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How to Watch BBC iPlayer in Canada


BBC iPlayer is a fantastic streaming service that hosts some of the best British TV content, including Doctor Who, EastEnders, and live sports events, such as Wimbledon, and the FA Cup final.

Unfortunately, BBC iPlayer is only available in the UK. The easiest way to watch it from Canada or anywhere else is by using a capable VPN. Simply connect to a server in the UK, and you’ll instantly bypass the platform’s region restrictions.

Our guide will provide all the help you need to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada with a VPN, including step-by-step instructions and recommendations for the best providers. So keep on reading to unblock BBC iPlayer from your location.

Easy guide on how to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada with a VPN

how-to-watch-bbc-iplayer
  1. Find a VPN with solid servers in the UK. We recommend NordVPN, now 74% OFF!
  2. Download and install the software.
  3. Connect to a server in the UK.
  4. Go to the BBC iPlayer website or app and either log in or create an account.
  5. Start searching through all the great content iPlayer has to offer!

Why do you need a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada?

BBC iPlayer has some of the best British content of all time, including Peaky Blinders, Killing Eve, and The Apprentice. But, even though Canada is part of the Commonwealth, the platform is only available to watch in the UK. This is because the BBC must adhere to distribution rights, copyright laws, and licensing agreements.

If you attempt to access restricted content from Canada, you’ll be blocked from viewing it by the following error message: BBC iPlayer only works in the UK.

bbc-iplayer-error

Don’t despair, though, because there is a straightforward solution that will unblock the site in no time! Simply sign up for a reliable VPN and use it to connect to a server in the UK. Once you receive a fresh IP address from the UK, BBC iPlayer will assume that you’re from the right location and grant you full access.

VPNs that work with BBC iPlayer outside the UK

Although using a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer from outside the UK is an easy process, not all VPNs can do that. Therefore, you’ll need to find a provider with a large fleet of secure servers that can unblock geo-restricted content.

How to create an account for BBC iPlayer in Canada

If you want to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK, you’ll need to use a VPN and set up an account. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Choose a VPN with a selection of servers in the UK. We recommend NordVPN for this.
  2. Download and install the software.
  3. Connect to a server in the UK.
  4. Go to the BBC iPlayer website or app and hit Register.
  5. Confirm if you’re over the age of 13 and enter your date of birth, email address, and name. You’ll also need to choose a password.
  6. Put your feet up and start streaming your favorite British shows!

*It’s worth noting that the BBC requires you to confirm you have a British TV license to watch iPlayer. But, if you’re using a VPN, the platform will have no way of checking if this is true or not. So when you log in, be sure to confirm that you have a TV license so you can access the platform’s content.

How to use BBC iPlayer in Canada

It’s easy to watch BBC iPlayer on any connected device, no matter where you are in the world. All you need is a VPN! But bear in mind that the steps may be a little different, depending on which device or operating system you’re on.

Here, we’ll explain how to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada on the most popular devices.

How to use BBC iPlayer on your PC (Windows and Mac)

BBC iPlayer is straightforward to watch on Apple Macs and Windows PCs. All you need is a VPN to unblock the site from anywhere. Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Switch your computer’s location to the UK.
  2. Download and install a VPN on your computer. We’d suggest NordVPN for this.
  3. Connect to a server in the UK.
  4. If you use a Google account or Apple ID, create a new one and put the UK as your country.
  5. Head over to the BBC iPlayer website or app and either sign in or register for an account.
  6. Grab a snack and start streaming fantastic content!

How to watch BBC iPlayer on your phone (iPhone and Android)

If you’re traveling and want to catch up on all your favorite shows from back home, it’s really handy to be able to do it using your smartphone. Here’s what you need to do to watch BBC iPlayer on your phone:

  1. Change your phone’s location and app store location to the UK.
  2. Download and install a VPN on your smartphone. NordVPN is a perfect choice for this.
  3. Connect to a server in the UK.
  4. If you have a Google account or Apple ID, create a new one and choose the UK as your country.
  5. Download the BBC iPlayer app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and either log in or sign up for an account.
  6. Start downloading your favorite shows.

What can you watch on BBC iPlayer?

BBC iPlayer has a huge catalog of TV and radio content that you can access for free. And when it comes to watching live TV, you can pause or even choose to watch the program from the start.

To get an idea of the huge variety of content, here are some of the best shows and events you can watch live on BBC iPlayer:

ChannelLive content
BBC OneEurovision, FA Cup, Commonwealth Games
BBC TwoRugby Union, FA Women's Super League, Wimbledon
BBC ThreeLive at the BBC, BBC New Comedy Awards
BBC Radio 1Radio 1's Big Weekend, UK Official Charts Show, Breakfast with Greg James
BBC News24-hour breaking news coverage

But besides its live content, BBC iPlayer has a huge library of on-demand content that you can watch anytime, including:

Name of the showGenre
The Apprentice Reality TV show
Doctor WhoScience fiction
EastEndersSoap opera
The Graham Norton ShowChat show
I May Destroy YouDrama
Killing EveDrama
Normal PeopleDrama
Peaky BlindersDrama
Ru Paul's Drag RaceReality TV show
Strictly Come DancingReality TV show

The BBC is always making new and exciting content. And to make sure you don’t miss any announcements, keep your eyes peeled on the BBC iPlayer Twitter page and Facebook page.

Can I use a free VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer in Canada?

There’s a tiny chance you’ll be able to use a free VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer from Canada, however, the vast majority of free VPNs won’t be strong enough to bypass the BBC’s region restrictions. And even if you get lucky, free VPNs can significantly damage your privacy because they often sell customer data to third parties.

Instead, you’ll need to use a secure VPN with a fleet of strong UK servers to get around iPlayer’s geo-blocks. And if you’ve got your heart set on a free solution, we’d suggest using a reputable freemium, such as ProtonVPN.

bbc-iplayer-feed

There’s another option if you only want to watch BBC iPlayer for a short period of time, such as if you want to binge-watch a specific show or while traveling outside the UK. If this sounds like you, we’d suggest opting for a free trial of a paid VPN. All 3 providers we’ve included in this guide come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

After the free trial has expired, here’s how much a subscription will cost:

  • NordVPN – with over 440 strong servers throughout the UK, NordVPN is an ideal choice for unblocking BBC iPlayer from anywhere. Prices start from just $2.99 a month.
  • Surfshark – if you want a great-value solution with lightning-fast speeds, we’d recommend going for Surfshark. Plans start from just $2.30 per month.rices start from just $1.99 a month.
  • IPVanish – anyone looking for a VPN with a stellar reputation will feel safe with IPVanish. Subscriptions start from just $2.19 a month.

What if BBC iPlayer is not working with a VPN?

If you’re trying to unblock iPlayer with a VPN but continue getting an error message, the most likely explanation is that your VPN has been detected and blocked by the BBC.

On the other hand, it might be an easy problem to fix, such as:

  • You could be connected to a server outside the UK
  • Your real IP address may be leaking
  • Your cookies could be revealing your tru location

If you think these could be possible issues, try:

  • Making sure you've connected to a strong server in the UK
  • Checking you have IP leak protection enable on your VPN
  • Connecting to a different browser
  • Using a different server
  • Clearing your cookies and cache
  • Contacting your VPN's customer support team
Unblock BBC iPlayer in Canada with NordVPN
If geo-restrictions stop you from accessing BBC iPlayer in Canada, NordVPN is the perfect solution. It not only unblocks the platform in Canada, but also provides lightning-fast speeds, robust security, and helps you to access other major streaming sites.
cybernews® score
4.9 /5

If these tips don’t do the trick, our helpful guide on how to use a VPN could be what you’re looking for. And if that doesn’t help, you should consider upgrading to a more privacy-focused VPN.

Conclusion

BBC iPlayer is home to some of the best British content, including Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who, and live sporting events, such as Wimbledon and the FA Cup. But sadly, it’s not available outside the UK.

However, you can bypass the platform’s region restrictions and watch everything the BBC has to offer from wherever you are. All you need is a VPN! NordVPN is the perfect choice for this, as it has plenty of solid UK servers. Once you’ve downloaded the software, use your VPN to connect to a server in the UK, which will unblock the content so you can watch from anywhere.

Besides this, using a VPN is a sensible idea because it will encrypt your traffic and keep your data safe from online hackers. It’ll also unlock a whole world of other region-restricted content for you to enjoy.

We hope this has told you all you need to know about using a VPN to watch BBC iPlayer in Canada. If not, get in touch using the comments section at the bottom of the page, and we’ll get back to you with all the information you need!

FAQs

Comments

Andrew Redman
prefix 1 year ago
Thank you for this informative guide. I have been accessing bbc iplayer via Nord VPN since last fall. Now the connection simply "times out" thus preventing me from access. This has been going on for the past week or so. Can I overcome this and how? I am Canadian, 86 years of age, and not too tech savvy. Thank you.
Cybernews Team
prefix 1 year ago
Hi, Andy. Thanks for your question. Possible reasons for your VPN not connecting to BBC iPlayer could be a blacklisted VPN server or issues with the VPN client or network settings. Ensure you're using a UK server on your VPN and clear your browser cache and cookies. Try a different VPN server if necessary. Restarting your device may also help. If these steps don't work, contact NordVPN support for further assistance.
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