Updated on: September 21, 2024
Editor’s Note: Since the time of writing, the Turkish government has lifted its ban on Instagram. Negotiations with Meta are ongoing, so this article will remain live on our site as long as access to Instagram is not guaranteed for users in Turkey.
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Access Instagram from Turkey in 2024:
- Download and install a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN, as it has a large server network in 105 countries, including many near Turkey like Cypris, Bulgaria, and Georgia for getting the best speeds on Instagram. Plus, it has strong privacy features to anonymize your Instagram traffic from the Turkish government.
- Enable the obfuscation feature (optional). If your Turkey ISP is blocking your VPN traffic, you’ll need to turn on the obfuscation feature in your VPN app. Every VPN’s obfuscation tool is different. ExpressVPN automatically enables obfuscation on all servers and protocols when it detects a restrictive network.
- Connect to a VPN server. It’s best to pick a server in a nearby country (where Instagram isn’t banned), so you can get the fastest possible speeds for scrolling on Instagram without lag.
- Log into Instagram. You can now freely scroll and chat with friends and family on Instagram.
The easiest and most secure way to access Instagram from Turkey is with a VPN. A VPN hides all of your online activities from your Turkish ISP (Internet Service Provider), meaning they won’t be able to see that you’re trying to get on Instagram and won’t be able to block your access to it.
Top VPNs can also hide that you’re using a VPN from the Turkish government and ISPs by obfuscating your traffic. This feature makes your VPN traffic look like regular traffic, allowing you to securely access Instagram in Turkey. That said, not many VPNs offer obfuscation and even those that do, don’t always work in Turkey.
I tested and found the best VPNs on the market that easily access Instagram from Turkey. They all offer good obfuscation that works in Turkey and can easily access Instagram from within the country. My favorite is ExpressVPN, as it’s the most reliable, but all of my other picks are great alternatives.
NOTE: The VPNs listed may have varying availability depending on your internet service provider in Turkey. I recommend trying different websites to download your preferred VPN and contacting the VPN’s customer support for an alternative download link if needed. However, at least one of the VPNs on my list should be accessible through your ISP’s network in Turkey.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Access Instagram From Turkey on Any Device
1. Choose a VPN that works in Turkey and can access Instagram.
My top choice is ExpressVPN, which has a wide range of servers that can easily bypass restrictions in Turkey, provides fast speeds for smooth browsing, and has user-friendly apps.
Note that if you can’t access the ExpressVPN site in Turkey for any reason, you can reach out to its customer support agents via email, and they’ll provide you with a mirror link, which will lead you to an exact copy of the site with a different URL, from where you can get a subscription.
2. Download and install the VPN to your devices.
You can download the app from the VPN provider’s website (ask for a mirror link if the site is unavailable!) or from your device’s app store. After downloading, allow the app to install, which might require you to approve some actions depending on your device. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
3. Open the app and connect to a server.
After installing the VPN, open the app and connect to a server in a nearby country where Instagram is available. I also recommend enabling the obfuscation feature, so your Turkish ISP won’t be able to see you’re using a VPN (you should do this before connecting to a server!) Once connected, you can open Instagram and use it freely without any restrictions.
Best VPNs for Accessing Instagram From Turkey in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for accessing Instagram from Turkey in 2024:
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN to access Instagram from Turkey (works 100% + very secure).
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Secure VPN for accessing Instagram on restrictive networks.
- 🥉3. PrivateVPN — Beginner-friendly VPN to access Instagram from Turkey.
- Bonus. Astrill VPN — Customizable VPN that’s great for bypassing censorship.
NOTE: VPNs aren’t illegal in Turkey, but the government in Turkey has banned some VPNs to stop its citizens from using them to access content that’s banned in the country. Using these VPNs can get you in legal trouble, though there are no reports yet of anyone being punished for it. The VPNs I recommend offer obfuscation to hide your VPN traffic from the Turkish government and have no-logs policies, meaning they don’t monitor or keep any data on your online activities, including anything you do on Instagram. It’s best to keep yourself informed about local laws and follow all rules and regulations.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Accessing Instagram From Turkey in 2024
ExpressVPN is my top pick for accessing Instagram from Turkey. It hides your Instagram traffic from Turkish ISPs with military-grade 265-AES encryption and routing your Instagram traffic through a secure server, so you can anonymously access Instagram from Turkey without any issues. It offers full leak protection, too, against WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leaks, so your Instagram activities won’t accidentally leak, as you’re browsing on the app or site.
ExpressVPN has an excellent obfuscation feature for restrictive countries that works in Turkey 100% of the time, as it gets around any DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) technologies or IP blocks that the Turkey government is using to block access to Instagram. Plus, the VPN automatically enables the feature if it detects that your Turkish ISP restricts VPN traffic. This way, your Turkish ISP also won’t know you’re using a VPN, allowing for complete anonymity and privacy when browsing or chatting Instagram in Turkey.
I also really like ExpressVPN’s Shortcuts. This feature lets you create a 1-click shortcut for Instagram in the ExpressVPN app, both on desktop and mobile, so you can launch Instagram immediately after connecting to the VPN.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month and offer significant savings on long-term plans and a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a smart investment for reliable and secure Instagram access in Turkey. If you can’t access the ExpressVPN site from Turkey, you can get a mirror link (which gives you access to the ExpressVPN site via a slightly different URL that’s not blocked by Turkish ISPs) by emailing its customer support.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Great for Securely Accessing Instagram in Turkey
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a strong option for accessing Instagram from Turkey. It gets around Turkish ISPs’ VPN blocks with its secure Shadowsocks obfuscation protocol. Unlike with ExpressVPN, you’ll have to manually enable the Multi-Hop feature in the app and pick a Shadowsocks server, so the VPN can bypass any ISP blocks in Turkey to securely access Instagram. But this only takes 2 minutes. PIA also offers full leak protection.
I like how PIA lets you configure your connection in Turkey to access Instagram. You can pick the less secure 126-bit AES encryption on hotel Wi-Fi that’s unstable, for example, which should provide slightly faster speeds on Instagram for watching reels. You can then switch back to 265-bit AES on public Wi-Fi in a café to protect yourself from potential hackers while scrolling on Instagram in Turkey.
Private Internet Access has very affordable plans that start at $2.03 / month. All plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. PrivateVPN — Beginner-Friendly VPN for Accessing Instagram From Turkey
PrivateVPN is a great option if you’re new to VPNs and want to access Instagram in Turkey. Its minimalistic apps feature a Simple View mode, allowing you to quickly connect to a server and let the VPN run in the background. There’s also Advanced View mode, which lets you customize your connection settings for better performance.
PrivateVPN bypasses VPN blocks and hides your VPN traffic in Turkey (in addition to your Instagram traffic) via its Stealth VPN feature. Enabling Stealth VPN is straightforward — just navigate to the Stealth VPN tab in the settings and toggle it on. You get IPv6 and DNS leak, too, but no built-in WebRTC protection, which you get with ExpressVPN.
PrivateVPN’s pricing starts at $2.00 / month and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
Read our full PrivateVPN review
Bonus. Astrill VPN — Customizable VPN for Accessing Instagram in Turkey
Astrill VPN is a highly-customizable option for accessing Instagram, especially if your Turkish IPS is blocking your VPN traffic. This VPN uses the StealthVPN protocol, which gets around any DPI technologies and other types of blocks that the Turkish government uses hassle-free.
It also lets you route all of your traffic through port 443 via the OpenVPN protocol to access Instagram safely with the VPN. This port is used for HTTPS websites, so it’s a great alternative in case you need faster speeds for scrolling through reels than what you get with its StealthVPN protocol. Plus, you get full leak protection against WebRTC, DNS, and IPV6 leaks.
Astrill VPN plans start at $12.50 / month, and unlike with ExpressVPN and PrivateVPN, there’s no money-back guarantee.
Read our full Astrill VPN review
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
I followed our proven testing methodology to identify the best VPNs for accessing Instagram from Turkey. This involves testing every VPN in real-world conditions to assess their performance in bypassing restrictions, and maintaining speed, among other things. Here are the key factors I considered when testing the best VPNs for this purpose:
- I made sure each VPN can hide Instagram traffic from the Turkish ISPs. Every VPN on my list protects your traffic with military-grade 265-AES encryption, so your Turkish ISP won’t be able to see any of your online activities, including what you watch on Instagram or any of your conversations on the app and site.
- I checked for a good obfuscation feature. If your Turkish ISP blocks VPN traffic from your VPN provider, the VPNs I recommend all include obfuscation that makes your VPN traffic look like regular traffic. All of their obfuscation tools work 100% in Turkey.
- I tested for fast connection speeds. Using a VPN inevitably slows down your connection because of the encryption process. If you’re using obfuscation, your speed will slow down even further. However, the VPNs I recommend minimize this impact. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests, with no slowdowns or buffering reels on Instagram.
- I looked for good security and privacy. Every VPN I recommend follows a no-logs policy that prevents the VPN from spying on your Instagram traffic in Turkey (or anything you do online) and a kill switch that disconnects you from the internet when you lose connection to the VPN server. Plus, all of the VPN I list here come with leak protection.
- I evaluated the overall value each VPN provides. I chose VPNs that offer a balance of price, performance, and features. All the VPNs listed here come with competitive pricing, support multiple simultaneous connections, and include a money-back guarantee, offering excellent value for accessing Instagram from Turkey.
Why Is Instagram Banned in Turkey?
The Turkish government blocked access to the app and the site after accusing Instagram of failing to follow the country’s rules and said the social media app censored posts about the death of Ismail Haniyeh, a key ally of Turkish President Erdoğan. To enforce this block, Turkish ISPs prevent access to the platform.
A VPN helps by encrypting your internet traffic, preventing your ISP from seeing what sites you visit. This allows you to bypass the restrictions and access Instagram without issues. Additionally, top VPNs offer obfuscation features, which further disguise your VPN traffic and allow you to securely and privately access Instagram without drawing attention to yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Instagram banned in Turkey?
Yes, Instagram is currently banned in Turkey. The Turkish government blocked access to the platform following a censorship dispute, and now, all Turkish ISPs are blocking anyone from within the country that tries to access the Instagram site or the app.
How can I use Instagram in Turkey?
To use Instagram in Turkey, you’ll need a good VPN. A VPN can help you bypass the government’s block on Instagram by scrambling all of your online traffic, including you accessing Instagram and anything you do on the app.
I recommend ExpressVPN because it accesses Instagram from Turkey 100% of the time and also offers obfuscation, which you need in case your Turkish ISP blocks your VPN traffic (or if you simply want to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN in Turkey from the Turkish government).
Is it legal to use a VPN to access Instagram in Turkey?
Using a VPN in Turkey is legal, and there’s no current law that specifically prohibits anyone in Turkey from accessing Instagram with any means. However, Turkey has banned some top VPNs and is actively blocking anyone from within the country from accessing the Instagram app and the site.
The VPNs I recommend can access Instagram from Turkey without any issues. Please keep in mind that laws can change by the minute, so it’s important to keep up to date on local regulations.
What to do if my VPN doesn’t work with Instagram in Turkey?
If your VPN doesn’t work in Turkey, the first thing you should try is to enable the obfuscation feature in the VPN app, as you may be having trouble because your Turkish ISP is blocking your VPN traffic. If that doesn’t solve the issue, consider changing servers or protocols within the VPN app. You should also make sure your VPN is up to date, as providers frequently release updates to handle new restrictions.
If you’re looking for a VPN that does work in Turkey and can access Instagram from there, check out my top VPN recommendations here. They all access Instagram in Turkey and offer obfuscation tools that work in the country without issue.
