BBC iPlayer Not Working With VPN? [How To Fix It Easily In 2023]
Wondering why is BBC iPlayer not working? There can be many reasons for BBC iPlayer not working, we’ll explain in detail in this article and also give you quick fixes to be able to access BBC iPlayer in Australia.
Moreover, you will also find that all the features of BBC iPlayer are limited to UK audiences only, due to its copyrights and distribution laws.
The ultimate solution to that is a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer anywhere outside the UK. Even then, we frequently get complaints from users that they are still getting the annoying geo-error of BBC iPlayer while using a VPN:
“BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues”.
Geo-error of BBC iPlayer when you try to get access in Australia without VPN
Did you know, the geo-restrictions of BBC iPlayer are one of the toughest to get across, due to the VPN-detecting technologies it is using? We recommend you try out ExpressVPN to bypass its geo-restrictions and unblock BBC iPlayer in Australia.
We have other tricks that can help you to fix the issue of BBC iPlayer not working with VPN, so continue reading this article.
Why VPN doesn’t work with BBC iPlayer? [Reasons]
BBC is known as one of the largest newscasters in the UK and for that reason, it has made the content of BBC iPlayer exclusive for audiences located in the UK only. Furthermore, it has invested a lot in its IP-detecting technologies to ensure that no one can view it in Australia even while using a VPN. This is possibly why BBC iPlayer not working with VPN.
There can be other reasons as well, such as:
- The VPN that you are using, servers are blacklisted by BBC iPlayer.
- Your real IP address is leaked due to poor technologies employed by your VPN.
- The VPN server you are using is unable to access BBC iPlayer in Australia.
- The device you are using, its GPS location, and the location of the IP address are not matched.
- Your VPN does not have adequate resources to work around the geo-blocks of BBC iPlayer.
- The cookies stored on your device by BBC iPlayer are able to identify that you are not actually in the UK.
If you don’t have a subscription to BBC iPlayer, you don’t want to miss out on all its latest features, so get it today. You can opt for BBC iPlayer free trial but the only downside is that it is only for UK viewers.
How to Quick Fix VPN Problems with BBC iPlayer?
Are you also thinking, why is BBC iPlayer not working with VPN? We have mentioned the reasons in the previous section, now we will give you some quick fixes for your VPN problems with BBC iPlayer.
Here are some steps to fix your issue if VPN not working with VPN on BBC iPlayer:
- Try streaming BBC iPlayer from a different browser.
- Clear cookies on your browser.
- If you are streaming BBC iPlayer on your mobile device, try switching to a desktop PC. This is probably happening because the GPS location of the device does not match the IP address.
- Contact the customer support of your VPN and ask them which server to use to access movies on BBC iPlayer in Australia.
- Go to the VPN settings and enable the option of “leak protection.”
If you have taken all the above-mentioned steps and still VPN not working? Probably the VPN you are using is not working with BBC iPlayer in Australia and now you have to switch to another VPN altogether.
BBC iPlayer Still not Working? – Check the Troubleshooting tips
Tried all the quick fixes and still, BBC iPlayer isn’t working. Don’t worry at all, we have you covered. Try these troubleshooting tips to fix your issue of BBC iPlayer not working with VPN in Australia.
1. Switch Servers
You are using a VPN and yet still you are unable to bypass the geo-restrictions of BBC iPlayer in Australia, we recommend you try to switch servers on your VPN. A different server will give you a dedicated IP address that may not be blacklisted by BBC iPlayer.
If switching servers did not work for you, continue reading.
2. Clear Your Tracking Cookies
Try clearing the browser cache memory to clear the tracking cookies on your browser. Do you happen to know what are cookies? These are small text files that store information with respect to location, browsing patterns, preferences, and much more hidden personal information. There are websites that ask for enabling cookies on your browser.
It is possible that BBC iPlayer came to know of your location with these hidden cookies on your browser. By deleting them, try using the VPN again and you might get lucky with unblocking BBC iPlayer in Australia.
3. Restart Your Browser
If you tried deleting cookies on your browser and still BBC iPlayer not working with VPN, try restarting your browser. It is a simple fix and proved to be quite effective for some.
4. Enable Leak Protection
Try switching on the DNS/IP leak protection feature on your streaming device that might prove to be effective in concealing your real IP address and allow you to stream best shows on BBC iPlayer in Australia.
You can also use the kill-switch feature that only comes with a premium VPN service provider like ExpressVPN, NordVPN or Surfshark.
5. Switch Time Zones
You can try to make it look like you are in the UK time zone by switching the time zone setting on your device. All you have to do is go to time settings and change your time zone to UK. We recommend you use, Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) or British Summer Time (UTC + 1). This may work instantly and you might be able to watch BBC iPlayer in Australia.
6. Switch Devices
If you are trying to watch BBC iPlayer on iPhone or try watching BBC iPlayer on Android. This may fix your issue and you may be able to watch BBC iPlayer in Australia with a VPN. It is advised that you use VPN on devices that support VPN configuration like Desktop PCs, laptops, Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones, and iPads.
7. Get a Dedicated IP Address
You can only get dedicated IP addresses with premium VPNs and considerably they are the best VPNs for streaming BBC iPlayer as well. The VPNs come with a MultiHop feature which basically lets you have a dedicated IP address to stream BBC iPlayer in Australia.
We recommend you switch to a premium VPN service provider like ExpressVPN for its high-speed servers and top-notch security protocols.
Which VPNs still work with BBC iPlayer?
We tested 50+ VPNs and shortlisted these VPNs to be the best VPN for streaming BBC iPlayer in Australia.
ExpressVPN: Our top-rated VPN for unblocking all the major streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar any many others. It offers great speed while streaming and also has the best security protocols to give a seamless experience to the users.
Surfshark: It is considered the most budget-friendly VPN in the VPN market. It comes at a great price of AU$3.89/mo (US$ 2.49/mo) - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee with 30-days money back guarantee as well. It also has all the advanced features supporting different operating systems in multiple devices like iOS, Android, Windows, and Linux.
NordVPN: NordVPN is known for the large server network it has to offer. It has 6000+ ultra-fast servers servers in 61 countries countries allowing you to unblock streaming services anywhere abroad. It has a no-logs policy to protect user information and also offers tremendous speed to online bingers.
PureVPN: PureVPN is known for offering the best security features like 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, and the kill switch to give a smooth streaming experience to online bingers. It also ensures no DNS leaks to protect the user connection online by all means.
What are the Best VPNs for BBC iPlayer? [Quick Comparison]
Here’s a quick comparison of the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer in Australia:
| ExpressVPN | Surfshark | NordVPN | PureVPN | |
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| Ranking for Unblocking BBC iPlayer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Devices Supported | Windows, iOs, Android, Linux, macOS, Smart TVs, PS4, Roku, Firestick | Windows, iOs, Android, and Linux | Windows, iOs, Android, and Linux | Windows, iOs, Android, and Linux |
| Connections | 8 | Unlimited | 6 | 10 |
| Download speed (UK server) on a 100Mbps connection | 92.26Mbps | 88Mbps | 84Mbps | 82Mbps |
| Current Price Plan | AU$ 10.41/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free | AU$ 3.89/mo (US$ 2.49/mo) - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee | AU$ 6.23/mo (US$ 3.99/mo) - Save up to 63% with exclusive 2-year plan + 3 months free for a friend | AU$ 5.2/mo (US$ 3.33/mo) 2-year plan |
Which VPNs don’t work with BBC iPlayer?
There are some VPNs that don’t work with BBC iPlayer entirely. So if you wish to cancel your BBC iPlayer subscription, first check out the list in case you are using any one of the below-mentioned VPNs:
- TunnelBear
- Norton VPN
- Hotspot Shield
- IPVanish
- Windscribe
- VyprVPN
- HideMyAss
- Buffered
The reason behind BBC iPlayer blacklisting the servers of these VPNs is due to the weak encryption and poor security protocols employed. BBC iPlayer is able to identify the IP addresses that are used repeatedly and can easily point out that the users are trying to get access to BBC iPlayer with a VPN. It is therefore advised that you use a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN to unblock BBC iPlayer in Australia.
FAQs – BBC iPlayer isn’t working
How does BBC iPlayer detect my VPN?
Are there any free VPNs that work with iPlayer?
Is it legal to watch iPlayer with a VPN?
Wrapping Up!
With all the quick fixes and troubleshooting tips mentioned in this article, we hope that you will be able to stream BBC iPlayer with a VPN in Australia. If the problem persists and BBC iPlayer not working with VPN, you need to switch to a premium VPN provider, like ExpressVPN.
It is our guarantee that with ExpressVPN, you will be able to unblock BBC iPlayer in Australia with its highly efficient security protocols and large server network spread all over the world. So try it out today and let us know your feedback in the comments section below.