School Survival

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How To Unblock Google At School On Chromebook Without VPN

Part of the Mega Guide: How To Unblock Anything At School

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, keeps your online activities private by coding your data so that others can see what you're doing on the internet. This is useful for protecting your privacy and bypassing restrictions.

But sometimes, the network you're on might block VPN installations or connections, like in some workplaces or schools. Or, your device might have security settings or restrictions that prevent new apps from being installed.

Luckily there are other ways to unblock Google on Chromebook!

Unblocking Google On Chromebook using Free DNS Servers

What Are DNS Servers?

Imagine you need to locate a friend's house, but you only know their identity, not their location. You’d probably ask someone who knows where they live, right?

In the online world, DNS servers (Domain Name System servers) are similar to those helpful people. When you enter a website's address (like www.example.com) into your browser, DNS servers convert that name into an IP address (a set of numbers) that your computer can recognize and employ to find Google on Chromebook.

How Changing DNS Servers Can Help Bypass Censorship

Sometimes, some websites might be restricted by your ISP or your school's authorities. They do this by forcing your DNS queries (requests to find a website) pass through servers that either block or send them.

Here's how changing your DNS servers can help:

  1. Different DNS Servers: By switching to a different DNS server (like Google's public DNS or Cloudflare's DNS), you might bypass these restrictions. These other servers might not have the same restrictions or might allow access to Google on Chromebook.

  2. Accessing Restricted Sites: If a particular DNS server is known for allowing access to certain websites, using that server can assist you get around the restrictions imposed by your school.

There are many no-cost DNS providers. This guide demonstrate how to configure OpenDNS, but you can substitute the IP addresses with other providers if you would like to.

There is a big list of DNS servers here: https://public-dns.info/

Here are some of the popular ones:
Google: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1

How to Change Your DNS Settings on a Chromebook

Following these steps will help you change the DNS settings on your Chromebook to use OpenDNS.

  1. Open Google Chrome:

    • Click on the Google Chrome icon in your taskbar or find it in your app drawer to open the browser.

  2. Access Chrome Flags:

    • In the address bar at the top of Chrome, type chrome://flags and press Enter.
    • You’ll be taken to a special settings page called “Chrome Flags.”

  3. Find and Enable the Experimental Flag:

    • On the Chrome Flags page, you’ll see a search box at the top. Click on this search box and type Experimental static ip configuration.
    • If the flag appears in the search results, click the dropdown menu next to it and select Enabled.
    • If you don’t see this flag, you can skip to the next step.

  4. Open Chromebook Settings:

    • Click on the time display or your profile picture in the bottom-right corner of your screen to open the system menu.
    • Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.

  5. Access Network Settings:

    • In the Settings menu, look for Network or Wi-Fi. Click on this option.
    • You’ll see a list of available networks. Click on the network you are currently connected to (such as your Wi-Fi network).

  6. Change DNS Settings:

    • In the network details window, click on Network or Advanced settings.
    • Scroll down to find the DNS settings. Click on the dropdown menu or link that allows you to enter custom DNS servers.
    • Enter the following DNS addresses:
      • Primary DNS: 208.67.222.222
      • Secondary DNS: 208.67.220.220

  7. Save Your Settings:

    • After entering the DNS addresses, make sure to click Save or Apply if there is an option to do so.

  8. Restart Chrome:

    • At the bottom of your Chrome window, you might see a message asking you to restart the browser for the changes to take effect. Click Relaunch or Restart. You may also need to reboot the entire Chromebook.

Unblocking Google On Chromebook using Free Proxy Servers

What Are Proxy Servers?

Let's imagine the internet as a big, open library where you can explore and access all sorts of materials and information. Now, imagine there's a special gatekeeper who manages what materials you can see based on certain restrictions. If the librarian doesn't want you to see certain materials, they can restrict your access to those books.

A proxy server is like a clever friend who can assist you get around this librarian. Here's how it works:

  1. Your Request: When you want to access a book, instead of going directly to the librarian (which is like your internet connection), you request your friend (the proxy server) to assist you.

  2. The Friend (Proxy Server): Your friend goes to the librarian, requests the book for you, and then brings it back to you. In this way, the librarian never realizes it’s actually you making the request.

  3. Changing Proxies: If the librarian becomes aware of your friend and blocks their access, you can just find a different friend (a different proxy server) to assist you. By changing friends, you can keep accessing the books that were previously blocked.

In simpler terms, a proxy server acts as a go-between that helps you access information without the restrictions you would face directly. By using different proxies, you can get around internet censorship, which is like circumventing the librarian's restrictions.

How to Change Your Proxy Settings on a Chromebook

Adding a proxy server to a Chromebook is a bit like using a special route to get to a website. Here’s a simple way to do it:

  1. Open Settings: Click on the time in the bottom right corner of your screen (where you see the clock and battery icon). Then, click the gear icon to open the Settings menu.

  2. Go to Network Settings: In the Settings menu, find and click on “Network” or “Wi-Fi” (depending on your Chromebook version).

  3. Select Your Network: Click on the Wi-Fi network you’re currently connected to. It should be listed under “Wi-Fi” or “Network”.

  4. Open Proxy Settings: Look for an option called “Proxy” or “Network Proxy” and click on it. If you don’t see it right away, you might have to click on “Advanced” or “Configure” to find it.

  5. Enter Proxy Information: You’ll need to enter details for the proxy server. This usually includes:

    • Proxy Server Address: This is the address of the proxy server you want to use.
    • Port Number: This is a number that tells your Chromebook which port to use to connect to the proxy server.
    • Authentication: If the proxy requires a username and password, you’ll need to enter those as well.

  6. Save and Apply: Once you’ve entered all the information, make sure to save your settings. There should be a “Save” or “Apply” button to confirm.

  7. Test the Connection: Open a new tab and try to visit a website to make sure the proxy is working.

And that’s it! Now your Chromebook will use the proxy server when you browse the web.

Where to find free proxies? We have a list here.

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