How To Bypass Age Verification in 2026 [Tested]

You’ve probably noticed that websites are requesting proof of age far more often lately. What started as state-level efforts to protect minors has quickly expanded into a broader shift toward identity-based access controls, affecting everything from adult content to social networks, streaming platforms, and gaming services. With Discord rolling out stricter age-verification requirements in March 2026, the trend has become harder to ignore.

The real concern isn’t just inconvenience — it’s privacy. Many of these systems rely on ID uploads, facial scans, or third-party verification vendors, creating permanent records tied to your identity. Each new check means more sensitive data stored somewhere else, often indefinitely, and recent breaches have shown how risky that can be.

Luckily, the best VPNs can help bypass location-based age restrictions and reduce unnecessary data exposure. If you want the quickest, safest way to bypass these checks, NordVPN is our recommendation. It consistently works with sites affected by age-verification laws. We’ll use it in the tutorial below because the setup is simple. Just note that not all age-verification systems can be bypassed with a VPN, especially when platforms enforce verification globally rather than by region.

Can VPNs bypass age verification?

In short, yes, virtual private networks (VPNs) can get around most location-based age checks. VPNs work by routing your internet traffic through an intermediary server, so a website sees that server’s address instead of yours.

If a page is blocked in Utah or Texas, for example, connecting to a VPN server in Illinois makes it appear as though you’re browsing from there, and the page loads normally. Beyond that, a VPN adds privacy by encrypting traffic, shielding activity from internet providers, and protecting data on public Wi-Fi. It also helps reduce tracking from advertisers and data brokers.

VPNs aren’t perfect. Some websites and streaming platforms block known VPN servers, and cookies or GPS data can still reveal your real location. Clearing your browser and turning off location settings can help.

Keep in mind that using a VPN is legal in most countries. However, there are bans in a few regions, such as Russia and North Korea, and U.S. laws apply to providers rather than users.

Not all VPNs can reliably get around state-level blocks — many free or smaller providers have servers that are already flagged or blocked. NordVPN is one of the few services that consistently works with age-restricted sites, which is why we recommend it for this guide. It also has a high amount of servers across different U.S. states, which gives you more options as more and more states impose these restrictions.

How to get around age verification (step-by-step instructions)

A VPN routes your internet traffic through a remote server, so websites see the server’s location instead of your device’s. That simple swap can stop many age checks from triggering, though it won’t defeat more rigorous ID-based systems.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using a VPN to bypass age verification restrictions. 

Step 1: Install and open NordVPN

Download the NordVPN app for your device and sign in. You can use a desktop, phone, or tablet.  

Step 2: Choose a server location

From the map on the left, select a server located in a state or country that does not have mandatory age-verification requirements. Good options include:

• Netherlands (Amsterdam)
• Belgium (Brussels)
• Denmark (Copenhagen)
• Switzerland (Zurich)
• Canada (Toronto)

Step 3: Clear cookies and turn off GPS

Before connecting, clear your browser’s cookies and cached data to remove previous location identifiers. (Here is our guide on how to clear cookies on any browser.)

Then, disable GPS/location services.

Step 4: Connect and access the site

Tap the country you have selected to start the VPN tunnel. Once the connection is active (you’ll see a green ring indicator with the country’s flag), reload the site that previously asked for age verification.

Step 5: Troubleshoot if blocked

If you’re still getting blocked or redirected to an age gate, disconnect and select a different server, ideally one that’s geographically close but has a different IP pool.

For example, if the Netherlands fails, try Switzerland.

Some sites use VPN-detection tools that block known VPN IP ranges, so cycling through nearby servers can resolve the VPN connection issue.

You can learn more about NordVPN here:

How to enable 18+ videos on YouTube

Restricted Mode on YouTube filters out potentially mature content. It’s optional, but some accounts have it turned on by default through network or parental settings. You can turn it off by following these steps:

1. Open YouTube and sign in to your account.
   
2. Click your profile picture, then select Settings > General > Restricted Mode.
   
3. Toggle Restricted Mode off.
   
4. If it’s locked, sign in with the account that manages your settings or visit the YouTube Content Restrictions tool to see if a network administrator has enabled it.
   
5. On mobile, repeat the same steps in the app and browser versions.
   
6. For supervised accounts using Family Link, parents must change the setting from the Family Link dashboard.

Restricted Mode isn’t the same as a direct age restriction on individual videos, but turning it off allows more mature content to appear in search results and recommendations.

How to remove the 18+ restriction on Google

If your Google account is locked from viewing age-restricted results or services, you’ll be asked to verify your age. You can confirm it in a few ways:

1. Go to your Google account > Personal info > Birthday.
2. Choose Verify when prompted.
3. Select Use your ID or another available option, such as a credit card, selfie, or digital ID.
4. Follow the instructions to upload a clear image of your ID or complete the verification step.
5. Confirm or update your date of birth, then submit.

Google accepts several forms of verification, and photos must show the whole document in color without glare. Once verified, access to restricted content is automatically restored.

What are age verification laws?

Age-verification laws require certain websites and apps to confirm a user’s age before allowing access and were initially aimed at adult-only material, but now extend to social media, gaming, and streaming platforms.

In practice, compliance often relies on third-party vendors that process IDs or biometric data; however, privacy advocates argue that sharing this information with multiple platforms creates new risks, ranging from data breaches to identity misuse.

Beyond the United States, countries are handling age-verification laws in their own ways. The U.K.’s Online Safety Act 2023 has already introduced strict checks, and in France, regulators are experimenting with privacy-first verification systems designed to conceal which sites users visit, while Germany’s framework is already in effect.

U.S. states that require age verification online

According to the Age Verification Provider’s Association, Louisiana led the way in 2023, becoming the first state to pass an age-verification law. Arkansas, Utah, and Texas soon joined, and the total has now reached 25 states, including Arizona, Ohio, and Missouri.

Those now enforcing or preparing to enforce verification laws include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

Why Discord age verification can’t be bypassed by VPNs

Not all age-verification systems rely on location, and Discord is a good example of where VPNs don’t work. In March 2026, Discord expanded its age-verification requirements to apply globally, meaning access is restricted at the account level rather than based on where a user connects from.

Because of this, changing your IP address with a VPN doesn’t remove the age gate. Discord requires users to verify directly through approved methods, such as ID uploads or biometric checks, and those requirements follow the account regardless of country or state. In cases like this, a VPN simply can’t override the restriction, since there’s no regional block to bypass.

That shift has raised significant privacy concerns, especially in light of Discord’s recent data breach, which exposed user information and renewed scrutiny over how platforms store sensitive data. When age verification involves government IDs or facial scans, a single breach can have long-term consequences that go far beyond a compromised password.

This is why VPNs are best viewed as a privacy-minimization tool, not a universal workaround. They’re effective when age checks are triggered by regional laws or IP-based restrictions, but they can’t undo mandatory, platform-wide verification systems. As more companies follow Discord’s approach, users are being forced to weigh access against the growing risk of handing over permanent personal data.

FAQs

Bottom line: Safeguard your online privacy

Age-verification rules are designed to keep the web safer, but they also collect a significant amount of personal data in the process. Every time a site asks for an ID upload or a facial scan, another copy of that information exists somewhere, raising privacy concerns.

Using a trusted VPN helps mitigate this risk by masking your actual location and encrypting your connection. It also gives you more control over what data is shared as you move between sites. For anyone who values privacy and prefers to skip constant verification prompts, our top VPN picks are a good place to start.