Popcornflix isn’t working with VPN: How to FIX (walkthrough)

Popcornflix is a movie website exclusive to the US and Canada. A VPN will spoof your location so you can watch from anywhere, but what if it breaks? In our guide, we explain how to solve the problem.

A flawed VPN won’t disguise your location, which means the Popcornflix website and app will lock up right away. Experiment with our list of VPN fixes to solve the problem in a couple of minutes.

Which VPNs work with Popcornflix?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Why is Popcornflix not working with my VPN?

If Popcornflix knows you’re trying to stream content outside the US or Canada, your connection will be blocked. However, the best VPNs for Popcornflix can still help you stream movies from anywhere in the world, even if you’re traveling around.

When we try to access the website from the UK (without a VPN), an error message pops up saying: “Service Not Available. Error code: 152. You are accessing from outside our service area or we may be experiencing a technical problem. Please try again later.”

In summary, reasons for Popcornflix breaking:

• The website or smartphone app has blocked your VPN servers
• Your internet connection is causing streaming issues
• Cookies are disclosing your real location instead of the one you’re trying to spoof
• Your VPN is revealing your IP address to Popcornflix

Popcornflix fixes

1. Check your VPN is up to date

If your VPN doesn’t unlock the movie website outside the US or Canada, ensure you’re using the most recent version.

To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and then choose Settings. You should be able to find an Update option in there. Clicking Update will usually take you to the VPN provider’s website, where you can learn more about what’s new.

2. Try using a different VPN server

VPN servers can die at random times. If Popcornflix isn’t loading up, the issue may lie with the VPN server – swapping to an alternative could improve your experience. Top-rated VPNs provide numerous servers within each country.

Try disconnecting from the server that you’re using with Popcornflix.

3. Message Customer Support

The most popular VPNs employ teams to address technical issues. If you’re having trouble using Popcornflix through a VPN, consider reaching out to them for assistance.

Access your VPN provider’s website and head to the Support or Contact Us pages. Some VPNs even provide a 24/7 live chat service for their members, which is great if you’re reaching out late in the day.

4. Reset your VPN

Try restarting your PC or phone and relaunch your VPN. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open your VPN, connect to a US or Canadian server and try Popcornflix again.

5. Test your internet

Disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and reconnect. Once your connection is restored, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset. Check for a button on the back of your router or consult the brand’s manual online.

More Popcornflix solutions:

Check to see if you’ve been hit by a DNS leak. This means your typical IP address and location is visible to websites and apps, even if you’re running a VPN. Try the IP Address Lookup tool to see if your IP address swaps when you activate your VPN and visit Popcornflix. If not, your VPN is broken.

If you’re on a phone, clear your cache and cookies. From an iPhone, you need to choose Settings > General > iPhone storage, then choose the Popcornflix app. Select Offload app. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Popcornflix > Storage > Clear cache.

If you’re using Popcornflix on desktop, clear your cache and cookies. On Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Re-enter your VPN username and password. Double-check your credentials. If you can’t remember your details, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website.

Check that your firewall allows VPN use. If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

Are you tiring out your VPN? When streaming, gaming and using social media at the same time, your VPN might struggle to keep up. We suggest you close a couple of apps to test if doing so has a noticeable impact.

Best VPNs for Popcornflix

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If you want to enjoy TV shows and movies on Popcornflix from anywhere in the world, consider creating a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, speedy and works well if you’re looking to access Popcornflix outside of the US. To watch shows anywhere, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server based in America and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, so Popcornflix won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of supported territories. Every ExpressVPN member has access to servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on a range of different devices including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy works well with Popcornflix and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend loads on a VPN to watch TV shows. This service is built to support 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away, and on top of that you get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.

You can use Ivacy to access geo-restricted websites such as Popcornflix without anybody knowing about it. That’s thanks to Ivacy’s strict no-logs policy, which stops your valuable personal data from being sold to sinister third parties.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

Here’s another VPN that lets you watch TV on Popcornflix outside of the US. NordVPN has servers across the globe and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. And with Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.

NordVPN’s servers are mega secure and you can connect without handing over your personal data. This trusted VPN doesn’t keep an eye on how you’re using the service, so privacy is guaranteed. You can also try NordVPN’s CyberSec feature, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with data-grabbing malware.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is a great VPN that allows you to bypass geo-locked websites and services so you can enjoy Popcornflix without a fuss.

Aside from Popcornflix, PureVPN also works with ITV Hub, Hulu and Amazon Prime. There are over 6,000 super-secure PureVPN servers based in over 70 different countries.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

FAQs: Watching Popcornflix on desktop and mobile

How to watch Popcornflix on Windows

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From Windows, open ExpressVPN and select a server in the US.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the Popcornflix website.
5. Log in to your Popcornflix account.

Watch Popcornflix on Mac

1. Pick one of our chosen VPNs and create an account – ExpressVPN, for example.
2. After making an ExpressVPN account, sign in with your username and password.
3. From Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in America.
4. When you’re connected, visit the Popcornflix website.
5. Log in to your Popcornflix account and enjoy.

How to watch Popcornflix on iPhone

1. Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the Popcornflix app to your device – it’s on the Apple App Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in the US.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Popcornflix app and log in to your account.

Watch Popcornflix on Android

1. Head to the Google Play Store from your Android tablet or smartphone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the Popcornflix app to your device – it’s on the Google Play Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in the US.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Popcornflix app and log in to your account.

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