BBC iPlayer not working with VPN (Easy Fix in 2024)

Last Updated on August 31, 2024 by Walter

As I travel frequently, I use a VPN to stream BBC iPlayer most of the time, whether to catch up with the most recent episode of East Enders, or watch highlights of football on Match of the Day, or even to listen to TMS overseas.

It's because I've lots of experience with VPNs, I know that is sometimes don't work on BBC iPlayer. This also means that I know what should be done if you find that a VPN has stopped working on iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer not working with VPN (Fast Fixes)

If your VPN isn't working with BBC iPlayer, you can do some things to make it work.

Delete cookies

In simple phrases, Cookies are little pieces of data that websites transmit to your computer to monitor your site's visits and activities.

They're not malicious, but they may contain information about your prior web browsing history and could reveal the location you're connecting to the internet.

To prevent this from happening problem, you need to erase your cookies (Chrome Settings > Privacy and Security and clearing browsing information) and then retry BBC iPlayer with your VPN activated and see whether that resolves the problem.

Connect to an alternative VPN server within the UK

If you're unsure if deleting your cookies works, Try using a server within the UK using the VPN platform.

VPNs cannot be blocked by BBC iPlayer. It's limited to blocking IP addresses.

If you are connecting with a server that is not yours, you'll be connecting with an alternative IP address. If your VPN is reliable that it is not a complete block of IP addresses will be identified and blocked to BBC iPlayer.

Upgrade to a more reliable VPN

Suppose you have tried deleting your cookies or connecting to another server within the UK and failed to resolve the issue. In that case, this indicates that BBC iPlayer has managed to stop all UK IP addresses your VPN offers.

This is a problem, and the only option to avoid this issue is to upgrade to the VPN with servers (IP addresses) that are compatible with BBC iPlayer.

I suggest ExpressVPN. I've been using and testing, ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer for over three years. ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if it does not work, (it will) you will receive a full refund within one month.

Use BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN and Save 49%

What is the reason my VPN stopped working using BBC iPlayer?

The simple reason is that VPNs are utilized by users who aren't in the right location or country to access iPlayer.

In the past, internet users could use any inexpensive VPN to stream catchup video from anywhere. This meant BBC iPlayer, and all of its content was accessible to everyone using a VPN. This was not just for the TV licensing-paying British public. Great to the consumer who is not paying. Not great for rights holders. The broadcasters (with streaming content) update their geo-restriction systems.

Your VPN has stopped working for BBC iPlayer, because the streaming service has detected and blocked all IP addresses that your VPN could provide. (It's important to note that the BBC does not block IP addresses, but only IP addresses. It doesn't block VPNs in all their entirety.)

How can BBC iPlayer block my VPN?

The method by which BBC iPlayer detects VPNs is easy.

What did I do to fix it when BBC iPlayer stopped working with my VPN

When I first encountered this issue years ago, I (foolishly) bought a 2-year license with HideMyAss, and it did not work with iPlayer one week later. Disaster! I attempted to “fix” this by connecting to as many UK servers as possible, which worked for a couple of days. After that, all of these servers stopped working for BBC iPlayer too.

After that, I spoke with the support team via Live Chat, and they advised me to remove my browser's cookies and test other UK servers. Naturally, it did not work. In the end, they said they did not have servers that were compatible together with BBC iPlayer, and they did not support BBC iPlayer as a feature. Ugh.

It forced me to purchase an entirely new VPN. This time, I conducted my homework correctly.

What you must be aware of:

Contrary to what VPNs claim, it's impossible to find a VPN that can always guarantee access to BBC iPlayer. Even the top VPNs, such as ExpressVPN, can provide short periods (sometimes lasting just a couple of days) in which they cannot access BBC iPlayer.

There's no simple method to overcome this as you're a VPN customer. You can only test the VPN's alternative UK servers (IP addresses). But if it doesn't work, you'll need to wait and see if your VPN provider can release new, undiscovered UK servers to its customers shortly.

VPNs that aren't compatible on BBC iPlayer as of December, 2024.

BBC iPlayer doesn't just block the IP addresses of one VPN. The streaming service blocks the following VPN connections:

There are a lot of VPNs that aren't compatible with BBC iPlayer is massive. The most popular ones are listed below:

Norton VPN
TunnelBear
IPVanish
Hotspot Shield
VyprVPN
Windscribe
PureVPN
Buffered
HideMyAss!

How can I solve BBC iPlayer not working with VPN?

You can sit and wait until your VPN provides new IP addresses, which aren't blacklisted from BBC iPlayer, and you aren't likely to encounter the errors you're encountering.

But the reality that this has occurred in the past implies that your VPN has no procedures to get around the blockages, and eventually, these IP addresses could be blocked also.

This could lead to you paying for an account with the VPN, which isn't going to perform. Additionally, it's impossible to predict how long it'll take for the VPN to make available new IP addresses as they're costly and difficult to obtain.

The most effective solution for situations where BBC iPlayer is not working using your current VPN is pretty simple. You'll need to get an alternative VPN. One that hasn't been banned by iPlayer and gives an access point to addresses with no blacklists.

It's time to upgrade to a VPN beating Cat and Mouse games against the BBC. ExpressVPN has been the top choice.

If the IP address supplied via ExpressVPN is banned from BBC, BBC, ExpressVPN will shut down the IP address and open an alternative one. Make sure you can access BBC iPlayer reliably from anywhere around the globe.

Please leave a comment for any assistance with BBC iPlayer not working with your VPN I'll assist in any way I can.

BBC iPlayer download failed by using VPN?

Are you getting “Download Unavailable – Error Code: 3” or “Dash manifest failed”? When attempting to download iPlayer programs using a VPN or a VPN, look through the How to download BBC iPlayer programs from abroad article to know more and solve the issue.

What's the problem with all VPNs? Good question. I have contacted ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, PIA VPN, and CyberGhost to determine the reason for this, and their responses were all similar. Each VPN provider clarified that the server they were using was configured to stream content rather than download it onto devices.

ExpressVPN said that its engineers were working on a solution for this issue and plan to have it out by the end of the week.

Also, it said that specific UK servers permit downloading onto Windows and Mac PCs, but they will not be compatible with iOS and Android mobile phones.

Can BBC iPlayer ban me from using VPN?

Absolutely not. Our team has conducted tests on dozens of VPNs on BBC iPlayer over the years, and not once did we see accounts banned. They are legitimate privacy tools, for sure! In reality, the BBC's own guidelines do not prohibit any VPN use; they just advise against using VPNs to stream from outside the UK.

Of course, BBC iPlayer attempts to stop all VPN users, regardless of. Even when the service detects that you're using the VPN (which it might not), it will inform you of an error, block you from streaming anything, and not block your account.

How can I make an account for a BBC iPlayer login?

The BBC now requires that users log in to view iPlayer. It's still available for free for all living in the UK, so all you require is a VPN which is still compatible in conjunction with iPlayer (still).

Registering for a BBC iPlayer account is the simplest thing you can do online. All you need is an email address and a UK postcode. The latter doesn't need to be genuine. You could even use an unrelated postcode if you don't want BBC to gather personal information about you.

Proceed to this address to register with BBC iPlayer https://account.bbc.com/register. and type in a valid Email, DoB, and UK Postcode, and then select your gender.

Best VPNs to stream BBC iPlayer

We suggest using the five VPN providers below to get an uninterrupted connection for BBC iPlayer.

Other VPNs might be working intermittently However, the five listed below have been thoroughly tested and confirmed. They also offer excellent customer assistance 24/7.

1. ExpressVPN

The fastest and most reliable VPN of 2022.

+Pros

Fast servers
Many IP addresses
10 simultaneous connections
24/7 Live Chat
30-day money-back guarantee
Easy-to-use app

-Cons

Servers: speed: more than 80% Bandwidth: Unlimited IP locations: 160 across the world 5 Chat live: yes 30-day money-back guarantee Yes

ExpressVPN is the most reliable VPN. Importantly, it always offers compatible servers to major streaming websites like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. ExpressVPN is generally very adept in engaging in Cat and Mouse with online streaming websites (apart of BBC iPlayer). This means that whenever one of their servers is blacklisted, it makes a fresh one, giving users ongoing streaming of a server that isn't restricted. This is important when searching for the best VPN to unblock streaming websites.

It is user-friendly and is free to download on nearly every device you can imagine. Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, FireStick, Android TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox, Linux, and Apple TV (with a workaround). The app has it all covered. The main reason that this VPN is so effective in blocking TV streaming sites (that claim to do not block VPNs) is the fact that it adopts a practical method of managing user accounts. While other VPNs lure customers with promises of giving users access to thousands of servers across several nations, ExpressVPN does things differently.

With ExpressVPN, there is only the option of a handful of servers to pick from. When you choose your location, ExpressVPN takes over the remaining. It assigns you to the fastest available server that isn't oversubscribed. This is a simple method that's vital because it helps keep ExpressVPN's servers running at lightning-fast speeds and also prevents its IPs from being banned due to “abnormal” usage in the initial place.

Use BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN and Save 49%

2. NordVPN

A high-speed and reliable VPN

+Pro

Fast servers
No logs
Many IP addresses
6-simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
Easy-to-use app

-Cons

No refunds for purchases made from the iTunes/App store

Servers: Speeds Bandwidth Unlimited | IP addresses The devices supported are: Chat live: yes 30-day money-back guarantee Yes

3. Surfshark VPN

Despite being somewhat young, Surfshark has quickly developed into one of the best VPN services available. With a vast network of quick servers, this VPN excels in every category, including privacy and security and watching BBC iPlayer and other video services. In our tests, Surfshark's three UK server locations reliably supported BBC iPlayer.

+ Pros

countless connections
for all platforms and devices, user-friendly applications
Blocking advertisements, trackers, and malicious domains using CleanWeb
Excellent results when used with Netflix and other streaming providers.
24/7 live chat assistance
features for effective leak prevention and encryption

– Cons

limited VPN router support
Speeds of OpenVPN on average (use WireGuard)

You'll be relieved to learn that Surfshark effortlessly completes all the typical VPN jobs, as bypassing geo-blocks is only a small portion of what a VPN regularly does. Surfshark received top grades in an unbiased security assessment from a German cybersecurity company. Likewise, our tests discovered that Surfshark functioned flawlessly and without any problems.

Use BBC iPlayer with Surfshark and Save 82%

4. Private Internet Access (PIA VPN)

One of the most affordable and low-cost VPNs to stream besides Surfshark VPN!

+Pros

Reliable and speedy servers
Many IP addresses
10 simultaneous connections
24/7 Live Chat
30-day money-back guarantee

-Cons

PIA is fast, but it could be a bit faster

30-day money-back guarantee

The number of server speeds greater than 75 Percent Bandwidth: Unlimited IP addresses 70 worldwide Live chat Yes. 30-day money-back promise Yes

Private Internet Access is one of the top no-log VPN services, with more than one million paying clients. This VPN is among the top in the market in overcoming streaming site VPN bans. It offers reliable connections to US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ Amazon Prime Video, and more. It also permits ten devices simultaneously to connect to its servers simultaneously, which means you can use the account to share it with your closest friends.

If – for any reason, you're not satisfied or aren't satisfied with Private Internet Access, there's live chat support available 24/7 that is available to help you solve the issue. PIA also provides the industry standard 30 days money-back assurance. In the tests I conducted (from New Zealand), I had download speeds of 68 Mbps when connected to a UK server with my Private Internet Access VPN (my non-VPN speed was 100Mbps).

Use BBC iPlayer with PIA VPN and Save 81%

5. CyberGhost

+Pros

One-day trial trial trial trial for free
Reliable servers
Many IP addresses
Seven simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
Easy-to-use app

-Cons

Expensive
Average speed scores

Servers: More than 6,000 speeds: more than 65% Bandwidth: Unlimited locations: 200 across 90 countries Devices supported Live chat Yes. 30 days money-back promise Yes

CyberGhost is among the most reputable VPNs available. It has a long-standing and tested international server network that works excellently.

Based on my testing during the last few years, CyberGhost has no trouble removing primary streaming services like US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more. This VPN did well in ensuring download speeds that were well over 65 percent of my regular (non-VPN) ISP speed.

The most exciting feature is the one-day absolutely free, no-obligation trial. This is an excellent offer for those who are brand new to VPNs. However, it's essential to note that most reliable VPNs offer the chance to return their money within 30 days Don't get too enticed by the promise.

Use BBC iPlayer with CyberGost VPN and Save 83%

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BBC iPlayer not working with VPN (Easy Fix in 2024)