YouTube is the second most active social media platform, with an estimated 2.70 billion monthly users globally. It is renowned for providing users access to a vast library of videos on a variety of subjects.
Occasionally, when browsing videos on the platform, you may come across YouTube videos that are restricted. It can be annoying not to be able to access a desired video, whether it’s because of geographical limitations, policies at work or school, or other issues.
Why are YouTube Videos Blocked?
There are various valid reasons why you might not be able to access YouTube videos, including moving to a new place, places of employment and educational institutions restricting YouTube, nations censoring YouTube, content creators limiting their videos, and more.
This section delves deeper into this.
YouTube Restrictions
Over the years, YouTube has been outlawed in several nations such as China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. YouTube has occasionally been prohibited in other nations for political or religious reasons.
This is frequently done to restrict information flow and shield the public from accessing anything that the government considers unacceptable or dangerous. Videos that encourage violence, hate speech, breaking the law, and criticism of authorities are examples of this type of prohibited content.
Copyright Protection on YouTube
YouTube places a strong emphasis on guidelines against copyright infringement; videos that break these guidelines risk being blocked or deleted. The purpose of doing this is to safeguard the content creator’s rights and stop the unauthorized dissemination of copyrighted content.
YouTube’s Age Limitations
Age limitations are implemented to shield children from watching videos that are considered inappropriate for them. According to the platform’s community guidelines, age restrictions may be imposed on videos that do not violate YouTube’s policies but may not be appropriate for users under the age of 18.
Nudity, sexually suggestive content, violent or graphic content, or foul language are examples of subjects that fall under the category of age-restricted content.
Is it Legal to Unblock YouTube?
Well, it depends on the particular situation and method used to unblock the video. For instance, it may be illegal to use a VPN to access YouTube in nations where the government has blocked the platform.
On the other hand, accessing YouTube videos in workplaces where it is prohibited may go against the company’s policies, but it is not necessarily illegal.
How to Unblock YouTube
In today’s post, we’ll show you various ways to unblock YouTube videos easily and access all of your favorite videos.
1. Using Proxy Server
A proxy server serves as a go-between for you and the internet. You can use it to change geo-restrictions, modify your IP address, and access content that is restricted.
To get started, you need to identify a proxy server in a country where YouTube is accessible and input the IP address and port number of the proxy server into your browser’s settings.
You can now unblock your favorite YouTube videos because the proxy server reroutes your traffic through a different IP address. This creates the impression that you’re located in a different geographic location.
You must select a reliable proxy server that offers fast speeds, high uptime, and limitless bandwidth to ensure that your connection is not throttled. Proxy servers aren’t as safe as VPNs; most of them don’t encrypt your data—unless they’re HTTPS-enabled.
That’s why it’s always advisable to use HTTPS-enabled proxies because they encrypt all traffic so that no one can see the websites you visit. To select the best Proxy server, check out our curated list below.
Hide.me
Hide.me is a platform that offers both VPN and proxy services. With the help of their website’s address bar, you can use the Hide.me web proxy to visit any website that is blocked.
For instance, to unblock a YouTube Video navigate to Hide.me web proxy, and in the web address bar, enter the YouTube video URL.
Next, specify the proxy server location, and click on more options for customizations. Now, finish by clicking the Go button to unblock the YouTube Video.
Overall, it’s a simple, safe, and cost-free method of browsing the web privately. Additionally, your real IP address is hidden, and your internet connection is encrypted.
Proxyscrape
ProxyScrape is a feature-rich platform that packs a collection of free proxy lists, premium proxies, dedicated proxies, and residential proxies.
These proxies contain IP addresses and ports that individuals and businesses can use for a variety of activities, such as anonymous browsing, conducting web scraping tasks, and bypassing restrictions.
To unblock YouTube videos with Proxyscrape, first head over to the platform. You can decide to use a free proxy or opt for a premium one if you want optimum performance. Next, select the type of proxy you want (HTTPS, HTTP, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5).
In your browser settings, navigate to the network proxy section and enter the IP address and port number you obtained from Proxyscrape. Depending on the proxy you select, it may give you the option to bypass regional restrictions, allowing you to access the blocked video.
Proxyscrape stands out as one of the best platforms offering proxy services for the following reasons:
- Speed and Reliability: The proxy services provided have unmatched speed and security for all your online operations. Thanks to a strong proxy network and optimum performance, you can securely access the information you require without worrying about being blocked or having your data compromised.
- Flexible and Secure: ProxyScrape offers secure solutions with infinite bandwidth and connections for 50K HTTP and Socks4/5 datacenter proxies, as well as safe access to over 10 million rotating residential IPs with a 99% success rate.
Webshare is a platform that offers three different types of proxy products, including proxy servers (datacenter), static residential, and residential proxy. Webshare proxies are frequently used for different online activities, such as bypassing restrictions or accessing content that might be blocked.
The following are reasons why Webshare proxy services are different from other providers:
- Free Private Proxy: It gives users a permanent free plan with 10 proxies.
- Anonymous Proxy: Unlike other proxy providers, Webshare proxy servers are designed for threat detection methods such as DNS leaks, TCP fingerprints, and open port scans.
- HTTP and Socks5 Proxy: It provides both Socks5 and HTTP proxy servers, allowing users to download and connect to the same proxy. In addition, you can download Socks5 and HTTP proxy lists, and there are no restrictions.
2. Using VPN Service
Using a VPN service is the most dependable and efficient method of watching YouTube videos that are blocked. By masking your original IP address and encrypting your internet traffic, a virtual private network can deceive YouTube or anybody else who has restricted access to YouTube’s content.
This will hide your online activities and alter your YouTube location. The following is a simple guide that shows how to unblock YouTube videos using a VPN service:
- First, find a trustworthy VPN service supplier. There are a ton of choices available on the market, including Nord VPN, Express VPN, Pure VPN, and many more.
- Download the VPN app on your mobile device and install it.
- Launch the VPN app and log in. Select a server location, and to unblock the YouTube video, choose a server in a nation where YouTube isn’t blocked.
- Click the Connect button in the VPN application. Your internet traffic will be routed through the VPN server once you’re connected, encrypting your data and giving the impression that you’re browsing from the server’s location.
- Open your web browser or app and navigate to YouTube while the VPN connection is active. Since you seem to be accessing the platform from the VPN server’s location, it should now be unblocked.
If you are searching for a reliable and secure VPN service to use, check out the following list:
Express VPN
Express VPN is an all-in-one VPN service that provides a wealth of tools to improve your online security and privacy. It packs several cutting-edge features, including:
- It offers an extensive network of more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries, allowing you to bypass restrictions and access geo-restricted content.
- It shields your data from hackers, ISPs, and government surveillance by using robust encryption and protocols like AES-256 and Lightway.
- It provides round-the-clock live chat assistance to assist you with any problems or inquiries you have with the service.
- It does not store any of your activity or connection data due to a stringent no-logs policy.
Nord VPN
Nord VPN is a cross-platform VPN service that provides seamless digital protection. Thanks to an extensive range of smart, cutting-edge technologies, NordVPN protects your devices from malware and shields your browsing activity from hackers-prying eyes. How does it protect? This is achieved by encrypting your data.
In addition, it offers advanced features such as Meshnet, which allows you to create your private encrypted network for secure file sharing or work activities.
It also offers a Dark Web Monitor, which allows you to get instant alerts if your account has been compromised, and threat protection such as web trackers, ads, and other kinds of internet threats.
Pure VPN
Pure VPN is a commercial VPN service that adds advanced levels of security to protect your internet connection. With Pure VPN, your data is encrypted at the highest possible level, making it impossible for third parties to intercept or meddle with your browsing activities.
Pure VPN allows you to access all blocked websites by using over 300,000 anonymous IPs and 6,500 encrypted servers to bypass geo-restrictions and access any website or service from anywhere on the globe.
In addition, Pure VPN safeguards your IP address from prying eyes by not logging or storing any of your online activities or personal information.
Besides that, If your VPN connection drops, Pure VPN offers an Internet Kill Switch that instantly disconnects your Internet connection to stop any data exposure or leakage.
3. Using Browser Extensions
Another incredibly straightforward method for unblocking YouTube videos is to use a browser extension like Unblocker for YouTube. To view prohibited YouTube videos, just download a browser extension and use it.
However, there may be a catch with using browser extensions. For this reason, make sure to read add-on reviews before downloading any YouTube unblockers.
Additionally, you have the option to activate powerful antivirus software, such as NordVPN Threat Protection, which checks downloaded files for malware.
Let’s check out the browser extensions that are used to unblock YouTube videos:
Unblocker for YouTube Chrome Extension
If your network administrator, government, or Internet service provider has restricted YouTube, you can access it again by using this browser extension. Unblocker for YouTube (by Wachee) provides safe, unmonitored access to Twitch and YouTube from anywhere.
Simply add the Chrome extension, click once to activate it, and start streaming without any pesky restrictions. Enjoy unlimited access to your favorite videos hassle-free.
There is a pro plan that lets you unlock unlimited features, as well as a free plan.
The free plan lets you unblock content, and gives you standard video quality, but adds a Wachee watermark to the videos, and also includes advertisements.
When you choose the pro plan at $9.99 (full-year subscription), you get a dedicated server, super fast speed, high security, and no ads.
ProxTube – Firefox Extension
With the help of ProxTube, you can view YouTube videos that are geo-blocked in your nation. ProxTube uses a proxy server, which allows you to bypass regional restrictions. In addition, this add-on only works in the following countries, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, and does not support the US.
When you click the icon in the toolbar, you can turn the addon on or off. If a YouTube video is blocked, the addon uses a proxy server to watch the video. When you leave the website, the add-on turns off the proxy.
4. Using TOR Browser Network
Using the TOR Browser Network is another simple method for unblocking YouTube videos from any location. Tor (The Onion Router) is a free and open-source program that lets you bypass geo-restrictions and browse the internet anonymously.
The Tor Browser reroutes online traffic via several distinct routers, or nodes, hiding your IP address and browsing activities.
Let’s check out the methods involved:
- First, download and then install the Tor Browser.
- Next, open the Tor Browser and wait for a little while until it connects to the Tor network.
- Now, head over to YouTube.com or the link to the particular video you like to view and enjoy.
However, using Tor comes with shortcomings, such as sluggish speed, restricted interoperability, and possible security issues.
Conclusion
Unblocking YouTube videos can be achieved using several handy methods. Using a VPN to unblock YouTube is our preferred technique since it offers optimum performance and all-around security.
When at work or school, have you ever unblocked a YouTube video? Which approach did you take? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
