Yes, ExpressVPN does work with BBC iPlayer. Currently, it is accessible on all devices with ExpressVPN UK-based servers. You can install ExpressVPN on your device and enjoy this geo-restricted streaming service through our guide.
BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular streaming services in the United Kingdom. It offers live TV, video-on-demand, and radio services from the BBC.
It is available on a broad range of devices such as macOS, Windows, Android phones and tablets, iOS phones and tab, Firestick, and Android TVs.
BBC iPlayer is currently only accessible to residents of the United Kingdom. Someone living outside of the United Kingdom will have to conceal their real location with a VPN like ExpressVPN to access BBC iPlayer in New Zealand and its broadcast stations.
One of the most effective ways to bypass geo-restriction is by using ExpressVPN, one of the leading VPN providers for accessing different geo-restricted content.
If you are interested in using other VPNs for watching BBC iPlayer besides ExpressVPN, check out: the best VPNs for BBC iPlayer
How to Watch BBC iPlayer using ExpressVPN? [Easy Guide]
Let’s view the process of watching BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN:
- Sign up for ExpressVPN which offers speedy servers in the UK.
- Download and install the ExpressVPN application on your device.
- Launch the ExpressVPN application and log in to it using ExpressVPN account details.
- Locate a UK-based server in the application and connect to it.
- Launch your browser and visit the BBC iPlayer website.
- You will have to create a free account on the BBC iPlayer website. Use any random UK-based zip code for registration. You can find the zip code on Google.
- After the account is registered, you should be able to stream BBC iPlayer’s broadcast channels.
The easiest ways to solve VPN problems with BBC iPlayer
Here are some methods to solve your VPN not working problems:
1. Switch to a different server:
If you’re unable to connect to the BBC iPlayer using ExpressVPN’s UK server or the server offers an extremely slow service in New Zealand, you need to switch to a different UK server offered by ExpressVPN. While being super-speedy, an ExpressVPN server might slow down due to traffic overload. Thankfully, ExpressVPN offers more than a single server in the country so users do not face any problems. Check out our ExpressVPN review, before you purchase a subscription.
2. Clear your cookies:
If you’re still facing a problem, then you need to clear out your cookies. You can do this by visiting the settings of your browser from the right corner of your screen. Visit ‘Privacy and Security’ to reach the cookies tab and delete all cookies.
3. Restart the browser:
You can always close your browser, restart it, and try accessing BBC iPlayer again. This is one of the easiest ways to solve your VPN problem and enjoy BBC iPlayer on your device.
4. Enable leak protection:
You need to enable leak protection on your ExpressVPN app. You can do this by visiting the settings of the app.
5. Switch to another device:
You might face a few challenges when trying to access BBC iPlayer using ExpressVPN on your Smart TV, smartphone, or tablet. It’s better that you stick to accessing BBC iPlayer on your PC and enjoy its buffer-free streaming for That’s My Jam on BBC iPlayer.
6. Switch to another time zone:
The service might not be accessible to you if you have switched your real-time zone to the UK’s. Therefore, it’s better that you switch your time zone to British Summer Time (UTC+1) or Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) and access BBC iPlayer.
Why use ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer?
ExpressVPN has been a top choice for streaming content from anywhere and for multiple purposes, including secure browsing, internet banking, torrenting, and accessing sensitive information over the internet.
ExpressVPN and iPlayer are a good combo together. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why ExpressVPN is best for accessing BBC iPlayer.
Lightning-fast speed
We can all agree that you will need a VPN provider to offer you fast and consistent speeds for streaming content of good quality. ExpressVPN is blazing fast and you can verify that with ExpressVPN’s Speed-Test tool just like we did by unblocking BBC iPlayer in Brazil.
The purpose of this tool is to calculate the speed index accordingly to your real location. Speed Index combines the Latency and Download Speed into a score for a given server location.
This value will always help you find the most optimized server in terms of speed to watch BBC iPlayer in Russia or any other location at the highest streaming quality possible.
The higher the Speed Index, the better for your streaming experience.
Bandwidth
ExpressVPN offers unlimited bandwidth on all of its servers. This means no monthly bandwidth limitation or ISP throttling.
With unlimited bandwidth, you can also torrent with ExpressVPN without any restrictions from anywhere around the world. While accessing BBC iPlayer, you’d need a VPN that can keep up with your binging, and ExpressVPN is definitely the answer to your call.
It has a vast network of 3000+ servers in 94 countries. These servers are equipped with military-grade 256-bit encryption and will allow you to browse the internet anonymously. This will let you get BBC iPlayer in Colombia too
Simultaneous connection
Want to stream BBC iPlayer on all of the devices in your home? Don’t worry; ExpressVPN has got you covered. It can support 5 devices’ simultaneous connections at a single time. You can watch one show on your android phone and the other on iOS simultaneously.
You can also share the account details with your friends or family, and all of you can enjoy the same show simultaneously on separate devices.
If you set up ExpressVPN on the Router, the number of simultaneous connections will increase, and devices like Firestick, Kodi, Smart TVs, and Roku will be able to stream BBC iPlayer for you as well. Also for the added bonus, you can also Chromecast BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN. Read our ExpressVPN Chromecast set-up guide for more information. ExpressVPN works great with Nvidia Shield too.
Global access to content
By using ExpressVPN, you can access the internet without sacrificing your online privacy or security. Along with streaming and downloading, you can also access your favorite applications securely from anywhere.
With its servers in 94 countries, bypassing content-based throttling, national or international censorship, restrictions by a school, office, or public Wi-Fi will never be a sign of worry for you. With ExpressVPN, you can even watch BBC iPlayer in China.
Customer Support
Not every day will be smooth sailing when dealing with streaming content. You’d want a VPN provider that has reliable customer support to help you out whenever you need it most.
ExpressVPN takes pride in its 24/7 customer support, where real humans are available to help you get out of any jam as soon as possible and get you back online with your favorite show like you can watch The Gold, An Irish Goodbye, Red Nose 2023 on BBC iPlayer and many other shows.
Why is my ExpressVPN not working with BBC iPlayer? Troubleshooting tips:
Sometimes, you may face an issue or disconnection while using ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer. That’s completely normal. One of the main issues with streaming services is that it is not guaranteed to work always. There will come a time when you will face some service problems when using a VPN to access it.
We have compiled some common issues and their solutions for you below.
VPN Detection
Even though you’ll be connected to ExpressVPN, you won’t be able to stream BBC iPlayer sometimes.
This doesn’t mean the VPN has been blocked. It only means that BBC iPlayer has blocked the IP address which is assigned to you by ExpressVPN.
It is very common for BBC iPlayer to block any VPN IP address at any time. When someone tries to access it with a UK-based IP address, it checks the IP address details using any online IP address verification website. Upon confirmation that the IP address is not from a credible UK ISPs and is from a VPN provider, BBC iPlayer blocks access on that IP address.
To overcome this problem, you have to disconnect the existing VPN session and reconnect the VPN with any other UK server.
Cache
The purpose of cache is to store such information required by the browser to be accessed rapidly in the future.
This information can often include your real location and IP address. If you try to access the BBC iPlayer and detect your real location and IP address using this stored cache, you will not be permitted access to content.
Therefore, it is recommended to clear your browser cache periodically. Every browser has different steps for clearing cache, which can be found online easily.
Customer Support
If you have already tried the basic troubleshooting steps but are still unable to access BBC iPlayer in Kenya using a VPN or any other location, it is time to contact the customer support representative.
Often, the company’s customer support department has vital information to either help you with your problem or explain it better.
Sometimes, due to network up-gradation or any data center issue, streaming services are unavailable on the service. Only the customer support representative can share this information with you and save your precious time from wasting on different troubleshooting tips.
If you still encounter any issues, don’t forget to check out our ExpressVPN not working guide.
Is there a VPN that works with BBC iPlayer other than ExpressVPN?
We highly doubt that you will ever need help from any other VPN provider using ExpressVPN, but let’s see some good alternatives for ExpressVPN to access BBC iPlayer.
Surfshark
Headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, this VPN provider has been one of the most affordable VPN services in the industry.
It offers more than 3,200+ servers spread around 65 countries, including the United Kingdom. This VPN gives you the ability to unblock websites available in the United Kingdom only. Simultaneously, UK residents can access geo-restricted sites that only work outside UK territories, such as Netflix US, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and ESPN+.
It also utilizes the finest privacy-boosting feature such as CleanWeb and MultiHop. The best part about Surfshark is that it offers unlimited simultaneous connections with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our latest Surfshark review for more details.
NordVPN
NordVPN is operating from Panama, and this VPN provider is famous for its state-of-the-art encryption and security tools for your online privacy.
NordVPN server network consists of 5,400+ servers in 59 countries, including the United Kingdom. Just because it is more focused on securing its user data doesn’t mean you will face any issue while streaming the BBC iPlayer outside the United Kingdom.
It also offers some additional privacy enhancement features such as Onion over VPN, CyberSec, and Double VPN. Like Surfshark, it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee but only offers 6 devices simultaneous connection.
Check out our in-depth NordVPN review for more details.
How does BBC iPlayer know I’m using a VPN?
When you acquire a particular IP address from a UK-based server using a VPN, the chances are that various users are utilizing the same IP address for different purposes.
When BBC iPlayer checks your IP address and finds it available on thousands of other places over the internet, it immediately concludes that you are using a VPN provider network. Once it is confirmed that you are using a VPN provider’s IP address, BBC iPlayer blocks that IP address from gaining access to the content.
A Virtual Private Network maintains a pool of network addresses that contain thousands of IP addresses. Due to the huge difference between the number of IP addresses and the number of VPN users using them, these IP addresses are shared among the VPN users at any given time. This is why you need a VPN that has a large number of servers in the UK.
Also, this is the reason, why we don’t recommend using a BBC iPlayer free VPN service, because they have limited servers crowded by users, which makes it easier for BBC to identify and block.
How can I watch BBC iPlayer for free using ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN does not offer a completely free service. However, you can always subscribe to its 30-day money-back guarantee and enjoy watching BBC iPlayer for 30 days. When you cancel your ExpressVPN subscription, the VPN would not ask you any questions at all and offer you a hassle-free cancellation process.
FAQs
Can I use ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer?
Yes, you can use ExpressVPN to watch BBC iPlayer on any of your devices. ExpressVPN offers user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Fire Stick, Smart TVs, and more. Along with that, you can also connect ExpressVPN to your router and enjoy BBC iPlayer on your device.
Is it safe to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN?
BBC iPlayer has a strict VPN-detection technology, but a premium VPN like ExpressVPN can still bypass that. BBC iPlayer’s service is only available within the geographical boundaries of the UK. Therefore, you need a top VPN for the UK to access this service.
Is it illegal to watch BBC iPlayer with ExpressVPN?
No, using ExpressVPN is not illegal to watch BBC iPlayer. While BBC iPlayer’s terms of service don’t support VPN usage, it does not make using ExpressVPN with BBC iPlayer illegal.
Conclusion
ExpressVPN is the best choice if you wish to gain immediate, smooth, reliable, and high-quality access to geo-restricted services.
Not only will you be able to stream BBC iPlayer, but also protect your online privacy and encrypt your personal data via military-grade encryption.
Safeguard yourself with a highly effective ExpressVPN torrenting mechanism with the additional protection of ExpressVPN’s Kill Switch and Split Tunneling.
With its high-speed 3000+ servers spread across 94 countries, accessing international content such as Netflix, Hulu, Sony Liv, Hotstar, BT-Sports, and NBC would be just one simple click away.
It also supports the Socks5 proxy services that are renowned for unblocking different geo-restricted content at high speed.
You can stream simultaneously on 5 devices and can test the service as per your requirement with ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee program in place.
