How to Get BBC iPlayer on FireStick outside UK?
How to get BBC iPlayer on Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick in USA, Canada, Australia, or anywhere else outside the UK? The BBC iPlayer is one of the most popular streaming channels, not just in the United Kingdom, but all over the world. British expats and fans of UK programs are not able to download and install the BBC iPlayer app on their streaming devices due to geo-restrictions though. Luckily, there are various workarounds you can use to unblock and watch BBC iPlayer on FireStick anywhere in the world.
How to Get BBC iPlayer on FireStick outside UK?
How to Get BBC iPlayer on FireStick outside UK with VPN?
As you can see, you’ll get the following message: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
There basically are two methods you can use to unblock any streaming service regardless of where you currently live. The first, and more reliable, is VPN. VPN stands for virtual private network. A VPN allows users to encrypt all their Internet traffic and hide their IP address. By using VPN, you can get a UK IP address and spoof your online location in the process. This will trick UK channels like BBC, ITV, Sky, Now TV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 into thinking you are in the United Kingdom. The same process can also be used to unblock American, Canadian, or German channels.
- If you haven’t created a UK Amazon account yet, we encourage you to do so. This will allow you to download and install British apps on your FireStick.
- Next, you have to install a VPN app on your FireStick. ExpressVPN, IPVanish, and BulletVPN are all VPN service providers that have VPN apps compatible with the Amazon Fire TV Stick.
- Launch the VPN app and sign in using your VPN account.
- From within the app, connect to a UK VPN server.
- Finally, click on the home button on your FireStick remote and launch the BBC iPlayer app.
- You can now watch both on-demand and live programming on BBC.
In terms of best VPNs to use on your FireStick, both ExpressVPN and BulletVPN are reliable options. Both these VPN service providers offer their users VPN apps that can be directly installed on the Amazon Fire TV. They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee. That way you can always get your money back just in case you’re not overly satisfied with their products.
- 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
How to Unblock BBC iPlayer on FireStick outside UK with Smart DNS Proxies
Smart DNS is an alternative method you can turn to in order to unblock geoblocked apps like BBC iPlayer on your FireStick. Smart DNS does not encrypt your traffic, however. Neither does it completely hide your public IP address. It basically only reroutes certain URLs that would normally allow BBC iPlayer to determine your current location. As such, the channels you get to unblock using this method mainly depend on the Smart DNS proxy service you are using.
- Smart DNS proxies can be directly installed on Amazon Fire TV and FireStick.
- Due to ISP policies such as DNS hijacking and transparent proxies, Smart DNS might not work for everybody.
- Even after setting up Smart DNS on your streaming device, you still get to access all your local apps.
Unlocator is a Smart DNS proxy service that supports unblocking BBC iPlayer on FireStick outside the UK. They offer a free 7-day trial and have a 14-day refund policy on top of that.
How to Get BBC iPlayer on FireStick with Kodi
The BBC iPlayer Kodi addon allows you to access live and on-demand BBC programs without the need for the official BBC iPlayer app. Keep in mind that if you live outside the UK, you will still need VPN to unblock these live streams and on-demand programs.
How to Get BBC iPlayer on Fire Stick – Wrap Up
Being a British expats living abroad can be difficult at times. You’re basically spending most of your time away from your family and friends. On top of that, you are losing access to all your favorite TV shows. Using tools like VPN can bring you one step closer to home though. Have you tried accessing BBC iPlayer on your FireStick using any of the methods we have listed above? How did it go? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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About The Author
Charles
Streaming gadgets geek. Interested in every little thing there is to know about bypassing regional restrictions. An avid believer in the right to protect online privacy. Charles has also reviewed plenty of VPN service providers and knows how to separate the good apples from the bad ones.
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I’m moving to Crete for a couple of months. Anybody using a VPN that works with iPlayer and fire stick
In Greece?
Hello John. I suggest giving ExpressVPN a try. They’re pretty reliable when it comes to accessing British TV channels from abroad.
You need to install the FIREFOX browser and go to bbc.uk.com/iplayer to get this working. Use the BOOKMARKER 1 app to create a shortcut that launches Firefox to the above URL. Works well with a VPN.
Thanks for the valuable input.
Great blog. There are lots of other options for concealing IP Addresses. I used to use Hide my IP Address but there is CyberGhost too. Not sure why people have not mentioned these. Then there is Hotspot Sheild which has been going for years. The latter supports up to 5 devices from a single account. I have no association with the company. other than being an ex-user of their product. We should all be aware that it is possible to trace all IP addresses used throughout any internet transaction so technically it is possible to bar someone who has been redirected through a foreign server. All a bit crazy as the internet was designed to allow free access of information and the Money Men are now blocking it off. So bad.
Using Nord vpn but no I player – tried Firefox but same. Laptop fine with I player – bbc missing a trick here – a tie in with a vpn would make them lots of money and could be a way around it
This is so frustrating, creating a uk Amazon account is really difficult without a uk phone number, and i don’t even know why you have a super repo link on here – they haven’t worked in years now… :/
I have a vpn and tried watching bbc iPlayer and itv hub in thailand and can’t watch any now.all VPN’s will be blocked.
Hello there. Have you tried connecting to a different UK VPN server from within the VPN app? Which VPN service provider are you currently using?
I had the same problem. i overcame it by downloading Firefox to my Amazon Fire TV. accessing the BBC website and running iplayer from there. it worked
We did the same thing when the Firestick iplayer app didn’t work when using a SmartDNS, and then ExpressVPN. Firefox works, but after a while blacks out the screen, or returns to the Firestick main menu. We turned off the Firestick screensaver, but it still happens now and again. Do you get the same thing, and do you have a solution?
Using Smart DNS and can capture BBC/ITV on PC and iPad with no problem. Amazon Firestick worked well for a while, but recently, ‘your show cannot be loaded’. Am investigating with my smart DNS provider.
Let us know how it goes.
Express vpn definitely does not allow access to bbc iPlayer through a fire stick in Milan – & the helpline have told me this too
I use Express VPN , have got a UK Amazon account,downloaded the BBC IPLAYER and configured the vpn with a UK SERVER, all to no avail ;Iplayer will always tell me that something went wrong! I,can access the BBC through various other apps but not with the official one. Help !
I had personal experience of trying to watch BBC iPlayer using the most recommended VPNs. They do not work and I wish I had not wasted time and money. I have found the Mobdro app works but clarity is not great. I read endless recs for VPNs that pick up any station but BBC.
Hey Ann. Try BulletVPN. They definitely allow you to get BBC iPlayer on your FireStick abroad. They also have a VPN app that works great on Amazon Fire Stick.
Installed IP Vanish on fire stick. Can watch all uk channels when abroad except BBC iplayer! Don’t understand this. Can watch on iPad using a different VPN just not on TV ……..can you help.
I have the same problem as Carole using Nord VPN on Firestick. Can access all UK channels when abroad but not BBC I player. Sooooo frustrating.