Can I use my Amazon Fire TV Stick abroad?

Fire Stick Abroad

If you have an Amazon Fire TV Stick you will for sure want to bring it with you as you go traveling. Maybe you are heading overseas for a short holiday, or maybe the destination is somewhere else, but the question is still whether or not you can use the Amazon Fire TV Stick abroad or not.

We originally wrote this article back in 2015, but we have just renewed it completely due to a lot of changes that have taken place in the world and especially, with the newer versions of the Amazon Fire TV stick that has been released on the market.

And you should also be happy, because things have gotten much easier now compared to what life was like if you wanted to use your Amazon Fire TV stick abroad a couple of years ago. Read on to find out more about how you can use your Amazon Fire TV Stick abroad.

Using Amazon Fire TV Stick abroad

You probably guessed it right, there is no trouble using the Amazon Fire TV stick abroad. You can connect it to a TV just like you would at home, and it will work. But, the problems show up if you try to stream your favorite services or in your favorite apps when abroad. If you try to watch content in the NBC application, if you try to stream Hulu abroad on your Fire TV, or maybe as you try to watch CBS All Access abroad, you will start getting error messages about how the content cannot be streamed at your current location. What can you do about such error messages?

The easiest way to use your Fire Stick abroad

The easiest way to use your Fire TV Stick abroad is by using the VPN services of ExpressVPN. This is a brilliant VPN service and they have a ready application in the App Store on your Amazon Fire TV (Stick). You will first need to sign up for their VPN services, which can be done by clicking the button beneath.

ExpressVPN49% discount – 3 free months

Click the button above, and if you sign up for ExpressVPN for 12 months, you will even get three months of usage for free. Once you have signed up, download the ExpressVPN application to your computer, to your mobile device, and of course, to your Amazon Fire TV Stick. There you will have to log in with the credentials you created during the signup process. When you have signed in, connect to a server in the USA, and you will be able to enjoy the content in all your favorite applications like Hulu, FuboTV, NBC, CBS, Fox, Netflix, and more.

Did you know that you can use ExpressVPN on 3 devices at the same time? As a consequence, you can keep the VPN connection running constantly on the Fire TV, while you also use the same subscription on your computer and on your mobile device. This is quite brilliant, and it makes life much easier.

With the ExpressVPN subscription you can, therefore, unblock your favorite streaming services like Hulu and American Netflix on your computer as well, not only on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.

One more thing worth knowing about ExpressVPN is that they have a 30-day full refund policy, making you safe and thus you do not really have to worry before paying for the subscription.

These instructions will help you enjoy your Amazon Fire TV and your Amazon Fire TV stick abroad.
These instructions will help you enjoy your Amazon Fire TV and your Amazon Fire TV stick abroad.

Another VPN provider you could consider

If you do not want to use ExpressVPN, there is another VPN provider you might want to consider, and that is NordVPN. They have a very nice looking application available for your Fire TV Stick, and it all works in the same way as with ExpressVPN. There are a few differences, and one of the biggest differences is the price, as NordVPN is a bit cheaper if you decide to subscribe for the long run (a year or more). Another difference is how you can use NordVPN on 6 devices at the same time.

NordVPN75% discount – 30-day full refund

NordVPN also runs with a 30-day money back guarantee. And, just like with ExpressVPN, you can unblock even more Netflix regions with NordVPN, making you able to watch Canadian Netflix, American Netflix, UK Netflix, Dutch Netflix, and some more regions on your Amazon Fire TV using their VPN services.

A few years ago it was much harder to use the Amazon Fire TV abroad

As I mentioned in the start of the article, things were much more complicated a few years ago. If you have the first generation of the Amazon Fire TV Stick, it will not work with the VPN applications as mentioned above. The result was that you had to setup the VPN connection directly on your router, something quite hard to do, and it was impossible to those who didn’t actually have access to the router sharing the WiFi signal. Today, it is much easier as you can just install the VPN application on the Fire TV Stick, and you are ready to go.

What about the SmartDNS services of Unlocator?

For a very long time we recommended using the SmartDNS services of Unlocator with your Amazon Fire TV abroad. It still works, in part, but the problem is that they are blocked by too many services, and thus the purpose of using it kind of disappears. You might be able to unblock NBC and some other applications on your Fire TV abroad, but most applications will not work, even if you use the SmartDNS services of Unlocator. In other words, using ExpressVPN or NordVPN is the solution if you want to use your Fire TV Stick abroad.

Are you ready to use your Amazon Fire TV Stick abroad?

I hope these instructions have helped you. Do not forget that both ExpressVPN and NordVPN have brilliant 30-day money back guarantees, meaning that there is no big risk in trying.

If you have further questions, comments, or just want to say thanks… use the comment field! We always try to answer questions and comments as soon as possible!

35 thoughts on “Can I use my Amazon Fire TV Stick abroad?

  1. Stephanie hudson says:

    we have a fire stick in portugal also VPN with Express, all worked fine for 4days now we have a blank tv screen and can’t do anything

  2. Francisco Savio Nunes says:

    I want to take the fire stick to Rio de Janeiro where we have Internet access is this is possible? Will it support You Tube in Brazil?

  3. Thomas Stein says:

    I just tried using the VPN services of ExpressVPN on my old Fire TV Stick, but it didn’t work. It acted as if the VPN connection didn’t exist, and as I read more about it, I discovered that the VPN services don’t work with the 1st generation Fire TV sticks. I, therefore, ordered a new Fire TV stick, and then it worked at once. If you have the first generation of the Fire TV (Stick), it is time to buy a new one ๐Ÿ™‚ If your controller is without an on/off button, without Alexa support, and a small one, then you have the old version…

  4. Barbara Lam says:

    Hello: I work in Kazakhstan and my company supplies the wireless internet for the whole apartment building, thus I do not have access to the router. I do however have a VPN service already in place on my personal laptop. Will this be adequate for a Firestick. I am also already a PRIME member and am just looking for an easy (trust me- I am a complete techno IDIOT!!!!), way to watch movies, etc on my apartment TV. Thanks!!!

  5. Diane says:

    My US fire stick had an adapter for US electric 110v, can I connect the US adapter to a European 220v electric adapter? Will it work in Croatia?

    • Thomas Stein says:

      You will need to have a converter which will make it fit into European plugs, but that is easy to buy on Amazon, or you will probably find it at tourist destinations and tourist stores in Croatia as well!

  6. Thomas Stein says:

    I just wanted to say that the instructions in this article are up to date and they still work perfectly. I can warmly recommend using Unlocator to use your Amazon Fire TV (Stick) from abroad!

  7. Kristian Legg says:

    I am going on holiday to tenerife. There is no WiFi in the apartment. However I have unlimited data. So if I was to send out a hotspot from my smart phone, thus setting up a WiFi signal, would my fire stick be able to work off of that?

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Hello,
      yes, it would help. It is, however, quite hard to setup a WiFi Hotspot using your data package sharing a VPN or a SmartDNS connection. I remember trying a while back in time and had trouble getting to it work. But, if you manage to share a VPN or SmartDNS connection on your mobile as a hotspot, then this will work!

  8. Ratty says:

    I have been using my amazon firestick abroad for quite some time using unlocators DNS services. however in the last few days i have been restricted in what i can watch. I can’t use the whole prime catalogue. it only allows me to use the Prime Abroad options and the installed apps. I can however still use the ipad to watch the content.

    real pain in the backside

    checked my router settings and everything but no joy.

  9. Mr P says:

    Best choice – DON’T buy a Fire TV / Stick in the first place! The rolled out their international Prime Video service last year. Still you cannot access overseas on a Fire TV / Stick as they STILL haven’t updated the firmware.

    Stump up the extra an get an Nvidia Shield! It works in both Amazon account countries AND outside of them!

    • Pete Travis says:

      Hi, you mention about getting a Nvidia Shield. Would you still require a VPN? I live in France and have a UK Amazon account.
      Many thanks
      Pete

  10. Louis says:

    Hello,

    I have an Amazon fire Stick and a VPN as well, but the fire stick is not working. I can use some services like Netflix and Amazon music, but I am unable to watch series or movies? There’s a message that’s ask me to contact support at https://www.primevideo.com/help/contact-us which didn’t help much.
    So, any suggestion?

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Hello,
      It should work very well in Canada, so no need to buy a new one. But, you should be aware of the fact that it will work differently, because you are in Canada and your current Amazon user is in the UK. Give it a try, and if you have questions once in Canada, just come back ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. Jaques alston says:

    I’m wondering if my UK amazon firestick on which I’ve downloaded KODI will work in LAOS….does anyone know?๐Ÿ˜Š

  12. Tip says:

    Hi Thomas,

    Do the fire stick apps work outside of the us? I don’t have prime but YouTube app works just fine in the us

    So can fire stick YouTube app works outside of the us with no VPN or DNS change?

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Hello,
      yes the YouTube app will work on your Fire Stick outside the US. There are some content on YouTube not available everywhere, but in general the YouTube app will work perfectly on your Fire Stick abroad, without any modifications to your router with SmartDNS or a VPN.

  13. Craig Wear says:

    Hi Thomas. I read other articles stating the fire stick only works in a few countries. I’m looking at emigrating to The Czech Republic from the UK. Will changing the settings on my router, when there, allow my firestick to work there?

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Yes, I have only been using the Fire Stick outside the USA, UK and so (in European countries without any Amazon support), and it works… But, you will of course have to do some changes on your router!

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Thanks for asking! I have not used Kodi, so can not give you any information on that. If you want to use the normal Amazon Video application on your Fire Stick these instructions will need to be followed, but if you use the Kodi app you will probably not…

  14. Edgar Hernandez says:

    Hi, I’ve been reading through your articles. Interesting stuff. The wife and I are backpacking for 6 months through Europe, Asia and South America. Would it be worth buying a Fire Stick and unlocking it or do I still need to subscribe to a VPN service. I have a MacBook. I’m really just trying to keep up on some shows and NFL while we are away. Thanks!

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Thank you for asking. For this purpose I would not at all recommend a Fire Stick, because it can not be unlocked like this easily, but you need to setup a VPN on your router, but since you are out traveling that will not always work. For this purpose an Apple TV might be a better solution because you can easily setup a SmartDNS service like Unlocator on it directly and thus you can unlock services easily wherever you might be in the world!

    • Thomas Stein says:

      Yes, it is possible, but to use the Fire Stick you will need to have a VPN or a SmartDNS setup on your router directly as I mentioned in the article you have probably just read through. It requires some setup, but it is possible!

      • Carol says:

        Tom what is a smart dns pls iv grout my amazon stick with me to leave in Malta.but everything I put on I have to pay for.iv down loaded itv hub but it says get in touch with friendly surport team.im not to clever on things like this but could do with some help pls. Regards carol

        • Thomas Stein says:

          There is not really a very easy way to do this. You need to manually configure your router to use Unlocator as mentioned above, and then it should work. Try signing up for free with Unlocator for seven days and ask their support for help ๐Ÿ™‚

        • Conor says:

          Carol, The various services you’re trying to use check to make sure you in the uk to use them.
          If you control the wireless router in Malta, you can sign up to the unlocator service above and change the DNS server IP in the router settings. This will make the requests sent to ITV hub or iPlayer appear to come from a UK internet connection.

          Usually to access the router setting you will go to your web browser and enter the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 it varies by router manufacturer.
          Once in there will be a box on one of the pages to change the DNS server. Its hard to give step by step without more info.

          Hope that helps

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