Geo-blocking is the practice of restricting access to content based on the geographical location of the user. The most common providers of geo-blocked content include streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and IPTV. Licensing agreements can explain why a TV show available in the US is not available in India, and why a European football match is not available to stream in Asia.
Each content provider has its own terms of service that VPNs are supposed to abide by. The various streaming media applications implemented by content providers have implemented anti-VPN technology. More content is being watched in 4K, more users are sharing accounts across multiple devices, and all of this is happening while expecting uninterrupted, unbuffered streaming. We are talking about hundreds of millions of members here – 325 million paid worldwide members for example.
Why Streaming Platforms Block VPNs
If everyone in the world used VPNs to appear to be in another country, the entire licensing business model would come crashing down. So, they do their best to keep us in our home countries.
Here is what happens in the background:
- This app determines your IP and then your country. Here’s how it works.
- It compares your IP against lists of VPN and hosting providers.
If your IP were to be flagged as a VPN server IP, we may choose to block the tunnel, reduce quality of the stream or simply display an error message such as “content unavailable in your region” or “proxy detected.”
No, they’re not doing it to you because you’re annoying. They are following the terms of the contracts that allow them to show you content in the first place.
What Makes a VPN Good for Streaming
A VPN that helps to hide your identity may not necessarily be the one that’s best for streaming. To ensure you are able to stream your desired content from the relevant services, including Netflix, Prime Video and IPTV, there are a few factors you need to check.
Here is what to look for in simple terms:
- Consistent access to major streaming libraries
- Works with popular Netflix regions such as US, UK, and Japan
- Can access Prime Video catalogues in multiple countries
- Plays live IPTV channels smoothly without constant blocking
Be sure to find providers who advertise that they offer streaming and preferably have a dedicated server or plan for this type of service. Because it’s clearly not an afterthought.
Fast, stable speeds
A Streaming Friendly VPN is designed to utilize highly modern encryption and VPN protocols while keeping overhead as low as possible to your native bandwidth. Modern VPN protocols are such as those that use technology that is inspired by the open-source project, “WireGuard” – something that is in contrast to traditional VPN protocols such as OpenVPN/CuDNN and even something such as IKEv2/IPsec as used in StrongVPN.
Servers in the right countries
Locations where the content host has a server close to the starting and ending points (such as a New York server streaming to and from a New York computer to help ensure the fastest possible connection and least amount of lag) – count of locations
Locations where this has been seen include the US, UK, Canada, Japan and various locations in Europe.
Health providers closest to your current location, balancing the pros and cons of proximity and the variety of services offered nearby.
Good apps on the devices you actually use
Check that there are easy to use apps for:
- Smart TVs and Android TV
- Fire TV Stick
- Phones and tablets (iOS and Android)
- Laptops and desktops
If you have an Apple TV, Roku or a game console then you’ll want to make sure that the VPN you choose can be set up on your router. Having your VPN set up on your router will ensure that your entire network is protected with just one easy setup.
Leak protection and a no logs approach
A streaming session is not very useful if your real IP leaks through DNS or WebRTC. So, you will need a VPN that has the following features:
- DNS leak protection
- IPv6 leak protection
- WebRTC protection in their browser add ons or apps
Read the terms and conditions to check if they offer a no logs policy and search for any third party audits.
Responsive customer support
Changes in streaming blocks are constant and there is rarely any type of pattern. Only a few providers are focused on streaming and an even smaller number of them have a knowledge base and live chat with up-to-date information about which server is expected to have the least amount of blocking for specific services like Netflix, Amazon Prime or IPTV.
Device Compatibility: Smart TV, Fire Stick, Mobile and More
Smart TVs
VPN and Smart TV VPNs and VPN apps are available for most smart TVs. However, sometimes the native application can be outdated. If a VPN has a native app for Android TV / Google TV, this should be available from the Play Store. Open the app, choose the relevant streaming server.
Samsung and LG smart TVs (non Android): These generally won’t let you download VPN apps from the app store. However, you can:
In our previous tutorials we have looked at how you can set up VPN software on a single PC and on a mobile device. In this article we look at how you can secure your home network by setting up a VPN on your router. By doing this, you create a secure tunnel that all of your devices can use when accessing the internet, protecting everything from attacks in the form of cyber crime, identity theft and from your Internet Service Provider tracking your web activities. Setting up a VPN on your router can be a little bit tricky, but in the next section we go into
or become a Wi Fi hotspot using your laptop and share your VPN connection.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Fire TV One of the easiest devices to use a VPN on, Fire TV is supported by almost all of the top VPN providers. Most providers have a VPN app available in the Amazon store, which is an easy process to download and install. Look for:
Simple remote friendly interfaces
Unifier lets you access your favourite streaming platforms with the speed of a single click using the quick connect buttons for the US, UK or your home country.
If your provider is not listed in our store you may be able to “sideload” the application, but this is not always easy.
Mobile phones and tablets
On iOS and Android, VPN apps are usually straightforward:
- Install the app
- Sign in
- Tap a streaming server or country
Two useful features for streaming on mobile:
- Split tunneling: Allows you to select specific apps to VPN (like Netflix or Prime) while other apps use your native connection.
- Battery friendly protocols: Some VPNs have lighter protocols which are more battery friendly for long video streams.
Troubleshooting Common VPN Streaming Problems
Even with the best VPNs things can still go wrong. Before you lose your mind, here are a few things to try.
“Proxy detected” or “VPN detected” error
- Disconnect and reconnect to a different server in the same country
- Choose servers that your provider labels as “streaming” or “Netflix” if available
- Clear your browser cookies or app cache so the site forgets your old IP
- Close every browser or app until you’re signed out across all of your devices. Then sign back in.
This may occasionally happen on a server where other servers in the datacenter are reachable.
Content library is wrong for the country you chose
Check that your VPN is fully connected before opening the streaming app
If you are on a phone, try to disable GPS and then restart the app.
Visit the what is my IP address website in your browser.
You may still be exposing your real IP and location. Check our VPN settings page for possible adjustments you need to make. You should also consider installing the DNS/Webrtc leak fix browser extension.
Video keeps buffering or drops to low quality
- Switch to a server closer to your real physical location
- Try another protocol in the VPN app that is optimized for speed
- Stop heavy downloads on other devices while you are watching
IPTV streams freeze or skip
IPTV often involves live traffic that is sensitive to delay:
- Look for low latency servers rather than just fastest download speeds
- Avoid double VPN or multi hop setups when using live channels
- Some ISP’s will insist that IPv6 needs to be turned off so try disabling it and see if it fixes the problem Disable IPv6 on Windows Disable IPv6 on Mac Disable IPv6 on Android Disable IPv6 on iOS
If none of the above steps resolve your issue, please contact the VPN Support Team and ask which servers would be best for your IPTV provider. We are constantly updating notes regarding common internal discussions that can be useful when trying to assist you with your viewing experience.
