Bypassing Google AI Studio geoblock using Tailscale

Google doesn’t allow me to access Google AI Studio (Makersuite) from Canada.

I could solve this by running a VPN, but routing all my PC traffic via VPN is too overkill.

Instead, I can use Tailscale app connectors to route only specific traffic going to Makersuite via a server located in US. (Meaning Google will see my specific requests to Makersuite as coming from a US IP address)

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Have Tailscale and app connector prerequisites setup on a US server.
    (free US ec2-micro on gcp will work as Tailscale node for this purpose)

  2. Identify the domains that Makersuite requests. Look at the network tab in the browser’s developer tools when requesting Makersuite.

    For me, the hosts requested was:

    ai.google.dev
makersuite.google.com
alkalimakersuite-pa.clients6.google.com

  3. Add these as domains in a new app connector. Here is what my created app connector looks like:

Screenshot of the created app connector
  1. Let Tailscale do route discovery by requesting Makersuite once, then reset your DNS cache in your browser/PC so it gets fresh updates.
    Now when you access Makersuite, it should be routed via the US server.
Screenshot of app connector working
It's working!

🎉 The geoblock on Google AI Studio is now bypassed for any devices on your Tailscale network.

(Note: Tailscale is also awesome as a mesh vpn, and other uses. I highly recommend it!)