Disney+ Hotstar is a unique streaming platform that combines Disney+ and Indian service Hotstar. It's available only in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Most people want the Indian version of Disney+ Hotstar because it offers the biggest variety of live sports, international shows, and more. However, users in the UK face geo-restrictions which stop them from enjoying the Indian version.
In the Disney+ Hotstar India, you get Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Georaphic, and originals from FX, Hulu, and others. You also get live sports, exclusive Indian shows, and even Korean dramas. While there is a standalone Hotstar service in the UK that includes domestic Indian TV shows and movies, the other content from the India-only platform is missing.
Luckily, you can bypass geo-restrictions with a reliable VPN by connecting to an Indian server. This way, you can access and watch the Indian Disney+ Hotstar library from the UK. Continue reading my article to learn how to watch Hotstar in the UK, which VPNs are the best for the job, and what content Disney+ Hotstar offers.
How to watch Disney+ Hotstar in the UK
- Choose a stable and secure VPN with servers in India. I recommend NordVPN, now 74% OFF
- Download and install your chosen VPN app
- Launch the app and connect to a server in India
- Visit Disney+ Hotstar and subscribe or sign in to your account
- You can now watch Disney+ Hotstar in the UK or anywhere else in the world
Note: To register with Disney+ Hotstar, you will need an Indian phone number to get OTP (one-time password). If you don’t have one, you can use a virtual phone number service. To pay for the Disney+ Hotstar subscription, however, you will also need an India-issued debit or credit card. If you don’t have one, you can try asking family or friends in India for help or try using a virtual pre-paid card.
Why do you need a VPN to watch Disney+ Hotstar in the UK?
The problem is that you can't access Disney+ Hotstar from the UK. This is because Disney+ Hotstar is only available in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. This means, that geographical limitations stop access to the service from any other locations. If you attempt accessing Disney+ Hotstar from the UK, you’ll simply see a plain "not found" error on your browser’s page.
A premium VPN with servers in India can resolve geo-restrictions with the click of a button. Once you’re connected to a server in India, Disney+ Hotstar will think that you are physically in India and allow you in as if you're a local.
A premium VPN service will not only help you reliably unblock geo-restrictions but will also encrypt your connection, making it more secure and private. Make sure you choose a trusted VPN service, as free or weak ones might not be able to overcome Hotstar’s geo-restrictions.
Can you sign up for Disney+ Hotstar in the UK
If you already have a Hotstart account, you won’t have any issues accessing it from UK with a VPN. However, if you don’t have it, registering with Disney+ Hotstar outside of India might be a tad tricky.
When you register for a new account, Disney+ Hotstar requires some extra security steps. This means the platform needs you to have an Indian phone number to send you an OTP for verification purposes. This can be a hurdle for most UK users without access to an Indian mobile number.
You can either ask a friend or family member in India to assist by providing their phone number for the OTP during registration or use a virtual phone number service.
However, to pay for the subscription, you will need an India-issued credit or debit card. Here again, you can either ask for help from a relative who has such a card or try using a virtual pre-paid card.
Best VPNs to watch Disney+ Hotstar
Not all VPNs are equal, especially for bypassing Disney+ Hotstar's geo-restrictions. Many lack servers in India or simply don't offer the performance needed for streaming. Because of this, together with our team of experts, we reviewed 41 VPNs and selected only the best ones for testing. We've curated our top three VPNs to watch Disney+ Hotstar in UK, considering Indian server availability, geo-unblocking and streaming capabilities, speeds, and security.
- NordVPN – the best VPN overall to unblock Disney+ Hotstar in the UK
- Surfshark – an affordable VPN with virtual servers in India
- CyberGhost – a secure VPN to watch Hotstar in UK
What can you watch on Disney+ Hotstar?
Disney+ Hotstar includes a rich content library. It's estimated to include over 100,000 hours of content, merging local Indian shows with international Disney+ content. You get a variety of films, TV series, high-quality documentaries, and even Bollywood and Hollywood series.
The content available ranges from National Geographic, Star Wars, FX Original, Hulu Originals to Indian TV channels like Star Bharat, Star Utsav, Star GOLD, and more.
Disney+ Hotstar content library
Disney+ Hotstar offers various films and TV shows in languages like Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Some popular genres include drama, romance, and comedy, along with international titles from Disney, Marvel, and Pixar. Recent blockbusters like Kill and Munjya are among the most popular to watch.
Disney+ Hotstar originals
The platform offers Hotstar Specials like Aarya, as well as Indian originals like Big Boss. You also get access to Disney+ originals like The Mandalorian and Loki, among several others. This makes for an excellent variety of content for any viewer.
Sports on Disney+ Hotstar
Sports fans won't be disappointed – there’s a range of sports events to watch, including cricket, football, kabaddi, and tennis.
You can also access Indian live sports channels like Star Sports Hindi 1, Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports Select HD1, and Star Sports Select HD2. Besides, Hotstar's coverage of niche sports like powerboating and baseball adds to the appeal. The platform even features Khelo India to promote sports development at the grassroots level.
Final thoughts
Disney+ Hotstar is a great combination for Indian streamers and surpasses the platform available in the UK with its wide variety of content. This is the reason why many users in the UK want to access the Indian version of Disney+ Hotstar. However, the service is geo-restricted to India.
Luckily, you can bypass geo-restrictions and access Disney+ Hotstar in the UK with a reliable VPN with servers in India, like NordVPN.
If you have an account with the platform, it's as easy as connecting to a server in India with your VPN. Otherwise, getting a new subscription requires some extra effort, like getting an Indian phone number and paying with India-issued card. However, with a little effort, it’s all doable.
FAQ
Is Disney+ Hotstar available in the UK?
Yes, but the UK version does not offer the content available on the Indian-only version. To access the Indian Hotstar, you'll need a reliable VPN to connect to a server in India.
Why is Disney+ Hotstar not working in the UK?
Users outside of India cannot access it due to geo-restrictions. Disney+ Hotstar India operates only in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Using a VPN allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and watch Hotstar in the UK.
Can I use my existing UK Disney+ Hotstar account to access the Indian library?
No. The two platforms operate as separate services with different content and streaming policies. If you're in the UK and want to access the Indian library, you need to use a VPN to connect to an Indian server, and either have an account with Disney+ Hotstar India already or create a new one.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch Disney+ Hotstar in the UK?
Yes, using a VPN in the UK is legal. However, it might violate Disney+ Hotstar's (India) terms of service, so make sure you check before using it.