TikTok, the popular short-form video app, has been banned in India since June 2020 due to concerns over data privacy and national security. The ban has left millions of Indian TikTok users without access to the app, leading many to search for ways to unblock TikTok and continue using the platform.
Fortunately, there are several ways to unblock TikTok in India and access the app’s content. In this article, we’ll explore the best methods for unblocking TikTok in India and provide step-by-step instructions for each method. Whether you’re an avid TikTok user or just curious about the platform, read on to learn how to unblock TikTok in India and enjoy all the fun and creative videos that the app has to offer.
Wait – Why Is TikTok Banned in India in the First Place?
Apparently, the government thinks the app poses a “security threat.” It’s not just TikTok, though – 58 other Chinese apps were banned too.
What do they mean by “security threat,” though?
Well, in our opinion, it has nothing to do with that. The government likely banned TikTok and other Chinese apps in response to the deadly border clash between India and China that took place at the end of June. They already fortified the border, but this ban takes things one step further.
Just think about it – blocking these apps is an excellent way to harm the revenue stream of Chinese companies. Some of that money obviously went towards the Chinese government through taxes. TikTok alone has over 200 million users and 2,000 employees in India, so just banning it deals a significant blow to China.
If that doesn’t sound convincing, don’t forget TikTok also got banned in 2019 for allegedly exposing kids to “inappropriate content.” The app was blocked for only one week. But during that time, ByteDance (the company behind TikTok) reported they lost around $500,000 per day.
Okay, Enough with Politics – Here’s How to Unblock TikTok in India
First, let’s see how the TikTok ban actually works:
- The government forces national ISPs to block the app’s web servers and site with firewalls. Basically, inbound and outbound traffic rules are enforced, and they say “you can’t connect to tiktok.com or accept connections from its servers while using your ISP’s network.”
- ByteDance uses geo-blocks to stop Internet users from India from downloading their app from Google Play and iTunes. Even if they start allowing downloads from that region, the Indian government can just use firewalls to block connections to the download pages.
So how does a VPN help with that?
It’s pretty simple – it’s an online tool that hides your IP address. Because of that, firewalls can no longer regulate your web traffic. That’s because you’ll communicate with TikTok’s site and servers through a different IP address – one that doesn’t have any firewall restrictions linked to it.
Basically, instead of looking like this:
Your Device à ISP Network à TikTok Servers
Your connection will look like this:
Your Device à ISP Network à VPN Server à TikTok Servers
The VPN server acts as a middleman between you and TikTok, so you can freely exchange data with the app through it.
What’s more, your ISP won’t know you’re unblocking TikTok. On their end, they’ll just see this:
Your Device à ISP Network à VPN Server
Also, VPNs encrypt your traffic end-to-end, so ISPs can’t use DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) to analyze your data packets. So they’ll have no idea you’re sending connection requests to TikTok’s servers.
TikTok VPN Must-Have Features
To make sure you can unblock TikTok 24/7, you need a really good VPN. It should offer things like:
- A kill switch that stops your ISP from seeing your traffic if your VPN connection goes down for a few seconds.
- DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection, so that the service doesn’t accidentally expose your IP address.
- IP addresses that refresh regularly, so that your ISP blocking the VPN’s IPs doesn’t become a problem.
- Hundreds or thousands of high-speed servers that offer unlimited bandwidth.
- Speedy protocols like L2TP/IPSec, WireGuard, or IKEv2. IKEv2 in particular is a must because it’s perfect for smartphone users since it can resist network changes (meaning you can switch from mobile data to WiFi without your VPN disconnecting).
Finding such a VPN can be tough, so click here now to see a list of the best VPNs for India.
Can You Unblock TikTok in India with Tor?
You should be able to do that. Like VPNs, Tor also “hides” your IP address, so it lets you bypass firewalls. The difference is that – unlike a VPN – Tor encrypts your traffic multiple times.
Now, that does sound good, but here’s what you probably won’t like – the speeds. Unfortunately, with Tor, you’ll get pretty slow speeds.
Why?
Because there are around 6,000 servers for over two million users. So not exactly enough speed to go around.
VPNs also slow down your original speeds, but not as much as Tor. Plus, there are ways to increase your VPN speeds like using nearby servers, using lightweight protocols, and turning off background apps. With Tor, there’s unfortunately not much you can do.
Can You Unblock TikTok in India with a Smart DNS?
Right now, no. A Smart DNS is an online service that routes your DNS traffic through different proxy servers around the world. Also, it changes your DNS address to help you bypass geo-blocks.
However, it doesn’t hide your IP address or encrypt your traffic. So it can’t get around firewalls and stop your ISP from snooping on your traffic.
A Smart DNS would only help you if the Indian authorities would block TikTok by using DNS filtering instead of firewalls. That way, there would be no restrictions tied to your IP address, just to the ISP’s DNS server. Of course, your ISP would still be able to use DPI to see that you’re using TikTok.
Also check:
- How to Fix a Hacked Router: All-in-One Guide
- How to fix ‘This video is not available in your country’ error?
FAQ’s
Q1: Is it legal to unblock TikTok in India?
While the ban on TikTok has not been officially lifted in India, it is not illegal to use a virtual private network (VPN) or other methods to access the app. However, it’s important to use caution when using these methods and to avoid any activities that could compromise your privacy or security.
Q2: What is a VPN and how can it be used to unblock TikTok in India?
A VPN is a tool that encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server located in a different country. By using a VPN, you can bypass restrictions and access content that is blocked in your country. To unblock TikTok in India, you can use a VPN to connect to a server located in a different country where TikTok is not banned.
Q3: Are there any free VPNs that can be used to unblock TikTok in India?
While there are some free VPNs available, we recommend using a paid VPN service for better security and reliability. Free VPNs often have limitations on data usage, connection speed, and server locations, which can affect the quality of your TikTok experience.
Q4: Can I use a proxy server to unblock TikTok in India?
While a proxy server can be used to access blocked content, it is not as secure or reliable as a VPN. Proxy servers can also slow down your internet connection and may not be able to bypass more advanced restrictions on TikTok in India.
Q5: What are some other ways to unblock TikTok in India besides using a VPN?
You can also try using a different app store or downloading TikTok from a third-party website. However, these methods may not be secure and could expose your device to malware or other security risks. It’s always best to use a VPN or other trusted method to unblock TikTok in India.
