You click the bookmark, wait for the familiar interface, and... nothing. Maybe it's a blank screen. Maybe it’s a wall of text about "House Bill X" or a stern message from your state representative.
If you're asking why isn't Pornhub working, the answer usually isn't a broken server. It’s a legal war zone.
Honestly, the landscape of the internet changed while most of us were sleeping. As of early 2026, the reason you can’t see the site has less to do with "down detectors" and everything to do with where your feet are currently planted on the map.
The Map of "Access Denied"
Since late 2023, a wave of age-verification laws has swept across the United States. Basically, several state governments decided that the old "Are you 18? Yes/No" button wasn't cutting it anymore. They now require adult websites to verify the age of every single visitor using a "commercially reasonable" method—which almost always means uploading a government ID or using a third-party facial recognition tool.
Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, hates this.
Their stance is that these laws are "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous." Instead of complying and risking your data in a massive database, they’ve simply pulled the plug in specific regions. If you are in one of these states, the site is technically "working," but it is intentionally blocking you based on your IP address.
As of January 2026, residents in these states are likely seeing a block message:
- Texas (The big one—SCOTUS cleared the way for enforcement in mid-2025)
- Florida (HB 3 went into effect January 1, 2025)
- Missouri (The most recent major addition to the blackout list)
- North Carolina, Virginia, and Utah
- Indiana, Mississippi, and Montana
- Arkansas, Alabama, and Arizona
- Oklahoma, Kansas, and Kentucky
- Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming
If you’re in one of these places, the site isn't broken. It’s a protest.
Why isn't Pornhub working in Louisiana or France?
Interestingly, Louisiana is the outlier. It was the first state to pass these laws, but Pornhub actually stayed online there. Why? Because Louisiana uses the "LA Wallet" app, which Aylo deemed secure enough to use without compromising user privacy.
Everywhere else? It’s a stalemate.
Outside the US, France has implemented similar strict independent age-verification systems, leading to a similar blackout. The European Union has also been breathing down the company’s neck with the Digital Services Act (DSA), leading to occasional service "hiccups" while they navigate massive fines and compliance checks.
It's Not Always the Government
Sometimes, the reason why isn't Pornhub working is just old-fashioned tech Gremlins.
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have become much more aggressive with "SafeSearch" and "Family Filters" lately. Some providers are now turning these on by default. You might think the site is down, but your router is actually playing digital bouncer.
You should also consider your browser. Over the last year, several updates to Chrome and Safari have tightened up "Cross-Site Tracking" and "Fingerprinting" protections. Since adult sites rely heavily on these for ad delivery and video playback, a "hardened" browser can sometimes cause the player to simply fail to load.
The FTC Factor
In September 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) slapped Aylo with a massive $15 million penalty (though $10 million was suspended pending compliance). They were accused of not doing enough to catch non-consensual content and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
As part of this settlement, the site has had to implement much stricter technical "filtering" programs. This occasionally results in "ghosting" where certain videos—or the entire site—become temporarily unreachable while their AI-based moderation tools do a massive sweep. If you’re seeing "Video Unavailable" on half the things you click, this is likely the reason.
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How to Actually Fix It
If you're in a blocked state, you've basically got two options.
- Use a VPN: This is the most common "fix." By routing your traffic through a server in a state like New York or California (which haven't passed these laws yet), the site thinks you're elsewhere and lets you in.
- Check your ISP settings: Log into your router or your mobile provider’s app. Search for "Content Filtering" or "Family Shield." If it’s on, Pornhub will look like it’s down even when it’s perfectly fine.
The reality is that "working" is a relative term in 2026. The site exists, but the door is locked for nearly half of the American population unless they find a side entrance.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your status. If you are getting a specific legal message, your site is "working" but blocked—look into a reputable VPN service. If you are getting a "404" or a timeout, clear your browser cache and check if your ISP has a "Safety" filter enabled. Lastly, stay updated on your local state legislature; with 11 more states having pending bills in 2026, your access could change overnight.