Can I use a VPN while on Prolific?
Participants shouldn't use a VPN, iCloud Private Relay, proxies, or similar services while using Prolific. To maintain our high data quality standards, we need to verify you're located in your listed country of residence. Using a VPN or similar service can cause our system to flag that you're not in your expected location, which can lead to error messages, prevent you from seeing studies, or block your ability to cash out.
We ask that you disable any VPNs while using Prolific.
Why am I being flagged as using a VPN?
If you've received an error message or a notification from Prolific Support about using a VPN, it may be related to your device or browser settings.
First, verify that your current location matches the country of residence listed in your Prolific profile. If it doesn't match, you'll need to either update your Prolific details or wait until you return to your listed country of residence before participating.
Troubleshooting
If your details are correct but you're still seeing VPN messages, work through this checklist to track down anything that might be enabled on your device or browser:
Check your device and browser for automatically enabled VPNs.
On Windows, see Microsoft's guide to connecting to a VPN, which also shows you how to check for an active connection.
On a Mac, see Apple's guide to VPN settings.
Look for a VPN icon in your system tray, near your device's clock, that might indicate an active connection.
If you're using a school or work connection, it may have a VPN enabled by default, try using an alternative connection instead.
If you're on an Apple device, check whether iCloud Private Relay is enabled, an Apple feature that hides your IP address and can interfere with location checks. Use Spotlight search to find it quickly.
Use an online IP checker tool to confirm your displayed location matches your actual location.