How to Unblock Snapchat at School using a VPN
Oliver Bradshaw | Last Updated:
Technical VPN Analyst
Trying to unblock Snapchat while at school can be a challenging exercise for many students. The Snapchat app is one of many social media apps that is often blocked by school WIFI firewalls, in attempts to keep students off their phones in class. Regardless of whether using the app at school is right or wrong, we don’t think schools should have this much power over what students do online in private.
That being said, we’re here to share a way for you to continue using Snapchat at school. By downloading a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app to your device, you can cloak your true IP address and take advantage of the VPN’s data encrypted network to hide your internet activity on school WIFI. The school firewall can’t block Snapchat, if it can’t tell that you’re using the program at all. Just remember to stay focused in class, and limit Snapchat use to your downtime at school!
Simple VPN Guide: You’re only five simple steps away from setting up a VPN for Snapchat – here’s how!
- Get a VPN service. we recommend NordVPN for unblocking Snapchat while at school due to their excellent security and privacy features.
- Download the VPN. Install the app on your device, whichever one you want to use Snapchat on.
- Login on your VPN App.
- Connect to a nearby VPN server. Closer servers provide faster internet speeds.
- Everything’s all set! Open Snapchat and enjoy, you can now freely use the app at school!
Our Recommended VPN for Snapchat
While it’s true that there are many VPN providers out there, we can only recommend one VPN for Snapchat – NordVPN. Not only does NordVPN have fantastic security features more than capable of keeping your Snapchat use hidden on the school network, its other well-rounded features mean that this VPN is also great for playing online games, unblocking geo-restrictions on streaming platforms, and many other purposes!
#1. NordVPN – excellent Security and Privacy features
- Supported Devices:
The most important consideration for unblocking Snapchat is security. NordVPN’s advanced security features, such as military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, Perfect Forward Secrecy and DNS leak protection is more than sufficient to keep you hidden on school networks, allowing your Snapchat use to slip by the school firewall undetected. If you’re extra paranoid, you can even enable their Double VPN feature to doubly secure your privacy. This mode runs your internet connection through two VPN servers instead of just one, applying two separate layers of encryption on your internet activity. When you use these features, there is no way that your school I.T Administrator (or the network firewall restrictions that they put in place) is able to detect that you are using Snapchat while at school. These security features mask your internet browsing activity, allowing you to access Snapchat just like any other website or app.
And if you run into any issues setting up your NordVPN for Snapchat, their customer support team is ready to help 24/7. Not that we think you should have any trouble – NordVPN’s simple user interface makes it easy to select the features you want and connect to a server of your choice anywhere in the world.
But if you’re getting a VPN for Snapchat anyway, we think it’s a bit of a waste to only use it at school. NordVPN’s other great features makes it well-suited for many other online activities – its 10 GBPs servers and speed-optimized Nordlynx connection protocol allow for smooth streaming of HD video and speedy connections to online games. Pair that with its huge global network of 5,200 servers in 62 countries, and you get a VPN service perfect for unblocking geo-restrictions on your favorite video-streaming platform or online game. There are no bandwidth limits either, so feel free to use NordVPN anytime you want to connect to the internet for a more secure and less restricted experience.
NordVPN is compatible with a huge range of devices, from your laptop and smartphone to even your game console and Smart TV. While it’s not the cheapest VPN service available, they do offer a 30-day money back guarantee perfect for new users looking to try out the service. You can also get some friends together to split subscription costs, since NordVPN allows for six simultaneous connections on one subscriber account.
NordVPN Prices:
Below are the latest NordVPN subscription prices, current as at October 2024:
- 1 Month: $11.95
- 1 Year: $4.92 (Save 58%)
- 2 Years: $3.67 (3 Months Free + Save 69%)
Note: All prices are in USD, and are Per Month.
Which VPNs work with Snapchat?
Most premium VPN services should work with Snapchat, but you might find free VPN servers or web proxies blocked from accessing the app. This is because Snapchat often looks for and IP blocks free VPN servers, due to the many people using these servers to break the rules and evade IP bans on Snapchat. Free VPN services often only have a small handful of servers, meaning that their entire network might be denied from accessing Snapchat even if only a few servers get discovered and blocked.
Premium VPN services like NordVPN have a huge roster of servers available, and have the resources necessary to constantly update the IP address of their servers. What this means is that no matter which country or location that your school or university is located in, there is bound to be a NordVPN server located nearby. The general rule of thumb here is that you should always connect to the vpn server that is geographically closest to your current location. Doing this will ensure that get the fastest possible speeds on your device, and you will see no obvious reduction in connection speeds as a result of using a vpn. This is part of the reason why we think NordVPN is the best for Snapchat – check out our review above for more details!
Can Snapchat detect VPN?
If you’re using a premium service like NordVPN, Snapchat likely has no clue that you’re on a VPN connection – it’s almost impossible for them to identify the IP address of every single server on NordVPN’s vast network. Snapchat also has no rules against VPNs (even when at school or university), meaning that it shouldn’t matter even if you do get detected. In fact, the messaging app actively encourages VPN use, and goes so far as to call it a good way of keeping yourself secure on the internet!
How Do I Unblock Snapchat at School?
If Snapchat has been blocked by your school network firewall, the easiest way to get around it is by using a VPN service. A VPN service encrypts your online activity and hides your real IP address, making it impossible for your Snapchat use to be detected and blocked. See our VPN set-up guide above for how to quickly start using one!
Does a VPN change Snapchat location?
No, a VPN generally does not allow you to change your location on Snapchat. The app’s SnapMap displays the location of you and your friends, but while you can hide yourself by using the “Ghost Mode” option, a spoofed GPS is needed to display a fake location. A VPN service can hide your IP address effectively, but since SnapMap works off your phone GPS information, it can’t hide your real location from Snapchat. To give Snapchat a spoofed location, you would need a fake GPS app, or use one of the very few VPN services with such a feature.
Further Reading
PRIVACY ALERT: Websites you visit can see your current IP Address:
- Your IP Address: 43.250.140.30
- Your Location: Beaconsfield, AU
- Your Internet Provider: Synergy Wholesale PTY LTD
* Scammers, Governments, and Advertisers can use this information to track and target you.
Our recommended vpn service provider for general all-round internet security and online privacy is NordVPN. It offers an excellent selection of online security and internet privacy features, excellent speed, and the ability to unblock your favorite streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer).
Visit NordVPN