Age verification laws are spreading worldwide, requiring personal data to access adult websites. In the US, 27 states already demand age verification to watch adult content. Every visitor, including grown-ups, must verify their age, sharing personally identifiable information (PII) with those websites or third-party authenticators.
Opponents point to very real cybersecurity issues it poses. Giving away your government ID, driver's license, or Social Security number is what hackers are after.
Instead, websites like Pornhub refuse to implement policies that put their user data at risk. Currently, Pornhub has stopped working in 25 states that require age verification. It is also unavailable in the UK, France, and Australia.
Until the issues are resolved, you can use proxy servers to bypass restrictions and unblock Pornhub. Our step-by-step guide below shows how to access adult Pornhub content without sharing your personal data with anyone.
Why Pornhub is banned in your state (Or country)
You cannot access Pornhub because it does not comply with new age verification laws. Also, countries like India, the UAE, and China block Pornhub because of cultural and political differences. The list below summarizes Pornhub blocking globally.
- Worldwide: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UK, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
- US states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
- European Union: France, Germany, Italy
Pornhub decided to stop operating in selected US states because of age verification laws. The website does not want to enforce sharing personally identifiable information with third parties to access adult content.
Instead, they suggest device-level age verification. Users need to verify their device as 18+ only once, and not for each adult website they visit. Minors would not pass age verification. Meanwhile, grown-ups can visit all adult websites without sharing PII with them or third-party age authenticators.
They are not the only ones unhappy. The Free Speech Coalition has also initiated a lawsuit against age verification laws in their current form. User privacy and data security were cited among other issues.
Keep in mind that you still might be able to access Pornhub in some states and countries listed above. However, Pornhub will not display adult videos. This applies to the UK and France in Europe. Also, Germany and Italy have age verification laws, but Pornhub remains unrestricted there so far.
Lastly, there are countries with a politically motivated adult content ban. It is illegal in China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and numerous Middle East and African countries. This type of content is heavily restricted in India, and Indonesia also enforces a strong ban. In these countries, Pornhub is unavailable, along with all other adult content websites.
Local network restrictions
You may still encounter Pornhub blocks even if it is fully accessible in your country. For example, such websites are usually blocked in offices and educational institutions to maintain a professional atmosphere.
In this case, you may not even need additional tools to access adult websites. Many local network restrictions use a simple DNS ban, which blocks specific websites' addresses.
On your device, you can access the network's DNS settings. Manually change the DNS server address to 8.8.8.8 (Google's DNS) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare DNS). This method bypasses straightforward DNS bans, but doesn't work for anything more sophisticated.
Another method is using URL shorteners like Bitly. Since you will no longer show 'Pornhub.com' as your intended website, simple network restrictions may allow the modified link through. Lastly, you may just try alternative adult content websites, as Pornhub accessibility is now somewhat complex.
But if you're keen on bypassing age verification Pornhub blocks, continue to the next chapter.
Easiest way to bypass the Pornhub ban: Use a proxy
To bypass age verification, you can use datacenter proxies that are fast and inexpensive. However, for strict state-imposed bans, like in the Middle East, residential proxies work best.
A proxy is another tool that acts as a gateway between you and the internet. Whenever you browse online, your device communicates with the website directly. But if you use a proxy, it follows this simple path:
Your device -> proxy server -> website
To bypass restrictions and unblock Pornhub, choose a proxy server in a state or country without age verification laws. Let's take Texas and New York as examples.
Texas maintains strict age verification laws, so Pornhub is not working there. Whenever you visit it, the website sees your original IP address from Texas and issues a porn ban.
But if you connect to a proxy server in New York first, Pornhub sees an IP address from there. For the website, it looks like you are physically browsing from there. Because New York does not have age verification laws for adult websites, you can access adult content on Pornhub.
This is very similar to how VPNs work. VPNs also reroute traffic through another server and substitute the original user's IP address. However, you typically need a subscription and a VPN app that routes all device traffic through the VPN server.
A proxy browser extension routes only the browser's traffic through its server. This way, your P2P downloads or online gaming matches maintain the best connection speed. We'll explain and compare other ways to bypass the Pornhub block later on.
Here is our step-by-step guide to access Pornhub from anywhere with MarsProxies.
How to set up a proxy for Pornhub (Step-by-step guide)
We will use our datacenter proxies as an example to access Pornhub. We will also show you how to use our browser extension, which is the easiest way to bypass the age verification porn ban.
1. Register with MarsProxies using your email or sign up with Google or Facebook.
2. Log in with your preferred method and select 'Buy now' (1) next to datacenter proxies.
3. Select the plan duration (2). Most importantly, select a proxy server in a location (3) without age verification laws. We use New York City in the US as an example. Select the number of proxies (4) you need and then click 'Continue to payment' (5).
4. Choose a payment method and finalize your purchase (6).
5. Click 'Datacenter' (7) on the left-side menu, and then on the newly acquired order (8). It should be on top of the list.
6. Click 'Copy' (9) at the bottom of your order’s details.
7. Download the MarsProxies browser extension from the Chrome Web Store or Mozilla Add-ons store for Firefox.
8. Click on the MarsProxies browser extension icon (10) and on the 'Add new proxy' (11) option.
9. Give your profile a name (12). Paste the credentials you copied in step 6 into the 'Hostname/IP' (13) section. The extension will fill the remaining fields as needed. Click 'Save' (14).
10. Click on the MarsProxies browser extension icon again and click 'Connect' (15) next to your newly added proxy.
The green light indicates that the connection has been successful. But let's verify it on IP Leak just to be sure.
The screenshot shows that our IP address is now from New York City, US. This setup lets you bypass restrictions and unblock Pornhub in all states and countries where it has stopped operating due to age verification laws.
However, datacenter proxies should not be used when the website itself blocks proxy traffic. For example, Netflix and other popular streaming services easily identify datacenter traffic and block it.
We recommend switching to residential proxy servers if you encounter similar blocks. And in case of strict nationwide bans, like the China Firewall, you should seek VPNs or proxies with a traffic obfuscation feature.
VPN vs proxy vs Tor: Which is best for bypassing Pornhub block?
Alternatively, you can use a VPN or the Tor Browser to access adult content on Pornhub. We'll summarize their differences in the table below and then explain which method is the best.
Undetectability
Low
Highest
Medium-to-high
Low
Connection speed
Highest
Medium-to-high
High
Lowest
Number of IPs
Millions
Millions
Thousands
Thousands
Pricing
Low, per proxy
Medium-to-high, per GB
Medium-to-high, subscription-based
Free
Tor (The Onion Router) Browser is a free anonymity-oriented web browser. Firstly, you will have to use it as your primary browser to bypass restrictions.
Tor encrypts and sends your traffic through three additional servers, called relays. Each relay assigns you a new IP address, so tracking your online activities becomes substantially harder.
But three additional hops also slow down the connection speed, so it's not optimized for streaming. Simultaneously, selecting a desired state or country also requires additional configuration. This makes Tor not the best tool to unblock Pornhub.
A VPN is a more common method to bypass regional blocks than Tor. Similarly to proxy servers, VPN providers offer VPN servers in multiple countries to bypass geographical restrictions. Typically, you need to subscribe and download a VPN app, which encrypts all traffic device-wide.
If your chosen VPN provider offers obfuscated servers, it's a reliable tool to bypass strict porn bans like the Great Firewall of China. Because VPNs mask your IP address and encrypt traffic, you can access adult content with a strong layer of online privacy. However, because of additional encryption, you can also experience a palpable speed drop.
Datacenter proxies are more affordable than most noteworthy VPN subscriptions. Their easy detectability is also not an issue to access Pornhub without age verification.
In most cases, VPNs offer one- or two-year subscription plans for the best price-to-value ratio. But if you choose our datacenter proxies, you can order them for 1, 30, or 90 days to get the lowest price.
To summarize, if your goal is to bypass age verification laws to access Pornhub, then proxies are your best choice.
Is it legal to bypass a porn site ban?
You don't want to get into legal trouble when bypassing restrictions to access adult websites. It is a real possibility in some places, but luckily not in the US, the EU, or any Western country.
Firstly, keep in mind that the Pornhub block due to age verification laws is self-imposed. In the US, the UK, and France, it is the website's responsibility to verify the visitor's age. Because Pornhub disagrees with the offered age verification methods, it simply shut down its services there.
Using proxies in these countries is perfectly legal. Even if you bypass restrictions like a porn ban, it is not enough to define it as a criminal activity. However, you cannot use proxies, VPNs, or Tor to access illegal material. Using these tools to watch unlawful adult content is strictly prohibited.
You are breaking most websites' Terms of Service when bypassing age verification laws. Your IP address can be blocked, and your account may be suspended. That is the current norm for all restricted content. Once again, this is not a criminal activity and won't get you in trouble with the law.
The situation is entirely different regarding state-imposed porn bans. If you aim to bypass restrictions and access Pornhub, for example, in Iran, you are taking a considerable risk. In the Middle East and other countries with a politically issued porn ban, it's best to review local laws before accessing adult websites.
Final thoughts
We have tested our datacenter and residential proxies to access Pornhub and can verify they bypass restrictions every time. It is also the easiest way to bypass restrictions, as you don't have to install any apps. You can simply launch the browser extension and turn the proxy on or off with two clicks.
Pornhub block due to age verification laws is easy to overcome, so datacenter proxies are sufficient. However, if you encounter strict state-imposed porn bans, you should opt for residential proxies. They have the highest undetectability rating and resemble a genuine person browsing, which makes them harder to block.
It is unclear when things will settle down with the age verification laws. But right now, sign up with MarsProxies and enjoy genuinely unrestricted internet access wherever you are.
Frequently asked questions
Can my ISP tell I’m using a proxy to access Pornhub?
Your ISP can see if you access Pornhub only if you use unencrypted HTTP or a SOCKS proxy. To prevent that, choose encrypted HTTPS proxies that mask your online activities from third parties.
Will using a proxy slow down my Pornhub streaming?
Yes, all proxies inevitably slow down the internet connection up to a point. However, if you use datacenter proxies to bypass age verification laws, their connection quality is sufficient to maintain an uninterrupted Pornhub stream.
Can I set up a proxy on my phone or smart TV?
Yes, you can easily set up proxies on your smartphone. Feel free to try out the free MarsProxies Android or MarsProxies iOS apps for easy setup. Regarding Smart TVs, proxy compatibility depends entirely on the model, so inspect the instructions for more information.
Do I need to clear cookies or cache after switching proxies?
Yes, clearing out cache and cookies is the best way to bypass restrictions and unblock websites. Otherwise, websites can still identify you as a previous visitor and overcome the IP address change.
Which countries block Pornhub the most in 2026?
In 2026, Pornhub is inaccessible in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, and many other countries with a strict porn ban. Due to age verification laws, it is also inaccessible in 25 US states, the UK, France, and Australia.
