Why do I still see the error messages on BBC when I use a VPN?

Lots of people are using all sorts of VPN services in order to watch BBC from abroad. But, have you just spent quite a lot of money on a VPN subscription, but you still get the error, even after signing up? What is wrong? Is it something wrong with the VPN provider? Or is something wrong with the BBC website? Is there really a way to watch BBC outside England?

It can be frustrating to spend quite a lot of money on a VPN subscription, only to discover that you still get the geographical error message or some “this content is not available” message when you have activated the VPN service and connected to a server in England. What is wrong? What can be done? How to fix it in order to access BBC from abroad?

Maybe at the moment, you are using a VPN and you are looking at an error message like this or this.

What can you do about it? Well, there are a few things worth trying before you start crying or ask for a refund from the VPN provider you just signed up with.

The first step to stream BBC abroad using a VPN

The most important step is to open your browser again and open a “Private window”, also named an “Incognito window.” Now you have to visit the BBC iPlayer again, log in with your BBC user (which is free to create), and try streaming the same content over again. Does it work now?

The second step to streaming BBC abroad using a VPN

If the first step didn’t help you out, then you should try connecting to another server in England with the VPN provider you have just signed up with. Disconnect from the server you are currently connected to, find another in England and give it a try once again. Make sure to try in the Incognito mode or Private Mode if it doesn’t work using the normal browser window.

The third and final step to streaming BBC abroad using a VPN

If you still haven’t succeeded, it means that you have a VPN subscription with a provider that is blocked by BBC. That isn’t unusual, since BBC blocks almost all VPN providers. The solution is therefore to cancel your current VPN subscription and sign up with one that we know will work for sure with BBC, based on thorough tests and frequent use.

Why do I still get error message on BBC when using a VPN service?
I am watching Silent Witnesses on BBC iPlayer using a VPN abroad (without getting an error message)

Which VPN provider is still working with BBC?

We have a very updated and thorough article discussing VPN providers that actually work with BBC, so take a look at our article on how to watch BBC from abroad to get started right away.

If you do not have the patience to read one more article, visit the ExpressVPN website instead and start streaming BBC right away.

ExpressVPN49% discount – 3 free months

You can easily sign up with ExpressVPN by clicking the button above. If you sign up for 12 months you will even get three months for free. In addition, you can also use ExpressVPN on three devices at the same time. Imagine watching Silent Witnesses on BBC on one device, then you stream Thor: Ragnarok on Netflix in Canada on another device, and on the third device, you stream a Champions League match on M4 in Hungary online. Doesn’t that sound cool?

ExpressVPN also has a 30-day full refund policy, meaning that you can get your money back if you aren’t satisfied with the product or the service you get.

Want to watch BBC using SmartDNS?

If you do not want to use a VPN, but would like to use a SmartDNS service instead, then I can warmly recommend this article to you. It will tell you how to watch BBC on a Chromecast but be careful, it will not work on other devices. So, if you want to watch BBC in Windows, or on your tablet, you can forget about this solution.

Is your VPN not working with BBC?

Are you using ExpressVPN like described here but still getting the error? I truly doubt it. Are you using a different VPN provider and getting the error? It is probably time to change your VPN provider. If you still have any comments or questions, use the comment field and I will do my best to assist!

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