If you are one of the estimated 350 million fans of the fast-paced action-packed game Fortnite, you may also be familiar with the Fortnite ban – where they kick you out for what may seem like no apparent reason.
The Best Way of Removing the Fortnite IP Ban
The good news is that a Fortnite IP ban is not something to worry about and there are numerous ways of getting unbanned. Interestingly enough, although using a VPN is one of the reasons why Fortnite may enforce an IP ban, it’s also one of the easiest ways of removing this block.
This is because a VPN gives you a different IP address each time you connect. This brand-new IP address will then once again offer you access to the Fortnite servers you were banned from.
Should you find yourself receiving a notification that Fortnite has imposed an IP ban, we highly recommend ExpressVPN as the best way of getting around it and re-accessing the Fortnite servers.
Fortnite may inform you that you’ve been banned due to either your IP or machine VPN usage, cheating or internet lag. They also recommend that users not use a VPN or proxy for playing Fortnite. However, although using a VPN may result in a temporary IP ban, it is also one of the surest ways of re-opening access to the Fortnite servers.
Now, we’ll let you in on our recommended way of removing a Fortnite IP ban through the use of a VPN.
Step-by-Step Guide to Removing a Fortnite Ban
- Sign up to a VPN – we highly recommend ExpressVPN
- Follow their download and installation instructions
- Run the VPN and choose a new server
- Run Fortnite
- If you have a permanent ban on your entire account, sign up for a new account with a new username.
- If you have a temporary IP ban, the new IP server from the VPN should have done the trick and you’ll be able to play with your usual account.
What is Fortnite
Epic Games released Fortnite in 2017 and it has since amassed a record number of 350 million players worldwide and become one of the most popular online videogames in recent history.
The game is built on a survivor-shooter premise set in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested world. It is free to download and play and compatible with most computers, mobiles and popular gaming platforms.
While most videogames generate revenue through the sale of the game itself, Fortnite’s entire revenue comes from microtransactions within the game.
Players can pay for cosmetic additions like costumes and there is also another unique paid-for feature called a “Battle Pass”. It is a way to accumulate rewards and gain experience for completing various objectives in a tiered progression.
Reasons for a Fortnite Ban
There are many reasons why Fortnite may impose a ban on its users. Some of the reasons documented include cheating allegations or using a VPN to innocently protect your online presence.
The Epic Games Terms of Service aren’t very clear regarding why users get banned for utilizing VPN services and it isn’t listed as a ban-able offense.
But the players tell a different story. There are many reports on various internet forums where users state that Fortnite banned them because they were using a VPN.
Fortnite can ban either your username, your IP address, or both. Whereas some Fortnite bans are only temporary, others can be permanent – especially those where both username and IP are banned.
The Deal with an IP-Wide Fortnite Ban
Interestingly, the Fortnite IP ban is commonly not aimed at individual users. The IP ban can actually stem from hacker activity.
Hackers often target game servers, an example of this is a DDoS attack which can suspend a great number of users at one time – sometimes even an entire nation.
A DDoS attack means that a hacker will get a bunch of computers from all around the world to send connection requests to a target simultaneously. This, of course, completely overwhelms their target which can then not honor any connection requests.
The way in which Fortnite or other game servers deal with such attacks is by then blocking all requests stemming from a range of IP addresses. It is in this way that innocent Fortnite players fall victim to an IP ban.
How the Fortnite Ban Works
An IP address acts like a digital location and can identify the specific device you are using and what you do with it online. As soon as you connect to the internet, your device’s unique IP address is assigned and visible.
Think of it like the address of your home or office. It’s an identifying factor that helps people, like the mailman, know where you are and where to deliver your post and packages.
In the online world, internet servers can recognize devices via their IP addresses. This tells the servers which devices requested what information and where that info must be delivered.
The bad news here is that Epic Games can also use this IP address to block your access and stop you from enjoying Fortnite.
So, if they notice any unfair play or cheating on your part, or if they see you utilizing an IP address known to stem from a recognized VPN, they can ban you. Then, it’s back to playing Candy Crush.
How to Work Around the Fortnite Ban
The easiest way to regain access to Fortnite is by altering your IP address – and it is here that a VPN is your best bet.
By using a VPN, you are connecting to one of their servers based in a completely different location and your device then takes on that particular server’s IP address. As soon as you are connected to this VPN server, it will then send information requests on your behalf.
In simple terms, to the rest of the online world it then looks as if you’re physically sitting right where that server is.
An alternative IP address provided by a VPN service can be used to work around two types of Fortnite bans.
The first ban Fortnite may impose is when they notice you playing whilst connected to a VPN server. This ban is temporary and only bans your IP address.
If this is the case, the workaround is as simple as disconnecting from the VPN server you’re using at that point in time, connecting to another one and getting a brand-new IP address which the head-honchos of Fortnite won’t realize belongs to a VPN.
The second reason why Fortnite may ban a user is slightly more problematic. If they find that you’ve been cheating, for example utilizing unauthorized techniques in battle, Fortnite may ban not only your IP address but your username as well.
In this case, you will need to use a different username to sign up to Fortnite again, while also making sure that you are using a new IP address from a VPN service.
Unfortunately, because you have to sign up again using a different username, you will lose all of your gaming items that you have either purchased or earned. However, that’s still better than not playing at all right?
VPNs are handy little tools and not only can they help you fool the internet into thinking you’re physically located elsewhere, they also encrypt all your data which means that it cannot be intercepted by hackers, advertisers, the government or even your own ISP.
The Best VPN for Removing a Fortnite IP Ban – ExpressVPN
The market today is fraught with several top-notch VPN providers. However, one of these services sets themselves apart by not only offering users the ability to work around a Fortnite IP ban, but also providing superior online protection. For this reason, we highly recommend ExpressVPN.
ExpressVPN is a top-tier, tried-and-tested VPN provider. Due to their physical location being the British Virgin Islands, they keep no records of either their users or their online activities because by law, they are not required to do so.
Lightning-Fast Connection
It is a no-brainer that connection speed is important when it comes to Fortnite players. Fortnite requires a connection that can handle 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads.
However, that’s not the only reason why a superior connection speed is a good thing to have. It is also critical for those of us that like to download content or stream high-definition content from sites like Netflix.
ExpressVPN offers one of the fastest connections in the VPN business and can handle pretty much anything you can think of.
Bang for your Buck
Although ExpressVPN might come in at a slightly higher price than other providers, they offer fantastic value for money due to the superiority of their features and their great customer support.
They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Superior Platform and Customer Support
Fortnite can be played on anything from a macOS to Windows, Android and iOS. This means that having support available on multiple platforms is a very important feature that any VPN provider should be able to offer.
ExpressVPN offers support on any popular platform that you can think of and if not, you can simply cover any additional devices by using a router that works with ExpressVPN.
Because you can also only connect three devices when using ExpressVPN, this router option is also highly recommended for those that have more devices to connect.
Additionally, although we would hate to see it happen, should you experience any type of issue with your VPN connection, ExpressVPN also offers exceptional customer support. They are available 24/7 via live chat and also offer an incredibly detailed and easy-to-search knowledge base, a ticket tracking system for issues, troubleshooting guides and helpful setup guides.
Worldwide Coverage
Fortnite is played on a global scale, which means that you need a VPN provider that can offer you comprehensive global coverage. But it also comes in handy for streaming and downloads.
ExpressVPN has more than 3000 servers in 94 countries which means that you have access to any content you desire without having to worry about the location.
What’s Next
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you are currently facing a Fortnite IP ban and you probably can’t wait to get back to shooting others and making sure you stay alive yourself.
If this is the case, we recommend ExpressVPN’s IP-cloaking abilities as the best way to circumvent that block.
And the cherry on top is this – not only can ExpressVPN help you combat Fortnite bans, they can also open up a whole new world of previously restricted content, all while protecting your privacy online.
