Question:

Why can I only access YouTube on my Windows PC and Android phone, while other devices on the same wifi network can access everything?

I have a Windows PC that is connected to the internet via an ethernet cable, and an Android phone that uses wifi. For some reason, both of these devices can only access YouTube, and nothing else. However, other devices in the house, such as iPhones and a Microsoft Surface, can access any website or app without any problem. They are all on the same wifi network. What could be causing this issue, and how can I fix it? Where should I start troubleshooting?

Answer:

If you are experiencing this problem, you are not alone. Many users have reported that they can only access YouTube on their Windows PC and Android phone, while other devices on the same wifi network can access everything. This can be very frustrating, especially if you need to use other websites or apps for work, study, or entertainment. In this article, we will explain what could be causing this issue, and how you can fix it. We will also provide some tips on where to start troubleshooting.

What could be causing this issue?

There are several possible causes for this issue, but the most common ones are:

–

DNS settings

: DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it is a service that translates website names (such as www.google.com) into IP addresses (such as 172.217.14.100) that computers can understand. Sometimes, the DNS settings on your Windows PC and Android phone may be different from the ones on your router or other devices, and this can cause some websites or apps to be blocked or inaccessible. YouTube may be an exception, because it uses a different DNS service than most websites or apps.

–

Firewall or antivirus software

: Firewall or antivirus software are programs that protect your devices from malicious attacks or unwanted connections. However, sometimes they may also block some websites or apps that are not harmful, either by mistake or by design. YouTube may be an exception, because it is a well-known and trusted website that is unlikely to be blocked by firewall or antivirus software.

–

Browser or app settings

: Browser or app settings are the preferences and options that you can customize on your devices. Sometimes, these settings may interfere with the connection or performance of some websites or apps, either by mistake or by design. YouTube may be an exception, because it is a well-optimized and user-friendly website that is unlikely to be affected by browser or app settings.

How can I fix it?

Depending on the cause of the issue, there are different ways to fix it. Here are some general steps that you can try:

–

Check your DNS settings

: You can check your DNS settings on your Windows PC by following these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and click on Network and Internet. 2. Click on Network and Sharing Center and then click on Change adapter settings. 3. Right-click on your network connection and select Properties. 4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties. 5. Check if the option Obtain DNS server address automatically is selected. If not, select it and click OK. 6. Restart your PC and try to access other websites or apps. You can check your DNS settings on your Android phone by following these steps: 1. Open the Settings app and tap on Network and Internet. 2. Tap on Wi-Fi and then tap on the name of your wifi network. 3. Tap on the gear icon and then tap on Advanced. 4. Tap on Private DNS and select Automatic. If it is already selected, try to switch to Off and then back to Automatic. 5. Restart your phone and try to access other websites or apps. Alternatively, you can try to use a different DNS service, such as Google DNS or Cloudflare DNS, which may be faster or more reliable than your default DNS service. To do this, you need to enter the IP addresses of the DNS servers manually in the steps above, instead of selecting the automatic option. For example, the IP addresses of Google DNS are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4, and the IP addresses of Cloudflare DNS are 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. You can find more information about these and other DNS services online.

–

Check your firewall or antivirus software

: You can check your firewall or antivirus software on your Windows PC by following these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and click on System and Security. 2. Click on Windows Defender Firewall and then click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. 3. Check if the apps or websites that you want to access are allowed. If not, click on Change settings and then check the boxes next to the apps or websites that you want to allow. Click OK and then restart your PC. 4. If you have a third-party firewall or antivirus software, open it and look for a similar option to allow or unblock apps or websites. You may need to consult the documentation or support of your software for more details. You can check your firewall or antivirus software on your Android phone by following these steps: 1. Open the Settings app and tap on Apps and notifications. 2. Tap on See all apps and then tap on the app that you want to check. 3. Tap on Permissions and then tap on Network access. 4. Check if the app is allowed to access the internet. If not, tap on Allow and then restart your phone. 5. If you have a third-party firewall or antivirus app, open it and look for a similar option to allow or unblock apps or websites. You may need to consult the documentation or support of your app for more details.

–

Check your browser or app settings

: You can check your browser or app settings on your Windows PC by following these steps:

1. Open your browser and click on the menu icon (usually three dots or lines) in the top right corner. 2. Click on Settings and then look for options related to privacy, security, cookies, cache, extensions, or plugins. You may need to explore different tabs or sections to find these options. 3. Try to disable or enable some of these options, or clear your browsing data, and see if that makes a difference. You may need to restart your browser or PC for the changes to take effect. 4. If you have a third-party browser or app, open it and look for similar options to adjust or reset. You may need to consult the documentation or support of your browser or app for more details. You can check your browser or app settings on your Android phone by following these steps: 1. Open your browser or app and tap on the menu icon (usually three dots or lines) in the top right corner. 2. Tap on Settings and then look for options related to privacy, security, cookies, cache, extensions, or plugins. You may need to explore different tabs or sections to find these options. 3. Try to disable or enable some of these options, or clear your browsing data, and see if that makes a difference. You may need to restart your browser or app or phone for the changes to take effect. 4. If you have a third-party browser or app, open it and look for similar options to adjust or reset. You may need to consult the documentation or support of your browser or app for more details.

Where should I start troubleshooting?

If you are not sure what is causing the issue, or if none of the steps above work, you can try to narrow down the problem by following these steps:

–

Test different devices

: Try to access other websites or apps on different devices that are connected to the same wifi network, such as laptops, tablets, smart TVs, or game consoles. If they can access everything, then the problem is likely with your Windows PC and Android phone. If they also have the same issue, then the problem is likely with your router or wifi network.

–

Test different networks

: Try to connect your Windows PC and Android phone to a different wifi network, such as a mobile hotspot, a public wifi, or a friend’s wifi. If they can access everything, then the problem is likely with your router or wifi network. If they still have the same issue, then the problem is likely with your Windows PC and Android phone.

–

Test different websites or apps

: Try to access different websites or apps on your Windows PC and Android phone, such as social media, news, games, or streaming services. If they can access some of them, but not others, then the problem may be specific to certain websites or apps. You may need to contact the support or developers of those websites or apps for more help.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explained why you may only be able to access YouTube on your Windows PC and Android phone, while other devices on the same wifi network can access everything. We have also provided some possible solutions and troubleshooting tips to help you fix this issue. We hope that this article was helpful and informative, and that you can enjoy using other websites or apps on your devices. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 😊

: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-tcp-ip-settings-in-windows-10-2d5f4cfd-8e13-4996-9e18-75f8c5d8e5ee : https://www.androidcentral.com/how-change-your-dns-settings-android : https://www.techradar.com/news/best-dns-server : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/allow-an-app-through-windows-firewall-9f0f9b7a-0f9f-4c0f-8a0f