# Is there a way to tell if a youtube video is blocked from outside the US?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-a-youtube-video-is-blocked-from-outside-the-us/708869>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 3, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-a-youtube-video-is-blocked-from-outside-the-us/708869 "2015-01-03T18:38:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-a-youtube-video-is-blocked-from-outside-the-us/708869/1 "2015-01-03T18:38:28Z")

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I send a friend in Canada links to youtube videos. Something fun we both enjoy and can discuss. Several times, He couldn’t access the video. Blocked. :dubious:

It would save a lot of aggravation if I could tell what is blocked outside the US. Then I won’t waste the time sending the link.

Is there a way? This is a old traditional gospel song (public domain) and youtube blocked it from my Canadian friend.

I’m seeing nothing special in the license.

> [@](#):
>
> Published on Nov 8, 2014
> 
> Lonesome Valley
> 
> George Jones
> 
> ℗ 2013 Bandit Records, Distributed exclusively by Welk Music Group
> 
> Author, Composer: Traditional  
> Music Publisher: Public Domain
> 
> Auto-generated by YouTube.
> 
> ```
> Music
> "Lonesome Valley" by George Jones (Google Play • iTunes • AmazonMP3)
> Category
> Music
> License
> Standard YouTube License
> 
> ```

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-a-youtube-video-is-blocked-from-outside-the-us/708869/2 "2015-01-03T21:43:40Z")

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Try a free proxy:  
[http://www.gatherproxy.com/](http://www.gatherproxy.com/)

Or a VPN-esque addon like Hola that lets you choose country-specific routes:

> **[Hola! Access worldwide content!](https://hola.org/)**
>
> Wish you could access worldwide content anytime, anywhere? With Hola you can! Experience uninterrupted content at the tip of your fingers! Discover more.

Your friend might be able to use those same services, or other VPN providers, to view US YouTube videos.