The Best Disney+ VPNs & How to Fix Your VPN Not Working

Not all VPNs work with Disney+. Many VPNs trigger error codes and connection issues, and you may see the message: “there seems to be an error connecting to Disney+.”

The best VPNs for Disney+ bypass the platform’s geo-restrictions consistently, avoiding error codes and delivering a flawless viewing experience.

We tested 65 VPNs to find the most reliable and bug-free ones for Disney+. Out of 33 VPNs that unblocked the streaming service, here are the three we recommend the most:

1. Surfshark: Overall Best VPN for Disney+

Pros	Cons
Unblocks US Disney+ on every server	Some servers are slow to connect
One of the best cheap VPNs	No IPv6 leak protection
Excellent Smart DNS solution
Fast international speeds for smooth streaming
Helpful 24/7 live chat support
Apps for popular devices, including Fire TV Stick

Surfshark is an excellent streaming VPN overall, and it’s been our best-performing VPN for Disney+ since the streaming platform launched.

Surfshark impressively unblocks Disney+ on every server in its network. We easily beat Disney Plus’ geo-blocks at every attempt, and even accessed the international Star network from the United States with ease.

We experienced very good picture quality thanks to the VPN’s fast streaming speeds. All the content we watched was buffer-free and with no instances of blurriness, which we did encounter with slower VPN services.

The only issue you’ll encounter with Surfshark is if you’re on an IPv6 connection. Because it doesn’t offer block (or support) IPv6, the VPN will leak your real IP location and won’t unblock geo-restricted content.

Unlike ExpressVPN, Surfshark doesn’t have a device limit, which means you can use the VPN on as many devices as you want using the same account details. You also won’t encounter Error Code 83 for device compatibility issues.

This generous unlimited device policy is supported by Surfshark’s good streaming device compatibility.

Not only are there user-friendly apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Fire TV, but also Smart DNS functionality for games consoles as well as the option to set the VPN up on your home router.

Surfshark’s Smart DNS service worked well with Disney+ on our test PS5 and Xbox. Find out how to set it up in our HBO Max VPN guide – which Surfshark also works well with.

In our opinion, Surfshark is particularly suitable for beginners in virtue of its easy-to-use apps and a very affordable price tag.

The service costs only $2.21 per month on a two-year plan, compared to ExpressVPN’s $6.67 per month on a 15-month plan.

2. ExpressVPN: Best Alternative for Disney+

Pros	Cons
Very fast network speeds	One of the most expensive VPNs
Apps for all Disney Plus compatible devices	Device limit policy inferior to Surfshark’s
Native Apple TV application	Several VPN IP addresses trigger CAPTCHAs on search engines
MediaStreamer (Smart DNS) unblocks Disney+ effectively
Excellent 24/7 live chat support
IPv6 leak protection included

ExpressVPN unblocked all available Disney+ libraries and the Star content hub in our tests.

ExpressVPN is also one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, and the best VPN we’ve reviewed overall. Connecting internationally, ExpressVPN averages 85Mbps (out of 100Mbps) while Surfshark trails behind at 83Mbps.

Similarly to Surfshark, ExpressVPN is exceptional at unblocking Disney+ on its US VPN servers. The VPN worked at every attempt and each time we experienced sharp picture quality.

You can use ExpressVPN on up to eight devices at once. This isn’t as generous as Surfshark’s unlimited simultaneous connections, but it’s enough for most customers.

We also think it’s even easier to use than Surfshark, with well-designed and homogeneous app interfaces across platforms.

ExpressVPN is particularly good for unblocking the Disney+ app on smartphones. The VPN’s mobile apps are highly intuitive and connecting to VPN server locations, even far away ones, is almost instant.

In the extremely rare instance a VPN server is blocked by Disney+, you can contact ExpressVPN’s customer support via its 24/7 live chat service. The company’s support agents are well prepared and will quickly tell you which servers currently work.

ExpressVPN’s main drawback is its price: $6.67 per month at its cheapest. Although you will get an excellent VPN with superior performances than Surfshark in many areas, it may be too much to spend if you only need a VPN to unblock Disney+.

3. PrivadoVPN Free: Best Free VPN for Disney+

Pros	Cons
Consistent Disney+ access	10GB monthly data cap
Extremely fast US speeds	No Smart DNS for games consoles

The free version of PrivadoVPN is by far the best free VPN for watching Disney+, especially the American content library.

The VPN performed exceptionally well for a free VPN, with excellent international speeds and consistent access to American Disney+.

Unfortunately, PrivadoVPN’s free software comes with significant limitations which ultimately limit its use with Disney+.

The free VPN’s main drawback is the 10GB monthly data cap, which equates to roughly four hours of HD streaming.

In short, PrivadoVPN Free works fine to watch Disney+ content infrequently each month but if you think you’ll stream more than four hours of content each month then you’ll have to subscribe to a paid VPN.

Upon launch, Disney claimed its streaming service was “VPN proof.” That’s not the case, but Disney does try to detect and block IP addresses associated with VPNs.

If your VPN is being detected, you’ll see a message that reads “Service unavailable. Disney+ is not available at your location.”

If you’re encountering an error code or message while using a VPN, there are a number of steps you can take to fix it, beginning with the most simple:

1. Get a Better VPN for Disney Plus

Most often, your Disney Plus issues come from using the wrong VPN. The reality is that many VPNs don’t work with Disney Plus.

Some VPN companies don’t prioritize unblocking streaming services, while others lack the technology and resources to bypass aggressive geo-restrictions.

The most effective fix to unblock Disney Plus is to get a working VPN, with a track record of smoothly accessing the service.

Our tests show that Surfshark is the best VPN for streaming Disney Plus. It’s consistent, comes with a user-friendly Smart DNS, helpful customer support, and a cost-effective price tag.

2. Switch VPN Servers

If you’re already using a good VPN for Disney+, changing server is a quick and easy way to resolve a Disney+ connection issue.

Disney+ tries to detect and ban VPN connections, so switching servers to an undetected one can fix the problem.

You won’t know which will server will work, so there may be some trial and error involved.

Good VPNs get around streaming region blocks by offering thousands of updated servers that are designed to avoid detection. Surfshark, for example, manages to avoid Disney Plus blocks on all of its servers.

3. Clear Browser Cookies and Cache

Websites can collect location data through cookies and cached files. If you’re seeing an error code when using Disney Plus, like Error Code 22 or 31, it could be the service has detected your real geolocation based on these web identifiers.

Connecting to a VPN server does not remove cookies. You have to delete them from your browser.

If you’re watching Disney Plus on Android or iOS you have to restart your mobile device to clear cookies and cache.

Alternatively, your browser’s incognito mode provides a private browsing window that removes most forms of online tracking, too.

4. Test for IP and DNS Leaks

Disney Plus won’t work if your VPN is leaking data.

Sometimes DNS requests and real IP addresses fall outside the encrypted VPN connection, revealing your true location and triggering Disney Plus Error Code 22 or 73.

This happens more with free VPNs. The best VPNs have leak protection built into their service.

You can check to see if your VPN is working by using a leak test tool.

If your VPN is leaking, check to see whether there are leak protection features in your VPN’s settings, and ask your VPN provider what can be done. Otherwise, we suggest using another, safer VPN service.

5. Restart your Device & Router

It’s a simple trick, but it remains one of the most effective: restarting your Disney Plus device and the router/modem can resolve Disney Plus error messages, particularly login problems and Error Code 83.

This can also help with your internet connection to ensure you’re getting the best speeds for streaming.

6. Contact the VPN’s Customer Support

One of the quickest ways to troubleshoot a problem with your Disney Plus VPN is by contacting the VPN service’s support team.

A customer support agent will be able to recommend the best VPN servers to access Disney Plus, or tell you if the service is experiencing any technical issues.

Most top VPNs have 24/7 live chat support, which is by far the easiest way to get assistance.

In the video below, we contacted a Surfshark support agent and he quickly recommended a number of servers to watch US Disney+ from.

7. Disable IPv6 Connections

IPv6 is still not supported by most VPNs. If your router is using an IPv6 address, this can lead to exposures of your real location and Disney Plus showing your usual local library.

You can check for these leaks by using our IPv6 leak test tool.

A select few VPNs block IPv6 traffic altogether to prevent this, like ExpressVPN, but you can rule out IPv6 leaks entirely by disabling them on your device.

How to disable IPv6 on Windows:

1. Open Network & Internet settings.
2. Select Network & Sharing Center > Properties.
3. Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).

How to disable IPv6 on Mac:

1. Open System Preferences and click Network.
2. Click Advanced in the bottom right. Click the TCP/IP tab.
3. Click the dropdown menu next to Configure IPv6 and choose Off.
4. Click Ok > Apply.

8. Use Smart DNS

Smart DNS is a useful tool for those looking to stream Disney Plus outside permissible regions. It routes your internet connection through a proxy DNS server, enabling you to access Disney Plus from anywhere without connecting to a VPN server.

VPNs like Surfshark and NordVPN provide Smart DNS services. Because you are changing your DNS settings, Smart DNS allows you to stream Disney Plus from large home screen devices with ease, like Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and games consoles.

All the VPNs we recommend come with quality Smart DNS tools that are easy to set up.

Even if you’re in a country where Disney+ is available, the platform is still region locked.

In other words, where you are determines what content you can watch. For example, Canada and Australia cannot access FX content on Disney Plus.

Moreover, India’s Disney+ Hotstar has a lot more video content that’s unavailable in the United States.

Watch the video below to see us use Surfshark to access the movie 27 Dresses, which was available on the UK’s Disney Plus library, but not on the US one.

The differences in Disney+ catalogs are due to licensing agreements that Disney still has in place with other streaming sites.

Once you discover where the missing content is available, you can stream it by connecting your VPN to a server in the same country.

The biggest regional difference is with the Star content hub, which is unavailable to most of the world, including the United States.

Importantly, if you’re already subscribed to Disney+ and are traveling abroad, Disney+ will automatically detect you’re in another country and offers local content.

then you don’t need a VPN to continue watching content overseas.

In fact, Disney Plus automatically detects that you’re in another country and offers local content.

Not every VPN, including popular VPNs, can bypass Disney Plus’ VPN and proxy detection methods.

After testing 65 VPN services with Disney Plus, we discovered only 33 that currently work.

Of these 33 VPNs, many didn’t work very well, especially across streaming devices such as Firestick, Apple TV, and games consoles.

The table below shows our test results from a selection of popular VPNs we tested with Disney+:

Popular VPNs That Don’t Work with Disney+

Based on our most recent streaming tests, we can confirm the the VPNs below still don’t work with Disney+:

• Astrill
• Avast VPN
• Avira VPN
• Betternet
• Hola Free VPN
• Mullvad
• Norton VPN
• PIA VPN
• PureVPN
• TunnelBear

If you want to know if a VPN unblocks Disney+, email us at hello@top10vpn.com, and we’ll confirm if it does or not.

In February 2021 Disney+ added the Star content hub for Australasia, Canada, Europe, and the UK – an international version of Hulu.

 

 

Disney+ Star includes hundreds of new films and TV shows that are considered adult-orientated. Much of the content comes from the archives of 20th Century Studios, FX, ABC, and Searchlight Pictures.

In the US, Star content is only available with a Hulu subscription. You can sign up to Hulu independently, or as part of a Disney Plus bundle deal. This costs more than a regular Disney+ subscription, though.

Where Star has been rolled out, it’s free to access and part of a regular subscription.

By changing your IP address location to a region with, a VPN allows US-based viewers to access Star/Hulu without paying extra.

The video below shows you how easy it is to access Disney+ Star from the US by connecting to a UK VPN server:

As we’ve already established, you’ll need a VPN to watch Disney+ in a country that doesn’t have it yet.

And if you aren’t already subscribed to Disney+, you’ll also need to create a Disney+ account by using a payment method registered in a country where the service has launched.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a foreign payment method, you can still get Disney+ by using either an Apple Store or a Google Play gift card.

The instructions below explain how to sign up to US Disney+, however the same approach works with other countries, too.

Method 1: Use an Apple App Store Gift Card

1. On your iOS device, head to Settings > Apple ID and sign out of any existing Apple ID account. The Sign Out option is at the bottom of the Apple ID page.
2. You need to create a brand new Apple ID from scratch. Go to the App Store and tap Account. Tap the option to Create New Apple ID.
   

   ‘Create New Apple ID’ is found under ‘Account’ in the App Store.

3. Enter your email address and generate a secure password. You also need to change the listed country. Tap where you see your country listed.
   

   You need to change your country when creating your new Apple ID.

4. Select your Country or Region as the United States, or any country that has access to Disney+.
   

   Select the US or any other region with Disney+.

5. Once completed, you will be asked to insert payment details that match the country you have selected. Select None and enter a random US address.
   

   Do not insert any payment details and enter a random US address.

6. A verification code will be sent to the email address you provided. Enter this code when prompted. This will confirm the creation of your new Apple ID account.
   
7. You won’t be able to add funds to your Apple ID without a foreign payment method, so you need to get an App Store & iTunes gift card. Connect your VPN to the US and head directly to the Apple Store. Search for Apple Store Gift Cards and tap Email a gift card.
   

   You can purchase an iTunes gift card via the Apple website.

8. Enter an amount that covers the Disney Plus subscription you wish to sign up for and send it to the email you used to create your new Apple ID account.
   

   Enter the appropriate amount to purchase a Disney+ subscription.

9. Once you’ve received the email with the gift card attached, head back to the App Store and tap Redeem Gift Card or Code.
   

   Redeem Gift Card or Code option appears after setting up your new account.

10. Tap Enter Code Manually and insert the code. Once done, the gift card will be added to your account.
    

    Enter the gift card code manually after it is sent to your email.

11. Go back to the App Store, download the Disney+ app, and and sign up for an account.
    

    Disney+ has two subscription plans.

12. Disney+ will automatically take payment from your gift card. With this done, you’ll now be able to login on any device with the same account information and stream Disney+ from anywhere.
    

    You can use your account information to login to any device compatible with Disney+.

Method 2: Use a Google Play Gift Code

If you don’t own an Apple device, you can also unblock Disney+ on any Android device with access to the Google Play Store.

1. Use a VPN to connect to a country with access to Disney Plus.
2. While connected to the VPN server, create a new Google account. To do this, go to your device Settings menu.
3. Scroll down and tap Google. Now, select the small arrow beside your current account.
4. You’ll now see the option to Add Another Account. Tap that and fill out the required details to create a new Google account.
5. Once done, purchase a Google Play gift code that will give you local currency, as foreign currencies won’t be accepted. For example, if you’re using a VPN to connect to the UK, you need a gift card in British Pounds. These can be bought using the local website, like Amazon.co.uk.
6. You’ll receive the gift code via email. Either click the link provided in the email or key the code into the Google Play Store to redeem it.
7. Don’t be put off by the requirement to enter a valid zip code, as Google does not verify whether you live there. Just look one up on Google Maps – any real zip code will do.
8. With your new Play Store account and your redeemed gift card, simply search for and install the Disney Plus app and sign in as normal.
9. Choose to pay for Disney Plus with your US Google account balance and sign in.

As we mentioned at the start of this guide, Disney+ doesn’t host the same content across its catalogs. Some libraries have hundreds less titles than the most extensive ones.

The table below shows the number of Disney+ titles available in 12 popular country catalogs:

Disney+ Region	Number of Titles
Philippines	2,666
Australia	2,633
UK	2,633
Canada	2,545
Germany	2,342
Spain	2,259
Italy	2,239
Netherlands	2,169
France	2,008
Turkey	1,813
US	1,761
South Korea	1,754

The Philippines, Australia, and UK libraries are the richest catalogs available, with over 2,600 titles available.

The same can’t be said about the American one, though. Very surprisingly, the US catalog is one of the poorest content-wise, with almost 1,000 less titles in comparison.

We put 65 VPNs through our rigorous VPN testing process, specifically designed for Disney+ unblocking.

All the Disney+ VPNs we recommend on this page passed our streaming tests with flying colors. They beat Disney Plus’ geo-blocks easily and consistently.

The table below shows how the three VPNs we recommend performed in our main testing categories:

In addition to Disney Plus access, we also test how well a VPN unblocks Disney+ Star, the non-US version of Hulu.

Once we’ve established if a VPN can unblock Disney+, we test a VPN’s international connection speeds.

We also examine a VPN’s compatibility with streaming devices. These include Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, and games consoles.

The efficacy of a native Fire TV Stick app and Smart DNS, as well as router compatibility, play a key role in our assessments.

Smart DNS and router support are particularly important because they allow easy VPN use on devices that don’t support VPN applications.

Finally, we do consider if the VPN service’s customer support is well-informed about unblocking Disney+.