YouTube region restriction checker
See which countries can — and can't — watch any YouTube video.
Some YouTube videos won't play in certain countries, and there's no way to tell from the watch page unless you happen to be in a blocked region. This checker reads a video's region-restriction data straight from the official YouTube Data API and shows you the full picture at once: available worldwide, blocked in specific countries, or limited to an allow-list.
It's useful whether you're a viewer wondering why a link won't load, a creator confirming your upload reaches the audience you're targeting, or a marketer checking that a video you're about to feature is actually watchable in your key markets.
Why videos get region-locked
The most common cause is music. When a track is matched by Content ID, the rights holder can allow monetisation in some countries and block the video entirely in others — which is why a video can be fine in the US but dark in Germany. Broadcast and sports footage carry territory-by-territory licensing too, and in rarer cases a creator restricts a video deliberately or a local law forces a block. The metadata this tool reads reflects whatever those parties set.
Related checks
Once you know a video is watchable where it matters, dig into its numbers with the video analytics checker, or size up the channel behind it with the channel audit.
Availability is only half the battle — a video still has to be seen. If yours reaches the right countries but not enough people, real YouTube views from active accounts can help it build momentum where it counts.
Frequently asked questions
Why is a YouTube video blocked in my country?
Almost always rights and licensing — background music owned by a label, sports or broadcast footage, or a distribution deal that only covers certain territories. Occasionally a creator or government restricts it directly.
Does this checker use a VPN?
No. It reads the video's official region-restriction metadata from the YouTube API, so it reports the true allow/block list accurately for every country at once — no VPN, and no guessing from a single location.
What does 'available worldwide' mean?
The video carries no region restriction in its metadata, so YouTube serves it in every country (local laws and account-level blocks aside). Most videos fall into this category.
Can I remove a region block from my own video?
It depends on the cause. If it's a Content ID music claim blocking certain countries, replacing or removing the flagged audio usually lifts it. Licensing and legal blocks set by rights holders can't be overridden by the uploader.