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How To Unblock YouTube At School On Laptop

Part of the Mega Guide: How To Unblock Anything At School

Unblocking YouTube on Laptop using a VPN

The tool that can help you in this situation is called a VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network (VPN). Think of a VPN as a hidden tunnel through the internet. It encrypts your online activity and makes it look like you're accessing the web from a new location. This way, it can bypass the restrictions set by your school and provide you access to sites like YouTube that you might otherwise be unable to access.

One VPN I'd like to advise is ProtonVPN. They have a free version that might be just what you need. It's a powerful tool because it respects your privacy - no recording of your activity, no speed limits, and it can bypass censorship without a hitch. Plus, it works under Swiss privacy laws, which are some of the strongest in the world. The feeling of security this provides, knowing your data isn't being tracked, can be a modest but welcome relief amidst the drudgery of school life.

Now, there's one note: you'll need to have the capability to install software on your device. If you're using a school-issued computer or tablet, this might be a challenge. In such cases, check if you have the necessary permissions or if there's a way to request them. If you're using a personal device, the process is much smoother.

To install ProtonVPN, simply go to the app store on your device and search for ProtonVPN. Download the app - it's free. Once it's installed, open the app, and follow the setup instructions. You'll be able to connect to their servers and start browsing as if you're anywhere other than the confines of your school's network.

The free version of ProtonVPN is quite generous, but if you find you need more features - such as faster speeds or access to more servers - you can consider upgrading to the paid version. If you choose to use our affiliate link, we'll earn a small commission, but more importantly, you'll get a tool that might just make those long school days a little more bearable.

Other ways to unblock YouTube on Laptop

Using Invidious

Invidious is an alternative front-end to YouTube that focuses on providing a privacy-focused and streamlined way to view and stream YouTube videos. It functions as a proxy between users and YouTube, which implies it can help reduce tracking and ads while letting you watch content. The main objectives of Invidious are to boost user privacy, reduce data collection, and deliver a more streamlined user experience without the usual YouTube interface and advertisements.

The various Invidious instances should work in the browser of any device.

Users can take advantage of Invidious to find videos, watch them, and even use features like comments and playlists, all while keeping a degree of anonymity and reducing the amount of data shared with Google. Since it's an open-source project, it's maintained by the community and can be customized or hosted separately by different individuals or organizations.

Unblocking YouTube On Laptop using Free DNS Servers

What Are DNS Servers?

Imagine you need to find a person's home, but you only know their identity, not their address. You’d probably ask someone who is aware of where they live, right?

In the online world, DNS servers (Domain Name System servers) are like those helpful people. When you type a website's address (like www.example.com) into your browser, DNS servers translate that name into an IP address (a numeric address) that your computer can understand and employ to access the website.

How Changing DNS Servers Can Help Bypass Censorship

Sometimes, certain websites might be restricted by your ISP or your school. They do this by forcing your DNS queries (requests to access a website) pass through servers that either redirect them.

Here's how changing your DNS servers can help:

Different DNS Servers: By switching to a new DNS server (like Google's public DNS or Cloudflare's DNS), you might bypass these blocks. These alternative servers might not have the same exact restrictions or might not block the website you want to visit.
Accessing Restricted Sites: If a particular DNS server is known for not blocking certain websites, using that server can help you get around the restrictions put in place by your school.

There exist many complimentary DNS providers. This guide explain how to configure OpenDNS, however you may substitute the IP addresses using any of the others if you would like to.

There is a big list of DNS servers here: https://public-dns.info/

Here are some of the popular ones:
Google: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1

How to Change DNS Settings on Windows 10

Step 1: Open Network Connections

Right-Click the Start Menu:
- Move your cursor to the Start menu located at the bottom-left corner of your screen.
- Right-click on the Start menu icon to open the context menu.
Select Network Connections:
- In the context menu that appears, click on "Network Connections". This will open the Network & Internet settings page.

Step 2: Access Adapter Options

Click Ethernet:
- On the left side of the Network & Internet settings window, you will see a list of options.
- Click on "Ethernet" (if you are using a wired connection). If you're connected via Wi-Fi, you should click "Wi-Fi" instead.
Open Adapter Options:
- Under the Ethernet (or Wi-Fi) section, find and click on "Change adapter options". This will open a new window displaying all network connections on your computer.

Step 3: Modify Network Connection Properties

Right-Click Your Network Connection:
- In the Network Connections window, locate the network connection you are currently using. This might be labeled something like "Local Area Connection" or "Wi-Fi".
- Right-click on this network connection.
Select Properties:
- From the context menu that appears, choose "Properties". This will open the Properties dialog for your network connection.

Step 4: Change IPv4 Settings

Locate Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4):
- In the Properties window, you will see a list of items that are being used by the connection. Look for "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" in this list.
- Click to highlight this item.
Open Properties:
- With "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" highlighted, click the "Properties" button below the list. This opens the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties dialog.

Step 5: Enter New DNS Server Addresses

Select Use the Following DNS Server Addresses:
- In the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties dialog, look for the section labeled "Use the following DNS server addresses".
- Click the radio button next to this option to enable it.
Enter DNS Server Addresses:
- In the "Preferred DNS server" field, type 208.67.222.222.
- In the "Alternate DNS server" field, type 208.67.220.220.
Confirm and Apply:
- Click "OK" to close the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) Properties dialog.
- Click "Close" to exit the network connection properties window.

Step 6: Restart Network Connection (Optional)

For the changes to take effect immediately, you might need to disable and then re-enable your network connection. To do this, right-click the network connection again in the Network Connections window and select "Disable". After a few moments, right-click it once more and select "Enable".

Your DNS settings have now been updated to use OpenDNS. This can help you access YouTube on Laptop.

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