Youku not working with VPN: How to fix it (2023 walkthrough)

Youku is one of the most popular streaming sites in China, but as the service is geo-restricted, you might have trouble accessing it outside of the country. You can open Youku abroad with a reliable VPN, but if you already have a VPN and it’s not working as it should, what’s going on?

Our jargon-free streaming guide will help you enjoy shows on the Youku website without getting errors. If your current VPN isn’t working, there’s a good chance Youku has blacklisted the server you’re trying to connect with. In other words, you won’t be able to use your streaming account unless you’re in in China. Our expert guide can help you get back up and running.

In this article:

• Why is Youku not working with my VPN?
• How does Youku detect my VPN?
• The best VPNs for Youku
• How to watch Youku on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android

At a glance: VPNs that work with Youku (October 2023)

Youku is only available in certain countries, including China. Bad VPNs might not work with Youku because they fail to hide your location if you’re outside a supported country. But the VPNs we talk about below are recommended for those who want to use the service anywhere.

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read our full article, sign up for one of these VPNs – they work with Youku as of October 2023.

Note: all of the Youku VPNs below offer a 30-day, money-back guarantee. ✅

Why is Youku not working with my VPN?

If Youku discovers you’re trying to use the service from outside of China, you’ll get blocked. Certain countries will limit access to Youku due to licensing laws, or because there are laws in that country that go against VPN use.

Try these fixes

Delete your browser cookies – Cookies stored on your device will help websites to understand where you’re accessing Youku from. By clearing your cookies, Youku will no longer recognise your previous IP address. In other words, you can try connecting again as a ‘new’ user.

Try connecting to a different VPN server – It may be that the VPN server you’re trying to use for Youku streaming is acting slower than usual, or it’s not functioning at all. If you can, try and connect yourself to a different server based in China to see if that solves your problem.

Contact your VPN’s support team – Depending on the VPN you’re using, you may be able to reach out to the support team directly and ask why Youku isn’t working.

Uninstall and reinstall your VPN software – In some cases, we’ve found that a simple reset of your VPN software can solve connectivity issues and give you access to Youku.

If you’ve worked your way through the potential fixes above and still aren’t having any luck, then you’re probably better off signing up with a superior VPN. Keep on scrolling as we round up a selection of our favourites, all proven to work with Youku.

How does Youku detect my VPN?

If your VPN isn’t very good and doesn’t hide your real location 100% of the time, Youku will blacklist the server you’re using, which means your VPN is useless. Bad VPNs take a long time to replace those blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to shows streaming on Youku’s website.

The best VPNs do a top-notch job of replacing their blacklisted servers. That means that even if Youku disables a server, a replacement will be up soon.

The best VPNs for Youku in 2023

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.90 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.41 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.61 per month (49% off)

ExpressVPN is one of our favourite VPNs – it’s simple to use even if you’re new to VPNs, plus it does a good job of replacing blacklisted servers. This is one of the most popular VPNs you can buy and it effortlessly unlocks region-restricted websites such as Youku. To open up your Youku account, all you need to do is log in to your ExpressVPN account, connect to a VPN server based in China and start streaming.

Try ExpressVPN with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: $9.95 per month
• 1-year subscription: $3.99 per month (save $71.40)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: $1 per month (90% off)

Ivacy works well with the Youku website – it’s a safe option if you don’t want to spend lots of money on a VPN. If you sign up today, you’ll have access to over 1,000 VPN servers across the globe. A single subscription has you covered on up to 10 different devices at any one time. Give Ivacy a try for yourself if you’d like to be able to access Youku from anywhere in the world.

Try Ivacy with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)

For more on Ivacy, you can read our full Ivacy review.

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.29 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.89 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.99 per month (54% off)

Here’s another VPN that lets you enjoy Youku while you’re travelling. NordVPN has servers across the globe and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption technology. They’re super secure and you can connect without handing over your personal data to random companies. If you have any questions while getting to grips with NordVPN, you can reach out to the team using the live chat feature.

Try NordVPN with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)

Atlas VPN

• 1-month subscription: £9.83 per month
• 1-year subscription: £2.69 per month (73% off with code BIGDEAL)
• 2-year subscription + 3 months extra: £1.49 per month (85% off with code BIGDEAL)

Atlas VPN will act as a shield against online threats while at the same time unlocking geo-restricted content for you. It’s a good pick for buyers on a budget and comes with a built-in tracker blocker that stops ads, suspicious websites and phishing links in their tracks. It’s a solid choice if you want to watch Youku anywhere in the world. Other handy Atlas VPN features include a shielded connection, plus a data breach monitor that lets you know if your personal details have been exposed online.

Try Atlas VPN today with our exclusive code (30-day money-back guarantee)

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $12.45 per month
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription: $2.29 per month (82% off)

If your current VPN simply doesn’t work with Youku, treat yourself to a better service. PureVPN is the perfect example, powerful enough to bypass geo-locked websites and services so you can enjoy Youku shows without a fuss. You’ll be able to log in to your Youku account even if you’ve roamed outside of China.

Try PureVPN with our unique discount code (31-day money-back guarantee)

Prices listed above correct at time of publication

Watch Youku on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android