How to Watch Pornhub in Texas in 2024: Access Blocked Content With a VPN
Porn site users in Texas are now required to verify their age with government-issued IDs, which has led to Pornhub blocking its site in the state. Texans and visitors can still access Pornhub with a VPN -- here’s how to watch Pornhub in Texas.
Written by Arthur Sabayi (Writer)
Reviewed by Samuel Chapman (Writer, Editor)
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated: 2024-05-16T15:42:29+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: How to Watch Pornhub in Texas
- Subscribe to a reliable VPN that works with Pornhub.
- Download and install the VPN on your preferred streaming device.
- Launch the VPN and sign in with your credentials.
- Connect to a server outside Texas to circumvent the porn ban.
- Open Pornhub and stream anything you want.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Pornhub in Texas
- The Texas verification law: Gov. Greg Abbott signed the age verification law in June 2023, and it took effect in September 2023. Users must now use any official identification document, like a government-issued ID, to prove they’re 18 years or older.
- Supreme Court upholds the law: A group of porn industry lobbyists sued to prevent the law from taking effect. The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which announced on April 30 that it would not block the law 1. Only the Texas legislature can reverse it now.
- Why won’t Pornhub comply?: Though Pornhub’s revenue stands to suffer from lost viewership, the company has also expressed concerns about free speech and safety, arguing that the law forces viewers to hand sensitive information to a third party.
You can’t access Pornhub in Texas thanks to a new law that requires people to prove their age using government-issued identification cards. Understandably, Pornhub is opposed to this and has blocked access to the site in Texas in protest 1. Fortunately for Texans, you can use the best VPNs to access the adult site. In this article, we’ll explain how to watch Pornhub in Texas.
Using government-issued IDs to verify age poses a serious problem for Pornhub, as users prefer to be discreet when watching porn. Having personal information tied to their accounts makes people reluctant to use Pornhub and pushes them to use less regulated, potentially riskier porn sites.
This article will explore the Texas laws that have led to Pornhub blocking access in the state and why you need a VPN to access the site. We will also investigate other porn sites affected by the law and go over the best VPN services you can use. You can use the same techniques to access other blocked sites — see our article on the best VPN for TikTok to learn more.
Why You Need to Use a VPN to Access Pornhub in Texas
statement explaining why the site is banned.
Rather than comply with Texas’ age verification law, Pornhub blocked access for everyone in the state 2. The only way to access adult content in Texas on Pornhub and related sites like Redtube, YouPorn and Brazzers is through a virtual private network.
With a VPN, you can connect to a server in a location where Pornhub isn’t blocked, like California. This changes your IP address so you can bypass Pornhub’s geo-restrictions and continue to access the site. It’s the same principle that underlies using a VPN for Russia to get around the Kremlin’s censorship or to unblock TikTok in the U.S.
Furthermore, a VPN encrypts and hides your internet traffic from your internet service provider (ISP) and government agencies. This keeps you out of trouble with the local authorities in Texas, since you’re effectively circumventing a law. The encryption also ensures that your private viewing history stays out of the hands of advertisers and other interlopers.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN to Watch Porn in Texas?
It is not illegal to use a VPN to watch porn in Texas, since virtual private networks are not banned. You won’t get into trouble with the law if you access sites like Pornhub on your devices.
Texas Law Basics: Is Pornhub Banned in Texas?
In June 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed H.B.1181 into law. This bill, boosted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, requires all companies offering sexual content in Texas to verify that their users are at least 18 years old via government ID cards or third-party systems 3. These verifications inherently involve sharing personal data.
Pornhub immediately reacted to the ruling by pulling access to its site, claiming that verification requirements go overboard while simultaneously failing at their job of protecting minors. Here’s what Alex Kekesi, the vice president of Brand and Community at Aylo (Pornhub’s parent company), had to say on the matter:4
“Unfortunately, the Texas law is ineffective, haphazard and dangerous. Not only will it not actually protect children, but it will also inevitably reduce content creators’ ability to post and distribute legal adult content and directly impact their ability to share the artistic messages they want to convey.”
According to Pornhub, the verification law is driving people away from their site and toward riskier porn websites based outside the U.S. that often have fewer safeguards than Pornhub. There’s also a risk of the personal information that the company stores falling into the wrong hands in a data privacy breach, leading to identity theft.
Pornhub Unblocked: How to Access Pornhub in Texas with a VPN
Accessing Pornhub with a VPN is easy. It only takes four quick steps.
- Subscribe to the VPN of Your Choice
VPNs vary in price. Find one that fits your budget, go to the website and subscribe to a plan. If you decide on ExpressVPN, you can use the service’s 30-day money-back guarantee to request a refund if the subscription doesn’t work out for you.
- Download and Install the VPN
On the device you intend to use, download and install a compatible version of the VPN from the official VPN website or the device’s mobile app store.
- Connect to a Server Outside Texas
Pornhub is unavailable in eight states (Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia) with new age verification laws that the company refuses to comply with. To access the site, connect to any server outside those eight states. A New York server worked for us.
- Open Pornhub and Browse
You can now launch Pornhub and access all the adult content you want.
PornHub Age Verification Law: How Does It Work?
The new law passed in Texas forces anyone who uses porn sites to verify their age using a government-issued ID or any other official means of confirming their age. Additionally, the law requires porn sites to display warnings about the potential risks of pornography, like prostitution and child exploitation.
This last section of the law was scrapped after an appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court, but the controversial age verification section was upheld. Before the law was passed, all Pornhub users had to do was tap a button to confirm that they were at least 18 years old.
Why Did Pornhub Ban Texans?
Pornhub banned Texans from accessing its site and other related subsidiaries because it disagrees with the verification law that requires users to confirm their age with their IDs. According to Pornhub, the new law is ineffective and dangerously reduces content creators’ ability to post and distribute legal adult content.
Rather than subject its users to age verification laws that violate creators’ rights and potentially expose users to identity theft, Pornhub chose to ban the site in Texas. The ban is likely to remain in place until the law is changed.
Streaming Adult Sites in Texas: Have Other Sites Been Blocked, Too?
As of April 2024, several other adult streaming sites have also been blocked in Texas. The table below lists a few of the major sites and whether you can access them in Texas.
| Adult Site | Requires ID? | Blocked in Texas? |
|---|---|---|
| Pornhub | No | Yes |
| Redtube | No | Yes |
| xHamster | No | Yes |
| Chaturbate | Yes | Yes |
| Brazzers | No | Yes |
| YouPorn | No | Yes |
| XVideos | No | No |
| XNXX | No | No |
Which VPNs Are Best for Pornhub in Texas?
A reliable VPN with servers in the United States and beyond is an effective solution to accessing Pornhub if you’re in Texas. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Texans and visitors alike to access Pornhub, as well as to unblock other types of websites.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries. In the U.S., you can connect to New Jersey; New York; Atlanta; Miami; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; or Albuquerque to unblock Pornhub. Additionally, ExpressVPN is secured with encryption and IP leak protection, and has fast speeds for buffer-free streaming — learn more in our ExpressVPN review.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is another good alternative, with more than 6,300 servers in 111 countries. U.S. locations that can unblock Pornhub include Miami, New York, Atlanta, Seattle and more. NordVPN has more than 1,700 servers in the U.S. alone.
NordVPN’s connection speeds are also among the best. Plus, its leak-free record since 2018 makes us confident that it can secure your Pornhub browsing. Read our NordVPN review for more.
3. Surfshark
If you want an affordable but capable VPN for unblocking Pornhub anywhere in Texas, consider Surfshark. It comes with more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries, with locations in New York, Seattle, Ashburn, Denver and more.
All Surfshark servers are optimized for speed, which is perfect for buffer-free porn streaming. Leak-free servers and encryption hide your traffic and maintain your anonymity at all times. Our Surfshark review explains more.
Is There a Good Free VPN for Pornhub in Texas?
We don’t recommend using free VPNs, as many are untrustworthy, have limited features and are slow. However, a few capable options like Proton VPN can help you access Pornhub in Texas.
With Proton VPN, you get unlimited data with no monthly caps; free servers in five locations, including the U.S.; and reliable security to keep your activity hidden from your ISP, Texas authorities and hackers. Read our Proton VPN review for more.
Final Thoughts
Texas’ new age verification law is allegedly about protecting children from the well-known risks of pornography. However, Pornhub has every right to react the way it has, and it doesn’t look like this impasse will be resolved any time soon. Until then, the best way to access Pornhub when in Texas is by using a VPN.
ExpressVPN is the best option for unblocking Pornhub in Texas. It has servers in the United States, reliable security and fast streaming speeds. Alternatively, NordVPN and Surfshark are two capable options you can turn to. Always use a VPN for your security and privacy, no matter what you’re trying to access or where you’re coming from.
Are you in Texas and unable to open Pornhub? Have you tried any of the three VPNs we recommend here? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below, and thank you for keeping up with our content.
FAQ: Pornhub Blocked in Texas
You can watch Pornhub in Texas by using a VPN and connecting to a server outside the state.
Pornhub blocks access in Texas because of a new age verification law that requires users to present ID cards to prove their age. Instead of complying with a law it sees as unjust, Pornhub chose to remove itself from the state altogether.
It is legal to watch porn in Texas. The state only requires sites to verify users’ age to prove that they’re 18 years or older before accessing porn sites and other age-restricted materials.
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