How to Watch Disney+ Hotstar in Qatar for FREE
Qatari Internet users have access to many domestic and international streaming services, but Disney+ Hotstar is not available in Qatar. This is due to content distribution agreements and licenses that prohibit use outside of India and a few other countries. On top of that, Hotstar offers different content in every country where it's available.
However, there is one option that will let you access Hotstar from Qatar without a hitch. You need to use a VPN to watch Disney Plus Hotstar in Qatar. Connecting to a VPN server in India will make it appear as if you're located in the country. That's how you'll get access to Hotstar's free content as well as premium subscriptions (if you already have one).
In this article, we explain step-by-step how to watch Disney Plus Hotstar in Qatar and why you need a VPN to do so. We'll also share the most popular content that can be found on Disney+ Hotstar and help you troubleshoot if your VPN is not working with Hotstar in Qatar. Then we'll wrap things up with some FAQs.
How to Watch Disney Plus Hotstar in QatarÂ
To watch Disney Plus Hotstar in Qatar, first get a subscription to a VPN that works with Hotstar and has servers in India. Here's what you need to do:
- Subscribe to a VPN that unblocks Hotstar (we recommend Surfshark).
- Download and install the VPN on the device you'll use to watch Hotstar.
- Launch the VPN and access your account by logging in.
- Connect to an Indian server.
- Use your browser to open Hotstar's website or download the Hotstar app.
- Log in to Disney+ Hotstar if you already have a subscription.
- If you don't have a subscription, you can watch its huge library of free titles.
- And that's it! Just remember to leave your VPN on while you watch Hotstar.
Follow the above instructions to watch Disney Plus Hotstar on your computer, phone, or tablet. If you need more detailed instructions for other devices, such as smart TVs or gaming consoles, turn to our guide on watching Hotstar outside of India.
Do You Need a VPN to Watch Hotstar in Qatar?Â
Yes, you need a VPN to watch Hotstar in Qatar. There is no other way to bypass the streaming service's geo-restrictions. Hotstar checks your location every time you access its website. It uses your IP address to determine whether you are in India. If that's not the case, its content simply won't load or you'll see an error message: "An error occurred while processing your request."
To access Hotstar outside India, your device needs to display an Indian IP address. That's done using a VPN service that offers servers scattered across India. However, most VPNs don't have servers in India, and even if they do, they still might not be able to unblock Disney Plus Hotstar from Qatar. That's why it's important to use the best Hotstar VPN available.
So far, we've tested more than 60 VPN services, and we can safely say Surfshark is the best tool for the job. It easily unblocks Hotstar, so you can stream all its content in Qatar. It also acts as an all-in-one cyber-security solution that protects your digital privacy. You can even surf the Web from Qatar, accessing any international websites and digital services.Â
What to Watch on Disney+ HotstarÂ
There are so many options of content to watch on Disney+ Hotstar from its massive selection of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and sports. Aside from American films (many supplied by Disney), this streaming service offers Indian movies in many languages, such as Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, and Tamil. You can watch titles like Sanju, 12th Fail, Hungama 2, Mulan, and Encanto.
There are tons of TV shows from Star, Quix, and Asianet. Of course, the streamer also invests in exclusive content, so you'll find Hotstar Specials like Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Special Ops, and Hostages. US TV shows come from HBO, ABC, Showtime, and Disney (covering Marvel, Star Wars, and other franchises). Popular titles include Andor, Billions, Loki, and Modern Family.
You can also follow all kinds of sports on Hotstar, including (but not limited to) football, cricket, tennis, athletics, and hockey.
Below you'll find a selection of the most popular movies and TV shows to watch on Disney Plus Hotstar:
Why is Hotstar Not Working in Qatar with a VPN?
Hotstar may not be working in Qatar with a VPN for a variety of reasons. Foremost, if your IP address is leaking, it will prevent you from accessing Hotstar. Go through the following troubleshooting steps to try and get Hotstar working with your VPN:
- Restart Your Device and VPN: Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one. We suggest always trying this step first because restarting your device and VPN often fixes the issue.
- Check Your Internet Connection: It's important to make sure you have stable and fast Internet because instability can cause your VPN to malfunction. Moreover, even the best VPN will naturally slow down your connection a bit, so your baseline speed needs to be high. Otherwise, Hotstar may not load properly.
- Delete Residual Cache Files: Websites and online applications (including Hotstar) store data on your device to help with their performance. So, if you tried to use Hotstar from Qatar before, there might be cached files that will prevent your VPN from working. If you delete your browser's cache files, Hotstar will read the location of your VPN server's IP instead.
- Update Your VPN App: When VPN applications are out of date, they can have bugs and errors that haven't been fixed by patches in the latest updates. This can prevent your VPN from working properly, so it's important to keep it updated at all times.
- Pick Another Server in India:Â Since servers can get overcrowded or experience various technical difficulties, VPNs usually offer multiple servers within a single country. We recommend connecting to another server in India, then try accessing Hotstar again.
- Connect to an Obfuscated Server: Obfuscation will prevent Disney+ Hotstar from being able to detect your VPN usage. This is important because it will block your access if it catches you using a VPN.
- Use a Different VPN Protocol: To optimize your Web connection speed and other aspects of your VPN tunnel, you can choose from multiple VPN protocols. They all affect your Web connection differently, with some being better suited for website unblocking. For watching Hotstar from Qatar, you can use OpenVPN or WireGuard.
- Temporarily Disable Your Device's Firewall: The firewall on your device could be interfering with your VPN's operation. To see if this is the culprit, simply disable the firewall and try accessing Hotstar.
- Try Disabling Your GPS Location: Even if you're connected to a VPN server, your GPS feature can easily reveal your true physical location to Hotstar. Disable the GPS functionality on your device and see if you can watch anything on Hotstar.
- Use Incognito or Private Modes:Â To force websites to look at your VPN server's IP (instead of reading your actual data), you can use your browser's Incognito, Private, or InPrivate mode. This will prevent Hotstar from storing any information locally, so the service will turn to your VPN connection and see an India-based location.
- Contact Your VPN: As a final measure, we recommend contacting your VPN. If you subscribe to Surfshark, you'll get customer support available 24/7 via live chat. There are support agents always happy to assist you, and they might be able to offer a solution.
Still, having issues? Want to check other possible solutions? Turn to our guide to troubleshooting VPN apps, containing dozens of helpful tips. You can also learn how to resolve VPN error codes if you're experiencing that type of problem.Â
Final Thoughts
While there are many streaming services available to Qatari viewers, Disney Plus Hotstar is blocked in Qatar. Hotstar is only available in India and a few other countries because it must comply with licensing and distribution agreements with studios. This is also why it offers different content across the countries where it is available. You can bypass these restrictions with a VPN.
We recommend Surfshark as the best VPN to watch Disney Plus in Qatar. Thanks to its high-speed servers in India, it can easily unblock Hotstar from anywhere. With automatic obfuscation on all servers, you can be sure that the streamer won't be able to detect your VPN usage. You'll be able to enjoy buffer-free streaming of all your favorite movies and TV shows.
That's all on how to watch Disney+ Hotstar in Qatar. If you have any questions or doubts, let us know via the comments section below. And lastly, thank you for reading!