In this guide, we’ll take a look at how you can unblock YouTube as quickly and easily as possible. We’ve tried out a ton of methods on how to unblock not just YouTube but any streaming service and have used our experience to bring you the best methods of unblocking YouTube videos in all countries.
Let’s get started.
Why are YouTube Videos Blocked?
The days of YouTube being just a video-sharing platform are long gone.
Channels have their own personalities and comments sections have become full-blown communities.
Despite this, there are still places where people can’t access YouTube.
YouTube censorship takes many forms. Sometimes you’ll find that all YouTube’s content is blocked not just in your office but in your whole region.
Other times, you’ll see a specific video blocked in your city or country. Then there are copyright issues to deal with, which are responsible for the “All Rights Reserved” you may see beneath some videos.
Whatever the case is, the experience of seeing YouTube blocked is annoying. But we are here to discuss solutions to help you unblock YouTube. Here are the top methods of unblocking YouTube from anywhere.
Top Methods of Unblocking YouTube Videos in 2020
Use a VPN to Unblock YouTube Videos
The best way to unblock YouTube is to use a virtual private network or VPN.
VPN services change your IP address and protect your data, so they’re ideal for a range of online tasks and activities. Moreover, VPNs can bypass geo-blocks which is what you need if your government is banning access to YouTube.
You can use the information our list and our reviews of each VPN to help you decide which one is right for you.
Pros
- Easy to install and use
- Secure
- Usually come with a money-back guarantee
- Always work with streaming services like YouTube, Netflix and Hulu
- Give you a new IP Address which proxy servers and proxy browser extension services cannot do
Cons
- Require payment using credit cards
- Require you to download and install an application
- Can slow down your network
Even though VPNs are slower than some of the other solutions we’ve mentioned in this guide, they more than make up for it with increased security and enhanced privacy. Just make sure you stay away from free VPNs and VPNs that don’t have a clear privacy policy.
Use a Web Proxy Server to Unblock YouTube Videos
A web proxy server can make any site you visit think that you’re in another country. There are very few websites that can see your real IP address when you’re using a YouTube proxy server.
The best proxy services will have fast, reliable servers which allow you to seamlessly stream YouTube videos.
Some of the best YouTube proxy servers are:
Pros
- Usually cheap, sometimes free
- Fast
- Convenient
- No proxy application to install
- No Setup required
Cons
- Not good for privacy or data security
- Many proxy services are malicious
- Some require considerable configuration
- Most streaming sites can block them
- They don't give you a new IP address
Generally speaking, you should avoid using proxy services for sensitive tasks as proxy services don’t encrypt your data.
Note:
A proxy server is unlike a VPN server in that it doesn’t encrypt your internet connection, leaving your data vulnerable.A web proxy or a YouTube proxy is a good choice when your only concern is accessing blocked sites.
Use HTTPS
This is the easiest method of accessing YouTube without using a dedicated service. It’s also probably the most prone to failure, but let’s take a look at it anyway.
Many internet service provider companies and government agencies block websites adding URLs into their specialized programs. Most of the time, the person inputting the address uses https:// instead of https:// in the URL they enter into their web browser.
Therefore, you can access blocked websites by typing “https://www.youtube.com” instead of “https://www.youtube.com” into your web browser. This may not work based on how the site is blocked, but it’s worth trying.
Alter Your DNS Server
If your ISP is blocking a website by running your request through their own servers, you can bypass the block by bypassing the server. Some operating systems make this task easy.
Regardless of your operating system, you need to follow the steps below:
- Go to Network Settings or Adapter Settings.
- Click on Network Connection Properties or a similar tab depending on your operating system.
- Click on IPv4 or DNS server.
- Alter your server address to either 8.8.4.4 or 8.8.8.8 and then reboot.
Some web browsers allow you to do this so look for DNS settings in your web browser.