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Get the best YouTube experience with Surfshark VPN
- Watch YouTube anywhere
- Beat local firewall blocks
- Stream in privacy
Improve your YouTube experience with a VPN
Hide your IP address
The IP (Internet Protocol) address is tied to your device. It helps online trackers and advertisers to identify you. Throw them for a loop.
Avoid throttling
When your internet service providers (ISPs) see you’re watching YouTube videos or downloading files, they might cap your bandwidth. This can slow your connection down and cause stuttering. Using a VPN hides your traffic from your ISP; therefore, they won’t throttle you.
Fool the firewalls
Another thing a VPN can help you with is your school, workplace, or the government restricting your access to websites or content. Diverting your traffic through a VPN server will allow you to bypass these restrictions.
Accessing content while abroad
If you’re traveling and want to keep up with your favorite YouTubers while abroad, you may need a VPN. Their videos may be available in your country, but who can say whether they’ll be available at your destination? Access YouTube TV and other content wherever you are.
Enjoy a lightning-fast VPN
All VPN services decrease your internet speed a little — it’s unavoidable. But with Surfshark’s 10Gbps ports on every server and 3200+ servers around the world, you’re all but guaranteed minimal impact on speed.
Discover many other benefits
Using public Wi-Fi securely. Keeping your IP address safe from advertisers. Connecting via multiple VPN servers. These and more are available to Surfshark VPN users.
Try Surfshark risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee
How to use Surfshark VPN with YouTube
- Get yourself a VPN subscription.
- Install the VPN app.
- Connect to a local VPN server to change your virtual location (if you’re facing country-based censorship, connect to a VPN server outside of the country).
- Open YouTube.
- Stream!
This method should cover most, if not all, the issues you might encounter when you cannot access YouTube (or other streaming services).
What is YouTube?
YouTube, founded in 2005 and owned by Google, is the top video-sharing and social network platform. Users can watch, share, and upload content, like music, games, vlogs, and live streams. In terms of global visits, it’s second only to Google Search.
Why use a VPN with YouTube?
Using a VPN with YouTube brings perks like:
- Taking your content on a road trip: some countries may block or ban the stuff you want to stream. A VPN can help with that.
- Maintaining privacy: if you don’t want YouTube to know where you are — or for the local ISP (Internet Service Provider) to know that you’re streaming — use a VPN!
- Dodge throttling: ISPs may be tempted to throttle your connection when you’re streaming (or gaming or just downloading massive files). But with a VPN on, they can’t know that you’re doing that.
- Spit targeted ads in the face: if you watch YouTube while connected to a VPN server in a different country, you won’t get ads aimed at your actual location. And if you don’t use your main Google account with YouTube, you can hurt targeted advertising even more.
But wait, there are benefits for other YouTube products as well!
YouTube Premium
Ah, YouTube Premium — can you even put a price on human rights like ad-free viewing and offline access? Unfortunately, some countries would bar you from accessing these necessities. But with a VPN, you can overcome all sorts of local blocks and firewalls outside of literally cutting the internet connection.
That’s all in addition to other benefits, like streaming safely and privately on public Wi-Fi, bypassing throttling, and generally enjoying a smooth and secure online experience.
YouTube Music
Did you go on a trip and find out that your YouTube Music playlist has been decimated as several tracks won’t play in the new country? Get a VPN, connect to the server in your home country, and party like it’s 2005.
Connect to a VPN, and you’ll be safely playing jams even on the dodgiest of free Wi-Fi hotspots in motels or beach bars, covering your actual IP and geolocation. Just make sure your device doesn’t get yoinked.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV comes with live TV streaming covering over 60 networks, offers cloud DVR, and other video-on-demand benefits. But uh-oh, spaghetti-os! Your new travel destination won’t let you access any of it! What can you do?
Get a VPN, connect to the server in your home country, and see the limitations wash away! Well, OK, it won’t improve an awful 4G connection beyond its technical limits, but it will beat firewall blocks, censorship, and bandwidth throttling!
Understanding restrictions on YouTube access
YouTube at work
Your boss is not your friend. They live on the dream that you’ll work every last minute of your 9-to-5 as if that’s humanly feasible. To that end, they may block YouTube at work just to keep you safe from any distractions from your grind. Little do they know that VPNs laugh and/or sneer at their pathetic attempts at Dickensonian discipline!
School network filters
Whether at school or a university, YouTube access may be blocked to keep you focused on your classes (easier than making them interesting) or to keep the Wi-Fi congestion on the lower end (cheaper than increasing it). Guess what sort of technology blazes past right through all the firewalls? I’ll give you a hint: it starts with a “V” and ends with “PN.”
Availability of YouTube across the globe
Some countries are real stinkerinos about not allowing access to the global information superhighway (aka the internet). YouTube is often the target of such censorship to stop the locals from accessing regime-unfriendly information between streamer binges and video essays about microwaves. But a VPN can both overcome such blocks and hide the digital trail of you having done so.
Disclaimer: We prohibit using Surfshark services for any unlawful purposes as it is against our Terms of Service. Please be sure to act in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of other service providers.
Why choose Surfshark VPN for YouTube?
Hide your IP address
Your Internet Protocol address is imprinted on basically every online action. If you don’t want internet snoopers following those comically neat footprints right to your digital door, connect to a VPN and get a different IP!
Sanitize public Wi-Fi
Who knows what dangers may lurk in your public Wi-Fi hotspot? It may be compromised by the supplier, or it may even be a fake spot to begin with. But if you use a VPN, you keep your data safe!
Join more servers than you can shake a stick at
Surfshark offers 3200+ servers in 100 countries. This means that you’re likely to find one in your country — or the country you’re traveling to. Whether you need speed or a foreign IP, Surfshark has your back.
Break through firewalls
Is your school, workplace, or country against you watching YouTube? With a VPN on, you don’t have to care about that. A VPN connection will pass through any blocks without leaving proof that you were watching YouTube.
Enjoy great speeds
All VPNs impact your internet speed a little. However, with our 10Gbps ports and plentiful servers, we ensure you’ll have the best VPN connection experience no matter where you want to stream those cooking tutorials.
Protect all devices
The Surfshark app is available on a dizzying array of platforms. This way, you can remain protected on your Android smartphone, iPad, Chromebook, and Samsung smart TV at the same time.
Spread the safety
Hey, guess how many different devices you can use a VPN on at the same time? Guess again — Surshark comes with unlimited simultaneous connections. Every gadget, trinket, and geegaw at your home will be connected at the same time.
Know no fear or logs
A VPN supplier is in a privileged position to snoop on your data stream as it goes. So why shouldn’t you be afraid of us? Because Surfshark VPN not only maintains a no-logs policy but also has the audits to prove it!
Feel RAM-only security
Surfshark has done more to safeguard your data than just keeping no logs or being headquartered in the Netherlands — a country with strong privacy protection. Our servers are all RAM-only, meaning they’re wiped clean the moment they’re disconnected from power.
Should I use a free VPN for YouTube?
You shouldn’t use a free VPN for YouTube — or anything else! Here’s why:
| Free VPN | Premium VPN |
| Is free | Isn’t free |
| Dozens of servers | Thousands of servers |
| Few countries | Tens of countries |
| Limited speed or bandwidth | Unlimited speed or bandwidth |
| Budget level security | Industry-standard security |
| Potentially gets money from your data | Actually gets money from you paying them |
Get the best YouTube experience with Surfshark VPN
Start with Surfshark VPN today
FAQ
Can I use a VPN for YouTube?
Yes, and sometimes you need to. When traveling, not all of our favorite content may be available in all the regions. A VPN gives you the capacity to connect to a server in your home country (if available) and stream everything just like you haven’t left.
What free VPN works for YouTube?
Technically, all free VPNs allow you to watch YouTube. Practically, they may throttle your bandwidth too much for you to stream quality videos. They may also have data caps to limit how much you stream. You’re better off with a premium VPN like Surfshark instead.
Does a VPN change YouTube location?
Yes, connecting to a VPN server changes your location as far as YouTube is concerned. The website will consider the VPN server’s location to be accurate and provide you with the appropriate content.
How can I watch YouTube if it's blocked?
You can watch blocked YouTube like this:
- Subscribe to a VPN (like Surfshark) and install it on your device.
- Launch the VPN app and connect to a server (in another country if yours is blocking YouTube).
- Watch YouTube!
Can I watch YouTube with Surfshark?
Yes, you can watch YouTube with Surfshark. Surfshark is a premium VPN with lightning-fast servers, which allow you to enjoy a smooth streaming experience.
Bonus points if you’re watching one of the YouTubers sponsored by Surfshark, including Mrwhosetheboss, True Geordie, Thoughty2, and many others.