A website will not load. Does that mean it is blocked?
Not necessarily. The same browser error can have different causes. Replacing your VPN straight away can mean spending the evening trying to fix the wrong problem.
What we know
OONI researchers caution that an unavailable service is not, by itself, proof of blocking. The website or a network fault may be responsible. A result on one network cannot automatically be applied to a whole city, provider or country.
What this means for you
Compare conditions before changing settings at random. Do not change the server, app and network all at once: even if the website starts working, you will not know what helped.
Three comparisons
1. One website or several? Try a couple of other normally accessible pages. If nothing loads, the problem extends beyond one service. 2. Wi-Fi or mobile data? Repeat the check on the same device using another connection. Different results narrow the search to a particular network, but do not establish the cause. 3. With or without a VPN? If appropriate for your situation, compare the same address. Note the result, time and exact error. Never send support your passwords or complete VPN subscription link.
When changing your VPN will not help
A VPN needs a working network path to its server. If your device has completely lost network access, another app cannot create that connection. If only the website is having trouble, check its status page.
What to tell support
“iPhone, mobile data: website X fails with and without the VPN, but works over Wi-Fi. The error says …”. These observations offer a better starting point than “everything is blocked”.
This is a general explainer, not a report of a new widespread block.
