View Indian Express Articles Behind Paywall For Free

Indian Express has several articles behind a paywall, and opening one such only allows you to read the first few sentences on the mobile app and a few paragraphs on the website. Such articles feature a premium sign and a dialogue box that reads, "Invest in Democracy, Invest in an Express subscription." 

So, how do you bypass the paywall without paying for an Indian Express subscription? 

This is important for students preparing for UPSC exams or other state-level government jobs. So, let's get straight to the methods that work across the Indian Express mobile app and the official website.

How can I read premium Indian Express articles for free?

1. Disable data (for mobile)

1. Enable mobile data or connect to Wi-Fi and open the premium Indian Express article hidden behind a paywall.
2. As soon as the headline and featured image load, disconnect the internet. Now, repeatedly drag the screen from the top to the bottom, as if trying to reload the article, and check if it now loads the entire content.

If the entire article doesn't load in the first attempt, keep dragging it from top to bottom in an effort to load the rest. It usually works after a few attempts. 

2. Use a specialized tool to bypass paywalls (website)

If you want to read Indian Express articles on a computer, use a website like 12ft.io. It allows you to view premium articles not just from Indian Express but even renowned West-based publications like The New York Times and Bloomberg, amongst others.

All you have to do is open the article, copy the link, then paste it into 12ft.io, hit Enter, and verify that you are not a robot. If the article has already been archived, it will open instantly. Otherwise, 12ft.io will take a few seconds to up to a minute to load the contents. For me, 12ft.io has worked well hundreds of times when bypassing the Indian Express paywall.

I accept the fact that other websites help bypass paywalls, and if one works for you, use that. There's no problem with it as long as the website/tool is quick and free.

What did you think about the blog? Share your feedback in the comments section. I would appreciate any suggestions or constructive criticism.