If you see a message like:
“Access denied: your IP has been blocked”
“Too many requests from this IP”
“403 Forbidden”
…it means the website has blocked traffic from your IP address.
Here’s why that happens - and what you can do.
1. You Hit a Rate Limit
Some sites block IPs temporarily if they think you’re sending too many requests - even if you’re just refreshing or loading pages too fast.
This is common on:
- Ticketing sites
- Public APIs
- Login pages
Solution: Wait a few minutes and try again. If you’re behind a shared network (like a school or office), someone else might have triggered the block.
Learn why your IP might appear to be in the wrong location
2. You’re Using a VPN or Proxy
Many websites block traffic from known VPN or proxy IPs. Especially if:
- The IP has been used for spam or scraping
- Lots of users are coming from the same IP
- The VPN provider rotates addresses quickly
Solution: Try switching to a different VPN server, or disconnect your VPN to test if the site loads normally.
Check if your VPN is working properly
Can a VPN hide your IP address completely?
3. You’re on a “Shared IP”
Some ISPs (especially mobile or public Wi-Fi) assign the same IP address to many users. If someone else did something abusive - like scraping, spamming, or flooding requests - the entire IP can get flagged.
Solution:
- Restart your modem (to get a new IP)
- Use mobile data briefly
- Contact the website if the block persists
What is my IP address - and why does it matter?
4. The Site Blocks Your Country
Some websites block entire regions or countries - often for licensing, security, or legal reasons.
If your IP shows you’re connecting from a blocked country, you may get a generic error or timeout.
How to See What IP You’re Using
Go to the Show IP homepage. It will show:
- Your current IP address
- Country
- WebRTC leak status
This can help you understand how the website sees you - and whether you’re using a VPN or exposed address.
Summary
IP blocks happen for many reasons - not all of them are personal.
Common causes:
- Too many requests
- VPN or proxy usage
- Sharing an IP with someone abusive
- Country-based restrictions
In most cases, switching networks or waiting resolves it. You can also contact the site directly if you think it’s a mistake.
Photo by Othman Alghanmi on Unsplash