Unblocking LinkedIn with a VPN in 2024
LinkedIn is the world‘s largest professional networking platform, with over 800 million members spanning over 200 countries. This incredibly popular site allows professionals to connect, find jobs, promote their businesses, and more.
However, in some countries and organizations, access to LinkedIn is restricted or blocked entirely. Fortunately, using a high-quality Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to bypass these restrictions and unblock access to LinkedIn no matter where you are.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about accessing LinkedIn with a VPN in 2024.
Why LinkedIn is Blocked in Some Areas
There are a few reasons why LinkedIn may be inaccessible, including:
Government Internet Censorship
Some repressive regimes block access to major social media and networking platforms like LinkedIn as part of strict internet censorship laws. For example, LinkedIn is entirely banned in mainland China and Russia.
Workplace Productivity Policies
Many offices and schools block social media sites, including LinkedIn, in an attempt to reduce distractions and improve productivity.
Protecting Local Businesses
In some developing countries, governments restrict international sites like LinkedIn to nurture local professional networking sites instead.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN?
In most countries, using a VPN is perfectly legal. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address to protect your online privacy. As long as you use your VPN appropriately and avoid illegal activities, you shouldn’t run into any legal troubles.
However, some authoritarian countries like China, Iran, and North Korea have made VPN use illegal. If you are located in one of these countries, you could face fines or other penalties for accessing a VPN. Proceed with caution.
What You Should NOT Do With a VPN
While using a VPN to access sites like LinkedIn that are blocked in your country is perfectly fine, you should avoid engaging in the following illegal activities:
Torrenting Copyrighted Content
Cyberstalking/Harassing Others
Accessing the Dark Web
Hacking Networks or Systems
Engaging in cybercrime while using a VPN will still land you in legal trouble, regardless of whether your real IP address is hidden. Refrain from these activities at all times.
The Best VPNs for Unblocking LinkedIn
Paid VPNs provide faster speeds, more server locations, reliable connections, and better security versus free services. Here are the top-rated paid VPNs for accessing LinkedIn:
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NordVPN – Best VPN Overall for LinkedIn
With over 5,500 lightning-fast servers worldwide, industry-leading security protocols, and easy-to-use apps, NordVPN is our top choice for unblocking LinkedIn. This Panama-based provider has a strict no-logs policy and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. -
ExpressVPN – Excellent Speeds & Reliability
ExpressVPN consistently ranks as one of the fastest and most reliable VPN services. With 3,000+ global VPN servers and best-in-class 256-bit AES encryption, you can depend on ExpressVPN to securely unblock LinkedIn. -
CyberGhost – User-Friendly Apps
Boasting over 7,400 servers across 90 countries, CyberGhost VPN makes it easy to change your virtual location with just a few clicks. The user-friendly desktop and mobile apps are very straightforward for accessing blocked sites and services. -
Surfshark – Unlimited Device Connections
In addition to providing access to over 3,200 VPN servers, Surfshark stands out by allowing an unlimited number of simultaneous device connections on a single account. Plus, the low-cost plans make it very budget-friendly.
The Best FREE VPNs for LinkedIn
If paid services are out of your budget, free VPNs like ProtonVPN, Hide.me, and TunnelBear offer limited data and server locations but can still successfully unblock sites like LinkedIn most of the time.
We recommend ProtonVPN as the best free option since they do not log user data or impose annoying bandwidth caps each month. However, all free tiers come with some major limitations compared to premium VPN subscriptions.
How to Use a VPN to Unblock LinkedIn
Using a VPN to access blocked sites like LinkedIn is a straightforward process:
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Select a Paid or Free VPN Service
We recommend NordVPN as the best paid choice or ProtonVPN for free users. -
Download & Install the VPN App
Download your chosen VPN app for your device like Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android. Many VPNs offer browser extensions as well. -
Connect to a Server in an Unrestricted Country
Launch the VPN app, log in, and connect to a server located where LinkedIn is not blocked, like the USA or UK. Connecting will encrypt your internet traffic and mask your IP address. -
Access LinkedIn Freely
Once connected to your VPN server, you can now visit LinkedIn.com freely without geographic restrictions. Continue browsing the site while connected to enjoy private access. -
Disconnect the VPN When Done
Make sure to disconnect your VPN app after you finish accessing LinkedIn. This will turn off encryption and restore your original IP address.
Additional VPN Benefits
Aside from unblocking LinkedIn anywhere worldwide, quality VPNs also provide:
Encrypted Internet Traffic – Prevents ISPs, hackers, and snoops from accessing your private data
Anonymity Online – Masks your real IP address and physical location
Malware Protection on Public Wi-Fi – Encrypts data to keep you safe from sneaky cybercriminals
So by signing up for a trusted VPN provider like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, you can freely access LinkedIn no matter where you are located while securing your online privacy.
