School Chromebooks usually come with a ton of restrictions. Access to certain websites, including social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, is restricted to create and maintain a focused learning environment. And we understand that.
However, it does make sense to take a break after a few hours of hard schoolwork by scrolling through Instagram. If you’re here, then you probably think the same way.
You’ll be glad to hear that there are ways to bypass these restrictions and scroll through the hallowed halls of Instagram on your school Chromebook. We’ll walk you through a few of them.
Accessing Instagram on a School Chromebook
Now that you’ve decided to embrace the dark side, we’ll walk you through some of the best ways to access Instagram through your school Chromebook.
Try the HTTPS Version of the Website
Sometimes, the solution to a problem can be right under your nose. Most websites, including Instagram, have two addresses on the internet. One sporting the original Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and another with the newer Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS).
You may have yet to notice because these websites usually redirect users who are headed to the HTTP versions to the more secure HTTPS sites.
There’s a chance your school forgot to block the HTTPS version of the site, so you can try that first.
Use a Web Proxy
A web proxy helps you access some blocked and geo-restricted websites. You open the proxy site through your browser and type in the address you need to reach. In this case, that would be Instagram. The proxy site then gets the information to you.
It would look like you’re just on the proxy when you’re actually checking up on Instagram friends. You can search for proxy sites on Google, as there are a ton of them that would work.
However, your school may have blocked many of them already, so just hope they aren’t that thorough. Also, some of these sites are shady, so you should tread carefully.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
This option is likely to work. A VPN is an app that secures your connection to the Internet. It hides your IP address and makes it so that websites don’t know your location.
This tricks sites into unlocking some geo-restricted content and can also fool your school’s firewall. Some schools’ firewalls are advanced enough to block VPN traffic, but higher-tier VPNs can use stealth to bypass even those. And these VPNs are pretty easy to set up. Here’s how:
- Do some research and find the perfect VPN for you. Most of the best ones charge a fee to download, but some free ones do the trick. Tread carefully, though.
- Download the VPN and install it on your school Chromebook.
- Log in to the VPN and connect to a server.
- Open your browser and get to the Instagram website. You should be able to access it now.
With these tips, you should be able to access Instagram on your school Chromebook. Remember that your education shouldn’t take the back seat to your social media life. You’re in school for a reason.
