Wondering why BBC iPlayer isn’t working? Due to the geo-restrictions of BBC iPlayer, it won’t work in Canada without a VPN. Even so, you may still find BBC iPlayer not working with VPN due to the IP detecting technologies it uses.
BBC iPlayer has some of the toughest geo-blocks to get around. Once the streaming service detects VPN usage on your account, it takes the stream down and displays the error message BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.
Geo-error message on BBC iPlayer in Canada
BBC iPlayer is a premium British streaming service that provides its users with original BBC content. The service is currently unavailable for users outside of the UK region. If you wish to access BBC iPlayer in Canada and watch the best shows, you need to connect to a quality VPN service like ExpressVPN.
If you need some motivation to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada, here are a few best iPlayer movies, that are coming to the streaming service this 2023, Effie Gray, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Young Ahmed, etc.
Using a reliable and fast VPN service like ExpressVPN can help you change your region from your current IP address in Canada and provide you with a masked IP address from the UK region allowing you to stream BBC iPlayer easily.
If you have an issue with your BBC iPlayer, Why is BBC iPlayer Not Working with VPN? We suggest you read on as we discuss possible solutions to your issues.
How to Quick Fix VPN problems with BBC iPlayer?
Here are a few quick fixes you can try to fix your problem: Why is BBC iPlayer not working with VPN?
- Switch Servers
- Clear Your Tracking Cookies
- Restart Your Browser
- Enable Leak Protection
- Switch Time Zones
- Switch Devices
- Get a Dedicated IP Address
Additional information:
Before you try out any of these quick fixes, you can resolve your VPN issues by doing the following.
- Make sure you use a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN.
- Try disconnection and reconnection to a different UK server.
- If step 2 doesn’t work, you can fix your issues by disconnecting the VPN completely and reconnecting to a UK server.
- If you are still getting the error message, you can check out these below-mentioned fixes.
Switch Servers
If your dedicated server stops working and you face a geo-block. You can switch your servers and try a different server in the UK to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada.
If you are working with a VPN that doesn’t allow the selection of desired servers, you can contact customer support agents to ask if they can recommend a better server.
Clear Your Tracking Cookies
Clearing your tracking cookies would be helpful. Sometimes VPN detection can occur due to the cookies from your original IP address being available on your browsing history.
You can clear the Cookies from your browser by going to the privacy & Security settings on your browse and choosing the delete all cookies option to remove all previous cookies.
Restart Your Browser
Sometimes browser issues cause the BBC iPlayer not working with VPN. To combat this, you can fully close your browser and restart it. Restarting can resolve this issue, and you can resume your steam.
Enable Leak Protection
You can enable leak protection on your VPN service, if available, by going to the settings option and enabling the setting called Leak Protection or IPv6 Leak Protection.
You can also enable the kill switch, a feature available with premium VPNs. This feature eliminates the chances of being detected.
Switch Time Zones
You need to change your time zones because if your device’s time zone doesn’t correspond to the UK time zone, BBC iPlayer can detect it and block your device.
The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) or British Summer Time (UTC+1), depending on the time of year.
Switch Devices
The device you are using to stream BBC iPlayer, such as Smart TV, BBC iPlayer on Kodi, or even BBC iPlayer on FireTV. This may cause your VPN not to work correctly.
To avoid creating geo-spoofing challenges for yourself, we recommend that you stream BBC iPlayer on your Laptop or Desktop device.
Get a Dedicated IP Address
A dedicated IP address is a virtual IP address designated especially to the device that only you can use. Most premium VPNs provide this service for a small fee.
If BBC iPlayer spots multiple users using the same IP address on their server, they flag and block that server. With a Dedicated IP address, you can avoid this issue altogether.
Which VPNs still work with BBC iPlayer?
Finding the best VPNs on the market to watch BBC iPlayer is challenging. This is why we have tested different VPNs and have compiled a list of the best VPN for BBC iPlayer.
Here are the top 3 VPNs to stream BBC iPlayer in Canada
ExpressVPN– The Best VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in Canada
There are many reasons to choose ExpressVPN as the VPN of choice for streaming BBC iPlayer in Canada. The VPN service has 3000+ servers in over 105 countries. The VPN service also has three servers operational in the UK region.
ExpressVPN unblocks BBC iPlayer
The service also provides up to 5 devices simultaneously, making it the best VPN for sharing with family and enjoy streaming the Best Family Movies on BBC iPlayer.
Due to its MediaStreamer DNS service, ExpressVPN is compatible with most devices. This makes the service the best VPN to watch BBC iPlayer on devices such as Apple TV, Windows, iPads, etc. You can even stream BBC iPlayer on your iPhone with ExpressVPN.
You can use ExpressVPN to watch the best BBC iPlayer shows and combat the issue of BBC iPlayer not working with VPN by using the reliable and secure service ExpressVPN offers.
ExpressVPN also offers its users fast downloading speeds of up to 89.38 Mbps downloading speeds and makes the service the best for streaming HD content. We received an upload speed of 84.66Mbps on a 100Mbps connection.
Speed test results of ExpressVPN
You can subscribe to one of the three subscription plans that ExpressVPN offers. You can opt for a monthly plan for CA$ 9.11/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) .
These plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support.
Surfshark-Most Affordable VPN for BBC iPlayer in Canada
Surfshark is the most budget-friendly VPN among all the VPN services mentioned in the list. Their plans start from only CA$ 3.4/mo (US$ 2.49/mo) .
Surfshark offers 3200+ servers worldwide, with 126 Canadian servers in 3 different Canadian locations. At the same time, it has 360 servers in the UK working in 4 areas. The VPN is a good choice for streaming BBC iPlayer in Canada using a UK location.
Surfshark unblocks BBC iPlayer in Canada
Surfshark offers a Multi-hop location service that protects your online data and the IP address from detection by routing your IP address through two different locations and making your data more secure from internet snoops and helping you to enjoy streaming BBC iPlayer Comedy Movies.
The VPN also offers a malware and AD blocker with their service making your browsing more secure and easier as you don’t have to deal with constant pop-ups. You can access all these services and more with Surfshark at a 30-day risk-free trial.
NordVPN-Largest Server VPN to Stream BBC iPlayer in Canada
NordVPN, with its largest server network, is one of the biggest VPNs among all of the VPNs mentioned in the list. The service offers 6000+ ultra fast servers in over 61 countries. NordVPN offers 440+ servers in the UK region alone.
NordVPN swiftly unblocked BBC iPlayer in Canada
NordVPN offers its users fast connections with their service so that their users can browse with ease. Along with that, the service also provides a Double VPN service which protects your internet security by routing your IP address twice through different locations.
One of the most unique features offered by the VPN service is the Static IP feature which allows users to access an IP address that is dedicated mainly to them, and that only they can use.
You can sign up for NordVPN at CA$ 5.45/mo (US$ 3.99/mo) . The prices differ due to the subscription length and the plan you have selected.
NordVPN also offers a risk-free Money back guarantee to their users, making the service more approachable for users that might be afraid to commit to extra charges for no benefits.
Which VPNs don’t work with BBC iPlayer?
If you are facing the problem of BBC iPlayer not working with VPN, it’s time to check whether or not your VPN is one of the VPNs blocked by BBC iPlayer. Here is a list to help you out.
- Norton VPN
- TunnelBear
- IPVanish
- Hotspot Shield
- VyprVPN
- Windscribe
- Buffered
- HideMyAss
Using a free VPN or VPNs with lesser servers can put your online security at risk as well. Most free VPNs have trackers on their service that keep track of your online browsing. These trackers are also picked up by BBC iPlayer, which is how it, at times, blocks your streams.
Another reason why these VPNs don’t work against the BBC iPlayer server is that these VPNs offer very flimsy service to their users. Rather than waiting for these VPNs to connect and reconnect, why not try a better, more premium service like ExpressVPN?
Why Doesn’t My VPN Work with BBC iPlayer?
Many VPNs, especially Free VPNs, are easily detected by the BBC iPlayer server and blocked. The streaming service has gotten better with its scanning feature and is now able to even detect and track some premium VPNs and block them from the server.
To avoid you having to Google why is my BBC iPlayer not working with VPN and going through the hassle of looking through pages, we have compiled a few of the reasons why you might be having issues with your VPN not working with BBC iPlayer.
- Your streaming device might be giving your actual location away. Either through your previous search history or through your time zone, your device may pinpoint your exact location.
- Your Leak protection might be acting up. Sometimes while using a VPN, your VPN service might cover you until IPv4 but might not cover IPv6, thus leaving you up for detection from BBC iPlayer.
- Keeping up with the location detection, if you are using a cellular device to stream, you may still have your location turned on, which might be giving your original location to the BBC iPlayer server.
- Your device might have previous tracking cookies stored in its history. These cookies can help track your device’s original location, which the streaming service can use to detect VPN usage on your device.
- The VPN server that you might currently be using might already have been blocked by BBC iPlayer before, which is why it is not connecting you to the server currently.
- The VPN you use might not be strong enough to mask your IP address. Free VPNs usually don’t have access to actual servers that they can connect their users to and rely on virtual servers, easily detected by BBC iPlayer.
- You can also try deleting your BBC iPlayer application and reinstalling the application. Sometimes, the application and delete BBC iPlayer account might be the only solution.
We hope these tips and tricks are helpful in getting your stream back in order and avoiding future issues of BBC iPlayer not working with VPN. If you still have connection issues, it’s time to consider changing your VPN even after fixing all of these issues.
We recommend that you always use a premium VPN service like ExpressVPN, which provides you with complete anonymity and secures your connection against any attacks, making the service the best on the market for streaming BBC iPlayer.
FAQs – BBC iPlayer isn’t working
Here are a few FAQs which might be helpful for you in resolving your issue of why BBC iPlayer not working with VPN.
Is it legal to watch iPlayer with a VPN?
Are there any free VPNs that work with iPlayer?
How does BBC iPlayer detect my VPN?
Wrapping Up!
We understand your frustration of being mid-show only to have your stream interrupted with the dreaded BBC iPlayer error message. The issue of BBC iPlayer not working with VPN, there are a few steps that can be taken to resolve this issue.
These steps include changing your timezone, disconnecting the location of the device, disconnecting and reconnecting your VPN server, clearing your browser, and refreshing your browser. If the problem still persists, we recommend changing the VPN you are using.
The reason why your BBC iPlayer streams may be acting up can be due to the use of the wrong or blacklisted VPN. This is why we recommend using a premium VPN like ExpressVPN, which is the best VPN for streaming BBC iPlayer.
