If you want to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK, you’ll find that it’s not as simple as logging in and pressing the to play. It is quite frustrating, but in this article we bring you the solution and you will see that it is simple.
iPlayer is one of the services of diffusion in the UK and offers high-quality live and on-demand TV from channels such as BBC One, as well as some of the best series around.
The downside is that it’s restricted to UK users and you can theoretically only watch it if you’re physically there. The BBC is funded by user fees, so it makes sense that it is limited to UK users.
That doesn’t mean there’s no way to watch BBC iPlayer content from anywhere in the world, even without a license. Keep in mind, however, that our trick is not contemplated in the terms of service.
How to watch BBC iPlayer from Europe and Latin America
Here’s a quick rundown of the steps you’ll need to take to watch BBC iPlayer on your iPhone, iPad or Mac if you’re outside the UK. Obviously, this will also work if you are accessing the service from a PC or Android.
Again, please note that this is against BBC iPlayer’s terms and conditions, so proceed at your own risk. It’s unlikely, but your account could be suspended if they find out.
Here is the summary of the process:
1. You will need to subscribe to a VPN. We recommend NordVPN or Surfshark, but you can find more options in our selection of the best VPNs.
2. Download the VPN of your choice on your Mac, iPhone or iPad.
3. Sign into your account.
4. Choose a server located in the UK.
5. Go to the BBC iPlayer website and sign in.
6. You will now be able to access all content on BBC iPlayer.
How to watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN
Although we are more accustomed to watching series on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO or Disney+, the truth is that BBC iPlayer also offers very good series and some are not available on any other service.
The problem is that it’s not as simple as going to their website to be able to see that content outside of the UK.
When you open the BBC iPlayer app on your iPhone or iPad, or sign into iPlayer on your Mac or PC, your public IP address is automatically checked to see if you’re in the UK.
If it recognizes that you are in another country, BBC iPlayer will not show you the content. Therefore, to access it from outside, you will have to “convince” the BBC that you are using an IP address located in the UK.
But don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks. This is thanks to VPNs (or Virtual Private Networks). Instead of connecting directly to iPlayer servers, you will first need to use a VPN to connect to a UK IP address in order to access all content.
As we have said many times, this is against BBC iPlayer’s terms and conditions and we are not responsible for it.
Below, we’ve listed which VPNs, in our experience, work best for watching BBC iPlayer from another country on Mac and iOS.
If you want to watch BBC iPlayer on your Apple TV, the process becomes a bit more complicated. That’s why we recommend you take a look at our article How to Download and Install a VPN on Your Apple TV.
- Surfshark: The best value VPN on the list, it’s also one of our favorite VPNs overall. It works well with BBC iPlayer, but it doesn’t have all the features of NordVPN.
- NordVPN: Very complete VPN with a fairly affordable price. Your data will be encrypted and, in addition to accessing iPlayer, you will be able to enjoy banking services on line insurance, among other services.
- ExpressVPN: Another of our favorite VPNs, it has great security and privacy features. Its applications are very easy to use, but its disadvantage is that they are a little more expensive than the previous ones.
