Youtube enforces restricted mode

November 03, 2025 02:16

I have a Gold SE box, and love the control it gives me. Youtube operates in restricted mode most of the time. Oddly enough it's not always in restricted mode, but regardless, I don't want it sniffing my packets and ports and deciding I look like an institution and therefor should not get all the options, that is, leave restricted mode on by the 'network administrator', as that's me.

I have AdBlock enabled, not safe search. When I run Youtube's content restrictions settings for my connection, it reports that, yes, they are enabled, because "DNS restrictions are on: Strict restricted for :

www.youtube.com

www.youtiube.googleapis.com

www.youtubei.googleapis.com

www.youtube-nocookie.com

m.youtube.com

How do I allow these DNS sites to come through? Furthermore, which control is blocking them? I cannot find them in the blocked content on the device anywhere.

Thanks so much!

--Mark

Comments

14 comments

Firewalla

November 03, 2025 04:30
Do you mean when you turn off safe search, with ad block on, youtube is still in "safe mode"? This shouldn't happen. When you did the test, did you flush the DNS? (turn off then turn on wifi will do that)
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Mark W Abbott

November 03, 2025 13:27
Good question. I've had safe search turned off my my machines for a month or so. ad block is on. The router gets restarted periodically. I'll try toggling the wifi and confirm behaviour.

It would be nice to give YouTube a way through with safe search on if that ends up being the culprit.
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Firewalla

November 03, 2025 16:35
Do you have other type of controls? like custom DNS? or youtube level controls?
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Mark W Abbott

November 03, 2025 16:41
Nope, no custom DNS and YouTube is not restricted for my machines with the built in filters and controls
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Mark W Abbott

November 04, 2025 01:36
It is worth noting I use an ORBI mesh behind the firewalla. This is what gets the wireless to the house. I reset both the ORBI an the Firewalla. Upload reloading the youtube tab, it started off in restricted mode. Oddly enough, after watching a few videos, it toggled off. Comments were available. So far it has stayed off. I'll give it a bit and update if things change
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Mark W Abbott

November 04, 2025 01:44
it just took one more video and the restricted mode turned back on.
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Firewalla

November 04, 2025 03:59
Are you using any other DNS services beyond firewalla? It is definitly pretty odd that. You didn't set up SafeSearch and are still getting SafeSearch.

Is your orbi mesh running in pure AP mode?
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Mark W Abbott

November 05, 2025 03:06
Yes, the ORBI is in AP mode. It provides the wireless mesh and nothing else. No other DNS services, the Firewalla is my firewall and gateway. I'm not sure if safesearch is being trigger somehow, or if it's just youtube being difficult. I have 6 groups and 2 users. Safesearch is enabled on some and not on others. My computers and devices are in the 'AlwaysOn' group that has the least restrictions.
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FirewallaSupportDesk

November 05, 2025 04:58
Hi, we've created a ticket for you so we can discuss more details and troubleshoot there. Please look out for your inbox.
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Phil

November 27, 2025 08:31
I’m also having the same issue with YouTube turning on restricted mode due to my Firewalla. However, I don’t have any restrictions on the subnet or group in the Firewalla for the TV that is playing YouTube and it is on its own vlan that is isolated from the rest of the network connecting through the AP7.
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FirewallaSupportDesk

November 27, 2025 08:40
Have you enabled Safe Search on your Firewalla? This could result YouTube be on restricted mode when behind Firewalla.
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Phil

November 28, 2025 16:12
Safe search is enabled on the firewalla but it is not selected for that specific subnet, group, or device, as mentioned above with no restrictions. It seems that the firewalla is applying safe search to devices for which it should not be applied.
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Phil

November 28, 2025 16:13
Incidentally, I completely turned off safe search and family protect and the video was still blocked from youtube.
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Firewalla

November 28, 2025 19:34
It may take sometimes for safe search to timeout or your app to switch to different mode. Please wait.

If you still can't see certain videos, check your youtube settings.
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