Many corporate and school firewalls block the default Git ports (22 for SSH) but leave port 443 (the standard HTTPS port) open because it is used for virtually all secure web traffic. GitLab (like GitHub) provides an alternative SSH endpoint on port 443.
If you are trying to access a private project via gitlab.io , you cannot "unblock" it without credentials. The verified approach is to create a (Settings -> Access Tokens) and use git clone https://oauth2:[token]@gitlab.com/username/project.git . gitlab io unblocked verified
Because anyone can create a free GitLab account and host a site at username.gitlab.io , malicious actors occasionally use the platform to host phishing pages or malware. Firewalls often respond by blocking the entire gitlab.io root domain instead of specific bad actors. Many corporate and school firewalls block the default
Free VPN services often sell user data, inject advertisements, or use IP addresses that are already on GitLab’s blacklist. The “unblocked” effect will be short‑lived, and you may expose your credentials to a malicious third party. Stick with well‑known, paid VPN providers or use open‑source solutions that you can audit. The verified approach is to create a (Settings