How to Watch BBC iPlayer in Europe for FREE
BBC iPlayer is available only in its home country – the United Kingdom. Since the UK is no longer a member of the European Union, many of its digital services are once again confined by the country’s borders. However, the good news is that you can bypass any digital roadblock, which means you can still watch BBC iPlayer in Europe. And yes, you can still watch it for free!
To make that happen, you need to trick BBC iPlayer into thinking you’re in the United Kingdom. So, you need a VPN service that offers servers in that country. Aside from that, your chosen VPN must have a track record of working with iPlayer (also providing streaming-friendly performance, of course), which means not every VPN will do the job.
Our team has tested more than 65 VPN services in total. Since we understand that iPlayer is among the most popular free streaming services, we tested each of those VPNs with BBC’s streaming platform. So, we know exactly which one to recommend.
Ready to get started? If you are – here’s all you need to know on how to watch BBC iPlayer in Europe, free of charge!
How to Watch BBC iPlayer in Europe for FREE?
To easiest way to watch BBC iPlayer in Europe is to connect to a VPN server in the UK. Here’s our full guide on how to make that happen:
1. Subscribe to a VPN that works with iPlayer, such as NordVPN.
2. Download and install VPN on the device(s) you’ll use to stream iPlayer.
3. Open the VPN app and complete the initial setup (reach the VPN’s home screen).
4. Connect to any server located in the United Kingdom.
5. Use any Web browser to access iPlayer’s website.
6. Click “Sign In” and log in to your BBC account (or create a new one).
7. Pick any title you’d like to play and initialize its stream.
8. When asked if you have a TV license, confirm that you do.
9. Confirm if you’d like to enable iPlayer’s parental controls.
10. You’ll now get to stream iPlayer with no limitations. Enjoy!
The instructions above apply to watching iPlayer anywhere in Europe via its website. However, the streaming service is available on more than your computer. So, if you need device-specific guides, here’s how to download the iPlayer app from outside the UK.
Do You Need a VPN to Watch BBC iPlayer in Europe?
Yes, really do need a VPN if you plan to watch BBC iPlayer outside the United Kingdom. So, no matter where in Europe you currently reside, a VPN is a must.
Keep in mind that BBC iPlayer employs rigorous location-related checks. As soon as you open its website or mobile app, it will see your location. Naturally, that will lead to the following geo-block error message: “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
That happens due to your IP address. Sites like BBC iPlayer check your IP to see from where you connect to the Web, as IP addresses are associated with individual countries. So, the trick is to change your IP address – and that’s exactly where VPNs come into play.
To help you get started, we’ve produced a handy guide to the best VPNs for iPlayer. However, if you’re short on time, know that NordVPN is your best bet at the moment (remember that we tested dozens and dozens of VPNs).
NordVPN unblocks iPlayer on any device, from any country. It’s the fastest VPN available, really simple to use, and it unblocks plenty more streaming platforms.
What Can You Watch on BBC iPlayer?
BBC iPlayer covers an extensive range of content, including (but not limited to) movies, TV shows, documentaries, as well as sports-focused content.
One of the reasons why iPlayer is so popular is because it offers live TV channels. At any given moment, you’ll find the following video and audio streams on iPlayer: BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC, CBeebies, BBC News, BBC Scotland, S4C, BBC Parliament, Radio 1, and BBC Alba.
Then, there’s an endless library of on-demand content. BBC iPlayer is home to titles such as Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack, Killing Eve, Top Gear, and more. The streaming platform recently started offering US TV shows as well, such as Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.
In terms of the currently available movies, here are some of the most popular titles: Blade Runner 2049, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Magic Mike, Dunkirk, Vice, and more.
Can’t Access BBC iPlayer in Europe with a VPN? – Try This!
Any VPN that supports iPlayer should have no problem unblocking the streaming platform. Still, technical issues may arise on occasion. So, here’s what to do if you can’t access BBC iPlayer in Europe with a VPN.
- Pick Another VPN Server: VPN servers are used by many individuals at once, which means they can encounter technical problems if overloaded. That’s why most VPNs offer multiple server locations in countries that are popular “VPN destinations.”
- Pick Another VPN Protocol: VPNs typically offer multiple protocols, which means you can make changes to your VPN tunnel, pick another type of encryption, and similar. In our experience, OpenVPN is the best protocol for iPlayer.
- Remove Cookies & Cache: If you tried accessing iPlayer in the past, there’s probably some data stored (cookies and cache) that points to your actual location. So, you need to remove that data to force iPlayer to read your new location instead.
- Use Incognito/Private/InPrivate Mode: iPlayer features robust mechanisms for checking your location. So, sometimes you need to do more than just use a VPN. More precisely, you can combine your VPN with your Web browser’s Incognito mode (also known as Private or InPrivate mode).
- Ask Your VPN for Assistance: If nothing else helps, you can turn to your VPN for assistance. We've recommended NordVPN in this guide because it brings 24/7-available live chat, which means you can resolve technical issues in under a couple of minutes.
You can find other possible solutions in our central guide to troubleshooting VPNs. Also, our guide to resolving VPN error codes might come in handy if you need extra information.
That’s all on how to watch BBC iPlayer in Europe for free. If you have any questions, make sure to post your comment below. Thank you for reading!