How to use Facebook abroad: the FAST way (2024)

Facebook is used by billions around the world, but the website and app are blocked in some countries. If you have a reliable VPN, you can use Facebook abroad. Our guide explains how it works.

If your VPN isn’t hiding your location from the social app, Facebook can potentially interfere with your technology and lock you out. Our recommended options will unlock Facebook by giving your device a temporary IP address from a supported country.

Which VPNs work with Facebook?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

In three steps: using Facebook abroad

At a glance: To use Facebook from almost any country in the world, download a VPN, sign in to your account, connect to a server based in a supported country (the UK, for example) and then reload the app.

1. Install a VPN on your PC or smartphone

To scroll through your Facebook feed while overseas, you might need a VPN. We’ve highlighted a couple of our favourites on this page.

2. Sign in

Once you’ve created your VPN account, sign in with your email and password. It should only take a couple of seconds to register your details.

3. Connect to a server for Facebook

As Facebook is restricted in some areas, you need to connect to a VPN server based in a region that supports it – the UK or US, for example.

To do this using ExpressVPN, open the app, tap the three dots icon and use the search box to enter a location. Select the power icon to connect and wait for the green light before loading up Facebook.

Why is Facebook not working with my VPN?

If your network provider identifies that you’re trying to use Facebook in a country where it’s restricted, your connection could be blocked. However, top VPNs for Facebook can still help you log in from anywhere in the world, even if you’re traveling around.

Your current VPN fails to work alongside Facebook and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your real location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN may be blacklisted by the website.

How does Facebook detect my VPN?

If your VPN isn’t hiding your real location from your internet provider, it will interfere with the server you’re using, making your VPN useless. Bad VPNs take a long time to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to content on the website.

In summary, common reasons for Facebook failing:

• Your VPN server has been cut off by the social network
• Cookies on your device are telling Facebook about your real location
• A VPN is leaking your IP address, which causes Facebook to block traffic

Facebook VPN fixes

1. Update your VPN

If your VPN isn’t unlocking Facebook and Messenger, make sure you’re running the latest version.

On Android, you need to open the Google Play store, tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen and then Manage apps and device. Finally, choose Update when you spot the name of your VPN.

On iOS, open the Apple App Store and tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen. Find your VPN and apply the update, if there is one.

2. Try a different server for Facebook

VPN servers can sometimes go offline – that’s no good if you’re trying to chat with friends on Facebook. Note that the best VPNs that we’ve been hands-on with offer multiple servers for each country – you can scroll further down this page for the details.

Try disconnecting from the current server that you’re using. ExpressVPN users can select the three dots icon to see a list of alternative servers in the same country. Make sure the new server you pick is based in a country that offers full access to Facebook – the UK, for example.

3. Try live chat

Our highlighted VPN providers manage support teams – it’s one of the features we look out for when choosing which ones to recommend. For times when the Facebook (or Messenger) app isn’t unlocking, reach out for guidance.

From a computer, head to your VPN provider’s website and find the Support or Contact us pages. Some VPNs offer a live chat service for members.

4. Turn it off and on again

This classic tech trick often works with computer issues and we’ve found that the same goes with VPNs. If that doesn’t work, delete and reinstall your VPN. Load up your VPN and the Facebook app to see if it worked.

5. Test your internet

VPN problems are often linked to your own internet. Disconnect from your wi-fi network and then reconnect. Try and run your VPN once again. You can also go a step further and restart your internet router.

You might find that a dodgy internet connection is slowing your VPN and therefore Facebook on PC and mobile.

Run a free download speed tool (we recommend Ookla) and compare the results alongside your ISP’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise.

More Facebook fixes to try:

Have you cleared cache and cookies from your internet browser? On Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Check to see if you’ve been hit by a DNS leak. This means your typical IP address and location is visible to websites and apps, even if you’re running a VPN. Try our IP Address Lookup tool to see if your IP address swaps when you activate your VPN and visit Facebook. If not, your VPN is broken.

Have you entered your username and password correctly? Double-check your login credentials for your VPN. If you can’t remember, get a reset link sent to your inbox. Then, try loading up your VPN with Facebook.

Are the VPN servers active? If Facebook doesn’t work, your provider might be experiencing an outage. The best of the bunch are transparent about this and actively update their server status online.

Is your firewall blocking your VPN or the Facebook app?

When you have a problem on the desktop version of Facebook, check your VPN is in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall. Restart your PC after you make changes.

For a printer-friendly overview of the tips we’ve discussed above, you can download our free VPN troubleshooting poster.

Best VPNs for Facebook

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If you want to enjoy Facebook from anywhere, create a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, delightfully fast and works well if you’re looking to access content that’s usually reserved for a specific country.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden at all times, so websites won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of a supported country. Every ExpressVPN member has access to servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on a range of different devices including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy works well if you’re a Facebook fan and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend lots of money on a VPN. This service supports 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away. On top of that, you also get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.

Wherever you are in the world, you can use Ivacy to access geo-restricted websites like Facebook without anybody knowing about it. That’s thanks to Ivacy’s very strict no-logs policy, which prevents your valuable personal data from being sold to sinister third parties.

This is one of the most widely-used VPNs proven to work with Facebook. If you try it for yourself today, you’ll get instant access to over 3,000 VPN servers around the world. A single subscription for Ivacy has you covered on up to 10 different devices at once.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

NordVPN has servers all over the world and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. With Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.

This VPN’s servers are secure and you can connect without handing over personal data. Nord doesn’t watch how you’re using the service, so privacy is guaranteed. You can also try the CyberSec feature, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with data-grabbing malware.

In just a couple of minutes, you can start using Facebook using NordVPN. To access the service, just connect to a VPN server based in a Facebook-supported country, like the UK. If you need help at any time, you can call on NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is still one of our favourite services to recommend for VPN newbies that want to use Facebook. It’s very simple to use and doesn’t limit bandwidth per user.

As soon as you connect to PureVPN, your data is encrypted and passes securely through a series of tunnels that lead to the company’s servers. In other words, you’re completely anonymous and protected at all times. You have a 24-hour support team at your disposal, so you can reach out at any time if you have a question or need help.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today As per our affiliate policy, we might earn affiliate commission when you select a retailer link. Prices and information correct at time of publication.