When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn Knowing how to unblock YouTube can help you access its enormous library of videos and music wherever you are. Whether you want to access a video on YouTube that isn’t available in your region or bypass restrictions imposed by your school or workplace, this guide will help you.
I’ll take you through several methods to unblock YouTube with ease, including changing your DNS, using a proxy, and my recommended solution, using a VPN. A reliable VPN will help you access blocked content worldwide while enhancing your privacy and online security, making it an invaluable all-in-one solution for online freedom.
ExpressVPN – Safe YouTube VPN for Accessing Foreign Content
Best VPNs to Unblock YouTube in 2025
- NordVPN – Best VPN for Unblocking YouTube Overall
- Surfshark – Affordable VPN with Great Unblocking Capabilities
- ExpressVPN – Safe YouTube VPN for Accessing Foreign Content
- Show Full Guide
How to Get YouTube Unblocked Fast
Follow these steps to unblock YouTube videos on computers and smartphones in just a few minutes:
- Choose a secure and reliable VPN. I suggest considering NordVPN due to its extensive security tools and large server fleet.
- Download and install the VPN apps on your computer or smartphone.
- Connect to one of NordVPN’s 6,800+ servers, selecting a location based on your needs.
- Open the YouTube app or visit the site and start watching YT unblocked.
Why is YouTube Blocked For You?
YouTube and YouTube videos may be blocked for several reasons, ranging from local to region-wide restrictions. Here’s a list of the most common issues:
- Network-Level Blocks – Workplaces, schools, and other public Wi-Fi networks often block access to YouTube to conserve bandwidth or block distractions and inappropriate content.
- YouTube Age Restrictions – You won’t have access to age-restricted YouTube videos without verifying your age.
- Copyright Licensing – Some videos on YouTube won’t be available in your region due to copyright or licensing agreements. In this case, you may see the message, “This video is not available.”
- Regional Content Restrictions – Governments may block access to YouTube or content on it, making it inaccessible in your region.
How to Unblock YouTube Videos with a VPN
Using a VPN is the most effective way to unblock YouTube. It changes your IP address to make it seem like you’re accessing the service from a different location or country, bypassing any restrictions you would normally face.
Here’s how to watch blocked YouTube videos using NordVPN, one of the fastest VPNs, which you can install and use without needing any advanced technical skills.
Subscribe to NordVPN
You’ll need an active NordVPN account to unblock YouTube. Go to NordVPN’s site, choose a plan, and sign up for a subscription using a valid email address.
Install and Log Into NordVPN
Once you’ve subscribed, download the app for your device and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. Next, log into your NordVPN account using the email you provided during checkout.
Connect to a VPN Server
Navigate through NordVPN’s server list or use the interactive map, choose a VPN server based on its location, and connect to it to encrypt your internet traffic and alter your IP address. If you just want to bypass local network blocks, you can use a server in your own country to get a faster connection.
Access YouTube
Every YouTube video that’s accessible in the region you’ve selected will now be accessible to you. If you run into issues due to the location of your new IP address, simply change to a different server.
How to Unblock YouTube on Chrome with a VPN Extension
Leading VPN providers like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN offer Chrome extensions that provide most of the benefits of VPN protection with minimal performance impact on your device. Unlike proxy extensions, VPN extensions can also encrypt your connection.
You may also find you can sync Chrome extensions across devices to add a VPN to a school Chromebook. Here’s how to install and use NordVPN’s Chrome extension in a few simple steps:
Add the NordVPN Extension to Your Browser
Once you’ve signed up for a subscription on NordVPN’s website, visit the Chrome Web Store’s NordVPN extension page and click “Add to Chrome.” Confirm that you want to add it to your browser and complete the installation process.
Log Into Your NordVPN Account and Connect to a Server
In Chrome, click on the Extensions tab in the upper-right corner and choose NordVPN from the list. Click Log In and fill out the login form on NordVPN’s website to continue. Next, open the NordVPN extension and select a country or city you’d like to connect to.
Browse YT Unblocked
You can now visit YouTube and start watching videos that are available for your selected server location. If you run into connectivity or availability issues, just change to a different server.
How to Watch YouTube Unblocked with the Tor Browser
You can also unblock YouTube videos using the Tor Browser. This a privacy-focused tool that masks your real location by routing your internet traffic through a network of servers. Given the range of dangers online and on the dark web, I recommend also using one of the best antivirus tools for additional protection from cyber threats.
Although the Tor Browser can help you bypass geo-restrictions, it isn’t as fast as the best VPNs. It may also be difficult to download it on networks and devices that restrict access to the Tor Project, which many schools and businesses do.
Here’s how to watch YouTube unblocked using Tor:
- Download Tor from the Tor Project website.
- Install the Tor Browser on your device.
- Launch Tor and connect to its network.
- Visit YouTube and start watching without restrictions.
How to Unblock YouTube on School Chromebook Laptops with a Mobile Hotspot
Using a mobile hotspot is a quick and easy way to bypass network-level restrictions, such as those imposed by schools and workplaces.
However, this method requires you to have a phone with hotspot functionality that doesn’t have content blocks or filtering. You’ll also need mobile data, and as I noted during my testing, hotspotting can rapidly run through bandwidth allowances. In addition, hotspotting won’t help with region-wide restrictions as it uses your phone’s IP address.
Here’s how to unblock YouTube on a school computer using an Android device or an iPhone:
- Go to your phone’s Settings and open the “Portable Hotspot” tab.
- Set up your hotspot’s name and password.
- Turn on your hotspot by toggling the “Portable Hotspot” toggle on Android or the “Allow Others to Join” option on iPhone.
Once you’ve activated your Android or iPhone device’s hotspot, you’re ready to connect to it with your Chromebook.
Follow these steps to unblock YouTube videos:
- Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray on your Chromebook.
- Find your phone’s hotspot in the “available networks” list.
- Enter the hotspot’s password and click “Connect.”
- Watch videos on YouTube while bypassing network-level restrictions.
If you wish to combine this method with a VPN, check out our in-depth guide to the best VPNs for mobile.
How to Watch YouTube When It’s Blocked – Other Ways to Unblock YouTube Videos
If using a VPN, mobile hotspot, or Tor isn’t an option, you can unblock YouTube using several more complicated and less reliable methods. Here are some other approaches you can take to unblock YouTube videos:
- Change Your DNS Address – Changing your DNS address to a public DNS – such as Google or Cloudflare’s address – can unblock YouTube videos. However, this change is relatively complex to apply and only helps you bypass network-level restrictions.
- Use a YouTube Proxy – Configuring your browser or device settings to use a proxy can also work, as it reroutes your traffic through another server, masking your IP address. However, it won’t encrypt your connection, and causes a lot of buffering issues, in my experience.
- Use a Proxy Site – Using proxy sites like YouTube Unblocked doesn’t require any configuration, but they’re often blocked at the network level, and they frequently don’t work. To use them, simply paste in the URL to a YouTube video and connect to the platform through the proxy website.
- Use Google Translate – Google Translate can also work as a proxy website. Entering the URL to a YouTube video and translating the page from English into another language will often let you click on the link and bypass network-level restrictions.
- Download Videos – Another option is to download the YouTube video to watch at your school or workplace where it’s blocked. However, this requires planning in advance and limits you to only watching previously downloaded content.
Is It Legal to Unblock YouTube?
Yes, unblocking YouTube is legal, but it may violate the platform’s terms and conditions, and bypassing your school or workplace’s restrictions will likely be against their rules. You should also be aware of local laws that prohibit access to content when accessing unblocked YouTube.
VPNs like NordVPN are ideal solutions, as they hide your identity, encrypt your connection, and keep your online activities private, even from your internet service provider.
Conclusion
Content filtering and productivity concerns often lead schools and workplaces to implement restrictions at the network level, making YouTube content inaccessible on their Wi-Fi networks. After testing the various methods you can use to bypass these restrictions, I found that VPNs offer the best, most convenient, and most secure way to unblock YouTube.
Based on our assessment methodology, I tested over a dozen VPN solutions this year and found that NordVPN stands out for its robust security, large network, and fast, stable connections, making it ideal for watching YouTube. All of this ensures you can bypass both network-level and regional restrictions.
