What do people use to watch Youtube with?

I used to use Firefox with LibRedirect and would rotate through Invidious instances, but I’ve had less luck with that.

If I turn on VPN, YT prompts to log in to watch videos…

  • MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    2·
    12 hours ago

    TBH I just use youtube.com in my browser (Floorp/Firefox) with uBlock Origin. With SmartTube on my TV.

    The alternative front ends or apps don’t seem to support loading my watch history, playlists, or subscriptions, and they don’t sync between my devices even if I manually import stuff. Making usability an absolute nightmare.

    • thermal_shock@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 hours ago

      ReVanced does on android, just make sure you get the legit one from git. Takes a few steps to setup, but works perfectly, history and all.

  • cmgvd3lw@discuss.tchncs.de
    14·
    2 days ago

    Try Freetube with VPN set to an uncommon location like Bulgaria or Argentina etc. This works for most videos, but still some won’t load. I use invidious for those vidoes. This way, you won’t overload the invidious instances.

    The key is trying out different VPN locations.

    • mybuttnolie@sopuli.xyz
      1·
      2 days ago

      every time they patch freetube, yt breaks it a day or two later. can’t watch in yt directly because i have to prove I’m not a robot, and apparently i am since i can’t pass the tests (and tried almost all ivpn locations). only one invidious instance works, but not in freetube.

  • Hellfire103@lemmy.caEnglish
    8·
    2 days ago

    This Invidious instance still works. Don’t push it too hard, though: it’s all we’ve got.

    Also, if you log in to YouTube in Chromium or something (assuming you’re on desktop) and then use yt-dlp with the --cookies-from-browser chromium argument, it should work. This is also possible on Android via Termux and iOS via iSH if you copy ~/.config/chromium to the app.

  • scytale@piefed.zipEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    Pick a server somewhere in southeast Asia. I don’t have issues with youtube with locations outside of western and first world countries.

    • SoulKaribou@lemmy.ml
      1·
      3 hours ago

      Closer to Europe is Albania, which will also remove the ads by default if I’m not wrong. Estonia is also quite good also.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Good to know. I was using FreeTube on a Linux machine I have set up to do most of my Youtube watching, but I had to disable VPN. I got tired of trying different countries and just turned off VPN. I’ll try Swedish servers…

      • bad_news@lemmy.billiam.net
        3·
        1 day ago

        I find it goes in waves per VPN exit node and doesn’t permanently relate to any specific geography… exit node works for youtube, people figure out that exit node works for youtube, youtube notices the traffic and flags that IP so youtube doesn’t work for X months so people stop using it and eventually it works again and the cycle starts anew.

        • communism@lemmy.ml
          1·
          11 hours ago

          Yeah but in the past few months ive consistently found Swedish Mullvad servers to work (occasionally blocked but if you refresh the page it’s unblocked) whereas the Swiss servers, which I used to use, have been fully blocked for quite a while. I’m sure it’ll change in due time but for now that’s what’s been working. And I have found this for all the Swedish servers I’ve tried and all the Swiss servers I’ve tried. Only tried Mullvad servers as that’s the VPN I use.

          • bad_news@lemmy.billiam.net
            1·
            10 hours ago

            I would wager a month or two from now Swedish Mullvad gets 403’s for all videos or similar unless they’re using some magic formula for bypassing IP bans. I wouldn’t put it past Mullvad to do something experimental and brilliant with IPv6 IPs or something, but the cat and mouse will continue regardless.

  • Scolding7300@lemmy.world
    7·
    2 days ago

    Try using different countries. E.g. I sometimes had luck by using Brazil, Chile or other ones. I’ve recently hadn’t had much issues when viewing through Grayjay (on Android). But also not from FreeTube (on Ubuntu/Desktop)

  • hansolo@lemmy.today
    4·
    2 days ago

    Freetube or Librewolf (preferably via DDG search)

    Cycle through VPN locations until you get a winner if you get a block. It’s annoying, but the purpose of a VPN is to let you look like you’re anywhere. So find a good spot to watch YT and then just settle in.

  • sic_semper_tyrannis@lemmy.todayEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    Totally agree with the FreeTube recommendation. Libredirect will even open links in FreeTube. I use IVPN and use non obscure servers but every once in a while I do have to try a different one.

    You could also try Grayjay instead of Freetube

  • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
    51·
    2 days ago

    GrayJay seems to work best. Although even there you have to rotate servers or close and reopen videos occasionally. But 90% of the time it works.