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How to Watch Blackout MLB Games

Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more.

Additional Testing by Luc Williams

Our Verdict

To watch blackout MLB games, change your IP address by connecting to a VPN server outside of the blackout territory. The best VPN for MLB.tv is ExpressVPN because of its fast speeds and reliable performance. Using it, you can access every game that’s geo-blocked in your area.

Graphical illustration of a VPN being used for blacked out MLB games

Quick Guide: How to Watch Blackout MLB Games

  1. Subscribe to a VPN that works with MLB.tv and download the app. Our top-rated choice is ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout boundary. Check whether the server is outside of the blackout area by using our map or ZIP code lookup tool.
  3. Open MLB.tv and stream the game. Simply change the server location and refresh MLB.tv to access another game.

For more detailed instructions, see our dedicated section for your device. Also, see our troubleshooting tips if your VPN isn’t working with MLB.tv.

MLB.tv blocks you from streaming your local team’s baseball games. It enforces this by checking if your IP address is within the boundaries of a blackout territory.

With a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you can hide your IP address and change it to one from outside of the blackout area. You can then stream every game in the regular MLB season using your existing MLB.tv subscription.

Not every VPN works, though. As VPN services allow users to bypass licensing agreements, MLB.tv attempts to detect and block VPNs.

In our tests, only nine of 55 VPNs were able to stream MLB on servers across the US. Only two were able to work around the geofencing restrictions on Android.

The best VPNs for MLB.tv also unblocked content from international server locations. This meant we were able to access nationally televised games, like the World Series, that would otherwise require an additional subscription.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you exactly how to use a VPN with MLB on every device. This includes, in a web browser, on Android, Apple TV, and Roku.

EXPERT TIP: Use our bespoke MLB.tv VPN ZIP code lookup tool to find out which teams you are blacked out from viewing.

How to Bypass MLB Blackouts Using a VPN

The simplest way to bypass Major League Baseball (MLB) blackouts is to use a VPN. Using the VPN app, you can route your traffic through a proxy server and appear to be outside of home television territory.

However, the instructions for setting up a VPN with MLB.tv differ a lot depending on the device you’re using. Devices like Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast require many additional steps. Though it’s straightforward on Windows and iPhone.

The best VPN server also depends on whether the game is locally or nationally blacked out. Our research found that we could watch World Series games from Fox within the MLB app by connecting to a VPN server in Germany.

This same method also worked for regular season games that were streamed on Apple TV+, Peacock, ESPN+, and others.

We don’t recommend connecting to an international server location to watch regular games on MLB.tv, though, as your speeds will be negatively impacted. To help you find the best server and VPN, use this table:

Streaming Service
Best Server
Compatible VPNs
MLB.tv US server in a neighboring state ExpressVPN, Surfshark, PrivateVPN, IPVanish, Proton VPN, Atlas VPN, Windscribe
Fox (including World Series), Apple TV+, Peacock, ESPN+, Prime Video Germany server ExpressVPN, Surfshark, PrivateVPN, Windscribe

In the sections below, we’ll walk you through exactly how to watch blackout MLB games on every platform.

Desktop or Laptop (Windows & Mac)

Using a VPN to unblock MLB games on Windows and Mac is easy. Simply connect to a VPN server in a location outside of the blackout region. Then, open MLB.TV and click play.

You can read more detailed instructions in the steps below.

Here’s how to use a VPN to stream MLB.TV on a computer:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN service and download the app onto your device: ExpressVPN works the best with this method.
  2. Connect to a VPN server location where the game is not blacked out: Use our ZIP code lookup tool to find which teams are restricted in each location. For nationally broadcast games, connect to a VPN server in the UK.
  3. Open MLB.TV in your web browser.
  4. Start streaming: You’ll now have access to previously blacked out content. If you want to change region again, repeat Step 2 and refresh your browser. If these instructions don’t work, or you see any error messages, try our workarounds below.

Alternatively, watch our video tutorial below. We show how to use a VPN to bypass MLB.tv blackouts on the MLB.TV website.

How to use a VPN with MLB.tv on desktop and laptop computers.

Android

On Android, the MLB app checks your location by reading your device’s GPS coordinates. As a result, a typical VPN service will not work.

Instead, you need a VPN app that includes GPS spoofing functionality. Our recommendation is Surfshark.

Here’s how to access blackout MLB games on Android:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN service that supports GPS spoofing: Surfshark and Windscribe are the only VPNs that have this feature, but Surfshark is a better VPN overall.
  2. Download the VPN app from the Google Play Store.
  3. Log in to the app and enable Override GPS Location: Tap Settings > VPN Settings > Advanced Settings > toggle on Override GPS Location > tap Let’s Go.
  4. Enable Developer Options on your Android phone: Open the Settings app > About Phone > Software Information > tap Build Number 7 times.
  5. Enable Surfshark as a mock locations app: Return to the Settings app main screen > Developer Options > Select Mock Location App > Surfshark.
  6. Connect to a Surfshark VPN server where the game is not blacked out: Both your IP address and GPS location will now match the server location.
  7. Open the MLB and stream the game: To change region again, repeat Step 6, force quit the app, then reopen it.

If the above instructions didn’t work, clear the MLB app’s cache within the Android Settings app.

You can also view our video below which shows exactly how to watch MLB games from anywhere on Android.

How to use a VPN GPS spoofer to bypass location checks on the Android MLB app.

iPhone

The MLB app on iPhone and iPad also requests your GPS location. However, our research found that you can bypass this by denying the app access to your location.

To watch geo-restricted MLB matches on iOS:

  1. Sign up for a VPN service that works with the MLB app: Our tests found that ExpressVPN is the best option for iPhone and iPad.
  2. Download the VPN app from the App Store and connect to a VPN server in a country or city where the game is not restricted.
  3. Open the MLB app and deny it access to your location data: tap Don’t Allow when prompted by the app. If you’ve previously granted the app access to your location information, navigate to the iOS Settings app > scroll down and tap MLB > Location > Ask Next Time Or When I Share. Then, open the MLB app and deny access.
  4. Tap Play on the game you want to watch: You’ll be able to stream content that was previously blocked.

If you’re still unable to stream the MLB app, try restarting your iPhone to clear its cache.

EXPERT TIP:

Many other publications recommend ‘jailbreaking’ your iOS device to spoof your GPS location. We strongly recommend you don’t do this as it compromises the security of your device. Instead, follow our workaround instructions above.

Fire TV & Android TV

Streaming geo-restricted MLB games is easy on Fire TV and Android TV. Just make sure your VPN has an app for your device. Then, connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout region and open the MLB app.

Here are the full instructions for how to stream blackout MLB games on Fire TV and Android TV:

  1. Sign up for a compatible VPN service: ExpressVPN works best on streaming devices, like Fire TV Stick and Chromecast with Google TV.
  2. Download the VPN from the Amazon Appstore or Google Play Store: select Search from the home screen and enter the name of your VPN service. Then, select the download icon.
  3. Select Open and connect to a VPN server that can access the game.
  4. Open the MLB app and select the game you want to stream.

If you’re still blocked from the MLB app, clear the app’s cache on Fire TV by going to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Clear Cache.

On Android TV, open Settings > Apps > See all apps > select MLB > Clear cache > Ok.

Apple TV

You can’t install VPN apps directly on tvOS. Instead, you’ll have to set up Smart DNS to spoof your Apple TV’s location.

As with iOS, the MLB tvOS app requests your GPS information. However, we found that you can workaround this by simply denying access.

Here’s how to bypass MLB blackouts on Apple TV:

  1. Subscribe to a Smart DNS service: Control D is the only option that could stream blacked out games in our tests.
  2. Give Control D your IP address: This will add your IP address to the DNS server’s allowlist. Do this by simply logging into the Control D website from your phone or computer while connected to the same WiFi network as your Apple TV. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to do so.
  3. Change DNS server location: On the Control D website, click Services on the left-hand side and choose Video. From the list, click MLB and toggle it on. Select Redirected and choose a location outside of the blackout region.
  4. Find your Smart DNS address: On the Control D website, click the account icon in the top right. Then select My Resolvers. Note down the IPv4 Primary option.
  5. Change your Apple TV’s DNS settings: On your Apple TV, open the Settings app > tap Network > press on your WiFi network > Configure DNS > Manual > enter the DNS address from Step 4.
  6. Open the MLB app and deny it access to your location data: select Don’t Allow on the location request. If you’ve previously allowed this request, open the tvOS Settings app > General > Privacy > Location Services > select MLB > select Never.

If you change server location, restart the Apple TV to clear all location cache.

You can also watch our video tutorial below. You can see exactly how to set up Control D and how to change DNS settings on your Apple TV to avoid blackouts.

How to use Smart DNS with the MLB app on Apple TV.

Roku & Chromecast

Roku and older Chromecast devices don’t support VPN apps. Nor do they allow you to configure DNS settings, so they aren’t compatible with Smart DNS services.

Instead, the best way to unblock MLB.tv on Roku and Chromecast is to set up a virtual router from your computer or laptop. You also have the option of using a VPN router, but these are expensive and require prior experience.

Here’s how to set up a virtual router on Windows and stream MLB on your Roku or Chromecast:

  1. Start configuring your PC’s virtual router functionality using Windows Command Prompt: Enter the following command: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NETWORKNAME key=PASSWORD. Make sure to replace NETWORKNAME and PASSWORD with your own WiFi network’s name and password.
  2. Enable the virtual router: Type netsh wlan start hostednetwork and press Enter.
  3. Find the name of your network: Press the Windows key + R. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter. The name of your virtual router will be in bold.
  4. Download a VPN that works with MLB.tv: ExpressVPN is our top pick.
  5. Turn on the Windows mobile hotspot: Go to Settings, press Network & Internet and toggle Mobile hotspot to on.
  6. Allow other devices to connect to your VPN: Go back to the Network & Internet pane in settings and click Change adapter options. Right-click your VPN’s Tap Adapter and choose Properties. Then, click the Sharing tab and tick the second box labeled Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
  7. Share your newly created WiFi connection: Open the dropdown menu where it says Home networking connection and choose the hotspot you’ve created.
  8. Connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout territory.
  9. Connect your Roku or Chromecast to your new network: You can do this from the Settings app on Roku. Use the Google Home app on your phone for Chromecast.
  10. Open the MLB app: You’ll now be able to access any game.

The Best VPNs for MLB.tv

Based on our latest tests, the best MLB.tv VPNs are:

  1. ExpressVPN: Our top recommendation for streaming MLB.
  2. Surfshark: An inexpensive option that allows you to spoof GPS on mobile.
  3. Windscribe: 100% free VPN that works with MLB in every country.

These three VPNs all work with MLB in multiple countries, including servers on the East and West Coasts of the US. They also have fast speeds and are either 100% free or come with a money-back guarantee.

We ranked the three best VPNs for MLB based on the following performance criteria:

  • Works with MLB.tv on servers across the United States for avoiding local blackouts.
  • Streams MLB on servers outside of the US to stream the World Series and other nationally blacked out games.
  • Easy-to-use apps for mobile, desktop, and streaming services.
  • Fast download speeds and unlimited bandwidth for uninterrupted HD streaming.
  • Simple guides for setting up mobile hotspots and routers.
  • Helpful customer support to aid in setup and finding compatible streaming servers.
  • Can be used 100% for free or comes with a long refund period.

The Top Three MLB.tv VPNs Compared

Use the table below to compare the best VPNs for MLB side-by-side:

ExpressVPN
Surfshark
Windscribe Free
US Server Locations
16
25
8
Download Speed
97Mbps
95Mbps
90Mbps
Android GPS Spoofing
No
Yes
Yes
Smart DNS
Doesn’t Work
Doesn’t Work
Additional Cost
Router App
Yes
No
No
Cheapest Price
$6.67
$2.30
100% Free

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for MLB.tv Overall

Streams MLB.tv with fast speeds on its large server network.

Pros
Cons
  • Works with MLB on every server
  • Fast download speeds
  • Servers in 94 countries for avoiding national blackouts
  • Easy-to-use apps on every platform
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Native app for routers
  • No GPS spoofing feature on Android
  • MediaStreamer can’t access the MLB app
  • Most expensive option

ExpressVPN works with MLB.tv on these devices:
Windows, macOS, iPhone, Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox.

The overall best VPN for watching blackout MLB games is ExpressVPN. Though it’s more expensive than the alternatives, it makes up for it with its fast speeds and excellent platform support.

Easily Bypasses Local & National Blackouts

In our tests, ExpressVPN was the best option for bypassing both types of MLB blackouts.

We worked around local blackouts by getting a US IP address from outside the blackout area. We were easily able to do this thanks to ExpressVPN’s large server network, with servers in 11 US states. No matter where you’re located, you’ll always be able to find a server close to you.

Some other top VPNs, like Private Internet Access, have more US servers than ExpressVPN. However, we found that only 50% of them were compatible with MLB.tv. ExpressVPN worked 100% of the time in every US server location.

To watch the World Series on Fox and get around other nationally blacked out games from, we connected to an ExpressVPN server in one of the 92 countries offered outside of the US and Canada.

As you can see in the image below, when connected to an ExpressVPN server in France, the Apple TV+ video stream was displayed directly in the MLB.tv website.

Using ExpressVPN to stream blackout MLB games

ExpressVPN’s international servers streamed every blacked out MLB game.

The Fastest Download Speeds for MLB

Although many VPNs can unblock MLB, only the best can stream it in maximum resolution without any buffering.

In our streaming tests, ExpressVPN performed better than any other. We didn’t experience any stutters and videos loaded instantly.

Here are the minimum download speed requirements for MLB.tv:

  • 1.8Mbps for Standard Definition (SD) quality at 30 frames per second (FPS)
  • 3Mbps for High Definition (HD) quality at 30 frames per second (FPS)
  • 5Mbps for High Definition (HD) quality at 60 frames per second (FPS)

From a test location in New York, we tested ExpressVPN’s speeds while connected to servers useful for MLB.tv. We found that ExpressVPN is more than fast enough to stream MLB in full resolution.

This also makes it a top choice for streaming blackout NBA games and for accessing NFL Game Pass to watch out-of-market NFL games.

Using our 100Mbps internet connection, our speeds dropped only 6% to 94Mbps when connecting to the nearest server outside of our blackout area. Our speeds remained at 88Mbps when connecting to a London server to avoid a national blackout.

In all, ExpressVPN kept our internet speeds far above the 5Mbps required for Full HD video at 60 FPS.

You can see our full results from testing ExpressVPN in the table below:

Server Location
Download Speed (Mbps)
Speed Loss (%)
Distance (miles)
Starting Speed (New Jersey)
100Mbps
/
0 mi
New York
94Mbps
6%
80 mi
San Francisco
91Mbps
9%
2537 mi
Toronto
95Mbps
5%
344 mi
London
88Mbps
12%
3519 mi

2. Surfshark: Best Option for Android

Affordable VPN with easy-to-use apps on every device.

Pros
Cons
  • GPS spoofing feature on Android
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • Fast speeds using WireGuard
  • Cheap monthly price and 7-day free trial
  • Servers in 100 countries
  • User-friendly app interface
  • No app for routers
  • Some servers don’t work with MLB.tv
  • Smart DNS feature is ineffective

Surfshark works with MLB.tv on these devices:
Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox.

If you want to stream MLB on Android, Surfshark is the best option. It comes with a spoofer on Android devices to match your GPS location with the VPN server.

That said, it’s beaten by ExpressVPN in almost every other testing category. It’s less reliable with MLB.tv and it doesn’t come with an app for routers.

GPS Spoofing Is Effective on Android

As we detailed earlier, the MLB Android app requires access to your GPS location to function. As a regular VPN only changes your IP address and not your GPS coordinates, almost every VPN doesn’t work with MLB on Android.

The only other VPNs with this feature are Windscribe and IVPN. But Surfshark is much faster than Windscribe, and IVPN doesn’t work with MLB at all.

Surfshark’s feature will automatically change your GPS location as you change the VPN server location. This ensures there’s never a mismatch and makes it much harder for MLB’s geo-blocks to detect it.

Using Surfshark on Android to watch MLB

Streaming the MLB app using Surfshark on our Android tablet.

Surfshark’s compatibility with other platforms and devices is quite disappointing, though.

The VPN’s Smart DNS feature didn’t change our DNS address when watching MLB streams. This meant we were still blacked out from the same games as when not using the tool.

Unlike ExpressVPN, the VPN also doesn’t come with a router app. To watch MLB on devices like Roku, Smart TVs, and older Chromecast devices, we recommend setting up a virtual router instead.

Premium Features at an Affordable Price

Surfshark can be purchased at a much lower rate than other top VPNs. It costs as little as $2.30 per month, which is over 60% cheaper than our top-pick ExpressVPN.

If you sign up from your mobile device you also get access to Surfshark’s seven-day free trial. Or you can try the VPN for longer by using its 30-day refund period.

Despite its affordability, Surfshark includes many features we only see from the most premium services. Its WireGuard connections are fast and are secured using ChaCha20, the latest encryption cipher.

The VPN also includes a RAM-only server network, a DNS-based ad blocker, and there’s no device limit. Unless you require the fastest speeds, Surfshark is a top choice for streaming MLB.

3. Windscribe: Best Free VPN for MLB

The only 100% free VPN that streams MLB.tv.

Pros
Cons
  • Completely free with no payment details required
  • Streams MLB.tv on all of its servers
  • Location Warp tool changes GPS location on Android
  • No device limit
  • Free servers in 8 US locations
  • 10GB monthly data limit
  • Smart DNS requires an additional subscription
  • Slower speeds than premium VPN services
  • Customer support is slow to respond

Windscribe works with MLB.tv on these devices:
Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox.

Windscribe is the only completely free VPN service that streams MLB from anywhere. In our latest tests, we could access geo-blocked MLB games from all 11 of its server locations.

Though it’s a lot slower than the paid-for VPNs in this list, it’s still fast enough for streaming MLB. You’ll be limited by its 10GB monthly data limit, though.

Excellent Smart DNS Tool

Windscribe’s Smart DNS service, named Control D, is the only Smart DNS tool that works with MLB.tv. We used it to unblock MLB games on streaming devices that don’t allow VPN apps, like Apple TV and an LG Smart TV.

All of the other services we tested, like ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer and StrongVPN’s Smart DNS, don’t allow you to change the city location of your DNS server. This makes them useless for avoiding MLB blackouts.

Control D is a paid-for additional subscription, but it does have a 30-day free trial. You can use it for a month without spending a cent.

Free Servers in Many US Locations

Using Windscribe Free, you can connect to eight US cities in seven different states, spread across the East, West, and Central areas of the US. These include popular locations, like New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas.

As these servers are located in a variety of locations, Windscribe Free is excellent for bypassing MLB blackouts. We were always able to connect to a nearby server that was outside of the blackout area.

Using Windscribe Free to bypass MLB geo-restrictions

Windscribe’s free servers always work with MLB.

By contrast, some of the other free VPNs we tested, like Proton VPN and Atlas VPN, only have servers in one or two US cities. We found it much harder to get around geo-restrictions using these services.

For nationally blacked out games, Windscribe has free servers in 10 more countries. We found the UK server delivered the fastest speeds, as it’s part of Windscribe’s 10Gbps server network.

100% Free but 10GB Data Cap Is a Drawback

You can use Windscribe Free in combination with MLB.tv’s free trial to access MLB.tv totally free for three days. Although the MLB website states it offers a seven-day free trial, we found that it bills your card after the third day.

Windscribe is completely free to use, without any conditions. To get more than the default 2GB of monthly free data, you will have to verify your email address. No payment details or other personal information is required, though.

That said, Windscribe’s enhanced 10GB monthly data limit is still a major downside. We found that we were able to stream roughly four hours of MLB until we used all of our allowance. We couldn’t even get through two full games.

Though it’s one of the highest data caps we’ve seen, it won’t be enough for most people. Instead, we recommend you either take advantage of a premium VPN’s money-back guarantee or use Control D’s free trial. Both these options will give you 30 days of unlimited bandwidth.

Visit Windscribe or read our Windscribe review.

Popular VPNs That Don’t Always Work with MLB

We tested 55 VPN services with MLB.tv. Each VPN was tested in a web browser, on iOS, Android, Fire TV, and tvOS.

For a VPN to qualify as working, it had to stream MLB on at least two US servers and one international server.

Here are three popular VPNs that we don’t recommend for bypassing baseball blackouts:

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market, and it’s generally a top streaming VPN, too. Its apps are simple to use and it works with almost every popular streaming service.

However, its performance was disappointing with MLB.tv. We found that only the New York, New Jersey, LA, and Chicago servers worked. All other regions were permanently blocked.

When one of these servers suddenly stopped working, there wasn’t always a compatible server outside of the blackout area. It also struggled more than other services to stream on Fire TV and Android TV.

NordVPN is still a good option, but there are much better services available if you need to stream on your TV or need more reliable access.

2. Private Internet Access

We rate PIA as one of the top VPNs on the market. It comes with dedicated streaming servers, best-in-class encryption, and fast speeds.

However, the VPN failed to access MLB.tv in our most recent tests. Most of the time, we weren’t even able to log in to the MLB website. When we connected to a PIA server while already logged in, the screen was blacked out and we couldn’t access any games.

The VPN’s Smart DNS tool also didn’t work on our Apple TV. This isn’t surprising, though, as it hasn’t worked with any streaming services over months of testing.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is usually a good option for bypassing streaming geo-restrictions. Its browser extensions stream US Netflix for free and its dedicated streaming servers work with many popular services.

However, CyberGhost does not provide a streaming server for MLB. Instead, we had to use its general US servers and those optimized for other platforms. Unsurprisingly, we weren’t able to access MLB during any of our tests.

In short, CyberGhost is a bad VPN for MLB.tv. We don’t expect it to ever work unless it decides to add a dedicated MLB streaming server.

Other VPNs that are blocked by MLB.tv

Below are some other VPN services that we found can’t stream blackout MLB games:

  • Astrill
  • Hide.me
  • HMA VPN
  • IVPN
  • Mcafee Safe Connect
  • Mullvad
  • Norton Secure VPN
  • VyprVPN

EXPERT TIP: If your VPN isn’t working with MLB.tv, try our workaround and troubleshooting tips.

Why Are MLB Games Blacked Out?

MLB blackout restrictions exist to encourage subscriptions to cable TV. Most of the teams in the MLB receive funding from these cable TV providers and regional sports networks (RSNs) — over $100 million per year per team.

For example, a New York Yankees fan that lives within the Yankees blackout area must subscribe to a cable package that includes YES Network. These cable packages start at around $60 a month, which is almost three times more expensive than MLB.tv.

Games that are nationally televised, like those on Friday and Sunday, are geo-blocked to enforce TV licensing agreements. In the US, the nationwide rights for these games are held by one of Apple TV+, ESPN, Peacock, or Amazon Prime Video.

If you’re in the US, you won’t be able to stream any of these games from MLB.tv. This applies even if you’re outside of the team’s usual blackout area.

Will MLB blackouts end?

MLB’s blackout rules may change in the future. NESN, the RSN for the Boston Red Sox, has recently launched a self-hosted streaming platform without blackouts. Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, has also stated removing blackouts is a “top priority.”

That said, the blackout rules aren’t changing in time for the 2023/2024 MLB season. Instead, we expect it to be many years until anything significant happens. Most of the rules are set in multi-year media contracts.

Until these contracts expire, the only way to remove local and national MLB blackouts is by using a compatible VPN service.

Note:
The MLB geo-fences content based on your IP address. It does not use the billing address associated with your account.

MLB Blackout Map: Where Are Games Blacked Out?

MLB blackout areas are determined by the coverage area of the RSN that has the local broadcast rights.

To help you find each MLB team’s blackout territory, we’ve created an up-to-date map with the latest boundaries. We update this as soon as there are any changes.

Our map is also the only one available that includes the blackout territories for both the US and Canada. See it below to find out which teams are geo-blocked in your region.

Map showing all blackout regions in the United States and Canada

View an enlarged image of our MLB blackout map.

EXPERT TIP: To find out which teams are restricted in the location of your VPN server, use our tool in the section below.

As you can see, some blackout regions span entire states. You might still be blocked from accessing a team even if you live hundreds of miles away. There are also many instances where there are multiple teams blacked out in the same state.

The state with the most MLB blackouts is Iowa, which lies within the geo-restricted zone for six teams: the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals.

If you’re located in Iowa and none of these teams are playing each other, you’re blocked from streaming 40% of the total number of MLB games on that day.

MLB Blackout Checker by ZIP Code

Use our tool to find out if your US VPN server is outside of the MLB blackout area.

The tool will estimate your ZIP code based on your IP address. If you switch to another VPN server location, click on the refresh button to see an updated list of teams.

If your hometown team or the opposing team is listed, it means you can’t stream the game on MLB.tv. Connect to a server in a neighboring state to workaround this.

Check if a game is blacked out in a ZIP code:

Click to detect your IP address

Our tool is the only one that works out the games you can’t access based on your IP address. This is the same technique MLB.tv uses to determine if you’re within a blackout boundary.

Other similar tools only allow you to manually enter a ZIP code. As you’re unlikely to know the corresponding ZIP code of your VPN server, these tools aren’t usable for bypassing MLB blackouts.

How to Fix a VPN Not Working with MLB.tv

If your VPN stops working with MLB.tv, your VPN server’s IP address has been blocked by the streaming service. The easiest way to fix this is to change to another server and clear your cache and cookies.

The MLB attempts to ban VPNs as they allow users to circumvent blackouts. Blackouts are written into the MLB’s TV agreements, so it’s legally compelled to prevent access from VPNs and other proxies. However, using a VPN to access MLB.tv is not illegal.

Here are some simple workarounds to try if your VPN stops working with MLB.tv:

  1. Connect to a different server.

    Most often, a VPN stops working with MLB.tv because the IP address of the server has been blocked. As a result, the most effective fix is to change to a different VPN server. This will give you a different IP address that might not have been blocked by MLB. Once connected, refresh your browser or relaunch the app.

    All of the VPNs we recommend on this page have many servers in the US and abroad. In our most recent attempts, ExpressVPN’s New York server, Surfshark’s Denver server, and Windscribe’s Boston server all streamed MLB.tv.

    If you still can’t access MLB.tv after testing five different servers with another VPN, it’s unlikely it works at all. We recommend you choose a different VPN service instead.

  2. Clear cache and browser cookies.

    MLB.tv caches previous sessions. This means that even if you’re connected to a working VPN server, it will still restrict you if you were blocked previously.

    Clearing your browser’s cache and cookie files bypasses this. The MLB website won’t know you’ve previously used the service.

    To do this in Google Chrome, click the three dots at the top right of the window. Then, click More Tools > Clear browsing data > All time. Tick Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files and select Clear data.

    Alternatively, you can sign in via a new Incognito Mode browser window, as each one opens with a fresh and empty cache.

    On mobile, you’ll have to restart your device to fully clear cache files.

  3. Make sure your GPS location matches your IP address.
    On mobile, the MLB uses your GPS location to enforce regional blackouts. If your GPS coordinates don’t exactly match your IP address location, you’ll be blocked from accessing the app. To fix this, simply reconnect to the VPN server. This should force the VPN app to also refresh your GPS location. Both locations must exactly match. You can check this yourself using our IP lookup tool and a third-party GPS coordinates checker.

    As well, remember that not all VPNs support GPS spoofing. If you want to bypass MLB blackouts on Android, you’ll have to use Surfshark or Windscribe.

  4. Contact customer support.

    If none of these methods work, contact your VPN provider’s customer support. These support agents will have a list of all the servers that are currently working with MLB.

    They’ll also be able to help if there’s a more general issue with your device or network. For example, an ExpressVPN support agent informed us we could clear the MLB app’s cache on our iPhone by restarting the device.

    In the section below, we’ll show you the best method for bypassing the most common MLB.tv error messages.

How to Bypass MLB.tv Error Codes

MLB.tv Error: “There was an unexpected internal error”

MLB.tv's "There was an unexpected internal error" code

MLB.tv displays this error message when it detects you’re using a VPN. You’ll see this when logging in to your account.

The easiest way to fix this error is to connect to a compatible server. If you can’t find a working server after a few attempts, ask your VPN’s customer support team for the best server.

MLB.tv Error: “We have determined this game is unavailable in your area”

MLB.tv's "Broadcast blacked out" error message

You’ll see this error message when your IP address location is within the blackout region.

If you see this message while connected to a VPN server in a different state, you’re likely connected within the blackout boundaries for the opposing team.

To bypass this, connect to a server elsewhere and clear your browser’s cookies and cache. Then, refresh your browser on desktop or restart your device if you’re on mobile.

MLB.tv Error: “R303”

You will see the R303 error when there is a problem with your network connection. Try disconnecting from your VPN and relaunching the MLB app. If it works, there is a problem with your VPN connection.

The best way to fix this is to contact your VPN’s customer support department. They’ll know if there’s a problem with the VPN server or they can help you diagnose a general issue with your network.