Amazon Fire TV American Channels unblocked – DNS or VPN?
Unblock American Channels on Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV America Channel List
Below is a list of the more known Amazon Fire TV channels. The list is actually way bigger with loads of games as well. See here for a full specs review.
- iFood.tv
- YouTube
- Crackle
- Netflix
- AOL On
- Vimeo
- Hulu Plus
- Flixster
- Showtime Anytime
- Smithsonian Channel
- Plex
- Docurama
- Red Bull TV
- Hasbro Studios
- All Fitness TV
- Classic TV
- Manga
- MBC On Demand
- Hollywood Ticker
- Kino Lorber
- RealPlayer Cloud
- DailyBurn
- FitYou
- Vevo
- Pandora
- iHeartRadio
- TuneIn Radio
- HuffPost Live
- Watch ESPN
- NBA Game Time
- ACC Digital Network
If you try to watch these channels though, you will either get limited content or a regional error about your location beingunsupported. To fix that we will need to use either VPN or Smart DNS Proxy.
You also need the following two conditions covered :
- While logged on to Amazon.com go to -> Your Account -> Manage Your Content and Devices -> Country Settings and set country to United States
- Make sure you do have a US address in your Amazon.com account. Sample state LA – Zip Code 90210
See below.
Unblock American Channels on Amazon Fire TV Using VPN
The benefits of VPN “Virtual Private Network” are many, most importantly VPN does protect your privacy and traffic from eavesdropping. So if you do use VPN you are safer from eavesdropping than if you use a Smart DNS proxy. See a full list of benefits below :
- VPN encrypts and protects your traffic
- VPN works against most firewalls and ISP measures such as DNS hijacking and Transparent proxies.
- VPN will unblock all US content on all supported devices
- Note that Amazon FireTV does NOT natively support VPN you need a VPN enabled router.
I do personally use a VPN Provider called Express VPN. The main reasons being great support. Alot of supported countries. And easy to use apps for most major devices that make setup a piece of cake that can be de done by novices in seconds.
I’ve prepared a list of the best VPN providers to watch US channels on Amazon Fire TV.
- Best for streaming and privacy
- High speed servers in 160 VPN locations
- Works for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu
- 24/7/ live chat support
- 3 extra months free on annual plan
- UltraHD streaming
- Free Smart DNS proxy
- Unblocks all major streaming services
- Limited Time 72% Discount
- Unlimited VPN connections
- Over 1000 servers
- Ad-blocking feature available
- User-friendly application
- Exclusive Smart VPN feature
- Standalone Smart DNS subscription available
- Extra security features
- Extensions for Firefox and Chrome
- Split-tunneling available
Unblock American Channels on Amazon Fire TV Using Smart DNS Proxy
A Smart DNS proxy is different from VPN. A Smart DNS proxy does not encrypt your traffic but in return it more flexible in terms of devices it supports. And it yields higher speeds than VPN. The main benefits of Smart DNS proxies are listed below
- Smart DNS is very flexible, and works on almost all your devices.See Video and Picture guides for Amazon Fire TV setup here.
- Smart DNS does not affect your Internet speed.
- Smart DNS supports various regions simultaneously. I.e. you can watch BBC Iplayer, Canalplus and American Netflix at the same time. Last time I check the list of supported channels was at around 90.
- Amazon Fire TV does NOT have DNS settings. But it is a child’s play to change DNS settings on your router. ALL routers allow for DNS change.
I have ben using a Smart DNS Provider called Unlocator, they do allow unlimited devices per subscription. The main weakness of Smart DNS proxies is that they dont work if your ISP is messing with your traffic in terms of DNS hijacking and Transparent proxies. If that is the case you need VPN.
American Channels – VPN or Smart DNS Proxies ?
Please feel free to comment if you chose either VPN or a Smart DNS proxy to unblock Amazon Fire TV. Smart DNS will work with all your devices and routers, VPN will not work though unless you do have a VPN enabled router. Ff you face any problems, or if you are just a non-technical user, please refer to support of your chosen provider. The providers I have listed have great support.
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About The Author
William Reeves
A technical wizard of 10 year experience. Certified in Linux, Ethical Hacking and all sorts of technical stuff . I did work on projects around the world worth millions of dollars. My aim is to free you the reader from location restrictions and protect your privacy.
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I do have a router setup for Private Internet Access VPN, but some services, like Hulu, identify it as a proxy IP and do not connect. PIA recommends the use of goggle’s DNS. 8.8.8.8. Would the router work with Smart DNS maintaining the otehr VPN settings? By the way, I’m in Brazil.
Hi Lellis. You can use Smart DNS to unblock Hulu in Brazil and it will definitely work. However, you have to remove your VPN setup from your router first.
Amazon is now stopping access to USA prime with a VPN if your billing address is outside USA . Confirmed by two prime users.
Hi. Thanks for the input. It’s always recommended to use a US credit card and address to when creating a US Amazon account regardless of whether you are using Smart DNS or VPN to unblock Amazon Instant Video outside USA.
I live in the US and have an mlb.tv account. I have a fire stick and want to get around the local tv blackouts. I installed the Unlocator DNS on my router and it works for my apple tv and for my laptop. However, the firestick mlbtv app still blocks out my local team. Any idea why and/or how to fix it?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is based on Android and that is why Unlocator does not bypass MLB regional restrictions on it.
Will privateinternetaccess work and is it all I will need to view prime or netflix on my computer and then plug my computer to my tv monitor? (I’ll be using it in Costa Rica Central America)
Or will I need to do something else?
You say “FireTV does NOT natively support VPN you need a VPN enabled router.”. Can you expand on this? How do I get a vpn enabled router?
My central america service is not hard wire service but beamed from towers. So how will I set this type service to use with netflix and prime? Will my privateinternetaccess vpn be enough or will I need a “VPN enabled router”?
A VPN enable router means a router on which you can configure VPN. Your VPN provider should have setup guides on how to configure VPN on router level.
Yes, that setup should work in theory
Just a note, if you are sharing a family members Prime once you switch from one location to another eg UK to USA once you switch you somehow lose Prime access!
Hi
On what device do I install the VPN?
The Fire TV doesn’t have VPN apps.
For devices which do not have a VPN client, you need to install VPN on a VPN-enabled router instead.
Any updates on people successfully using Amazon Prime on the Fire TV outside of the U.S.? I’m in Canada, I have a U.S.-purchased Fire TV, I’m using (smart DNS), my Amazon account is set up for U.S., and Netflix and other channels are working fine. The only thing I can’t get to work is Amazon Prime. Is VPN a must?
can it work in zimbabwe, africa
Yes it will work as long as long as you have a prime subscription.
can i watch my channels in mexico with this fire tv
Yeah it should work as long as you have an prime subscription.
anyone get this working in Dubai and how? or setup using vpngates
Really depends on your ISP, SmartDNS is a bit weak against proxies, VPN should work
So to get this right…
1. setup an account on Unlocator
2. set the IP address on Fire TV to the same as router with the last number different
3. Ensure Amazon is set to USA address.
Is this all that needs to be done to ensure it all works? My main aim is to try and get NBC Sports Live working via XBMC. So far i have seen that you have to root the amazon TV and install a VPN app to get it working. WIll the Unlocator method allow me to watch NBC Live via XBMC?
For FIre TV that is all that is needed . For XBMX I would say VPN is better
managed to sort it! i set the IP on the Fire TV to one within the range of the router, set the DNS to the ones for Unlocator and it works perfectly!
Great to hear that
What is your email address Carlos?
Using kodi on a cheap android box at the moment for NBC in the uk. Thinking of getting fire but have couple of questions
You can change the DNS for the Amazon Fire TV box its a pain at first but once you have done it becomes easy to do
I hope you or someone else here can explain how to change the DNS for the Amazon fire tv. I have prime and want to use prime movies in central america. But I don’t want to buy Fire TV unless I know it’s going to work there.
Also will FireTV work with a vpn like PrivateInternetAccess?
Specifically has anyone used Prime with ICE internet service in costa rica?
Hi. Smart DNS can be configured directly on your Amazon Fire TV. Once you sign up with a Smart DNS service like Unlocator, you need to configure DNS on your Amazon Fire TV using the DNS codes found in the setup guide for Amazon Fire TV.
hi , does this work for fire stick
Hi Surely works for Amazon Fire Stick with Unlocator.
Hello Alinux,
Yes I did try to modify an existing account.
I will now try (via SmartDNS) to register a new account with US address & register the Fire on that account.
And I will try to pay using gift vouchers, not Dutch credit card
Thanks
Great, let me know how it goes please
Thanks for the blog, very helpfull. Works nice.
However…
When I try to rent a movie on Amazon, the payment is not accepted. As Dutch person in Netherlands, I have a Dutch Mastercard registered on amazon.com. I did change the main adress to US address ofcourse, but it does not work.
Does anybody have any tips on how to deal with payment issues?
thanks in advance
Olof
Hi
Is this for Amazon Video or for Amazon Prime ? And what method did you use to hide your location ?
Sorry, I should have been more clear.
1. It´s Amazon Video
2. I tried several different things at my account at amazon.com:
2.1 `Manage Your Content and Devices´/settings/country settings = united states
2.2 your account / manage address book / default address set to an existing US address
2.3 Amazon Instant Video Settings/1-click payment settings/billing address: both my US address (not linked with my Dutch credit card) and my Dutch address (linked to my credit card) do not work….
Thanks in advance for any tips!
Olof
Method to hide my location:
SmartDNS using Unlocator
But did you try to register to http://www.amazon.com first using Smart DNS or did you use an existing account you had from earlier which you tried to modify.
Olof.
I am living in Holland and just got a firestick.
I have no idea how to get it working and by the looks you have an idea now. I don’t understand the technical talk and don’t know what or how to get the VPN thing.
If you could advise in a simple form it would be very much appreciated.
Thank you for any info
Andy
Hi Andy, it would be easier to get American channels on your Fire TV using Unlocator DNS. Get your free account and then follow the setup guide.
Can you help me guys I’m in the uk running the fire tv have hulu plus loading up on it but can not join will not link to my amazon account? What can I do?
Hi Ry
If you are trying to use your UK Amazon to access US Amazon that wont work. YOu need a US Amazon account for American Amazon Prime
not tech savy at all so can you help me? going to buy one for the usa and have it in the uk…what will i need to do to make all the goodies work?? this dns and vpn stuff is confusing is it a simple case of configuring the stuff on the router to make it work? or will i need to buy other stuff….i can get a usa address and all that jazz to register it to watch usa stuff so that wouldnt be a problem just more curious how advanced it is to setup a dns or vpn…..thank you very much for the help
Hi
If you are looking for the simplest solution try DNS.It will unblock services as supported by the Smart DNS service. VPN unblocks everything, but might be a bit more challenging for a total novice.
Regards
It is connected to the internet as I set it up as such and I get a message – connected but the light remains blue. My router is an asus RT U66N andf I have it connected to a cisco device config’d as a bridge…
What country did you get the FireTV from and what country are you living in ?
Amazon fire – USA. I live in Ottawa Canada
Using purevpn and my server is in NY
did you read above by Millsy? “All sorted now, simply registered a new account at amazon.com and registered the firetv to that, then I was able to download netflix and a few other apps from the cloud !! Simples”
I think you need a U.S. Amazon account. I want to try this too (and I live in Ottawa too!)
Dear Ian
I did update the post for further instructions, please try those.
Regards
I have an Amazon fire and it is set up wirelessly to my router which uses a VPN but still cannot get movies to work or Netflix to run. The box has a blue light on and not orange which I am advised means it is connected to the internet… but it is…. any thoughts?
I bought it in the uk but it is obviously a us import, the netflix app is not preinstalled and amazon.com will not let me download the app as I’m in the uk or because I have a uk amazon account, unfortunately the smartdns and unlock.us don’t allow for this. I’m sure once the app is installed it will be all singing and dancing :-)
All sorted now, simply registered a new account at amazon.com and registered the firetv to that, then I was able to download netflix and a few other apps from the cloud !! Simples
Great thanks for the update, I bet others are going to benefit.
Hello, I have recently got a firetv and I am in the uk, ive already setup the router with a smartdns and the netflix regions have changed for my ipad and atv but i cannot even install the netflix app on my firetv, i didnt particularly want i sideloaded version. any ideas?
So you bought it in the UK and there is no Netflix app on it ?
hi i read your blog but I’m not that much with network stuff …. my question is if i bought amazon fire tv and I’m out side of the states and i have VPN that i usually use in my i phone or iPad and it works ….. so if i want to connect the amazon fire TV to my LG HD Tv should i change the setting of the amazon fire tv or the LG setting ….. I’m really confused ! i have no idea with network thing
Hi
Neither will work, as LG TV and Amazon FireTV both do not support VPN. You need to use a Smart DNS provider such as Unlocator.
I sent the post dated June 10 below… If I read the above correctly, Amazon Fire TV does not support VPN connection.Ergo, I have to use a DNS provider such as Unlocator instead – is that what you are saying?
Hi Well if you do have a router with VPN on it, then VPN does work. But you cant configure VPN directly on Fire TV.
I guess people have not noticed the “Advanced” option become available when entering your wireless network password? After entering the password, instead of clicking to connect right away, go to the advanced settings and manually enter everything else, including DNS numbers.
Thanks for sharing that !
24 worked – for network settings, but the service isn’t working. I’ve read that geo-blocking isn’t enough to get it working, you have to have a US Amazon account with a US pay service (credit / debit card) attached to it.
It should, you might want to open a ticket with your DNS provider.
The net mask thing is saying it needs a number between 0-32 – it’s really frustrating because I have unlocator set up on the router, and it works – I can watch Amazon TV on my macbook, but using the same wifi network on the fire TV just doesn’t happen. Can’t DL apps (netflix) or watch movies. I get an error message that says something like ‘unable to watch movie – contact customer support if this issue persists’.
use 24 for netmask
What do you put for the settings for the wired connection? I have an unlocator account, have configured my to-link router, but when I go through the ethernet cable settings, it asks for IP address, Network Prefix Length and gateway address as well as the DNS – and making my best guess it doesn’t connect.
It is really hard to tell, it depends on the IP in use by your router, try this
Netmask 255.255.255.0
DNS 185.37.37.37
DNS 2 : 185.37.37.37
This leaves IP and Gw, which are the same apart from the last part. Try http://www.pcworld.com/article/240803/how_to_find_your_ip_address_and_mac_address.html
What you need is the IP address, assuming it is 192.168.1.100 change it to 192.168.1.199 and use it on FireTV “the last part is changed only” the gateway is the same for the first 3 parts and but last part normally is .1 or .254. If you need more help please let me know
Have we verified that Smart DNS will work with a wired (ethernet) Amazon Fire?
Yes it does !
Very helpful, but you can set the DNS settings on an Amazon Fire TV if you use the wired connection option.
Thanks Mark, I did not know that, I guess in this wireless world we dont even check wired that much anymore. Will test this.
Once you change the DNS setting using a wired connection can you switch back to wireless?
Yes you can do that, but DNS settings will be overwritten unless you set them manually on both Wireless and Wired “or on router for both”
I can’t figure out how to change them manually on the wireless connection. Can you give me instructions? Thanks!
You have to change DNS on your router for wireless.