Can you still view videos on Youtube without signing in

[Sighlass]

Today I am completely blocked out of Youtube it seems unless I "sign-in" to allow them to put a cookie on my computer to follow me around the internet and sell my data. My VPN seems useless to bypass their fake "anti-bot" campaign excuse.

Even the music threads here on TBR seem to only show up the demand I sign-in.

Anyone have a workabout... in the past refreshing the page has worked, but not now. Seems Oct. 15 was my last Youtube day... because I refuse to sign-in and allow Google to spy on my viewing habits.

[Sighlass]

I guess I forgot to put an option that you can use youtube but you don't use a VPN (thus you are not signed-in, but you use your real IP address which Youtube records and uses to follow you around the internet).

[240B]

I watch youtube (premium) on my Roku TV. Youtube is now one of my most watched channels.
There is Youtube-TV which I have heard great things about it. However it is too expensive for me compared to other options.

But yes, now, to my great surprise, I LOVE watching Youtube as a television channel.
Sky News, The Charismatic Voice, and so much more. Watch it all the time.

[Ghost Bear]

What locale is your VPN showing to YouTube?  It may be one that has passed digital ID type laws, like the UK, and that may be forcing the login.

When I use the YouTube app on my Roku TV, it doesn't require a login. But, you have to look for the option to avoid logging in (they don't make it obvious). I'm able to play videos while logged out on my web browser too. I'm in the US, and not using a VPN.

[Timber Rattler]

Yes, you can watch videos as a 'guest' without having an account or signing in.  I do it every day.

[Free Vulcan]

Check and make sure your browser is up to date. I had the problem recently, videos wouldn't load.

[Sighlass]

All good questions... I tried my VPN in lots of locations in the USA and Europe.... same results basically, Switzerland made me do a caption then said "log-in" (extra steps same results)...

I think if you use a real IP address, I imagine they are happy to snap a cookie on ya and let you view (they already know who you are), they are either going after VPN uses or people that use adblocks (I use both).

Browsers are up to date, I tried 4 different browsers just to be sure. 

My son will use the "guest" option on Roku... but again, Roku already gives them the info they want on where you are located and they are just compiling data already. I need anomalous (because I am just a privacy nut). 

[Sighlass]

Just tried turning off my VPN, and Youtube would work when they knew your IP... So I guess it is just goodbye Youtube, I ain't going naked on the WWW... Rumble it is.

[roamer_1]

Just tried turning off my VPN, and Youtube would work when they knew your IP... So I guess it is just goodbye Youtube, I ain't going naked on the WWW... Rumble it is.

I don't understand this thinking.  VPN protects you from your local ISP keeping records of your travels... but not much else.

Yes, it is a protected tunnel, but sooner or later, like a garden hose, the other end is reached, and there you are, exposed even yet.

But as to your direct question... give it a day or two and whatever google is tracking will be confounded again.

That happens sometimes with my ublock origin add-on... Youtoob figures out how to detect it, and boom! suddenly I am forced to watch ads...but only for a day or two, when ublock figgers out a fix and updates its add-on...then back to normal. This pattern extends back a decade or more.

[Sighlass]

Well I see now that the site I use to host images has now stopped working... Postimages(dot)org just goes to legalize and buy option...

Here is what I get on our music pages... (had to use another Image host)

[Sighlass]

I don't understand this thinking.  VPN protects you from your local ISP keeping records of your travels... but not much else.

Yes, it is a protected tunnel, but sooner or later, like a garden hose, the other end is reached, and there you are, exposed even yet.

I disagree (respectively).... The browser(s) changes fingerprints, I don't go full screen (another fingerprint), and I go through great lengths to spoof signatures to the most generic I can. I think if Youtube could see through VPN, it wouldn't be doing this.

VPNs work, thus why it is ticking off Google (which owns Youtube). There is a reason England is mad at VPN users... they are having trouble suppressing free speech and want to ban VPNs.

[roamer_1]

I disagree (respectively).... The browser(s) changes fingerprints, I don't go full screen (another fingerprint), and I go through great lengths to spoof signatures to the most generic I can. I think if Youtube could see through VPN, it wouldn't be doing this.

VPNs work, thus why it is ticking off Google (which owns Youtube). There is a reason England is mad at VPN users... they are having trouble suppressing free speech and want to ban VPNs.

Addendum:

My main media machine, running Win10, just went through an update, and when it came back up, youtoob is busted. Doesn't matter, Firefox, Chrome, or Edge

Disabled Ublock Origin (my ad buster) and it works now. With ads. And it also gave me a popup to buy Youtube Premium

But yeah. Youtube was totally busted. No nothing but either a spinner, or 'vid not available' thingy, with no explanation why.

Obviously it is their attempt to force ad-blockers to remit. Give it a couple days. There will be a work-around.

[roamer_1]

I disagree (respectively).... The browser(s) changes fingerprints, I don't go full screen (another fingerprint), and I go through great lengths to spoof signatures to the most generic I can. I think if Youtube could see through VPN, it wouldn't be doing this.

VPNs work, thus why it is ticking off Google (which owns Youtube). There is a reason England is mad at VPN users... they are having trouble suppressing free speech and want to ban VPNs.

meh. Alright. Sorta. Not really though. You could think of it as picking up your router and moving it to Albuquerque or Zimbabwe, or something - No matter where you put it, there is a real lead back to you - Because otherwise you would be unable to receive the pages you request. You've just made your VPN your soft ISP. Why you should trust your VPN vendor more than your ISP is a question.

[roamer_1]

BTW, my Win11 box remains unaffected.

[Sighlass]

BTW, my Win11 box remains unaffected.

I went through a few more of my obscure VPN locations and found one that works for now. Oddly a Muslim country.

[Sighlass]

Why you should trust your VPN vendor more than your ISP is a question.

Fair enough question, we all have seen the free VPNs that got busted doing more spying than those not using a VPN... But a lot of VPN companies use privacy as a selling point and know ONE bad provable leak/spillage/trace/report will kill their ratings on the web (and their bottom line).... Some VPNs almost go overboard to prove they actually care about your privacy... with things like buying subscriptions with bitcoin/cash without them even knowing your name. They don't register personal data at all... They don't keep anything to even give the CIA/FBI... they operate in countries that don't allow the CIA/ATF/FBI to even attempt to get info and even if they did request it they don't have the info to give.

Usually the higher the price of the VPN the more likely they take measures to protect privacy. I have ran a few over the years and some I would never use again (TunnelBear - woke to the point of being vindictive). I have a buddy that used a budget VPN with a lifetime subscription for 5 computers, and he has had no problems, but I wouldn't trust it.

Name brands like Proton, NordVPN (fast), Mullvad (Good Browser too), Heck, Mullvad even lets you mail in your cash payment. But even mid-tier VPNs do a fair job if you are on a budget and not exactly doing terrorist activity. Avast and AVG are in the ballpark though they do lack in some aspects like not deleting your data right away when you buy it. Some record how much data you use, some keep records in the mid-tier ones.

I run a mid-tier VPN, that has a good encryption. I can usually find a subscription for a couple of years for 20.00 or so. I need a "kill switch" that stops all internet if I get disconnected... I like "wireguard" protocall connection (over Mimic and OpenVPN). Lots of countries to connect to is a plus, but I have managed with fewer options.

[rmc51]

Youtube is locking out the VPN. I don't use youtube anymore. Budlite Youtube!!!!!!
Rumble works fine, they may ask if you are a human and then in you go.


 
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