If you’ve tried to pull up Pornhub lately and been greeted by a sterile, gray screen or a "403 Forbidden" message, you aren’t alone. It’s not your Wi-Fi. It’s the law. As of January 2026, the map of the United States has turned into a patchwork of digital "no-go" zones for the world’s most famous adult site.
Kinda wild, right?
Basically, we’ve reached a point where nearly half the country is effectively cut off from Pornhub. It’s not that the site is illegal in these places. It’s that the parent company, Aylo, has decided it’s easier to just flip the kill switch than to risk the massive fines and legal headaches of complying with state-specific age verification laws.
The current list of blocked states
Honestly, the list is growing so fast it’s hard to keep up. But as of now, residents in these states are seeing the "blocked" sign:
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- Alabama (Blocked since late 2024)
- Arizona (Newest addition to the blackout list)
- Arkansas
- Florida (The big one—blocked since Jan 1, 2025)
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Missouri (Recently added after administrative rule changes)
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas (Following a lengthy legal battle)
- Utah (The one that started it all)
- Virginia
- Wyoming
There are a few weird exceptions. Louisiana has a strict law, but because they have a government-backed digital ID app called LA Wallet that’s actually popular, Pornhub stays open there. And in Ohio, the way the law was written gave Aylo just enough wiggle room to claim they are an "interactive computer service" and keep the lights on for now.
Why are states where Pornhub is blocked actually increasing?
It all comes down to liability. Lawmakers in places like Florida and Texas passed bills requiring adult sites to verify that users are 18+ by using "commercially reasonable" methods. Usually, that means you have to upload a picture of your driver’s license or use a third-party facial age estimation tool.
Aylo hates this. They argue it kills user privacy and makes them a massive target for hackers. I mean, would you want your government ID linked to your search history on a database somewhere? Probably not.
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So, instead of building a complex ID-checking system for every state with a slightly different law, they just geofence the entire state. If your IP address says you’re in Salt Lake City or Miami, you’re out of luck.
The VPN "solution" and why it matters
Everyone knows about VPNs. Since these blocks started, searches for "best VPN for porn" have absolutely skyrocketed. It’s the obvious workaround. By routing your traffic through a server in a "free" state like New York or California, the block disappears.
But there’s a deeper issue here that most people miss. When a major site like Pornhub—which has at least some "trust and safety" standards—blocks a state, users don't just stop watching porn. They go to smaller, sketchier sites that don't care about the law. These sites often host non-consensual content or malware.
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A study from researchers at NYU actually looked at search trends and found that while searches for "Pornhub" dropped by 51% in blocked states, searches for non-compliant sites and VPNs went up by nearly the same amount. The laws are intended to protect kids, but critics like the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) argue they’re just making the internet more dangerous for everyone.
What happens next?
The legal fight isn’t over. The Supreme Court has already had to weigh in on some of these cases, like Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton in Texas. For now, the courts seem to be siding with the states' rights to "protect minors," even if it means inconveniencing adults.
More states are eyeing similar bills for the 2026 legislative session. Hawaii, Iowa, and West Virginia have all had discussions about joining the list.
Actionable steps for users
If you live in a blocked state, here is the reality of your options:
- Check for "Safe" states: If you travel across state lines, the block will naturally lift. It’s strictly based on where your device thinks it is.
- Evaluate Privacy: If you decide to use a site that does require ID, make sure they use a third-party verifier that doesn't store your actual image. Dig into their privacy policy.
- VPN Awareness: If you go the VPN route, stick to reputable, paid services (like Mullvad or Proton) rather than "free" ones that might sell your data to the highest bidder.
- Local Legislation: If you actually care about the digital privacy aspect, keep an eye on your local state house. Most of these bills pass with very little public pushback because, honestly, nobody wants to be the politician "defending porn."
The digital map of the U.S. is changing. What used to be a borderless internet is becoming a series of walled gardens, and it's starting with adult content.