Gay dating app Grindr is currently on a Pride Month Grindr Rides America bus tour. In other parts of the world, however, the app is far from popular—it’s banned, sanctioned, or restricted in the App Store. According to digital rights group Access Now, Grindr is the second most blocked messaging platform outside India, after Facebook.
In some areas where Grindr is banned, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access it. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and data and masks your true IP address. You can use a VPN to pretend to be browsing from another part of the world. Here’s where you can and can’t access Grindr through a VPN, and how to do it.
Where is Grindr banned?
According to Grindr’s website, the app is restricted by the following local governments:
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Indonesia
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turkey
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lebanon
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Qatar
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Pakistan
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Jordan
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United Arab Emirates
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Malaysia
Grindr is subject to sanctions – meaning the US government restricts trade there – so the app is not available in these regions:
Mix and match after dark
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Crimea
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Syria
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North Korea
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cuba
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Sudan
Eventually, Grindr was removed from the App Store in Saudi Arabia and China.
Where can I access Grindr using a VPN?
You can access Grindr through a VPN in restricted countries, so first on the list. Grindr says on its website that VPNs are used in these locations, but there is no guarantee they will work. Additionally, as Consumer Reports investigative tech reporter Yael Grauer told Mashable in a story about using VPNs to watch porn, don’t rely on VPNs in severe cases, as these networks can fail.
That being said, if you want to use a VPN to access Grindr from a restricted country, here are the steps:
How to unblock Grindr using a VPN
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Devices connected to the Internet
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VPN
Step 1: Sign up for a VPN
ExpressVPN is one example.
Step 2: Download the VPN app to your device
Step 3: Use a VPN to connect to a server at a location where Grindr is accessible
Step 4: Access and use Grindr
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