Nordvpn Best VPN For Bbc Iplayer In 2022
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NordVPN is currently one of the best VPNs on the market and a solid choice when it comes to defeating the BBC iPlayer geo-block. This may have something to do with the fact that NordVPN has over 400 servers in the UK, meaning you have many server options for breaking past any obstacle BBC iPlayer puts in your way. All in all, NordVPN runs an enormous network of 5,100 fast VPN servers, strategically located in 59 countries.
Is the NordVPN network fast enough to stream HD video? Without a doubt. This is the fastest VPN network we have ever tested. In one of our recent speed tests for the NordVPN vs PIA comparison, we saw a download speed of 445 Mbps on our 500 Mbps internet connection. Thats more than enough speed for streaming, torrenting, gaming, videoconferencing or pretty much anything you might want to do.
This level of performance is great if you need a fast VPN for torrenting, or any other high-bandwidth activities.
NordVPN has a big edge with network performance over the competition. They offer the NordLynx protocol in all of their VPN clients. NordLynx is a custom implementation of the highly-regarded, highly-secure, and high-speed WireGuard VPN protocol. NordVPNs network is entirely composed of RAM-disk servers , which ensures no logs can ever be stored on the server. Lastly, they are now deploying self-owned servers in all locations. These will replace all rental servers, which is what most other VPNs still use.
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What Are Some Bbc Iplayer Streaming Issues With Nordvpn
If you are experiencing issues with BBC iPlayer streaming, you can always disconnect from the VPN and reconnect. You can also follow some of the above troubleshooting tips to fix the streaming issues. BBC iPlayers geo-blocks are some of the toughest among all the streaming platforms.
However, if you are facing extensive buffering or lags, you can always refresh the page and start the video again. You can also try and switch time zones on your device to match the UK. Similarly, most of the time, the problem is not with the VPN but with BBC iPlayer, or your internet connection.
If you are using NordVPN, you dont have to worry about getting blocked by BBC iPlayer as you can always opt for a dedicated IP address. NordVPN provides dedicated IP addresses to users that only they can use, so it is highly unlikely for that one IP address to be blacklisted by BBC. Meaning, you will get instant access to BBC iPlayers content without any hiccups.
Why Use Expressvpn With Bbc Iplayer
ExpressVPN has been a top choice for streaming content from anywhere and for multiple purposes, including secure browsing, internet banking, torrenting, and accessing sensitive information over the internet.
ExpressVPN and iPlayer are a good combo together. Lets take a look at some of the reasons why ExpressVPN is best for accessing BBC iPlayer.
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Clear Dns Cache And Check Dns Leaks
Clear your DNS cache on a Windows computer:
Press the Windows Key or hover your mouse over the bottom left corner and click the Windows Icon. Begin typing Command Prompt. Right-click the application and select Run as Administrator. In command line, type ipconfig /flushdns and hit enter.
Check for DNS Leak Run either test on this page
How Does A VPN Make Bbc Iplayer Think I Am In The Uk
To answer that question, we first need to talk about how BBC iPlayer knows where you are in the world.
There are various ways to find a devices physical location, particularly for mobile devices with their built-in GPS receivers. However, the most common way is to look at the devices IP address.
Everything connected to the internet is assigned a unique IP address, which identifies your device and the general area where your device is located. If your IP address isnt located in the UK, then you will be blocked from accessing BBC iPlayer, and get something like this:
This was the message I got when connecting from my location in the US. Fortunately, a VPN allows you to hide your IP address your real IP address that is and gain access to media around the world.
In most cases, your IP address doesnt pinpoint your exact location, but for geo-blocking, it doesnt have to. BBC iPlayer only needs to know if you are located in the United Kingdom or not. And knowing your IP address is sufficient for that.
When you use a VPN to connect to the iPlayer website, your computer first connects to a VPN server located somewhere in the UK. The VPN server now knows your devices IP address. And by looking at the header of messages from your device, it knows the IP address of the website you want to connect to . So the VPN server replaces your IP address and location with the VPN servers IP address and location.
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Bbc Iplayer Not Working With VPN: Quick Fixes
Here are the easiest ways to fix VPN problems with BBC iPlayer in Canada:
Is It Legal To Watch Bbc Iplayer With A VPN
Before you use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer, I recommend checking the local laws in your country. In most regions, VPNs are legal software but you cant use it to break any laws .
That said, streaming BBC iPlayer from outside the UK with a VPN is against the Terms of Use. Theres no mention of whether this applies to residents of the UK who are temporarily abroad during my research, I couldnt find any evidence of the consequences.
You also need to have a UK TV license if youre streaming BBC iPlayer content . My team and I havent heard of any legal action to date, but you could potentially face a fine of up to £1,000 or even prison time if youre caught.
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Why Do Streaming Services Region
Usually, streaming services dont own exclusive worldwide broadcast rights for their shows, although there are some exceptions, such as with Netflix Originals. This means that, for instance, the BBC might have the rights to broadcast a particular title in the UK, while another network will show it in the US. As such, major streaming services often use region-locking to stick to their end of the bargain and prevent users in other countries from watching anything.
Of course, region-locking doesnt help much if your broadcast schedule punishes the viewer for living outside of a certain country. Killing Eve season 2, for instance, had different release dates for the UK and the US, meaning British fans not only had to wait longer, but they also had to avoid spoilers for several months. To prevent having one of the UKs biggest shows in recent years spoiled for them, many fans resorted to using VPNs to watch new episodes as they were released on American TV.
Watch Bbc Iplayer On Amazon Fire Stick
If you have an Amazon Fire Stick, know that you can watch BBC iPlayer in the USA. You can get the app directly from Amazon, and the installation process is straightforward.
Heres what you have to do to watch BBC iPlayer on an Amazon Fire Stick:
Note: you may need to create a UK Amazon account to watch BBC iPlayer on an Amazon Fire Stick. Thats not always the case, as some users claim, but its sometimes necessary. I recommend you do it right off the bat to avoid any inconveniences.
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Expressvpn Strong Unblocking Features
ExpressVPN is a top-rated reliable VPN.
It offers high-end features and has a reputation for unblocking most streaming sites, including BBC iPlayer.
If you hit an obstacle, youll have access to 24/7 live chat support.
This provider also has a strict no-logs policy, so no one will know youve been streaming using a VPN.
Watch Bbc Iplayer On Android
If you want to watch BBC shows on your Android, just run through the steps weve listed below.
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What Else Can A VPN Do
As we say, VPNs have become the way to watch your favourite shows when abroad and open up a whole world of new shows and films to watch on BBC iPlayer and beyond – the amount of people using a VPN for Netflix is enormous. And the same goes for Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and regular domestic stations, too.
The geo-spoofing nature of virtual private networks that make them so useful for streaming, also provides the perfect tool for unblocking restricted websites and sidestepping country-wide internet restriction, which is why VPNs for use in China are so popular.
And their encrypted tunnels also make VPNs a kind of de facto antivirus companion . Using an unrelated IP address effectively makes you anonymous as you use the internet, and your data is shielded from prying eyes and cyber crooks.
What If I Don’t Have A Uk TV License
When trying to access BBC iPlayer, you might get a notification informing you that a UK TV license is required to watch any program on the site. When prompted, many sources report you can simply click “I have a TV license”.
BBC apparently depends on the honor system to keep viewers honest and does not require actual proof that the user has a TV license. This message was added to iPlayer’s terms of service in September 2016.
Access to the BBC iPlayer streaming service now requires viewers to register a BBC account and input a valid UK postcode. The form does not seem to verify whether or not the registrant actually lives within the postal code they input, so as long as you have a UK IP address, you should be okay.
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Can I Watch Iplayer Without A VPN
If you live in the UK, you can watch the BBC iPlayer on any device whenever you like. All you will need is a TV license and to register an account with the BBC.
If you don’t live in the UK, you will need to use some sort of tool to convince the BBC iPlayer you are actually based there.
The best and easiest tool to do this is a VPN, giving you access to UK IP addresses which we described earlier in this guide.
How Does Iplayer Know If I Am Using A VPN
Like most geo-blocked services, BBC iPlayer determines the user’s location by examining their IP address. If it points to anywhere outside of the UK, you simply won’t be able to use the service. Luckily, getting around this type of blocking is easy: just connect to a British VPN server to get an IP address from the UK and trick iPlayer into letting you watch from abroad.
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Connect To A Different Nordvpn Server
The first tip is to disconnect from the UK server and disable the VPN connection. Wait a few seconds and try connecting to a different UK server. NordVPN will give you a different IP address, and chances are you will not face the issue again.
Often, servers stop working due to traffic overload. Although NordVPN offers the best speeds, this issue can still occur. You can also use NordVPNs P2P-optimized servers to torrent anything you want.
What To Do If Your VPN Does Not Work With Iplayer
The BBC is constantly trying to prevent users from accessing their online catalog when outside the UK. As a result, iPlayer can make your VPNs job challenging at times.
Below there are some hacks that can help you to fix your VPN problems with BBC iPlayer:
- Clear your cookies and then reload the page
- Try with a different browser
- Report the issue to your VPN customer support team, asking for a recommendation to the best server to use
- Sometimes your real IP address can leak information. Enable the leak protection option in your VPNs settings menu to stop this from happening
- If you are watching iPlayer from your smartphone, try to switch on your PC. Doing that prevents GPS data from being cross-referenced with your IP address
If none of these steps is working, your VPN may simply not be suitable for iPlayer. So the final suggestion is to check our list of working iPlayer VPNs to ensure that you’re getting fully functioning software.
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Why Is Zenmate The Best VPN For Bbc Iplayer
ZenMate VPN is compatible with almost all devices. Plus, we also have a free browser extension available for , Mozilla Firefox, and Opera. Here’s what ZenMate can do for you:
Access Streaming Services
Not all VPNs work with BBC iPlayer. But, ZenMate has dedicated streaming servers proven to work with content services like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO NOW, and more.
Secure VPN for all Devices
The ZenMate VPN app is available on Windows, macOS, OpenVPN, Android, Android TV, and iOS, as well as browser extensions for Chrome, Opera and Firefox.
Favourite Servers
With ZenMate you can just bookmark your favourite server in the UK, and elsewhere, so you’ll find them easily and quickly connect to them later on.
Kill Switch
ZenMate’s kills switch feature is your virtual safety net. If for any reason your VPN connection drops, ZenMate automatically disconnects your internet, this way there’s no way anybody can find out what you’re doing online.
Hide Your IP Address
Make sure nobody can get their hands on your data and protect your internet activity by hiding your IP address. From the moment you connect to one of our servers your IP will instantly change to one from a remote location.
Say goodbye to slow download speeds. Connect to one of ZenMate’s servers optimized for downloads and keep your data completely private.
Fast Speeds from 81+ Locations
Strict No-Logging Policy
Stay Protected on Multiple Devices
Military-Grade Encryption
Access Websites
Why Do I Need A VPN For Bbc Iplayer
Streaming services, like BBC iPlayer, use geo-blocking technology to restrict their content by region.
These content platforms do this to enforce licensing agreements they have with content owners. The extent of the restrictions varies across streaming services.
Netflix, for instance, has a different content library in every country. Other platforms, like Hulu and BBC iPlayer, are only available in one country.
BBC iPlayer is only available within the UK. If you try to connect from elsewhere, youll be unable to stream content.
Using a VPN, your true IP address is replaced with the IP address of a VPN server. If you connect to a UK VPN server, you can trick BBC iPlayer into thinking youre located in the UK.
In other words, you can connect to a VPN and stream BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Currently, BBC iPlayer is one of the hardest content platforms to unblock. The service makes a dedicated effort to monitor and block VPN traffic.
As a result, even some of the highest-rated VPNs dont work with BBC iPlayer. Therefore, its crucial you use a VPN weve verified to work.
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The Best Bbc Iplayer VPN In 2022
BBC iPlayer is home to a treasure trove of exclusive content, but if you’re outside the UK, you won’t be able to watch unless you use a quality BBC iPlayer VPN.
From Peaky Blinders to Killing Eve and Gentleman Jack, there’s something for everyone on iPlayer, but in our testing it’s essential to pick the best VPN for the job, as not every service can unblock the British streaming site outside the UK.
To get started, just pick from our recommendations below, pop the kettle on, and connect to a UK VPN server to enjoy everything good old Blighty has to offer.
How To Watch Bbc Iplayer On Iphone
If you want to watch BBC iPlayer shows on your iPhone, just run through the steps weve listed below.
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How To Watch On Xbox Or Ps4
There are two possible ways to do this.
One involves adjusting some of your DNS settings. To do this, you will need to visit the network settings section of your console and manually adjust the devices primary and secondary DNS numbers.
These numbers change fairly regularly so you will need to take a look online to find the latest ones. These are usually fairly easy to find, but not always.
A much simpler way is to install your VPN onto your router directly.
This means that once your router is connected, all data from any devices using your Wi-Fi will also be redirected. This will include your Xbox or PlayStation and mean that you can enjoy the BBC iPlayer no matter where in the world you are.
In most cases your home router won’t be suitable so you will need to look to a special VPN router such as the Invizbox 2.