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How to safely access YouTube with a VPN
It only takes 3 simple steps to experience internet freedom.
01
Get NordVPN
Pick a subscription that’s perfect for your needs.
02
Download
Get a dedicated NordVPN app for your device.
03
Connect
Log in and connect to a VPN server.
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30-day money-back guarantee
Why is YouTube blocked?
Countries with heavy internet censorship often block access to YouTube for a number of reasons. If you’re at university, even the network administrator at your dorm could block your access to the platform. Understanding why your access is restricted might help you unblock YouTube to keep watching your favorite videos securely.
YouTube videos containing clips from movies and TV broadcasts or copyrighted music might be unavailable in some regions because the uploader doesn’t have broadcasting rights in that country.
Network administrators at businesses, schools, or dorms may use firewalls to block YouTube. It’s usually meant to encourage employees and students to focus on their work and improving productivity instead of watching YouTube to pass the time.
Some countries heavily regulate internet usage and ban many popular websites. YouTube is currently banned by the government in North Korea, Iran, China, Sudan, Tajikistan, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
Only users who are over 18 can view some YouTube videos. A VPN or a proxy won’t help you unblock these videos because you need to be logged in to confirm your age.
YouTube allows channels to set their own restrictions based on geolocation. YouTubers and video owners usually only do this if there are some issues with content licensing rights.
How a VPN for YouTube works
By using a VPN to watch YouTube videos, you ensure that no third party is able to spy on your internet connection (even on public Wi-Fi). A good-quality VPN will allow you to watch YouTube even in regions with heavy internet restrictions. Simply connect to a server back home, get a new IP address, and it will be like you never left.
Lastly, a VPN is a great tool if your internet service provider is prone to traffic-based bandwidth throttling. If your provider decides to purposefully slow down video streaming services, connect to a VPN and enjoy buffering-free videos!
Stream YouTube videos in private
Thanks to 6400+ servers worldwide, you can unblock YouTube safely and quickly.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. A VPN will improve your connection’s security and privacy and (in the case of traffic-based bandwidth throttling) even boost video loading speeds.
The easiest and fastest way to unblock YouTube on your iPhone or Android is to use a dedicated NordVPN app. Simply connect to a server in a new location and stream away!
If you want to use your YouTube TV subscription while traveling, NordVPN can help. Download a dedicated NordVPN app to your device, connect to a server back home, and head over to YouTube TV to enjoy one of the 85 channels. This way, you can still access your home content, even if you’re temporarily away. You can also add a NordVPN browser extension to your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge browser if you can't or don't want to install new software on your computer. The extensions don't offer the same range of features, but they are fast, light, and easy to use.
The best VPN for YouTube video streaming is one that doesn’t slow you down while keeping your connections safe and private. NordVPN offers amazing speeds, thanks to our NordLynx algorithm, which is both safe and secure. It ensures that your streaming is smooth and protected from prying eyes.
It is not recommended to use free VPNs because they don’t always work as intended. You can experience crashes, DNS leaks, random connection drops, and slow device performance while using one. Besides, free VPN providers have to make money somehow, so you may be bombarded with ads, or your information might be collected and sold to the highest bidder. It’s best to choose a reliable paid VPN provider instead.
To unblock YouTube, you can also try using other tools that reroute your traffic.
For example, proxy servers might work, but just like free VPNs, they are often slow and offer unreliable connections.
You can also try using the Tor browser — it will unblock YouTube, but the encryption process it uses is complex and slow.
Some users reported successfully using Google Translate to bypass the geo-restrictions. You simply enter the URL of the video you want to watch to the translation window and click on the “translated” link. It's not a fool-proof solution and will likely not work most of the time, but it might be worth a shot.
If you want to watch YouTube on restricted networks, bypassing the local firewall in your workplace or school is easy — simply use your mobile data. You can even create a private hotspot on your phone and connect the school computer to it. Depending on your data plan, it could be costly, so use this method with caution.
