"Hard" IP range blocks are used to prevent persistent disruption from temporary accounts and sock-puppets within an IP range. A user with a credible editing record who would be affected by this measure, may be exempted from the block at administrative discretion, to allow them to edit uninterrupted through the IP range block.

The conditions for granting this are that:

• the user's normal (non-proxy) IP will be disrupted by an IP block that is placed on a range they usually edit on, through no fault of theirs. (This may be confirmed via autoblock or checkuser)
• the user agrees never to misuse the exemption to edit through a blocked anonymizing proxy (this may be checked), and,
• when the block ends, or ceases to be an issue for the user, the exemption will be removed by any administrator.

In addition, IP exemption may also be given by an administrator (often a checkuser) without a request , to prevent good-faith users being affected by a hard IP range block. The user should be informed that in order to prevent vandalism, a block has been applied to their IP range, and they have been exempted from it. They should clearly be recommended to read this section, and especially that the flag may be removed if used to edit via a blocked proxy.

Editing via an anonymous proxy can be easily abused, so it is only granted under exceptional circumstances. Examples of users who may reasonably request an exemption include users who show they can contribute to the encyclopedia, and (for existing users) with a history of valid non-disruptive contribution, but are either being hindered by restrictive firewalls , or for exceptional reasons must edit via anonymous proxies.

Note that avoidance of checkuser, or specific checkusers, is not an acceptable reason?concerns regarding checkusers should be discussed with the Ombuds commission .

IP exemption is a privilege given to users who need the right, and who are trusted not to abuse it. Typical reasons why exemption may be removed from an account:

• No longer needed or insufficient rationale for granting, such as: relevant hard IP block ended and not anticipated to recur; user has access to Meta-Wiki through a non-firewalled IP, user becomes a sysop, etc.
• Bad faith or misleading statement in request.
• Credible evidence or concern of abuse. In unclear cases, questions might be raised before assumptions are made.

As with any block (which exemption removal can effectively be), any administrator may remove the right or seek discussion of perceived issues by the community. Due to the potential for abuse, credible concerns over abuse endorsed by the community may at times be sufficient for removal. However, in all cases, removal should be preventative and not punitive.

• All IP block exemptions are subject to review and repeal. Exemption may be, and will usually be, withdrawn if there is credible evidence or concern of abuse. It is advisable for administrators to discuss first if in doubt, since a poorly-founded exemption will be quickly withdrawn.

• When considering IP block exemption, the editing history of the user and the abusive range concerned should be carefully reviewed before making a decision.

• IP block exemption is granted or removed via Special:UserRights . Users having the ipblock-exempt right are visible as a user group under Special:ListUsers/ipblock-exempt and can be reviewed. (Note that if the user is an administrator, they will not usually appear in this list.) The reason for granting or removal are given in the relevant user's rights log .