How to Watch YouTube TV from Abroad

If you don’t live in the US, you’ll need to trick YouTube TV into thinking you do. To do this, you need a VPN to change your real IP address to a US one.

If your VPN is good enough, this will work to bypass YouTube’s geo-restrictions, as you can see us doing in this video:

To unblock YouTube TV in a similar way, follow the instructions below. If your VPN isn’t working with YouTube TV, check out how you can fix it.

1. Get a VPN That’s Capable of Unblocking YouTube TV

The most important factor in unblocking YouTube TV is the VPN you use. Not all VPNs get around YouTube TV’s country restrictions. In fact, our tests show that only 12 of the 65 VPNs we tested work, with most being detected.

We recommend signing up to our #1 pick, ExpressVPN.

Once you have a subscription to a reliable VPN, download and install the app. This is usually done via the VPN provider’s website.

2. Connect to a US VPN Server

Log in to the VPN using your account details and connect to one of its US servers in the server list. This will change your location virtually, giving you a US IP address despite being outside the country.

Some VPNs, like CyberGhost, include dedicated servers for YouTube TV, but we prefer it when regular US VPN servers do the trick because you don’t need to spend time server hunting and there is less chance of server overload.

3. Test Your VPN with YouTube TV’s Preview

Now you’re connected to a US VPN server location, head to https://tv.youtube.com/.

Even before signing up to the premium service, you will already be able to tell if your VPN unblocks YouTube TV by whether or not you can preview the service for 20 minutes.

This is a useful test before paying for an expensive subscription.

You can also test if a VPN works with YouTube TV without paying any money by taking advantage of any free trials or money-back guarantees the VPN offers.

When you’ve confirmed that your VPN unblocks YouTube TV, click Start Free Trial.

4. Insert a US ZIP Code

YouTube TV is exclusive to the US, so it will ask you to insert a US ZIP code. If you’re connecting from outside the US, you can insert any US ZIP code. We inserted a New York Area ZIP code as we connected to a New York VPN server.

5. Choose Your YouTube TV Plan

You will then be prompted to select your YouTube TV plan.

We chose the Base Plan with a 2-Day Free Trial, but there is also a Spanish Plan you can select for Spanish-language channels. Click Next once you’ve chosen.

6. Insert Your Payment Method & Complete Your Subscription

At this point, insert your chosen payment method.

We used a UK-registered payment method associated with our normal UK Google Account, which worked just fine.

Despite some claims on the internet, you do not need a US-registered payment method or GPS spoofer to pay for YouTube TV abroad.

With these simple steps complete, you’ll now have full access to YouTube TV from anywhere in the world.

As the instructions above show, it’s easy to sign up for YouTube TV. However, if you want to watch YouTube TV on non-desktop devices, there are some specific setup instructions you should know.

Here is a brief summary of the methods you should use depending on the device:

Device	Recommended Method	Difficulty
Desktop (macOS & Windows)	VPN app & web browser	Easy
Mobile (iOS & Android)	VPN app & web browser	Easy
Apple TV	VPN & AirPlay	Moderate
Fire TV	VPN & Amazon Silk web browser	Easy
Android TV	VPN & TV web browser	Moderate
Roku	Install VPN on router	Hard
Games Consoles & Smart TV	Smart DNS	Moderate

Below you’ll find more detailed instructions on how to watch YouTube TV on various devices:

Android

There are two ways to unblock YouTube TV on your Android device:

Of the two methods, we recommend watching YouTube TV on your mobile browser. To watch YouTube TV via its Android app, you need to create a US Google Account.

Creating one is easy enough, but time consuming and unnecessary, especially as it will disrupt your current regional content and subscriptions.

If you still want to stream YouTube TV via the Android app, here are the steps you need to take:

iOS

Similar to Android, you can stream YouTube TV on your iOS device in two ways:

We favor the first method as it’s the simplest. However, you can still watch via the YouTube TV app if you first set up a US Apple ID account.

In order to do this:

Apple TV

You can watch YouTube TV on your Apple TV if you create a US Apple ID Account and download the app via the App Store. Here’s how to do this:

Alternatively, if you already have the YouTube TV app installed on your iOS device, you can simply AirPlay to your Apple TV and it won’t be necessary to change your Apple ID or download the YouTube TV app.

If you’re using AirPlay, the Apple TV and iOS device need to be connected to the same WiFi (cellular data won’t work) and you will need to connect to a US server on both your iOS and your Apple TV simultaneously. However, they do not have to be the exact same server.

You can only AirPlay if you have the YouTube TV app installed on iOS. AirPlay will not work from your mobile browser.

Fire TV Stick

There are two ways to watch YouTube TV on your Fire TV Stick:

We recommend the first method, as creating a US Amazon Account is time-consuming and linking it to your Fire TV Stick will result in losing the region-specific apps and subscriptions you currently enjoy.

Android TV/Google TV

The best way to watch YouTube TV on your Android TV is to install a TV web browser. Unfortunately, popular browsers like Chrome are not available.

We recommend installing a browser called BrowseHere, which you can find in the Play Store on your Android TV. This browser has been developed by TCL – a reputable organization. It’s also been optimized for large screen devices and playback.

Once installed, head to https://tv.youtube.com/, and login to YouTube TV with your usual YouTube TV account details. You will then be presented with a request for permission to access from tv.youtube.com. Simply select OK.

While it is possible to install a VPN and set up a US account on Android TV, this approach is a lot more complex and time consuming, so we don’t recommend it.

Roku

Roku does not allow VPNs, but there are two ways to watch YouTube TV on Roku outside the US:

Watching YouTube TV on Roku isn’t simple, but we suggest installing a VPN on your router as it doesn’t require you to set up a US Apple ID account like the AirPlay method does, and it will connect all of your devices to the same US connection.

The best VPN for Roku is ExpressVPN because it is the only VPN with a fully dedicated, simple-to-use router app. Lots of other VPNs are compatible with routers, but they require a complicated manual setup that we don’t recommend.

You can see how easy it is to install ExpressVPN on your router in the walkthrough video below:

If you want to AirPlay YouTube TV to your Roku device via your iPhone, follow these instructions:

Games Consoles & Smart TVs

Games consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, as well as Smart TVs, do not allow you to install VPN apps. The best way to watch YouTube TV on these devices is to use a Smart DNS tool.

Smart DNS is not the same as a VPN, but it can serve a similar purpose: it makes it appear as if you’re in the US without actually being there.

A number of VPNs have Smart DNS functionality, but the best is ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer, which is compatible with YouTube TV from outside the US.

1. Upgrade Your VPN

The most common reason why a VPN is not working with YouTube TV is because many VPNs lack the necessary resources to bypass YouTube TV geo-restrictions. They use IP addresses that are known and blocked by YouTube TV.

You’ll know your VPN doesn’t work when you get this VPN/proxy error message:

Our tests show that ExpressVPN

is the best VPN for bypassing YouTube TV blocks. There are also a number of other top VPNs that work, including CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Surfshark.

If you want a free option, despite limitations including a data caps and server restrictions, both Proton VPN Free and Windscribe Free offer free US VPN servers that currently work with YouTube TV.

2. Connect to Another US VPN Server

Sometimes all you need to do to get your YouTube VPN working is change the US server you’re connected to.

It may be the case that IP addresses associated with one server have been identified and banned by YouTube TV, but other servers remain unknown.

For example, in our tests with Private Internet Access, we found that its West Coast server did not work with YouTube TV but its East Coast server did.

We used these specific servers to access YouTube TV (although this is subject to change):

VPN Service	Server That Works With YouTube TV
CyberGhost	YouTube TV dedicated server
Surfshark	LA Server
Private Internet Access	East Coast server
Windscribe	New York server
Hide.me	US Streaming dedicated server

However, we don’t recommend trying every available server in search of one that works. If the first few server changes don’t work, it’s likely that none will.

3. Clear Your Browser Cookies & Cache

Websites collect data about your location through cookies and other files in your browser’s cache. Your YouTube TV VPN might not be working because this information is being used to mark your real location, especially if you’re changing Home Area location.

This is easily fixed by deleting cookies and cache data in your browser.

4. Contact Your VPN’s Customer Support

Contacting your VPN’s customer support can be one of the quickest and most effective ways to fix your VPN, as long as the support is good. The best VPNs have 24/7 live chat support, which is the easiest way to get assistance.

A good customer support agent will know if the service works with YouTube TV and be able to recommend specific servers, or recommend other fixes.

5. Check for IP Address or DNS Leaks

It’s possible that your real location is being detected by YouTube TV as a result of a data leak. This happens when your DNS requests or real IP address falls outside the encrypted VPN connection.

This usually happens when using free or inferior VPNs. Quality VPNs have leak protection built into their service, or at the least an option to enable leak protection.

You can easily check if your VPN is working by using our IP & DNS leak test tool.

If your VPN is leaking data, you should contact customer support to see if they can resolve the issue. Otherwise, we suggest upgrading your VPN.

If you live in the US, you already have access to YouTube TV and most YouTube TV channels are available wherever you are. However, there are still local sports, news, and weather channels that are only available in certain regions. A VPN can be used to bypass these regional restrictions, enabling you to get around sports blackouts and watch the NFL.

The channels you are permitted to stream are based on what YouTube TV calls your Home Area. This is determined by the ZIP code you provide upon signing up.

You can change your Home Area location in YouTube TV by going to Settings > Area > Update. However, this is only allowed twice per year.

On the other hand, a VPN offers an easy hack to resolve Home Area issues because you can switch between virtual US server locations, unlocking new content with each server.

For example, when we tried to live stream CBS Mornings from a virtual Los Angeles location, we were asked by YouTube TV to verify our location based on our browser location.

We simply ensured that our VPN server matched our Home Area location and it streamed perfectly.

We then switched VPN servers to Miami. YouTube TV detected the region change and asked us to verify our home area again. We did and were granted access to local Miami channels without any issues. We then did the same for local Chicago channels.

A VPN like Private Internet Access is ideal for switching between Home Area locations because it has servers in all 50 US states. That means every YouTube TV channel becomes available.

We’ve tested 65 VPNs based on a specific set of attributes for YouTube TV.

We’ve highlighted the VPN services that unblock YouTube TV reliably, provide fast long-distance speeds, include lots of US servers, and offer dedicated apps for multiple devices.

1. ExpressVPN: The Best Overall VPN for YouTube TV

Pros	Cons
Unblocks YouTube TV on every US server we tested	Expensive subscription price
Fast speeds connecting into the US from anywhere	Simultaneous connection cap
Servers in 16 US cities
Apps for every platform & device
Excellent customer support and easy to use apps
One week free trial available

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for YouTube TV because it immediately unblocked the US-exclusive service on every US server we connected to.

Furthermore, its fast long-distance speeds enabled us to stream US shows in Full HD quality without buffering, despite over 3,000 miles of geographical distance.

Our tests recorded an impressive average long-distance speed of 85Mbps, which represents a marginal 15% speed loss.

ExpressVPN has user-friendly VPN apps for every conceivable device, so you can watch YouTube TV on multiple devices, including your Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, or mobile devices.

ExpressVPN even has a router app that enables all of your home devices to be connected to the same US server. This way you can stream YouTube TV on games consoles and Roku devices, too.

If you encounter problems unblocking YouTube TV, ExpressVPN has selectable servers in 16 US cities. Each of these locations has a regional version of YouTube TV, which ExpressVPN will unblock without issue.

However, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs on the market, costing $6.67 per month. We think the level of performance is worth it, but Private Internet Access remains a sensible budget alternative.

2. Private Internet Access: Budget VPN for YouTube TV

Pros	Cons
Unblocks YouTube TV outside the US	Not all US servers work with YouTube TV
Servers in 50 states allows access to all of YouTube TV	Smart DNS does not work with YouTube TV
Only costs $2.03 per month
Unlimited simultaneous VPNs connections
Apps for Fire TV Stick, Android TV & Apple TV

Private Internet Access is the second best VPN for YouTube TV. It unblocks YouTube TV reliably and has more US servers than any other VPN. Not all of these servers unblock YouTube TV, but it doesn’t take long to find one that does.

The fact that PIA has servers in all 50 US states makes it ideal for bypassing Home Area restrictions within the US. If you want to watch local content that isn’t available in your home area (determined by the ZIP code you provide on sign up), you can simply switch to a different US server.

PIA is slightly slower than ExpressVPN, but its long distance download speeds remain impressive, averaging 86Mbps in our latest tests (a speed loss of 15%. It’s also substantially cheaper than ExpressVPN, at only $2.03 per month.

There is also no device limit imposed, so you can install PIA and connect to a US server on as many devices as you want.

However, despite a new Apple TV app, it is behind ExpressVPN when it comes to device compatibility as its Smart DNS doesn’t work and there is no router app.

3. Proton VPN Free: The Best Free VPN for YouTube TV

Pros	Cons
Unblocks YouTube TV on free US server	Not all US servers work
Completely free to get and safe to use	Unreliable streaming performance
Unlimited data allows endless YouTube TV streaming	Single VPN connection limit
No payment information required to sign up	No Apple TV app or Smart DNS tool
Fastest free VPN available

Proton VPN Free is the best free VPN for YouTube TV because it unblocks YouTube TV on its free US servers and does not impose a data cap.

While Windscribe Free also works with YouTube TV, it has a 10GB data cap. This means that ProtonVPN Free is the only free VPN that allows you to stream unlimited YouTube TV.

It’s the fastest free VPN available, with an average international download speed of 85Mbps. This guarantees no buffering when watching YouTube TV.

Proton VPN Free is available on all the same devices as the premium version, so you can stream YouTube TV on Fire TV Stick and Android TV.

However, it has not yet developed an Apple TV app and you are limited to a single device connection.

Many popular VPNs do not work with YouTube TV. Our tests found that, out of 65 VPNs tested, only 12 worked. Here are some VPNs that did not make our list:

NordVPN

NordVPN is a great VPN in most cases, but our tests show that it wasn’t able to consistently access YouTube TV outside the US. For this simple reason, we don’t recommend it.

IPVanish

Similarly to NordVPN, IPVanish is a top VPN in most cases. However, it wasn’t able to consistently access YouTube TV to the extent we expect, so it didn’t make our list.

PrivadoVPN Free

PrivadoVPN is one of the few reliable free VPNs for streaming, but not in the case of YouTube TV. Our tests show that it was detected and blocked on numerous occasions.

We calculate the overall rating of a YouTube TV VPN based on its performance in four relevant testing categories. Here is how our winning VPNs scored in each subcategory:

ExpressVPN achieved the highest rating because it consistently goes undetected by YouTube TV, has a sizable US server network, fast international speeds, and excellent cross-device compatibility including apps for Apple TV and router.

For a more detailed breakdown of these results and how they’re calculated, see our explanation below:

1. Consistently Unblocks YouTube TV (40%)

The most important factor is to find a VPN that works consistently to bypass YouTube TV geo-restrictions.

From our hands-on testing, we found that only a handful of VPNs work with YouTube TV. Here’s how the most popular VPNs performed:

VPN Service	Works with YouTube TV
ExpressVPN	Yes
CyberGhost	Yes
IPVanish	No
NordVPN	No
PIA	Yes
PrivateVPN	No
Surfshark	Yes
Windscribe	Yes
Windscribe Free	Yes
Hide.me	Yes
PrivadoVPN Free	No
ProtonVPN	Yes
ProtonVPN Free	Yes
AtlasVPN Free	No

We ran these tests multiple times to ensure that the VPNs work reliably.

2. US Server Locations (20%)

US server locations are important for three reasons. Firsty, more servers means a greater spread of users and therefore less congestion. This can equate to better performance and faster speeds.

Secondly, having more server choices gives you a better chance of finding a server that works with YouTube TV if the one you initially select does not work.

Finally, the more US server locations the VPN has, the more YouTube TV content is potentially available by circumventing the platform’s regional Home Area restrictions within the US.

With more servers, you can unblock more content, including local sports, news, and weather channels.

3. Speed (20%)

VPN speed is a crucial testing criteria for YouTube TV because it determines how quickly you’ll be able to stream YouTube TV content, and at what quality.

YouTube TV is only available in the US, and connecting into the US from far away countries can heavily impact your internet speed. But the fastest VPNs can connect into the US from anywhere in the world and only suffer marginal speed loss.

We use consistent test equipment and our own server to get an accurate assessment of each VPNs download speed. We calculate an average international speed score from the results.

4. Streaming Device Compatibility (20%)

The more dedicated apps a VPN has, the more devices you can watch YouTube TV on. We reward VPNs that have apps for Fire TV Stick, Android TV, Apple TV, and routers, as this gives you greater control over how you stream YouTube TV.

For devices that don’t support VPNs, like games consoles and Roku, it’s important that the VPN has easy-to-setup router options or a Smart DNS tool.