How to make your VPN undetectable in 10 simple steps

Some networks go out of their way to stop VPN traffic, whether it’s to control what you can access, limit your privacy, or avoid legal issues. Learning how to make your VPN undetectable with a few (mostly) easy tweaks can save you a lot of frustration and help you avoid blocks.

Since no single method works every time, the best approach is to combine tactics. Switch protocols, refresh your IP, or try stealth tools like Tor and Shadowsocks, among others. What works largely depends on the network you’re up against.

In the guide below, we’ll cover 10 ways to make your VPN traffic harder to detect. We’ll also point out a few methods that don’t really work for this purpose, so you don’t waste time or money on them. Finally, we’ll go over why and how VPNs get blocked in the first place.

A quick guide to making your VPN undetectable

Before we tackle each point in more depth, here’s a quick look at the best ways to make your VPN undetectable:

1. Choose the right VPN: A secure VPN with plenty of servers, a reliable obfuscation method/stealth protocol, and up-to-date audits of its services will help you stay undetectable.
2. Pay for your VPN anonymously: Depending on your location, you may not want a transaction to reveal your VPN usage. Luckily, many VPNs accept gift cards, crypto, or even cash payments, letting you avoid tracking and profiling.
3. Refresh your IP: Reconnecting to the same location will often change your IP address and let you avoid annoying blocks. Otherwise, use a different server.
4. Switch VPN protocols: Schools and other organizations may block VPN by protocol. Switching to a different or stealth-focused one lets you blend in better with normal internet traffic.
5. Connect to obfuscated servers: VPNs may offer separate obfuscated servers (or entire networks) to keep you under the radar.
6. Try a different port: Your network admin may block certain ports to catch VPN traffic. Connecting via OpenVPN TCP on port 443 can help because it looks like regular HTTPS traffic, making it harder to block.
7. Use Tor with a VPN: For an extra layer of privacy, use the Tor browser after connecting to your VPN. This hides your IP from Tor’s entry node and keeps your ISP from seeing Tor traffic.
8. Set up Shadowsocks: Shadowsocks is a lightweight proxy that disguises VPN traffic as normal HTTPS. Also available through some VPN apps.
9. Spoof your GPS data: Use GPS spoofing apps (or Surfshark’s built-in GPS override) to avoid triggering location-based blocks.
10. Switch to mobile data: If your network blocks VPNs or throttles traffic, going mobile gives you a fresh IP and skips any pesky school or work restrictions.

How to make your VPN undetectable in 10 steps

These steps may seem daunting if you’re a newcomer, but there’s really nothing that complex (aside from Shadowsocks if you’re going for a manual setup). Here’s a straightforward guide to improve your VPN’s stealth and avoid being caught by network filters.

1. Choose the right VPN

Look for providers that support stealth protocols or offer obfuscated servers. These help disguise VPN traffic and prevent it from standing out. Regular audits can also show how well a provider protects user activity. Location matters too. A VPN based in a country with strong privacy laws is less likely to give up your data.

We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for avoiding detection, since:

• It’s based in Panama, a region with no mandatory data retention laws.
• The VPN has full leak protection, does not log your data, undergoes frequent audits to ensure user privacy, and even uses Threat Protection to block intrusive trackers and other online threats.
• It includes NordWhisper, a brand-new proprietary protocol designed to sidestep even the most advanced VPN detection systems.
• NordVPN has obfuscated servers in a variety of regions, as well as an Onion-over-VPN option that offers the privacy benefits of Tor without requiring the Tor browser.

Additionally, the provider offers a range of anonymous payment methods, which leads us to our next key point.

2. Pay for your VPN anonymously

Learning how to make your VPN undetectable will let you evade mass censorship and surveillance in restrictive countries. However, paying by card, PayPal, or other methods creates a paper trail, which isn’t ideal, especially in countries where VPNs are banned or restricted.

Naturally, we advise against breaking the law. But if VPNs are only restricted (not flat-out illegal), anonymous payment can help you avoid unnecessary attention. As mentioned initially, there are several providers that:

• Let you buy a VPN with Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies
• Allow for prepaid or gift card payments
• Have boxed software (e.g., NordVPN) that you can buy with cash at select retailers
• Let you mail cash to pay for your subscription

For complete privacy, consider using a burner email address when signing up. That way, your whole VPN setup stays disconnected from your real identity.

3. Refresh your IP

Sites and networks often block VPN IPs after spotting repeated access. If you reconnect to the same VPN location, your IP may change automatically. That simple reset can get you past a block without needing to switch providers or settings.

Some VPNs assign a new IP every session, like ExpressVPN and its ShuffleIP feature. Meanwhile, some have features that change your IP silently in the background, such as Surfshark’s IP Rotator.

Regardless of the approach, this makes it more difficult for websites to track and profile you as you browse.

4. Switch VPN protocols

China, Iran, and similarly restrictive regions use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to identify and block VPN traffic by protocol. Switching to a different one can help you slip through. Most VPN apps make this easy, letting you toggle protocols in settings without needing extra tools.

If a network blocks UDP-based traffic, moving to TCP (especially on port 443) might help, since it looks more like regular HTTPS traffic. You don’t have to understand the details—just test each one and see what works best.

Otherwise, some providers offer custom stealth protocols, like NordVPN’s NordWhisper. These are designed to make your VPN undetectable, especially on restrictive networks.

Some schools or organizations even use DPI to ensure students or employees don’t access unapproved content. However, if they also require you to install a root certificate on your device to use their network, they can see your traffic directly.

Unfortunately, this can reveal VPN use no matter the protocol. Not much you can do but avoid sensitive activity on those devices, or use mobile data instead.

5. Connect to obfuscated servers

Even if your VPN doesn’t have a stealth-focused protocol, it might still offer obfuscated servers (or might even feature both options, à la NordVPN). Providers like ExpressVPN take it one step further by having a fully obfuscated server network.

These servers work by making your encrypted traffic look like your everyday browsing. So even if a firewall scans your connection, it likely won’t notice anything unusual. That’s what makes obfuscated servers so effective on strict networks.

Do note that obfuscation will slow down your speeds somewhat. Thankfully, you won’t feel much of a difference if you stick with the fastest VPNs on the market.

6. Try a different VPN port

Port blocking is another way VPNs can get filtered; in which case, you should switch to a more widely used one to get around it. Many providers configure OpenVPN to use TCP port 443 by default, but some (like Private Internet Access) let you choose your port.

Aside from TCP port 443, there are a couple of other options to consider:

• UDP 53: Used for DNS resolution, which is essential for loading websites and basic connectivity, meaning VPN blockers typically ignore it.
• TCP 80: Where 443 is reserved for HTTPS traffic, TCP 80 is used for HTTP traffic. It’s unencrypted, making it less secure, but worth a try if you’ve exhausted other options.

7. Use Tor with a VPN

Tor adds an extra layer of anonymity by routing your traffic through multiple volunteer-run servers. If you connect to your VPN first, your ISP won’t see that you’re using Tor at all. This combination provides more overall privacy.

Using Tor over VPN also hides your IP from the Tor network’s entry node. That means even if someone watches that first hop, they’ll only see your VPN address, not your real one. It’s especially helpful for high-risk users like journalists, political activists, and so on.

Keep in mind that Tor slows things down, as it’s not made for streaming or large downloads. But if your priority is staying anonymous, combining it with a VPN can make it harder to trace your online activity.

8. Set up Shadowsocks

Shadowsocks is a proxy tool that works well in countries where VPNs are blocked. It disguises your traffic as normal HTTPS, making it harder for firewalls to detect or block.

Unlike VPNs, Shadowsocks doesn’t encrypt everything on your device. Instead, it only routes apps you configure. That makes it less secure overall, but also less noticeable. It’s a useful tool when stealth matters more than full encryption.

If you’re up for a more technical setup, here’s how to route your VPN traffic through a Shadowsocks proxy:

1. Set up a Shadowsocks server: You can rent a VPS from providers like DigitalOcean and install Shadowsocks on it. Tools like Outline Manager can simplify this process.
2. Install a Shadowsocks client: Download a client compatible with your OS (e.g., ShadowsocksX-NG for macOS, Shadowsocks for Windows).
3. Route VPN traffic through Shadowsocks: Unfortunately, most VPNs don’t support proxy chaining. You’ll have to do this manually by using OpenVPN config files and setting your Shadowsocks proxy in the .ovpn file.

Or you could skip the hassle entirely and use a VPN like Private Internet Access, which has Shadowsocks built in. You can find it under the Multi-Hop setting, along with a SOCKS5 Proxy option.

Once you connect to a Shadowsocks server, your VPN traffic will pass through it, making it harder for networks to spot or block. It’s a solid method for anyone looking into how to make their VPN undetectable, though it may take some trial and error to get it right.

9. Spoof your GPS data

Some apps check your GPS location alongside your IP address and block you if they don’t match. Spoofing your GPS makes your device report a fake location that matches your VPN server. This helps avoid blocks or content restrictions based on location.

You can use third-party apps or developer tools on phones to change your GPS data. Alternatively, Surfshark has a built-in GPS override feature that does the work for you.

Unfortunately, this feature (and GPS-spoofing apps in general) are only available on Android. iOS users would need to jailbreak their phone and use third-party apps from unverified stores, which we don’t recommend. Not only can this expose you to malware, but you could even brick your iPhone if you’re not careful.

10. Switch to mobile data

If your school, work, or public wi-fi blocks VPN traffic, try switching to mobile data. This way, you won’t break any rules regarding third-party VPN usage from your school or organization.

This also provides a fresh IP address and bypasses any DNS or firewall rules associated with the local Wi-Fi. It’s a simple fix, especially when you’re dealing with blocks that hit multiple VPN protocols or services.

Should I set up my own VPN server to avoid detection?

Setting up your own VPN server might sound like a good plan, but it comes with some problems. Much like a manual Shadowsocks setup, you’ll need to rent a virtual server for it. Then you’ll have to configure and run a VPN protocol on it. That requires time, patience, and some basic technical knowledge (especially with less expensive Linux options).

Even if it works, streaming platforms can still catch on. Since your server’s IP comes from a data center, that makes it easy to flag. Then, if it gets blocked, you’ll have to pay for a new IP address, which most hosting providers charge extra for.

In the end, paying for a regular VPN gives you more for less. You get access to more server locations, better obfuscation tools, and easier ways to swap IPs if one gets blocked. That’s a lot simpler and cheaper than managing your own server setup.

Does using a dedicated IP make your VPN harder to detect?

Not really. A dedicated IP doesn’t give you any real advantage when it comes to staying hidden. Streaming platforms can still recognize and block these IPs, just like they do with shared ones. That’s because most of them come from data centers, which are easy to flag.

You might think a residential IP is a safer bet, since it’s issued by an ISP. But even those can get picked up by detection tools. And if your residential IP address gets blocked, you’re stuck unless you pay for a new one, which can get expensive quickly.

That said, dedicated IPs do have their uses, such as avoiding annoying CAPTCHA challenges or securely accessing online banking services that might block regular VPN IPs.

Why make your VPN undetectable?

Here are a few of the main reasons you might want to make your VPN undetectable:

• Get around internet censorship: Some countries like China, Iran, or Russia block entire parts of the internet. An undetectable VPN can help you access news, social platforms, or tools that are otherwise restricted, without drawing attention.
• Bypass VPN blocks at school or work: Using a VPN on college wi-fi is the best way to access the fun parts of the internet. Until a nosy network admin manages to block your VPN, at least. Making your VPN undetectable helps you stay under the radar.
• Browse more privately: Whether you’re a whistleblower, journalist, or just don’t want your ISP knowing you use a VPN, our tips should help you avoid deep packet inspection and keep your VPN usage hidden.

How do VPNs get blocked?

We’ve mentioned some of the ways networks block VPNs above, so here’s a quick recap. These methods target different parts of how VPNs work, which is why there’s no single fix for how to make your VPN undetectable:

• Blocking known VPN IPs: Some networks block traffic from IPs tied to major VPN providers. These lists get updated often, so you might suddenly lose access even if things worked before.
• Restricting access to whitelisted IPs: Certain sites only allow connections from specific IP addresses, such as those from residential or business ISPs. Even if you don’t use a VPN, you might still get caught in the crossfire, like that time Netflix blocked residential IPs.
• Blocking common VPN ports: VPN protocols often use specific ports like UDP 1194. If a network shuts those down, it stops your VPN from connecting through them.
• Scanning traffic with DPI: Deep Packet Inspection can spot VPN use by analyzing patterns in your data. Even if your VPN uses a common port, DPI may still flag it.
• Throttling or dropping VPN-like traffic: Some firewalls monitor for signs like consistent packet sizes or steady encryption. If they detect these, they might slow down your connection or block it entirely.

Undetectable VPN FAQs