Disclaimer: This page is written for adults. Gizmodo supports the UK’s effort to keep explicit material away from minors. Pornography is restricted to adults in the UK. Our interest is the privacy of legal adults, whose identity documents and face scans now pass through third-party companies with their own breach history.
When you visit Pornhub from a British connection today, the site shows a member login, a notice that registration is closed, and a homepage of safe-for-work clips. Since February 2026, Aylo, the company behind Pornhub, has limited what UK visitors can see, and access now depends on your account and the device you use.
As a result, many adults in Britain are left wondering whether Pornhub is banned, why signing in doesn’t help, and why an iPhone suddenly calls the site restricted. Here’s how things stand and what still works.
Watch Pornhub From the UK: Four Steps
- Sign up for NordVPN, then install it on your computer or phone.
- Sign in to the app, then search for Ireland, the Netherlands, or Germany.
- Connect to a server in one of those countries.
- Delete old Pornhub cookies, then reload the site.
Is Pornhub Banned in the UK?
No. The government didn’t ban Pornhub, and watching porn is legal for adults in Britain. On January 27, 2026, Aylo said it would “no longer participate in the failed system that has been created in the United Kingdom.” It then restricted the site from February 2. Aylo blamed the Online Safety Act’s age checks because, it said, they had cut its UK traffic by 77%.
Since then, UK visitors who aren’t signed in see a homepage of non-explicit videos and a login form. Registration is also closed, with the notice “Pornhub is not currently accepting new account registrations in your region.” YouPorn and RedTube changed in the same way. Two groups still see the full site from a UK IP address:
- Accounts verified before February 2, 2026. Adults who completed Pornhub’s age check before the cutoff kept their access.
- iPhones and iPads with Apple’s age confirmation. Since May 5, 2026, Pornhub has shown its standard site on these devices with the latest iOS or iPadOS installed.
How to Watch Pornhub in the UK With a VPN
A VPN connects your device to a server in another country, and Pornhub sees that country’s IP address in place of your British one. So on a server in a country where Aylo serves its standard site, Pornhub appears as it does for local visitors.
In our November tests, the full site worked on the Irish, Dutch, and German servers of NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN.
1. Sign Up and Install NordVPN
Create an account on NordVPN’s website, then install NordVPN and sign in. Its 30-day money-back guarantee also applies if you change your mind. Our Windows VPN guide walks through the setup on a PC.
2. Choose Ireland, the Netherlands, or Germany
Ireland and the Netherlands are close to the UK, and neither applies a porn age-check law to Pornhub. Germany worked in our tests too, though German courts have halted enforcement of its age-check law against Aylo, and that could change. However, avoid France, where Pornhub shows a restricted French site with no explicit videos.
3. Clear Cookies and Visit Pornhub
First, delete Pornhub’s cookies, or use a private window. Cookies saved during UK visits can bring back the restricted version. After Pornhub detects an Irish, Dutch, or German IP address, it shows the standard site.
Why Pornhub Requires UK Visitors to Log In
Pornhub shows a login form because, apart from age-confirmed iPhones and iPads, only older verified accounts can see explicit content from a UK IP address. According to reports since the change, signing in with a newer account, including one created abroad, doesn’t change what the site shows in the UK.
Clearing cookies or changing browsers won’t remove the login screen on a British connection, because the restriction follows the IP address.
Why iPhones Call Pornhub a Restricted Website
Apple added adult age confirmation for UK accounts with iOS 26.4 in late March 2026. Until an adult confirms, Web Content Filter and Communication Safety stay enabled, and Safari labels Pornhub and other adult sites as restricted websites. Because the filter is part of iOS, connecting to a VPN leaves it in place.
To confirm, go to Settings, tap your name, then choose Personal Information and Age Confirmation. Apple accepts four methods:
- Credit card: a card issued in your name. Apple doesn’t accept debit or gift cards, though.
- Photo ID: a passport or driver’s license scanned with the camera.
- PASS card: an accredited ID card, such as a CitizenCard.
- Account history: a credit card already on file, or a long-standing Apple Account.
The full site on confirmed iPhones and iPads doesn’t extend to other devices: Macs, Windows PCs, and Android devices still see the restricted version. Aylo’s announcement named Pornhub, while reports differ on whether YouPorn and RedTube are part of it. Aylo has since made a similar move in Australia.
The Online Safety Act and Ofcom’s Pornhub Investigation
The Online Safety Act has required “highly effective” age checks on porn sites since July 25, 2025. Ofcom accepts methods such as photo ID matching, facial age estimation, credit card checks, and open banking, and a click-through age button no longer counts. The UK followed several US states, starting with Louisiana, whose age-check law took effect in January 2023.
On September 23, 2026, Ofcom announced an investigation into Aylo Freesites Ltd, Pornhub’s operator. It’s examining whether relying on signals from Apple meets the duty to keep children away from porn, and whether Aylo tested that process properly. At the same time, Ofcom has said it won’t rule on how Apple operates its own checks. The outcome could therefore change the iPhone arrangement.
A breach can bring a fine of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. Before any fine, Ofcom will issue a provisional decision, and no dates have been set. Meanwhile, Aylo said it will cooperate fully. Ofcom has already fined seven porn companies under the Act, the largest penalty being £1.35 million, and it can apply to courts to block sites.
Is It Legal to Watch Pornhub With a VPN in the UK?
Yes, for adults. Because the Online Safety Act’s duties fall on websites, viewers aren’t penalized under it. VPNs are legal too. On July 15, 2026, the government decided against restricting them. In its words, “VPNs have legitimate privacy and security uses and we will therefore not age-gate or ban them.”
The government added that platforms must take robust steps to keep under-18s away from porn. Our UK VPN guide covers everyday uses, such as public Wi-Fi. Still, using a VPN doesn’t place you outside UK law. Possessing extreme pornographic images, for example, is a crime under section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
What Replaced Pornhub in the UK: Other Porn Sites
Unlike Pornhub, most large adult sites stayed in the UK and added age checks. In fact, Ofcom found that 64 of the 100 most visited porn services had checks by June 2026, including all of the top 10.
UK adults confirm their age on these sites before explicit videos play, most often with facial age estimation, according to Ofcom. XVideos, for example, shows non-explicit thumbnails until a UK visitor completes its age check. For a wider look at adult sites, see our best VPNs for porn.
VPNs We Recommend for UK Adults
- NordVPN: Best overall, with the fastest German server in our tests
- Proton VPN: Best for audited, open-source privacy
- ExpressVPN: Best for first-time VPN users, with one-tap connections
Our list of the best VPNs for Pornhub also compares five, including free ones.
1. NordVPN: Best Overall for UK Adults
Pros
- Fast German servers
- Double VPN
- Obfuscated servers
- App-level kill switch
Cons
- Pricey renewals
NordVPN had the fastest German server we tested, and the full site was available on it. Its servers also store data in RAM only, while independent auditors have checked its no-logs policy. The renewal rate is noticeably higher than the first-term rate.
For that reason, committing to 27 months keeps the introductory rate in place longest. Over 27 months, NordVPN’s Basic plan averages $3.49 a month, $94.23 in total, and later years cost $139.08.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Audited, Open-Source Privacy
Pros
- NetShield blocks ads and malware
- Open-source apps
- Swiss jurisdiction
- Secure Core servers
Cons
- Confusing interface on desktop
Proton VPN unblocked the full site on its European servers, and its German server was fast too. NetShield blocked more ads and trackers than NordVPN’s and ExpressVPN’s blockers in our tests. Our VPN ad blocker guide also explains how it works.
On top of that, an outside audit has confirmed its no-logs policy. Renewal is pricier than the first term, though it still costs less than NordVPN’s. Proton VPN Plus costs $2.99 a month on the two-year plan, and NetShield also comes with every paid Proton VPN subscription.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for First-Time VPN Users
Pros
- One-tap connections
- Lightway protocol
- Automatic obfuscation
- KPMG-audited servers
Cons
- Few advanced settings
- Short 3-day trial on mobile
ExpressVPN has very simple apps, and its Irish, Dutch, and German servers showed the full site. The Lightway protocol keeps connections stable when a phone changes networks, and obfuscation is automatic. Its privacy policy and RAM-only servers passed a KPMG audit.
There’s little to configure beyond the basics, although adult sites don’t require special settings. Expect a higher price at renewal, though, and choose the 28-month plan to put that off the longest. ExpressVPN costs $2.99 a month if you prepay 28 months of the Basic plan. When those months are up, it’s $99.95 a year.
Conclusion
Pornhub still works in the UK for two groups: adults verified before February 2026, and iPhone or iPad owners with Apple’s age confirmation. Other visitors still see a login screen and safe-for-work clips. In our tests, though, Pornhub worked on VPN servers in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
We recommend NordVPN because of its speed on German servers and its independently audited no-logs policy. Proton VPN and ExpressVPN performed well, too. Ofcom’s investigation could still alter the iPhone arrangement in the coming months.
Pornhub UK FAQ
Is Pornhub banned in the UK?
No. Instead, Pornhub's owner, Aylo, restricted the UK site itself in response to the Online Safety Act's age-check rules. Porn remains legal for adults across Britain.
Why does Pornhub show a login screen in the UK?
Pornhub limits explicit content on UK connections to accounts verified before the restriction and to age-confirmed iPhones and iPads. Other visitors see a login form and safe-for-work videos.
Can you create a Pornhub account in the UK?
No. Registration is closed for visitors with a UK IP address, and reports say accounts opened in other countries don't change what Pornhub shows on a British connection.
Why does an iPhone say Pornhub is a restricted website?
Apple's Web Content Filter blocks adult sites on UK iPhones until the owner confirms being an adult. After confirming with a credit card or an ID scan, the owner can change that filter.
Is using a VPN legal in the UK?
Yes. VPNs are legal in the UK, and the government has decided not to age-gate or ban them. Even so, a VPN doesn't make illegal content lawful to view or possess.
Does Pornhub work on Android in the UK?
No, unless the visitor has an older verified account. Otherwise, Android phones and tablets see the safe-for-work version of Pornhub, with new registrations closed.
What replaced Pornhub in the UK?
No single site replaced it. Other major adult sites remain available in the UK, and they require an age check, such as a selfie-based age estimate or photo ID, before explicit videos play.