How to Access PornHub in UK with a VPN in 2026

How to Access PornHub in the UK in 2026

When UK residents try to access PornHub, they're met with a barrier. From early 2026, the site now requires proof of age for any new users coming from the UK, and has taken the extreme measure of blocking UK access for anyone who can’t or won’t verify their age.

This new regulation is thanks to the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), which demands pornographic websites verify that their users are 18 years of age. The owner of PornHub, Aylo, rather than implement a more intrusive age-check system, has chosen to cut off UK users, so UK adults who had previously verified their age can access the site, but new users are unable to.

Trying to access PornHub can be a challenge when you're in the UK. Well-known for its restrictions in this country, Pornhub has made it difficult to access the site. But there is a reliable way around this problem, by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN makes it seem as though you're browsing from somewhere else, and that's what we'll show you how to do, step-by-step, to watch Pornhub in the UK. In this guide, we'll also look into the reason behind the restriction, age verification, the top-rated VPNs, and the problems you might run into.

Disclaimer: PCrisk.com does not promote or encourage bypassing legal age-verification measures. This information is provided for educational purposes to help adult users understand their options for privacy. It is not intended for minors, and we strongly advise that anyone under 18 not attempt to circumvent age checks. Always abide by local laws – use the methods described here at your own risk.

Watch PornHub in UK with NordVPN

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Why is PornHub Restricted in the UK?
• How to Unblock Pornhub in the UK Using a VPN
• What is the Best VPN for Pornhub?
• Why is Pornhub Asking for Age Verification?
• Common Issues and Solutions When Accessing PornHub with a VPN
• Is It Legal to Watch Pornhub with a VPN in the UK?
• How to Verify Your Age on PornHub in the UK
• Can I Use a Free VPN to Access PornHub in the UK?
• Wrapping Up
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is PornHub Restricted in the UK?

They wanted to shield children from explicit online content when the UK introduced the Online Safety Act (OSA) in 2025. Coming into effect in July 2025, the law demands that all adult websites, including pornographic sites, have foolproof age verification measures for UK users, basically checking that users are over 18. Sites such as PornHub need to verify the age of British visitors. They can do this by asking for a photo ID, a credit card, or a mobile number, or by outsourcing it to a third-party service. If they don't comply, they face crippling fines and/or get blocked by the regulator Ofcom.

Examining how to verify the age of its users, PornHub's owner, Aylo, made a very bold move. In 2025, they declared they wouldn't be part of the current system, and on February 2nd, 2026, they cut off access to their website for anyone in the UK who hadn't previously verified their age. This decision didn't just affect PornHub, but also its sister sites like YouPorn and RedTube, run by the same company, essentially meant that brand-new UK visitors are entirely unable to view the content on PornHub. They're greeted with a notice that the site is unavailable.

Looking at the UK porn block, PornHub decided to cut off access to British users, rather than putting in age checks. Aylo argues that the UK’s approach is flawed. According to them, the law did not adequately protect minors and instead had the effect of driving traffic to “darker, unregulated” porn sites that flout any rules. The company expressed grave concerns regarding the mass collection of IDs and personal data for millions of adult users. The privacy implications became acute privacy-related risks, which could be used to jeopardise privacy or expose previously leaked databases, which they cited as one of the motives for going through with this course of action.

PornHub cited a precipitous drop in UK traffic after age checks kicked in in 2025. A 77% decline, to be exact, as conclusive proof that users are either being deterred by the stringent measures or finding other ways to access their content. Interestingly, more British adults turned to VPNs to circumvent restrictions, and VPN usage in the UK more than doubled, reaching nearly 1.4 million users by then.

When it comes to child safety online, the UK government is cracking down on adult websites and services, and Ofcom's stance is clear: porn sites either have to comply with age verification requirements or shut off access to the UK market, there isn't any middle ground. Coming into early 2026, a large number of the top 100 adult pornography services, 68 in fact, had implemented age checks, but PornHub has refused to do so, and in doing so is following the path of some French sites and US states.

PornHub found itself at a crossroads when the UK's Online Safety Act came into effect. The act mandates age verification for online pornographic material, but the company and its affiliated sites were not on board. As a result, the company refused to block UK users, but then blocked them entirely in protest and out of concerns about privacy, except for those UK users who, incidentally, already had verified accounts before the cutoff. Now, UK adults can no longer access PornHub’s library of videos nor create new accounts with a UK internet connection.

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How to Unblock Pornhub in the UK Using a VPN

A VPN is the simplest and most effective way to do so when in the UK and trying to access PornHub. By routing your internet traffic through a server in another country, a VPN gives you a brand-new IP address and makes it look like you're coming from somewhere else. Connecting to a VPN server that is based outside the UK, you can outsmart PornHub's geo-block and age-gate, because it will believe you’re coming from a country that doesn’t have these restrictions, and therefore won't ask for any form of identification.

Choose the best VPN

Here’s a step-by-step guide to unblock PornHub in the UK using a VPN:

1. Subscribe to a reliable VPN service. We recommend NordVPN, which has been our go-to choice for porn site unblocking in 2026. NordVPN is super fast, completely secure, and has a massive server network. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you don't have anything to lose.

2. Install the VPN app on your device. NordVPN and other top providers offer apps for Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, and more. Download the appropriate app and log in with your account credentials.

3. Launch the VPN and connect to a server outside the UK. It's necessary to pick a server located in a country that has no restrictions on pornography, and that's basically anywhere in the EU, the US, or the Scandinavian countries. Some good options for servers that aren't blocked are the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Spain, and the US. But you'll want to steer clear of certain US states that have age restrictions, more on that later. Bulgaria or Hungary are two reliable choices.

4. Once connected, access PornHub. You can now access Pornhub and visit the site in your browser, refreshing it if you need to, when you've connected to a VPN. Coming across the "Are you 18" prompt on Pornhub is quite normal. Just click Yes/Confirm, and you'll be allowed in without having to upload any documentation. Pornhub doesn't ask for ID anymore because, as far as it's concerned, you're coming from an area with no restrictions.

5. Enjoy PornHub content privately. Using a VPN means you can watch videos, search for content, and use the site as you would normally do when you're watching PornHub. Your internet service provider and the UK authorities won't be able to see what you're up to on PornHub, as the VPN provides complete encryption. PornHub itself will only know the VPN server's IP address but won’t be able to tell it's coming from a UK IP address.

You can quickly get past the PornHub block by using a VPN when in the UK. Connecting to a non-UK server will allow PornHub to be unblocked. Your existing PornHub account won’t be affected, and no modifications are needed to your browser; all you’re doing is exploiting the fact that the UK block is based on IP location, and by changing your virtual location, you can jump the age verification barrier completely.

Important: Be sure to have your VPN on when accessing PornHub. If your VPN drops or you inadvertently switch to a UK server, PornHub will detect that you're coming from the UK and may block you or ask for verification. If you are prompted, all you need to do is reconnect to a foreign server, refresh the page, and you should be able to reaccess PornHub.

When wanting to watch PornHub in the UK, you'll need a VPN, like NordVPN, that has a strong presence in the country. Well-known VPNs often help, but the process is similar. Subscribe, install, connect to a server in a country where PornHub is accessible, and then you'll be able to access the site. We'll discuss the best VPNs for PornHub and why NordVPN is the one we recommend, coming up next.

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What is the Best VPN for Pornhub?

Bypass UK porn ban with NordVPN

When choosing the best VPN for accessing restricted website we recommend using our Top VPN list.

Not all VPNs cut it, you need one that is lightning fast, rock solid, and has a vast number of servers in countries where porn is allowed, when streaming PornHub. Based on in-depth research and testing, here are the top VPNs for PornHub in 2026:

NordVPN - Top Pick: When trying to watch PornHub in the UK, NordVPN is an excellent option. It has over 5,600 servers in 60 countries, making it easy to find a server in a region where PornHub doesn't block your content, plus it delivers streaming speeds fast enough to play HD or even 4K videos without a hitch. NordVPN's strong encryption and no-logs policy protect your real identity and browsing activity from your ISP and PornHub. Its user-friendly apps are basically one-click affairs that can help you bypass the UK block.

Surfshark - Budget-Friendly & Unlimited Devices: If you're looking for a VPN that won't break the bank, Surfshark is an excellent option that won't let you down. With more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries, you'll be able to find the perfect location to appear from. With the ability to use it on unlimited devices at once, you can watch PornHub on your phone, laptop, and tablet all at the same time. For its price, Surfshark offers very respectable speeds and comprehensive security features, including a built-in ad blocker.

ExpressVPN - Premium Speed and Ease of Use: For unblocking UK-based streaming services, ExpressVPN is a top choice. Coming with servers in over 90 countries, many in Europe and North America, this VPN is a breeze to use to bypass UK restrictions. Although ExpressVPN is one of the pricier VPN services out there, its reliability and extremely fast speeds, with the latter being crucial to getting a high-quality stream from PornHub, really make it stand out.

Proton VPN - Security and Transparency: Proton VPN has a network of over 15,000 servers in 60 countries and a strong encryption system. One of the things that sets Proton VPN apart is its free plan that, unusually for a VPN, doesn't limit your data allowance. The free version, however, won't cut it for those who require a seamless HD streaming experience, but its paid plans provide the speed you need for watching PornHub. The paid plans are verified to be log-free, and the open-source nature of Proton VPN’s apps gives users peace of mind.

Mullvad VPN - Privacy-Focused Choice: When it comes to anonymity, Mullvad takes it to new heights, allowing you to sign up for an account without an email address and even letting you pay for your subscription in cash, sending it to their PO box. Coming in at around 40+ countries, the Mullvad network may be smaller, but it’s got the regions you need to beat porn blocks. Well-known for its zero-logs policy and open-source clients, the company is serious about your privacy, and delivers relatively fast speeds. If absolute anonymity is your top priority, then Mullvad is a great way to access PornHub completely anonymously.

All the above VPNs will encrypt your connection and mask your IP address when you access PornHub, preventing your ISP or any snoopers from seeing what you’re watching. They also ensure PornHub can’t tell you’re in the UK. While NordVPN is our top recommendation for its combination of speed, server selection, and price, each of these services can get around the PornHub UK block. Whichever VPN you choose, make sure it offers unlimited bandwidth (porn videos can consume a lot of data) and has a server in a nearby country for optimal speeds.

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Why is Pornhub Asking for Age Verification?

You'll see that it's asking for age verification or is blocking access, and that's because it has to, according to the UK law, when you visit PornHub. The UK Online Safety Act requires adult websites to verify users' ages before displaying adult content. This is part of the government's attempt to shield children from pornography and other potentially damaging online material.

PornHub, along with sites like YouPorn and RedTube, put into place some age checks, but didn't go all the way when the age verification regulations started rolling out in mid-2025. UK visitors to PornHub were asked to sign up for a free account and verify their age with a third-party service, which, in many cases, would have involved scanning an official ID, such as a passport or driver’s license, or using a digital ID app like Yoti or AgeChecked to verify the user’s age from a selfie. Another way they could verify your age was through your credit card details, since cards are issued only to 18-year-olds and above, or via facial age estimation.

However, as discussed, PornHub’s parent company ultimately found this regime problematic and opted to remove the option entirely for new users. If you attempt to access PornHub from the UK now, the site effectively treats you as unverified and denies access. It's in a state of effectively requesting age verification: only users who have already verified their age can view the site's content, and anyone else sees a message that the service is unavailable or that new accounts can't be created.

In essence, PornHub's age verification request is a result of UK laws, which demand that porn sites verify the age of their users to shield children. The website's current refusal to allow new UK users to sign up is basically an all-or-nothing approach to compliance.

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Common Issues and Solutions When Accessing PornHub with a VPN

Using a VPN to unblock PornHub is usually straightforward, but you might run into some hiccups. Here are some common issues users face when accessing PornHub via VPN, along with solutions:

PornHub still shows a block or age-check message even with the VPN: If you're still being asked for age verification or denied access, the issue is probably with the server you're connected to when using a VPN and trying to access PornHub. You may have accidentally chosen a country that also has its own age-verification laws, such as France and some US states, and no VPN server in those regions will be able to bypass this; you'll see a very similar block.

One solution is to disconnect and try a server in a different country. Countries with no laws on pornography and therefore, no age-gate are the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, etc. Clearing your browser's cache and cookies will also work, since your browser may still be using the cookie from your last UK visit, triggering the age-gate.

VPN is connected, but PornHub won’t load videos or is very slow: It could be because the VPN server you're connected to is overloaded or geographically distant. A simple solution is to switch to another server in the same area or a neighboring country. If one New York server is sluggish, connect to another New York server or pick one in Amsterdam.

Changing the VPN protocol in your app settings may also be necessary. Different protocols are disabled or slower on different networks, and if you’re on OpenVPN, you can give WireGuard a go, or if you’re on WireGuard, OpenVPN might be a better option. Well-known VPNs can get blocked by networks, so make sure that’s not the case. If so, use the VPN’s obfuscated servers or stealth mode to mask your VPN traffic, and check that no local parental controls or antivirus software are interfering with it.

Video quality is poor or buffering (slow streaming): All VPNs incur a small speed loss, but if you're using a top-rated VPN, this shouldn't be enough to ruin your streaming experience. If PornHub videos are freezing or buffering, there's a good chance the VPN is slowing you down, which could be caused by a server in the UK that's far from your location. A solution would be to connect to a geographically closer server; e.g., a UK user will see much better speeds when using a Netherlands or Ireland server, which is why VPN companies offer an option to select a server specifically chosen for speed based on your location. Their “Best Server” or “Quick Connect” option does exactly this. You can check if your VPN service has this feature. If your VPN service uses a dedicated server, or if it’s one of the providers known for video-optimised servers, try setting up for those.

Certain PornHub content is still blocked or limited: You may still come across videos on PornHub that say “not available in your region”, and this is not because of the age verification law, when using a VPN. The reason for this is often due to site licensing and regional restrictions. PornHub and its content providers may geo-restrict videos, such as those from amateur performers who limit their content to specific countries. So, you can try changing your VPN country. Sometimes switching to a different country can work, for instance, if a video is blocked when your VPN is set to Country A, it might be available when it's set to Country B.

However, it is impossible for a VPN to bypass all kinds of restrictions. If a video is completely banned in all regions, for legal reasons, a VPN won't be able to unblock it, and live cam features and premium areas may also require an account or a local agreement that goes beyond IP address restrictions. But for most regular videos, changing the VPN location a few times should let you watch the content you're after.

“Access Denied” or login issues on PornHub with VPN: Sometimes the site might flag your IP range, typically if it's coming from a known VPN exit point or if there's a lot of unusual activity. If you can't even load PornHub's site or log in while connected to a VPN, it's best to just disconnect and reconnect, or pick a different server. Check whether your browser is leaking your location via WebRTC or GPS, and if so, disable WebRTC leaks in the VPN app or browser settings.

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Is It Legal to Watch Pornhub with a VPN in the UK?

In terms of PornHub in the UK, adults can watch the content via a VPN. VPNs are basically considered a necessary tool for the internet in the UK. Millions of people here use them for work, entertainment, and more. There isn't a law in the UK that says it’s illegal to bypass an age gate for porn sites by using a VPN, as long as the content you're accessing is legitimate, which means consensual adult material.

The Online Safety Act imposes obligations on websites and service providers, requiring them to verify the ages of users, but it doesn't fine people who use a VPN to circumvent that requirement for personal use. It's no different from a UK resident travelling abroad who can watch PornHub without any problem. Adults have the right to view legal adult content, and using a VPN is just a way to do that, and falls under personal internet use.

To break it down further, consider these points:

VPN usage is legal: The UK has no ban on VPN services. Businesses and individuals commonly use VPNs for security (encrypting data on public Wi-Fi, accessing office networks remotely, etc.). So, merely using a VPN is within your rights.

Accessing PornHub isn’t illegal: In the case of pornography in the UK, the law is quite lenient towards adults. The government is more concerned with minors' inability to access it than with punishing adults for watching it. Since you're 18 or older, if you watch porn, it’s not a crime. The law simply requires sites to put up barriers (which PornHub has done by blocking UK traffic).

Bypassing geo-blocks is generally lawful: Using a VPN to get around a website's block isn't specifically prohibited by law. Bypassing a website's block may violate its terms of service, but that's more of a civil issue than a criminal one.

No enforcement on users: Under the UK's age-check law, websites are held accountable with severe consequences for non-compliance, but there isn't a system to track down individual users, even when they use a VPN to watch adult content. Because VPNs mask your browsing activity so well, your ISP and others can’t determine what you’re watching, and unless it’s child pornography, you're not breaking any laws. Ofcom won’t be sending anyone to your door for watching Pornhub through a VPN; they’re really only interested in whether the company is following the rules.

Bottom line: As an adult, you're technically within the law, provided you're not sharing the content with anyone who's underage or doing anything else that's against the law. Bypassing the porn block is not an offense in the eyes of the UK law, and it's hard to argue otherwise, given that over a million people in the UK started using VPNs to access adult content after the porn age checks began. The government's genuine concern is that minors stumble onto porn, not that adults use VPNs to get past the block.

One caveat: Remember that if you are under 18, it's against the law to access pornographic content. Using a VPN won't make it legal.

Well-known free or dodgy VPNs may compromise your privacy and, ironically, even log your online activities; some have been caught doing this. Don't take any chances; go with reputable VPNs, such as those we suggest, to protect your privacy and ensure your activities remain private and secure.

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How to Verify Your Age on PornHub in the UK

New UK users won't be able to verify their age because the platform disabled the feature for UK visitors back in February 2026. If you didn't get your age verification sorted out when it was initially required in 2025, you can still log in and access the site but that's about it, and you won't be able to create a new account. If you didn't verify your age before PornHub made the change, the site will block you out completely and won't even allow you to submit ID to try to verify your age.

However, for the sake of information, let’s discuss how one would verify age on PornHub (or similar sites) when such systems are in place. Typically, the process is:

1. Creating a PornHub account: You’d sign up with an email and password (or phone number, etc.). In regions with age checks, account creation is mandatory to proceed.

2. Initiating age verification: When trying to view adult content, PornHub will ask you to verify your age. This is done through a third-party verification service. PornHub doesn’t ask for your ID; it sends you to a licensed age verification provider, or bakes a verification tool right into the site.

3. Submitting proof of age: There are a few methods:

4. Photo ID upload: Passport or ID card, and the verification service will check the document's validity, frequently using AI. When creating a PornHub account, you're asked to send a photo of your driver's license. Well-known companies that have possibly partnered with PornHub to verify the age of users include Yoti and AgeChecked, which scan the ID and confirm if the user is over 18, but don't send the actual document to the site.

5. Digital ID app: You might scan a QR code or tap a button to use a digital ID (for instance, in the UK, there are digital identity providers). This would send a confirmation to PornHub that your age is verified, without exposing your identity details.

6. Credit card or mobile verification: Because they're counting on the cardholder being an adult, some systems will check your credit card when verifying your identity. Usually, for a small fee or just by checking the number. Mobile phone verification can be done by sending a code to your phone or using your mobile phone account information. In the UK, it’s actually possible for the carrier to verify that the account holder is over 18.

7. Face scan/biometric: In a few cases, an AI face analysis might estimate your age from a selfie. PornHub’s sibling site (e.g., xHamster) introduced an option to use facial recognition to estimate age within a ~2-year margin. If the scan determines you’re likely over 18, it counts as verification.

8. Verification confirmation: You'll need to provide one of the listed methods, and after doing so, the service sends a confirmation to PornHub that you're age-verified when you're asked to prove your age on PornHub. If everything goes smoothly, PornHub will mark your account as verified, and you'll be given full access. They claim not to store any of the ID information; it's actually the partners that delete it, but PornHub just stores a kind of label that says “User123 is verified”.

The options are very limited, when visiting PornHub in the UK. The site isn't accepting any new age verifications, and basically won't let new accounts be made. You can still access PornHub, though. One way is to use a VPN, which we've shown you how to do, to get around the UK age check, or you can use another adult site that does allow verification, such as xHamster. xHamster lets UK users verify their age via the Yoti app, or by uploading an ID, so they can continue using the site.

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Can I Use a Free VPN to Access PornHub in the UK?

Looking to unblock PornHub, many people turn to free VPNs. Free VPNs sound like a great idea, they don't cost anything to use, but they're often severely limited and bring with them a myriad of risks, and are not the best option for porn streaming.

Data Caps: Data limits are a significant issue; many will cap at 500 MB a day, or 10 GB a month, and streaming HD videos on PornHub can quickly devour this amount when using a free VPN. You'd very well hit the limit, and the VPN would either stop working altogether or choke back your speeds to something virtually unusable. Paid VPNs, on the other hand, offer unlimited bandwidth, giving you the peace of mind to watch videos without any worries.

Slow Speeds and Throttling: The limited number of servers shared by a massive number of users causes congestion and slow speeds when using free VPNs. The result is a constant stream of buffering and very low-quality video when visiting PornHub. Stuttering video playback, lengthy loading times, and snail-paced downloads are also very common when using free VPNs. Premium VPNs such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN have, however, high-speed servers specifically designed for streaming.

Limited Server Locations: When using free VPNs, you'll be lucky if they offer more than one or two server locations, and you can't promise that those countries will even allow access to PornHub. A US-based server, for example, may be located in a state that has laws restricting the website, which doesn't help much. Fewer server options also means that if one path is blocked or slow, you have no alternatives. Paid VPNs provide dozens of country choices so you can find one that works best for PornHub.

Privacy Concerns: The company's business model is essentially based on you, the user, when using a free VPN. They have to generate income somehow, and some of them do so by logging your data, selling it, inserting ads, or, even worse, using you as a conduit for malware.

Security Weaknesses: You're at risk of encountering weak encryption and outdated protocols, and there's even the possibility of finding a VPN that is infested with spyware and suffers breaches when using a free VPN. A reputable VPN, on the other hand, provides robust encryption that ensures your activity remains truly private.

Reliability and Support: If a free VPN stops working with PornHub (say the IPs get blocked or the server goes down), you often have no customer support to help, and no alternative servers. Top paid VPNs usually have 24/7 support and actively maintain their networks to evade blocks.

When looking for a free VPN, there aren't many respectable options, but Proton VPN's free plan is a good example. Coming with unlimited data, albeit at slower speeds, and giving you a choice of just three countries, the US, the Netherlands and Japan. Now, you could conceivably use Proton VPN Free to hook up to the Netherlands and get access to PornHub, as the Netherlands doesn't block it.

Coming in second is Windscribe's free plan, which gives you a fairly reasonable 10 GB per month, with a few exit nodes in the US and a couple of EU countries, so if you're going to watch low-quality video, 10 GB should last you a little while.

But bear in mind, even these “decent” free VPNs have the drawback of congested servers and slow connections, and may force you onto servers that are blocked on certain websites, since free VPN IPs are notoriously known and sometimes blacklisted by services.

In summary: You can try a free VPN, but expect possible frustration. If you do, stick to reputable ones and be mindful of their limits. Otherwise, choosing a reliable paid VPN will save you time and ensure you can watch PornHub without interruptions, in high quality, and with your privacy intact.

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Wrapping Up

The landscape of how Britons access pornography changed when the UK enforced age verification on adult sites such as PornHub. PornHub’s approach of blocking UK users instead of implementing on-site ID checks has had the irony of law-abiding UK adults being locked out of a legal website. However, there is a relatively easy way to access the service in the UK. Through a VPN, you can bring back your access to PornHub.

This guide has gone through the reasoning behind the restriction of PornHub, in the UK and, took you by the hand through the process of using a VPN to unblock the service, and we gave our top tip for a VPN that is best suited for streaming porn, NordVPN, which is renowned for its speed and reliability, however, many other reputable VPNs can also get the job done, and address possible problems, and talk about the legality and alternative options.

Check our top VPN list

To recap the key points:

VPN = Your PornHub Pass: A VPN can mask your UK location. Connect to a non-UK server and PornHub will work normally, no age prompts or blocks.

Age Verification Elsewhere: PornHub currently doesn’t allow new verifications for UK, which is why a VPN is needed. Other sites may let you verify via ID if you prefer that route, but it comes with privacy trade-offs.

Free vs Paid VPNs: Free VPNs exist, but they're generally too limited for heavy video use and may compromise your privacy. Investing a small amount in a reputable VPN is usually worth it for a seamless PornHub experience.

By following the guidance here, you can regain access to PornHub in 2026 and enjoy its content in the UK without censorship or exposing your identity. From a moral perspective, the measures put in place are intended to protect the welfare of the younger generation. For the average adult user who just wants to preserve their privacy, using a VPN is a good option. When you're connected via a VPN, keep it on, follow best security practices, and enjoy watching your preferred content.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the UK Online Safety Act and how does it affect PornHub?

When the UK's Online Safety Act was passed in 2023 and took effect in 2025, it had a big goal of making the internet a safer space, especially for kids, and one of its key mandates was for adult content hosting sites to verify the age of their UK visitors.

Well-known adult site PornHub was required to check that its UK users were 18+, and this was either to be done by checking a user's ID, or equivalent methods, and then allowing them access, or completely blocking their access. Ofcom was the enforcer of this law.

When implementing the law, PornHub opted to allow age checks, but ran into some problems and by February 2026 had decided to stop allowing new UK users to sign up to the site in order to fully comply with the law, basically blocking UK access to new users

How can I access PornHub in the UK without verifying my age?


A VPN is the most reliable way to bypass age verification. Connecting with a foreign IP address, PornHub won't even notice that you're in the UK, so it won't ask for your ID. You can install a VPN app and connect to a server in the Netherlands or Spain, and then head to PornHub, which should load perfectly well.

Is it illegal to use a VPN for PornHub in the UK?
A: No, it’s not illegal?

Regarding the UK, VPNs are completely legal, and adult citizens can view pornographic material. Since the age verification laws are up to websites to enforce, people aren’t technically doing anything wrong by using a VPN to access PornHub. If you're 18+, watch legal content, you're on the right side of the law, but don’t share it with anyone under 18, and stay away from anything else that is illegal.

Will PornHub ever allow UK users to verify age and use the site again?


PornHub's stance on the UK's age verification system is that it's failed. They've completely withdrawn from the UK market for new users. They could change their mind if a more privacy-friendly verification tech comes along or if they lose a lot of traffic, and at that point, they'd probably team up with an age ID service so that UK users could verify themselves through an ID or a digital app to get back to the site.

Are other porn sites also blocked in the UK or just PornHub?


In the case of adult sites in the UK, the Online Safety Act applies, and responses have varied across sites. PornHub, YouPorn, and RedTube, which are all part of the Aylo network, have been blocking brand-new UK users; you need a pre-verified account to access their services.

XHamster chose a different route; they've gone with age verification. UK users won't be able to access xHamster without logging in and confirming their age through an ID or a service like Yoti.

OnlyFans also implemented age verification, and were already kind of doing that anyway, so they didn’t have much to change.

Lots of other tube sites, like XVideos and XNXX, had until 2026 to put in place age checks for the UK, but some did so, and others were geo-blocked if they didn’t. In France, PornHub and XVideos were completely blocked by the courts for not complying, and the same thing could happen here.

Smaller, less responsible sites, however, don't seem to have put in any checks and are still accessible without them. Technically, they’re breaking the law and can be blocked by ISPs if discovered. The owner of PornHub pointed out that when major sites comply or shut down, people tend to go to the smaller, less regulated sites.

Which VPN server location is best for unblocking PornHub?


It's a good idea to pick a VPN server in a country where pornography isn't restricted, preferably one that is close to the UK, to get fast connections when you need to access Pornhub. The Netherlands or Germany will work well as they don't have porn age-block laws and are right next door to the UK. Countries like Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Sweden also have no known restrictions and are relatively close.

The US federal government has no age ban, but avoid connecting to servers in states like Utah, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, etc., which have their own laws (a VPN might still work, but some sites might show a state-level warning). States like New York, California, and Washington are fine.

Canada and Mexico also don't have porn blocks, but they’re a bit farther away, still, a good internet connection will cover it. Your VPN might auto-select a server in a country that is actually closer, which is often the case, for example, NordVPN will probably pick a server in France or the Netherlands, and that is usually a good bet.

Can I use incognito mode or Tor Browser instead of a VPN to access PornHub?

When you use incognito mode in your browser you're essentially preventing the history and any cookies from being stored on your device, but it won't get past the block that PornHub has put in place, and will still be sending out a UK IP address. Incognito mode is great for keeping your browsing private on your device, but won't cut through geolocation restrictions.

The Tor Browser, on the other hand, is a far more sophisticated solution that reroutes your internet traffic through its network and can potentially let you access PornHub. However, Tor is known to be excruciatingly slow, and video streaming is really not what it’s built for.

PornHub videos would probably be buffering for ages or failing to load on Tor, and it's possible that PornHub will block images and videos being loaded via Tor, or actively shut down the connection. VPNs offer a much better combination of speed and usability for streaming PornHub.

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