How to Unlock Signal in Blocked Countries — Complete Guide With VPN

by Tomáš Valouch, updated September 4, 2024

Signal has become a popular choice for secure messaging and encrypted calls, but in some countries or networks, access to the app may be blocked, such as in Russia. Whether it’s government censorship, corporate blocking or ISP restrictions, there are ways around this obstacle.

A virtual private network (VPN) is an effective tool that can bypass the blocks by changing your IP address and hiding your true geographic location. When you connect to a VPN server in a country where the Signal app is not blocked, your internet traffic is routed through that server, allowing you to access the app as if you were physically present in that country.

The VPN also encrypts your data, ensuring that your online activities remain private and protected from surveillance.

Step 1: Download and install the VPN app of your choice on your device

First, choose and download a VPN service that meets your security and speed requirements, our list of the best VPNs will help you choose. Once you’ve selected a VPN service, download the appropriate app for your device via the VPN provider’s website. Now that you have the VPN app downloaded, you can start installing it. If your chosen VPN service requires it, you’ll still need to create an account.

Step 2: Connect to a server in a country where the Signal app is not blocked

After installing and launching the VPN app, choose a server from the menu in a country where Signal isn’t blocked. For example, servers in the US or Europe are often a reliable choice. Choose a country that gives you a fast and stable connection and connect to the server of your choice.

Step 3: Verify that your connection is working properly

Before launching Signal, it’s a good idea to verify that your VPN is working properly. You can do this, for example, by using a website that checks your IP address to make sure your IP address matches the country you’ve chosen. The ideal website to check your IP address is the What Is My IP Address page.

Step 4: Open the Signal app and try to connect

Now that your VPN is turned on and your connection is authenticated, open the Signal app. The app should now turn on and work without any restrictions. We recommend additionally enabling the “Censorship circumvention” feature in the Signal app settings (Settings → Privacy → Advanced → Censorship circumvention.).

Step 5: Verify that Signal is working properly

The last step is to test all the important functions of the Signal app, such as sending and receiving messages, making calls, sending media (photos, videos) and other functions. If everything works, the VPN has successfully helped you bypass the block and you can communicate safely through the Signal app without any further restrictions. However, when using Signal, you will always need to have a VPN connection turned on otherwise the Signal app will remain blocked.