How IP Blocking Works

Sometimes you can't access a website because your IP has been blocked. Here's why that happens.

What is IP Blocking?

IP blocking is when a server refuses to accept connections from specific IP addresses. If you're blocked, you'll typically see an error page or your connection will simply time out.

It's one of the simplest forms of access control—if your address is on the blocklist, you're denied entry.

Common Reasons for Blocks

Automated Security Systems

Most blocks come from automated systems that detect suspicious behavior:

• Too many login attempts in a short period
• Unusually high request rates (possible bot traffic)
• Patterns matching known attack signatures
• Sending spam or malicious content

Geographic Restrictions

Some services block entire countries or regions:

• Streaming services enforcing content licensing
• Businesses only serving specific markets
• Compliance with sanctions or regulations

VPN and Datacenter Blocks

Many services block known datacenter IP ranges to prevent:

• VPN users bypassing geographic restrictions
• Bot traffic from cloud servers
• Automated scraping or abuse

Manual Blocks

Site administrators sometimes manually block IPs after reviewing logs:

• Users violating terms of service
• Persistent harassment or spam
• Fraud or chargebacks

Types of Blocks

Temporary Blocks

Most automated blocks are temporary—lasting minutes to hours. If you triggered a rate limit, just wait and try again later.

Permanent Blocks

Reserved for serious abuse. These require manual intervention to remove.

Range Blocks

Sometimes entire IP ranges get blocked (like 192.0.2.0/24). This can catch innocent users who happen to share a range with bad actors.

What to Do If You're Blocked

Wait It Out

Most blocks expire automatically. Try again in 15-30 minutes.

Check Your Network

If you're on shared WiFi (coffee shop, office, university), someone else on your network may have triggered the block. You share the same public IP.

Restart Your Router

If you have a dynamic IP, restarting your router might get you a new address. This depends on your ISP—some change IPs frequently, others rarely.

Contact the Website

If you're blocked from a service you legitimately use, contact their support. False positives happen, and they can whitelist you.

Use a Different Network

Mobile data, a VPN, or a different WiFi network will give you a different IP. Note that some sites also block VPNs.

How Blocking is Implemented

Technically, IP blocks can happen at multiple levels:

• Firewall rules – Block at the network level before reaching the application
• Web server config – Apache/Nginx deny rules
• Application logic – The website code checks IPs and rejects requests
• CDN/WAF – Services like Cloudflare can block before traffic reaches the origin server

Limitations of IP Blocking

IP blocking isn't foolproof:

• Attackers can change IPs easily using VPNs or botnets
• Shared IPs mean innocent users get caught
• CGNAT means thousands of mobile users share one IP
• Dynamic IPs change over time

Most modern security systems combine IP blocking with other methods like rate limiting, CAPTCHAs, and behavioral analysis.