How to Watch YouTube in China Without a VPN

China has one of the most sophisticated and strict internet censorships in existence. In fact, in much of the country, accessing any content that is even remotely controversial can result in huge fines or worse. While this may seem intimidating, if you’re in China and want to watch videos from YouTube, you have plenty of options thanks to the introduction of virtual private networks (VPNs) to the country. In this article, we’ll discuss the various ways you can enjoy YouTube videos in China without risking penalties or having your computer infected by a virus.

Use A VPN To Access YouTube In China

If you want to watch YouTube videos in China, you’ll first need to determine whether you’re allowed to or whether you need to be registered with the Chinese government. Some countries, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Tanzania, have made it outright illegal to access YouTube without being registered. If you want to watch YouTube videos in these countries, you’ll need to find a way to do it anonymously. Fortunately, many VPNs come with kill switches so that you can connect to YouTube without fear of being tracked. In addition, many high-quality VPNs can be used to connect to other restricted websites like Amazon, Netflix, and Facebook as well.

Find An Anonymous Proxy To Watch YouTube Videos In China

Alternatively, you can use a proxy to hide your online activities from the Chinese government. A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your computer and the websites you visit, obscuring your IP address and allowing you to access content that is otherwise blocked in China. When you use a proxy service in China, all of your internet activity (including your search history) is transmitted to the proxy server, which relays it back to the websites you visit. When you use a VPN, this is typically done by the service provider, but you can perform this task yourself if you wish. You should make sure to use a different proxy for each of your devices (e.g., your computer, your tablet, and your smartphone) so that you can maintain your anonymity while using the different devices.

Sign Up For A VPN That Is Blocked In China

If you’re still reading, you might be wondering whether or not to sign up for a VPN that’s blocked in China. If so, you’re in luck because there are plenty of high-quality VPNs that will allow you to access YouTube (and any other website, for that matter) in China. You should also ensure that the VPN you choose has a good standing in the community, has a no logging policy, and uses strong encryption.

Use A VPN To Watch YouTube In China Through A Firewall

Many companies have blocked YouTube and other similar websites from being accessed inside their corporate network, so you can’t just walk in and click on the play button to watch a YouTube video. Instead, you’ll need to use a VPN to tunnel through the firewall and into the internet. When you use a VPN to access YouTube or another blocked website, it will appear as though you’re visiting the website from a different location (e.g., the United States instead of China) than the one you’re in, thereby circumventing the blocking mechanism. This is why many businesses, schools, and government agencies use VPNs to access sensitive content and functional websites like Google and YouTube.

Sign Up For A Free VPN That Is Blocked In China

If none of the above options work for you and you’re in China, you can sign up for a free VPN that is blocked in the country. This is especially beneficial for those who want to access YouTube but have concerns about using a paid VPN due to their lack of anonymity. A free VPN in China is highly preferable as there are no data caps so you won’t be penalized for going over an allotted amount of data. In addition, most free VPNs offer sufficient privacy and security features to keep your identity private while you’re in the country. Even though a free VPN is blocked in China, it’s still the best option available if you’re not registered with the government.

Use A VPN To Watch YouTube In China Through A Mobile Phone

If you have a mobile phone with you whenever you use public Wi-Fi in China, you can use a VPN to protect your personal and financial information from being accessed by nefarious individuals on the same network. When you use a mobile phone to access the internet in China, all of your internet activity (including search history) is stored on a central server. A VPN encrypts all of this data, allowing you to secure your personal information while online in the country.

Use A Proxy To Watch YouTube Videos In China

If you’re in China and have access to a fast and stable internet connection, consider using a proxy to watch YouTube videos. Proxies are faster than normal web browsers because they don’t have to go through the trouble of rendering and displaying web pages. Instead, they simply forward your web requests to the appropriate website (e.g., YouTube). Using a proxy to access blocked websites in China is highly beneficial as it saves you from having to leave the country to access content that you want to watch. However, proxies can be unreliable so you should only use them when you absolutely need to.

Use A Reverse Proxy To Watch YouTube Videos In China

If you want to access YouTube videos in China but don’t have the hardware or internet connection to run a proxy, you can always use a reverse proxy. A reverse proxy works just like a regular one, but instead of sending your requests to the appropriate website, they go back in the other direction. This allows you to access blocked websites like YouTube from inside the Great Firewall of China. When you use a reverse proxy to access YouTube, all of your internet activity (including search history) will be stored on a central server so be careful about what you search for because it could end up being monitored by the government. In addition, just as with regular proxies, using a reverse proxy to access YouTube or another blocked website will disguise your location and allow you to access content that is otherwise restricted in the country. Finally, make sure to keep your reverse proxy configuration secret from those around you because they may also be monitored by the government.

Use A VPS To Watch YouTube Videos In China

A virtual private server (VPS) is a type of server used by businesses, schools, and universities to provide internet storage and bandwidth to individuals and devices. VPSes are often used to host websites and blogs because of their affordability, flexibility, and reliability. While it’s not usually necessary to have your own VPS to access YouTube videos in China, it is always an option if you’re running a website or blog focused on the country and you want to ensure that your content is available to as many people as possible. When you use a VPS to watch videos in China, you’re essentially renting a portion of a server’s storage space and bandwidth to do so. If you want to watch YouTube videos on a long flight, consider investing in an airplane computer so that you can access the content when you’re in the sky. Doing so will not only save you from having to worry about your tablet or mobile phone’s storage limitations but it will also increase your privacy because your internet activity will be hidden from those around you on the plane.

While using a VPN can help you enjoy YouTube videos in China, it’s not the only option available to users in the country. As we’ve discussed, there are a number of different factors that you need to consider before you begin using any of these services to access content on the web. Fortunately, with a little bit of research and planning, you’ll be able to find a way to enjoy YouTube videos in the country without risking your personal safety or having your computer infected by a virus.