Why is YouTube blocked?
The reasons why your YouTube account (or some of its content) may be blocked depends on various factors, including:
- Internet censorship. Some countries may restrict certain YouTube videos due to content licensing laws and regional rights. However, in countries such as China, Eritrea, or North Korea, the platform is blocked entirely due to national policies and other political reasons.
- Age restrictions. With millions of hours of content on YouTube, it’s only natural that some of it will contain topics that may be age sensitive. For that reason, YouTube puts age restrictions on such videos. Users must sign into their Google account and confirm their date of birth to access age restricted content.
- Blocks induced by the local network administrator. Some institutions (for example, certain schools or business offices) may block YouTube content on their local Wi-Fi networks. That may be due to office policies, bandwidth limitations (particularly in school online networks), or the need to limit access to distracting or harmful content.
- Creator’s choice. YouTube creators may set geographical restrictions on their YouTube videos. However, they typically opt for this option only when flagged for issues with content licensing rights in particular countries.
How to unblock YouTube in 9 different ways
While annoying, YouTube restrictions are not an impassable hurdle. Here are nine ways you can unblock YouTube on your device.
Disclaimer: We do not support or encourage any illegal activities (including accessing copyrighted material) when using NordVPN or any other means mentioned below. Please also ensure that your use of NordVPN complies with all applicable laws, agreements, and network policies.
Use a virtual private network (VPN)
While the main idea of a VPN is to help safeguard your online traffic, it can also help access your subscribed content when abroad (including unblocking YouTube). A VPN allows its users to redirect their internet traffic through VPN servers in other countries (through online servers), changing the user’s virtual location.
For example, by using NordVPN’s virtual location servers, you can connect to a VPN server in Japan, Canada, or the US. Websites and online services will then see the server's location as your location, allowing you to access blocked home country websites and subscribed content while abroad. However, even then, some channels may use VPN restrictions to block specific VPN location servers (especially if they’re free VPN servers).
Use a proxy server
Another way to unblock YouTube is by using a proxy server. Proxy servers are standalone virtual location servers that, similarly to VPN, redirect users' online traffic through different countries. The key difference between a VPN and a proxy server is that a proxy server typically lacks encryption and other additional security measures (such as ad or malicious link blocker) that some VPNs may offer. While using proxy servers may be cheaper than using a VPN, they’re unlikely to be as safe or effective as other available means (especially, if you’re using proxy servers found on free proxy websites).
Use a DNS proxy
A DNS proxy is another alternative in bypassing the YouTube block. It’s a special type of proxy service that works by intercepting and modifying your domain name system (DNS) requests. Unlike VPN or regular proxy, DNS proxy only focuses on DNS, which is responsible for translating human-readable website addresses (like youtube.com) into IP addresses (which computers use to connect to websites). By modifying the DNS requests, a DNS proxy can then help users bypass YouTube blocks and provide access to other online content.
However, while safer than regular proxy servers, DNS proxies also lack encryption and IP masking (used to safeguard your IP address) capabilities. Another difference between DNS proxy and a VPN, is that DNS proxies (particularly free ones) are generally less efficient than VPNs. They also may be susceptible to DNS hijacking — a cyber threat where malicious actors gain control of the DNS proxy server and use it to redirect users to harmful websites.
Use the Tor browser
If you’re not a fan of using typical measures to unblock YouTube, you can also use tools, such as Tor browser. While it may sound shady, using Tor is a helpful tool to access YouTube videos. It works by routing your online traffic through at least three nodes (servers) operated by volunteers worldwide. That significantly increases your online privacy, making it difficult to pin-point your location.
Though super effective, the Tor browser also has its shortcomings. Since online connections must travel through multiple servers, the connection speed is significantly slower than when using a VPN. It can also expose a user’s sensitive data (particularly, when using websites other than HTTPS) and may be confusing to navigate for new users.
Use browser extensions
Online browsers often offer proxy extensions that can help avoid YouTube blocking. They work just like regular proxy servers, redirecting traffic while using the browser. However, while suitable for trying to unblock YouTube, safe browser extensions may be a rare find. Malicious actors are known for offering users browser extensions ridden with ransomware, viruses, and other types of malware. Therefore, before opting for this solution, it’s critical to research the extension's reputation and privacy policy.
Use mobile data (hotspot)
If you cannot access YouTube on your current Wi-Fi network, switching to a mobile data hotspot can be a helpful solution. Restricted local Wi-Fi networks may block access to certain webpages. Enabling mobile data hotspot (or switching to a different Wi-Fi) allows your devices to connect to a different online network, bypassing local network restrictions and providing access to YouTube.
Setting up mobile hotspots is easy. All you need to do is turn off your Wi-Fi, navigate to your smartphone’s or tablet’s mobile data settings and, depending on the model, turn on “Mobile hotspot” or “Wi-Fi sharing.” Then, simply find your mobile Wi-Fi hotspot in your computer’s Wi-Fi settings and set up the connection.
Keep in mind that mobile hotspots use mobile data to provide internet connection. That could mean high data usage charges and slower speeds, depending on your mobile plan and signal strength.
Use Google Translate
While it may sound absurd, Google Translate can be used as a way to unblock Youtube. The service can function as a makeshift proxy, capable of bypassing basic restrictions such as those put in place by schools or workplaces.
To access YouTube videos with Google Translate, follow these steps:
- 1.Open Google Translate on your browser.
- 2.In the left text box, enter YouTube’s URL or the link of the specific video you want to watch.
- 3.From the left language menu, select a language you presume your network won’t block (such as English).
- 4.In the right language menu, select a different language for "translation" (for example, French or German).
- 5.Click on the “translated” URL. It should send you to YouTube via Google Translate's servers, potentially unblocking access to the website.
While cheeky, this method only works against restrictions put in by local system admins and will not provide access when dealing with government-level blocks. Google Translate proxy can also be blocked by many networks, making it a weak choice for YouTube unblocking.
Delete restricted websites from the administrative menu
If you’re having trouble accessing YouTube on your local network devices, you may need to check the network settings for restricted websites. Some institutions may use custom DNS settings, router restrictions, or even firewalls to block unwanted websites. To fix that, you need to access the network’s administrative menu (on the router, device, or software) and find the list of restricted websites. If you see YouTube on that list, remove the website’s URL to unblock YouTube on the local network.
While useful, this method usually only works on local network devices, such as school Wi-Fi or your local home network. Deleting restricted websites also requires admin access, which means that you must have admin rights before attempting to unblock YouTube. In addition, doing so without permission (for example at the workplace or school network) can result in violation of policies, exposing users to scrutiny or, in extreme cases, legal consequences.
Use YouTube’s IP address
If you can’t access YouTube because of the domain name block, using YouTube’s IP address might help bypass restrictions. Like any other website, YouTube has its domain name (youtube.com) and IP address (142.250.190.46 or similar). While people use domain names to search and find websites easier, internet browsers use IP addresses to connect to and return websites to users (through DNS servers). It’s important to note, though, that because of the current web infrastructure this method is more of a hit or miss rather than a certain guarantee, when unblocking websites.
Though a long shot, sometimes using YouTube’s IP address instead of domain address might help users unblock YouTube:
- 1.Open a command prompt (or terminal) on your device.
- 2.Run the “ping youtube.com” command to find YouTube's IP address.
- 3.Enter the IP address directly into your browser’s address bar (for example: https://142.250.190.46) and press “Enter.”
- 4.Your browser should take you to YouTube, effectively bypassing the block on the domain name.
While theoretically possible, this method is only effective against DNS-based blocks and basic content filters. YouTube currently has multiple IP addresses which differ depending on the specific service (such as video streaming, logins, and thumbnails). In addition, modern firewall technologies and blacklists can detect and block traffic even when using IP addresses.
Which countries have YouTube banned?
Currently the countries that have permanently banned YouTube include:
- China. Due to China’s strict governmental policies, Youtube is banned in China as of 2018. However, users can still access YouTube from territories such as Hong Kong, Macau, and the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone. YouTube in China is also available in specific hotels and through a VPN service.
- Eritrea. Some ISPs of this East African country have banned YouTube in 2011 due to “bandwidth considerations” as speculated by Freedom House — an American nonprofit organization. However, the real reason is more likely related to local government efforts to limit access to content that could potentially inspire opposition or criticism.
- Iran. The government of Iran blocked YouTube in the country in 2012 after a controversial movie trailer was released on the platform. The country has also restricted access to the platform before, declaring it a violator of social and moral codes of conduct.
- North Korea. North Korea’s national policy and laws strictly forbid any use of YouTube and other Western sites. The local government has issued warnings that anyone who tries to access YouTube is subject to punishment.
- Turkmenistan. The only ISP in Turkmenistan, Turkmentelecom, blocked YouTube on Christmas Day, 2009 due to security reasons. The website remains blocked to this day.
How to choose the best VPN for YouTube
Choosing the best VPN for YouTube can be tricky, unless you know what to look for. While some may be interested in wide VPN server selection, others may look for enhanced encryption or faster VPN protocols. When it comes to the right VPN for YouTube, any paid VPN service should provide enough speed and safety to satisfy your needs. While some may be tempted to try free VPNs, the differences between paid and free VPN services can be astronomical, particularly regarding encryption, speed, and overall safety.
If you’re looking for a high speed VPN that also has enhanced security features, you’re unlikely to find anything better than NordVPN. With more than 7,000 VPN servers worldwide, NordVPN provides quick and stable connections all over the world. In addition, the service offers a Threat Protection Pro™ feature capable of detecting and blocking online threats before they can reach your device.
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