BBC iPlayer VPN: How to watch iPlayer outside UK

Bummed out you can’t watch your favorite shows because you can’t get BBC iPlayer abroad? No problem - we’ll show you how to unblock BBC iPlayer abroad in 3 easy steps.
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BBC iPlayer VPN

Watch BBC iPlayer Outside UK with a BBC iPlayer VPN in 3 Easy Steps

Step 1

Sign up for CactusVPN.

All plans come with a
30-day money-back guarantee.

Step 2

Download the CactusVPN app.

Available for PC / Mac / iOS
Android / Fire TV

Step 3

Enable Smart DNS.

That’s it – head to BBC iPlayer
and have fun!

On what devices can I
watch BBC iPlayer with CactusVPN?


  • Windows

  • macOS

  • iOS

  • Android

  • Amazon
    Fire TV

  • Fire TV
    Stick

  • Apple TV

  • PlayStation

  • XBOX

  • Samsung
    Smart TV

  • LG TV

  • Linux
    Ubuntu

Why CactusVPN is the Best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

User-Friendly Apps
for Your Favorite Devices

Connect to Smart DNS and unblock BBC iPlayer abroad in seconds with our easy to use apps. Absolutely no technical knowledge required.

Unlimited
Bandwidth and Speed

Enjoy smooth browsing, downloads, and streaming thanks to our high-speed servers that don’t have any bandwidth caps

Unlimited Devices
At the Same Time

You can use as many devices as you want as long as they are in the same network and have the same external IP.

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Frequently asked questions

That’s gonna be a no. BBC iPlayer uses geo-restrictions to keep you from accessing its content if you’re not in the UK. If you try to do that, you’ll just get a quick error message.

Why does it pop up? Because the BBC has to geo-block its iPlayer content. They mostly do it because they need to comply with rights agreements. 

But they also need to respect the UK TV license tax which funds BBC content. If they were to make the content available worldwide, it’d mean other people get to enjoy the shows and movies for free while UK citizens have to pay for it.

That’s understandable, but it’s not really fair for people in the UK who travel or work abroad, though. You pay for that content, and can’t watch it. 

True, you can download BBC iPlayer content in the UK and watch it abroad, but let’s face it – that’s not very convenient.

And while people outside the UK still have access to stuff like BBC News, BBC Sports, and BBC Sounds, some of the content on those platforms is still only available in the UK.

So yea, all in all things don’t look too good.

A Smart DNS is an online service that gives you quick access to geo-blocked websites like BBC iPlayer. Here’s how it can help you start watching BBC iPlayer abroad right now:

  • First, it hides your real DNS address, which can actually leak your geo-location.
  • Next, it intercepts the connection requests you send to BBC iPlayer. Once it does that, it replaces any data that leaks your geo-location with new information that points to a location in the UK.
  • Lastly, it routes your traffic through different proxy servers in the UK.

If neither of those previous options sound appealing, you can always try your luck with a proxy server. It acts as a middleman between you and BBC iPlayer. Basically, it intercepts your connection requests, and forwards them to the site on your behalf.

While doing that, the proxy also hides your IP address like a VPN. Obviously, you’ll need to use a proxy server in the UK to watch BBC iPlayer outside UK.

VPNs are online services that hide your geo-location by giving you a new IP address. Don’t forget – your IP address tells websites what geographical region you are from. So, hiding it is a smart way to bypass geo-restrictions. 

In this case, all you’d need to do is use a VPN server in the UK. Once you connect to BBC iPlayer, you shouldn’t get any errors anymore since the site will think you are physically located in the UK.