Do you want to unblock YouTube on a school computer? There are many reasons why you may want to watch YouTube at school, even if your school blocked it. For example, perhaps you need to watch a video for research purposes for a project.
This guide will show you how to bypass school internet restrictions and access YouTube. Note that any actions performed are at your own risk, and we are not condoning bypassing school restrictions; we are simply providing information.
With that said, let’s get into it.
Why Is YouTube Blocked on School Computers?
Schools put internet restrictions in place for various reasons, including:
- Preventing Distractions: YouTube can distract students from studying.
- Bandwidth Management: Streaming videos can slow down school networks, inconveniencing teachers who are doing video demonstrations.
- Content Control: Some YouTube content may be inappropriate for students.
Schools use a variety of methods to filter content on school networks, including firewalls that block YouTube and filters installed on school computers.
Safe Ways to Unblock YouTube
Following are a few safe ways to block YouTube on a school computer. Let’s start with the three easiest ways, after which we will discuss some more advanced methods, like using a VPN.
1. Use Google Translate as a Proxy
Did you know that you can use Google Translate as a proxy website to load a YouTube video? Since the video is being loaded on Google Translate and not YouTube, it likely won’t be blocked by your school’s rules.
Copy and paste https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&u= into your browser bar. Then, at the end of the URL, attach the URL of the YouTube video you want to watch. This will load the YouTube video in Google Translate, like this: https://www-youtube-com.translate.goog/watch?si=79eEaWWre_AIDJb0&v=xAR6N9N8e6U&feature=youtu.be&_x_tr_sl=pt&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en
The problem with this method is that YouTube may suspect you are a bot and ask you to sign in with your Gmail account.
2. Try a URL Shortener
If your school is using a simplistic blocking method, you may be able to get past its filters by using a URL shortener like Bitly or TinyURL to access the link. Simply copy and paste the link into Bitly to create a shortened link, and then paste the shortened link into your browser and see if it works to unblock YouTube. Note that this won’t work if your school uses any sort of advanced filtering.
3. Use Mobile Hotspot or Personal Wi-Fi
If your school is using a network firewall to block YouTube across its Wi-Fi network, there is a simple way to bypass YouTube restrictions and access YouTube without a VPN. All you have to do is use your mobile phone as a hotspot and connect your computer to it. This will create a personal Wi-Fi network that is not bound by your school’s network restrictions.
However, if there is a filter installed on your computer itself, this method won’t work. Also, if you are using a managed Chromebook that is tied to a school email address, administrators will be able to see that you accessed YouTube, even if you used a mobile hotspot.
If those methods didn’t work or are not available, read on.
Using a VPN to Access YouTube
An easy way to access YouTube is to use a VPN for private browsing at school. A VPN basically sits between your computer and the internet, forcing all network traffic to go through the VPN before it gets sent to your computer (and the other way around). What this means is that when you communicate with YouTube, it will seem to your computer as if the traffic is coming from the VPN server rather than YouTube. If the YouTube filter was placed on your computer, it will often allow you to unblock YouTube.
However, this doesn’t always work, as it really depends on how your school set up the YouTube restriction. Also, if your school blocks known VPN servers or blocks VPNs on your computer, it might not work. Nevertheless, it’s worth a try!
Go download a VPN like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. Although there are free VPNs, I recommend using a paid VPN for the best security. Then, install the VPN, activate it, and see if it lets you access YouTube.
Unblocking YouTube on Chrome or School Devices
There are several ways to unblock YouTube on a school Chromebook or another device using Chrome.
One of the best ways to bypass browser restrictions and watch YouTube on a school computer is to use a bookmark code. Go to your Chrome’s settings by clicking on the three dots in the top-right corner, hover over Bookmarks, and make sure the bookmark bar is enabled.
This will show a bookmark bar at the top of your browser. Right-click on the bookmark bar and select Add New Page.
In the page name field, type YOUTUBE, and in the URL field, copy and paste this code exactly:
javascript:(function () {if (window.location.toString().includes(‘www.youtube.com/watch?v%27))%20{%20window.open(%27https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/%27%20+%20window.location.toString().split(%27=%27)[1])%20}})()
Then, when you want to watch a YouTube video, paste the YouTube video URL into the browser bar (or click on a YouTube video by searching for it in the Google search results – especially in the Videos tab of the search results). Then, just click on YOUTUBE in your bookmarks bar, and it will load YouTube in a way that bypasses the filter. An example of this is shown in the screenshot above.
Another option is to use a proxy. It’s similar to a VPN, except that it doesn’t encrypt all network traffic or funnel all network traffic from your computer through the proxy. Instead, it only funnels traffic that you enter on the proxy website through the proxy.
For example, croxyproxy.com is a popular proxy. If you enter YouTube.com in the search tab on the croxyproxy.com website, it will work similar to a VPN, without needing to download and install a VPN. This is a good option if your school blocks VPNs.
However, your school may also block popular proxies. Still, it’s unlikely that they will manage to block ALL proxies, because there are so many of them. Google “lists of free proxies” to find lists of free proxies, and keep trying different proxies until you find one that isn’t blocked.
Why You Should Use These Methods Responsibly
It’s important to use the internet responsibly and make sure you are only bypassing blocks ethically.
An important thing to keep in mind is that even if you manage to bypass a school restriction on YouTube, that doesn’t mean you won’t get caught. For example, the IT team at the school may not have blocked a certain proxy, but it’s very likely that they will see that you visited that proxy. If you visit the proxy frequently, they may ask you what you are doing.
If you have a Chromebook, in particular, it is very hard to do anything without being noticed. You don’t want to be the student that causes the school to put stricter restrictions in place for everyone because you tried to bypass a content restriction.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many safe ways to unblock YouTube and watch it at school. However, keep in mind that you should try to avoid doing it, as you may get caught and suffer some consequences or punishment. And remember, always be careful of inappropriate content when surfing the web!
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