Introduction
YouTube is one of the biggest and most popular video-sharing platform available to users from all over the world. However, it is not uncommon to encounter a “video unavailable” error message when you try to watch something that interests you.
Usually, this can be triggered by a number of factors including network filters, institutional restrictions, geographical restrictions, or even parental restrictions.
Therefore, this article will examine several ways you can bypass these restrictions to ensure unrestricted access to content.
Causes of Unavailable YouTube Videos
There are several reasons why you may not be able to access some videos on YouTube, and they include:
Age restrictions
YouTube contains millions of content that young ones can benefit from. However, some content is inappropriate for children. Subsequently, YouTube guidelines indicate that age restrictions may be placed on videos that are not in violation of the platform’s policy but may be unsuitable for viewers under 18.
Inappropriate content
Another thing that can trigger a YouTube block is inappropriate content. YouTube policies regard content that involves hate speech, explicit material, and violence as inappropriate. Therefore, any video that includes spam, misinformation, or violence may be removed or blocked from the platform.
Censorship
Some countries like North Korea, China, and Iran have banned the use of YouTube. These nations blocked YouTube for several reasons, including religious and political agendas. The goal is to control the flow of information.
In addition, it prevents citizens from accessing content that the government considers inappropriate, including hate speech against the government.
Network level blocks
Network level blocks are another popular reason why you may be unable to access a YouTube video. Since YouTube is home to educational as well as entertainment videos, institutions can implement a block that restricts access to YouTube across the network. The level of productivity and concentration significantly drops when individuals are exposed to YouTube when they should be working or studying.
Copyright infringement
Another cause of YouTube blocks is copyright infringement. YouTube has strict laws regarding copyright infringement, so videos that violate the policy are often blocked. This action is necessary to protect the right of creators by preventing the distribution of copyrighted material.
Regional restrictions
You may be unable to access a YouTube video due to your location. This can occur when video creators restrict their videos so that they can’t be accessible to viewers in certain regions. Therefore, if you are attempting to watch the video from a restricted location, you will not be able to load or view it.
How To Access Restricted Content on YouTube
Proxy server
A proxy acts as an intermediary between your network traffic and the target website. It works by changing your IP address, which allows you to bypass geographical restrictions and access blocked content.
For example, if you are in China and unable to access a YouTube video. You can choose a proxy and set the location to the United States of America. Once you enter the proxy server’s IP address and port number in your browser settings, it routes your network traffic via a different IP address, which allows you to access the blocked YouTube video.
However, you need to choose a reliable and reputable proxy provider that can encrypt your network traffic to optimize security and privacy. Premium proxies often require subscription but offer advanced speed, reliability and security features. On the other hand, free proxies are typically slower, less secure, and less reliable for unblocking YouTube videos.
VPN
Another popular option for unblocking YouTube videos is Virtual Private Network (VPN). It works by encrypting your internet traffic and routing it via a remote server. Similar to how a proxy server works, the VPN makes it seem like you are accessing the website from a different location. Therefore, it hides your IP address, which optimizes anonymity and allows users to bypass geographical restrictions to ensure access to blocked content.
VPN can be free or paid- free services are associated with malware and can sell user data. While they are quite popular, they are highly susceptible to online attacks. In addition, some countries have strict policies against the use of VPNs. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the laws in your country before using a VPN.
Here is a brief guide to choosing and setting up a VPN on your device:
- Choose a reliable VPN service provider
- Sign up and install the VPN software on your device
- Open the VPN application, choose a server in a country where the content is available, and connect.
- Once connected, visit YouTube and enjoy unrestricted content.
VPN provides high security, privacy and offers the ability to bypass various restrictions. Some of the cons include cost of subscription and possible reduced internet speed.
Tor Browser
The Tor Browser is another option that allows users to unblock YouTube videos through a browser. The Onion Router (Tor) Browser is a free and open-source web browser that allows users to bypass geographical restrictions while maintaining online anonymity. To get the best out of this browser, you need to download the latest version from the official website.
One of the significance of using Tor browser is it offers high-level anonymity. However, the speed of connection is usually slower compared to proxies. Although Tor is legal and generally safe to use, it has some bad reputation due to its use in accessing the dark web.
Browser extension
Adding some extensions to a browser allows users to bypass restrictions and access blocked YouTube videos. Chrome supports a wide range of extensions, so it is not hard to find one that unblocks YouTube. These browser extensions are a simple yet effective solution that provides unrestricted access to YouTube.
However, it is crucial to remember that these extensions are not part of your browser- they are third-party software. Subsequently, there may pose a risk to online privacy and security. As a result, you may need to go through the reviews of the extension to verify its credibility. In addition, you can implement an additional layer of security on your device to be safe.
Google Translate
The last solution we will discuss in this guide is how to use Google Translate to unblock YouTube videos. Now, you may wonder about the correlation between a translation service and unblocking videos. While it may be unconventional, it is an effective method to unblock content. Check out the steps below:
- Visit the Google Translate page.
- Choose any language as the one you are translating from
- Make the output language English
- Copy the inaccessible YouTube URL and paste it into the Google Translate search bar
This translation process may not work on all videos, and it may significantly reduce the loading speed.
Choosing a Reliable Proxy For Unblocking YouTube
Proxies remain the best option to bypass regional restrictions. However, it may be confusing to choose the best one since there are multiple options on the internet.
NetNut is an industry-leading proxy provider with over 85 million rotating residential proxies in 195 countries and over 5M+ mobile IPS in over 100 countries. Subsequently, this large IP pool is necessary to provide optimal coverage.
NetNut proxies mask your IP address, which ensures you have access to YouTube videos regardless of any censor or block. You can use rotating residential proxies to protect your IP address- our proxies are automatically rotated, so you don’t use one IP address for long to evade an IP ban.
In addition, NetNut proxies can bypass regional restrictions so you can access YouTube videos from anywhere in the world. You can also enjoy 99.9% uptime with guaranteed scalability for a fast network connection.
Conclusion
Being unable to watch a YouTube video can be frustrating. However, when choosing the best method for unblocking YouTube content, you need to consider privacy and security. We have discussed the use of VPNs, Tor Browser, extensions, and Google Translate. However, the most reliable choice that does not put your activities at risk is proxies from a reputable provider.
NetNut has several proxy as well as Website Unblocker solutions for you at the most competitive prices. Contact us today to get started on unrestricted web access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to unblock restricted YouTube content?
The legal status of unblocking restricted YouTube content depends on specific content and policies. There are several reasons why YouTube content may be blocked. In addition, it is crucial to understand the laws and regulations related to bypassing YouTube content. Therefore, you need to know the legal implications before you unblock the YouTube content.
Bear in mind that in some regions, bypassing restrictions could lead to severe legal consequences. In addition, it is necessary to get familiar with YouTube’s terms of service and copyright laws before attempting to unblock a video.
Is it safe to use free YouTube unblockers?
While there are many options to unblock YouTube, they often fall into two categories- free and paid. Free YouTube unblockers, like proxies, are a simple way to access blocked content. However, there are significant privacy and security concerns associated with the use of free proxies.
The danger arises from low or no revenue generation, which can lead them to collect and sell user’s data to third parties. For a more secure way to unblock YouTube videos, you need to use premium proxies like NetNut.
Why have some countries banned the use of YouTube?
Some countries like China, Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Eritrea have blocked YouTube for reasons like politics, religion, abuse, and spread of misinformation. In some of these countries, freedom of a relative term as the government determines the content that the members consume. Other times, a country has been offended by circulating YouTube videos that speak ill of the government and this has led to a permanent YouTube ban.