I use Freetube on PC and some NewPipe fork AND Freetube on Android. The Android one has been breaking as of late. :-(
this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
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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.
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.
When Freetube won't play videos, I open them in vlc and that usually workr. I use the yt-dlp plugin for vlc.
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.
That makes sense for your use case. My use case is that I don't want my YT watching habits being scooped up if I can help it. At one point I might not have cared too much about things like YT, but under the current administration I have a lot more reservations about that.
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.
The problem is how do I get my history and everything on desktop and android TV then, does it sync with other apps or my google account or something like that?
I just sign in, it shows it all. I have to go back through and delete videos my kid watched cause it fucked up my feed. His account is age restricted, it won't let him sign in on the tablet. I need to look into it more, but the history definitely syncs from smarttube to revanced and YouTube in Firefox on my desktop
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.
Freetube connecting to local invidous node.
I use Freetube + Tor.
Pick a server somewhere in southeast Asia. I don’t have issues with youtube with locations outside of western and first world countries.
Closer to Europe is Albania, which will also remove the ads by default if I'm not wrong. Estonia is also quite good also.
SmartTube on TV and Newpipe on mobile, always VPNd.
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)
I watch YouTube with FreeTube on the desktop, and Tubular on mobile. Both are always over VPN, and anonymous (not logged in).
I haven't logged into YouTube in literal years.
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
Is that an option on Mac or Linux?
GrayJay desktop is available but very Alpha.
For Mac, I like Orion for it’s content blocking. Librewolf is solid on linux. Paired with mullvad and ublock origin.
I know it's on Linux as a Flatpak, it's also on Android
FreeTube has been working for me with Mullvad VPN set to Swedish servers. Also https://inv.nadeko.net/ if I need to share links with anyone.
:3
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Librewolf/ublock origin