques to access ChatGPT even if your school, university, or workplace has blocked it:
Use a Trusted VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to tunnel your web traffic through an encrypted connection and mask your IP address. This makes it appear as if you are accessing the internet from another location.
Follow these steps to unblock ChatGPT with a VPN:
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Select a reliable VPN provider that works in your country, such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Surfshark. Avoid free VPNs as they often have privacy risks.
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Download and install the VPN app on your device. Create an account if required.
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Connect to a VPN server located in a country where ChatGPT is not blocked.
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Once connected, access the ChatGPT website – it should now work normally.
The advantage of using a VPN is it encrypts all your traffic, providing an extra layer of privacy and security beyond just unblocking ChatGPT. The drawback is that a paid VPN requires a monthly subscription.
Use the Tor Browser
The Tor browser routes your traffic through the Tor anonymity network, masking your IP address similar to a VPN. Tor is free to use.
To unblock ChatGPT with Tor:
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Go to torproject.org and download the Tor browser for your device.
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Install and open the Tor browser. It will connect to the Tor network automatically.
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Access the ChatGPT site using the Tor browser – you should now be able to use ChatGPT normally.
The main advantage of Tor is that it‘s free and open-source. The downside is that connections tend to be slower than paid VPNs.
Use a Web Proxy
A web proxy acts as an intermediary between you and the internet. When you connect through a proxy, websites like ChatGPT see the proxy server‘s IP instead of your real IP address.
Some free proxies you can use include:
To use a proxy:
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Choose a proxy service from the list above and visit their website.
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Enter the full ChatGPT URL into the proxy site to access it.
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ChatGPT will now load through the proxy and be unblocked.
Proxies are quick and easy to set up, but they are less secure than VPNs and may have slower speeds.
Use Browser Extensions
There are various browser extensions and add-ons you can install to mask your IP address and location. Here are some top options:
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BrowserVPN – Works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge. It‘s free but bandwidth is limited.
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UrbanVPN – Provides a free VPN directly in your browser. Available for Chrome and Firefox.
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TunnelBear – Paid extension but provides a reliable VPN with unlimited bandwidth.
To use these extensions:
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Install the extension for your browser from the Chrome/Firefox web store.
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Turn on the extension/VPN and refresh the ChatGPT page – it should now load bypassing any blocks.
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You can keep the extension enabled to browse other blocked sites too.
The benefit of extensions is convenience, since the VPN runs directly in your browser. The negative is that free extensions have data limits.
Switch to Cell Data or a Different Network
If ChatGPT is only blocked on your school or work WiFi network, simply connecting to a different network can unblock access:
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If you have a smartphone, turn off WiFi and use your cellular data – ChatGPT is unlikely to be blocked.
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Connect your laptop to a different WiFi network not controlled by your school/employer.
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Use a secondary device with its own data plan like a tablet or spare mobile phone.
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For PCs, use an Ethernet cable to connect directly to your home internet instead of the workplace network.
This method is straightforward but only works if the blocking is implemented at the network-level. If ChatGPT is blocked at a national level, you‘ll need to use a VPN/proxy.
Use ChatGPT Alternatives
If unblocking ChatGPT itself seems too risky or difficult, considering using AI alternatives like:
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Anthropic – Similar capabilities to ChatGPT with good content quality.
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Quillbot – Performs well for paraphrasing existing text.
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Shortly – Excellent for summarizing long articles or texts.
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Jasper – AI writing assistant aimed at businesses.
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Bing Chat – New chatbot feature incorporated into Bing search.
The benefit of alternatives is they avoid the censorship targeting ChatGPT specifically. The disadvantage is their features may not be as advanced (yet).
Is it Illegal to Unblock ChatGPT?
In most countries, unblocking ChatGPT for personal use is not illegal. VPNs and proxies are legal in the majority of regions.
However, actively attempting to circumvent security controls may violate your school or workplace IT policies. And you could get in trouble for using ChatGPT to cheat or plagiarize.
So proceed with caution – make sure to use ChatGPT responsibly if you do manage to access it. Do not impersonate others or scrape content from the AI.
Some specific countries like China do criminalize use of VPNs. So first research your local laws before using a VPN or proxy to be safe.
The Bottom Line
A variety of effective techniques exist for accessing ChatGPT even if it‘s blocked in your school, workplace, or country. The best options are using a quality paid VPN or the Tor browser for security and speed.
Free proxies and browser extensions also work in a pinch, or you can switch to your phone‘s cellular data. Just be responsible in how you use ChatGPT‘s capabilities once unblocked.
With the right approach, you can usually find a way past most ChatGPT blocking. Just be wary of any prohibitive laws in your region around tools like VPNs. And avoid actions like plagiarism that misuse ChatGPT‘s AI power.
