Are you an ardent fan of British television, but you’re currently in the United States and wondering whether it’s possible to access the BBC iPlayer while in the US?
Well, you’re in luck today, as we have some tips to help you keep up with your favorite shows, including Sherlock, Top Gear, Doctor Who, and more, while you enjoy your holidays in the US.
After reading today’s guide on how to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA, you’ll never miss an episode from your favorite TV show again. Read on as we jump into all the details.
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Top ways to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA
Even though BBC iPlayer is exclusively designed to air programs and shows in the UK, we have found some really exciting ways to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA. And guess what? Some of these tricks may be something you are already aware of. Read on for some of the most remarkable ways to stream BBC iPlayer from overseas, including the USA.
- Virtual private network (VPN): Using a VPN to access the BBC iPlayer app is one of the most popular ways to keep up with your favorite shows on the platform while you are in the US. And that’s because VPN allows users to connect to a server in the UK. So by using a VPN service and connecting to a server in the UK, it will appear as though you’re accessing the BBC iPlayer software from the UK.
- Smart DNS: Did you know you can access the BBC iPlayer app in the US using a smart DNS? Oh yes, and the process is pretty straightforward. DNS works by rerouting your internet connection via a server in the UK. This way, when you are accessing the BBC iPlayer app, it appears you’re in the UK.
- BBC iPlayer app: One of the most effective ways to listen to live BBC Radio stations is by leveraging the BBC iPlayer Radio app. Using the BBC iPlayer radio app, you can listen to your favorite radio stations and catch up with any programs you missed.
Why should you use VPN to watch BBC iPlayer?
If you are one to watch your favorite shows on the BBC iPlayer platform, we are sure you’ll be disappointed that you can’t access the app when you are in the US. But guess what? By using a VPN to access BBC iPlayer, you can watch your favorite shows in the USA. Plus, you don’t have to do much.
We recommend using a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer when you’re in the USA because a VPN will encrypt your traffic and mask your original IP address. Typically, only people in the UK can watch BBC iPlayer. But thanks to VPNs, anyone, regardless of their location, can watch BBC iPlayer.
Since BBC iPlayer relies on a user’s IP address to verify their location, you can simply use a VPN and connect to a server from the UK. This way, when accessing the BBC iPlayer platform, it would appear like you’re in the UK, even though you’re somewhere in the US enjoying your holiday and streaming your favorite TV shows.
And just so you know, VPNs aren’t only great for watching BBC iPlayer when you’re in the US; you can also use VPNs to stream other platforms.
So if you find that you are unable to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA, you can simply subscribe to a VPN service provider, connect to a UK server, and voila, you should be able to access the platform without any issues.
Free or paid VPN services: Which is best for watching BBC iPlayer in the USA?
Now that you know that you can watch BBC iPlayer in the USA using a VPN, the million-dollar question is, should you use a free VPN service or opt for a paid one?
Well, to be honest, it all depends on what you want. To start with, free VPN services allow you to watch BBC iPlayer. The only issue we have with the free option is that you’d have to deal with incessant ads, which can be a real bummer.
That said, if you want a more exciting experience, we strongly recommend opting for a paid VPN service provider. Another awesome benefit of using a paid VPN service provider is that you have several UK servers you can connect to.
With the free VPN service, you only have a handful of servers you can connect to. If that’s not an issue, then using the free option is okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
VPN not working with BBC iPlayer: How to fix it?
There are several reasons why your VPN may not be working with BBC iPlayer. Below are a few steps you can take to narrow down why your VPN isn’t working with BBC iPlayer.
- First, you must ensure that your VPN is connected to a UK server, especially since BBC iPlayer can only be streamed in the UK.
- Your location is typically logged when you visit the BBC iPlayer platform or app. To ensure the app forgets your location, you can simply clear your cookies. This way, the next time you access the BBC iPlayer app, it will be forced to remember your new location. Doing this will help you access the platform without any hitches.
- If all the fixes fail, try switching off location services, including any ad-blockers you may be using.
Also, you can try reaching out to your VPN support service team to see if they can help you resolve your issues.
What BBC iPlayer shows can you watch using VPN?
You can watch nearly all shows aired on the BBC iPlayer platform using a VPN service. From Top Gear to Line of Duty to Baptiste to Eastenders to QI and more, you can watch virtually all shows aired on BBC iPlayer using VPN.
What’s the best VPN service provider I should use?
To be honest, we can’t say, as there are many great VPN providers you can use. VPN service providers like Express VPN and NordVPN are doing a remarkable job, so you might want to check them out.
