How to use a VPN for streaming
Apart from staying anonymous online, the best VPNs have many uses, and access to more TV shows and movies is one of the biggest ones. In fact, when we asked our readers what they use their VPNs for, over half of them said they use a VPN for streaming, with a hefty 10% saying it’s more important to them than the privacy benefits.
But how does it work? Well, streaming sites like Netflix offer different content in different regions, meaning that if you’re abroad, you won’t have the same selection to choose from. This is called geo-blocking. By using a VPN, you can virtually change your location and trick your chosen streaming site into showing you content that would normally be blocked in your physical location.
So, here we will explain exactly how to use a streaming VPN. However, before that, we’ll quickly explain how VPNs work with various streaming sites – spoiler alert: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
How VPNs work with different sites
Different streaming sites geo-block their content in different ways. Some of them are only available from a specific country, while others display different content depending on your location. We have listed the biggest ones below.
NetflixA: Arguably the most popular streaming site to use a VPN, Netflix probably offers the most value for VPN users. Netflix licenses content in certain territories that is licensed by other streaming providers in others. For example, The Silence of the Lambs is available on Netflix in Canada, but in other countries it is only available on other streaming sites. Viewers in the US may consider using a Netflix VPN to travel virtually to Canada to watch the movie.
BBC iPlayer: The BBC streaming service has a huge amount of both UK and global TV shows, but is only available in the UK. If you are in a different location, you will not be able to watch. This can be a problem for Brits overseas and using a BBC iPlayer VPN to spoof your location back to the UK is an easy fix. Keep in mind, however, that you must have a TV license to watch the BBC iPlayer.
Amazon Prime Video: Prime works a little differently. Wherever you are, you will only be able to watch content from the country in which you registered. However, if you go abroad, you will find that there is very little to see there. With an Amazon Prime VPN, you can practically go home and watch whatever you pay for.
Disney Plus: While Disney Plus isn’t as extreme as Netflix, it restricts some content – most notably Star content – in some regions. To access this, simply use your VPN to change the location to a country that has full access.
How to use a streaming VPN
The first thing you need to do is sign up for a quality VPN – we recommend ExpressVPN and NordVPN as leaders for streaming. ExpressVPN is our top choice overall, and the support team is very helpful if you find that access to any particular service is blocked. NordVPN provides a similar service for a slightly lower price, although its apps are a bit less intuitive.
- Make sure you are logged in to the streaming site of your choice.. During our testing, logging in while connected to a VPN proved to be problematic, so make sure you’re ready to go before connecting. Close the tab after logging in.
- Launch VPN and connect to the selected server..
- Open the streaming site in your browser.
- Find a selected TV show or movie.
- Enjoy!
What if it doesn’t work?
On rare occasions, even the most reliable VPNs can have issues accessing streaming content, especially Netflix. If you find this is happening to you, there are a few things you can try.
First of all, test a few different servers in your chosen location. Some VPNs allow you to select specific cities, while others automatically connect you to the best server. In any case, this “turn off and on again” approach often solves any problems.
If you’re still having issues, it’s time to contact your VPN provider. Most of the best VPNs have a live chat feature, so just open it up and chat with a team member. They should point you in the right direction and have up-to-date information on the best servers for each particular streaming service.
If all else fails, most VPNs also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are within this period, you have every right to request a refund and try another VPN.
