As one of the most popular video-streaming services in the US, DirecTV needs no introduction. But depending on which country you’re currently in, you might not be able to gain access to this on-demand service. A reliable and trusted VPN will solve the problem, but what happens if it stops working? Our quick guide explains what to do if your VPN isn’t working with DirecTV Stream.
If you want to watch the latest shows through DirecTV Stream while you’re travelling, you don’t want to deal with errors. If the VPN you’re using right now is struggling, there’s a chance that DirecTV Stream has blacklisted the server you’re trying to use. In other words, you can’t use the service outside of a supported country unless you use one of our trusted VPNs below.
In this article:
At a glance: best VPNs to watch DirecTV Stream
Some VPNs don’t work very well with DirecTV Stream and that’s because they aren’t able to hide your location effectively. However, the VPNs we’ve listed below are a good choice if you’re outside the USA and want to watch DirecTV Stream in other countries.
If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to read our full article, sign up for one of these VPNs – all of them work with DirecTV Stream and they’re rather cheap, too.
| VPN name | Starting price (per month) | Why do we like it? |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 ExpressVPN | £5.75 | Offers over 150 servers and around-the-clock live chat support |
| 🥈 Ivacy | 80p | A cheap but secure VPN with public wi-fi security |
| 🥉 NordVPN | £3.49 | Servers in more than 50 countries and a built-in malware blocker |
| Atlas VPN | £1.34 | Effective tracking blocker with a strict no-logs policy |
| PureVPN | $2.08 | A trusted VPN that hides your real location at all times |
Why is DirecTV Stream not working with my VPN?
If DirecTV Stream identifies that you’re trying to stream content from outside of a supported country, your connection could be blocked. However, a trusted VPN can still help you stream TV networks from anywhere in the world, even if you’re traveling around.
Your current VPN isn’t working with DirecTV Stream and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your real location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN may be blacklisted by the website. By swapping to a better one, you’ll be able to watch shows without being interrupted.
Try these fixes:
Delete your browser cookies – Cookies stored locally on your PC or mobile will help websites to understand where you’re viewing content from. We suggest you clear your cookies so that the DirecTV Stream website will no longer recognise your previous IP address.
Try connecting to a different VPN server – The server you’re trying to connect to using DirecTV Stream might be acting slower than usual, or not at all. We suggest you try and connect to a different server based in the States to see if that solves your problem.
Contact a support team through your VPN – You might be able to reach out to the support team directly and ask why DirecTV Stream isn’t working. However, remember that not every VPN has a support team available around the clock.
Uninstall and reinstall your VPN software – Sometimes, a full reset of your VPN can solve issues and give you access to DirecTV Stream. Try uninstalling and reinstalling.
Worked your way through the potential fixes above and still seeing error messages? We suggest you sign up with a different VPN, so keep scrolling for a list of great options.
How does DirecTV Stream detect my VPN?
If your VPN isn’t hiding your real location from DirecTV Stream, the website will interfere with the server you’re using, making your VPN useless. Bad VPNs take an age to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to content on the website.
The best VPNs you can download do a really good job of replacing a blacklisted server. That means that, even if DirecTV Stream has disabled a server, a replacement will be up sooner rather than later.
Free VPNs for DirecTV Stream
If you want to download a VPN for DirecTV Stream, a free service can be tempting. However, we suggest that you avoid free VPNs entirely – they’re more likely to sell your data to make a profit. By paying for a trusted VPN for a small monthly fee, you’re getting a high-quality service and peace of mind. This is the best course of action if your VPN isn’t working with DirecTV Stream.
The best VPNs for DirecTV Stream in 2023
ExpressVPN
- 1-month subscription: £11.16 per month
- 6-month subscription: £8.61 per month
- 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.75 per month (49% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 160 in 94 countries |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 5 |
If you want to enjoy streaming video from DirecTV Stream, create a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, delightfully fast and works well if you’re looking to access content that’s usually reserved for the United States. To watch TV anywhere, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server in a supported region and go from there.
This VPN keeps your real IP address at all times, so websites won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of a supported country. 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.
Our verdict: One of our favourite VPNs that’ll work with DirecTV Stream. We enjoy the smartphone app, which is really snappy and backed by clearly-labelled menus and toggles.
Try ExpressVPN with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
Ivacy
- 1-month subscription: £8.22 per month
- 1-year subscription: £2.91 per month (65% off)
- 5-year subscription: 80p per month (90% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 5,700 in 100+ locations |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 10 |
Ivacy works well if you’re a DirecTV Stream fan and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend lots of money on a VPN to watch TV. This service supports 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away. On top of that, you also get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.
Wherever you are in the world, you can use Ivacy to access geo-restricted websites like DirecTV Stream without anybody knowing about it. Ivacy supports a very strict no-logs policy, which prevents your valuable personal data from being sold to sinister third parties.
This is one of the most widely-used VPNs proven to work with DirecTV Stream. If you try it for yourself today, you’ll get instant access to over 3,000 VPN servers around the world. A single subscription for Ivacy has you covered on up to 10 different devices at once, which is ideal for a family of streamers.
Our verdict: You’re looking at a VPN that we gladly recommend over and over again. Wherever you are, you’ll have no trouble unlocking region-locked websites without giving away your actual location.
Try Ivacy with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
NordVPN
- 1-month subscription: £10.99 per month
- 1-year subscription: £4.19 per month (40% off)
- 2-year subscription: £3.49 per month (50% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 5,200+ in 59 countries |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Unlimited |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 6 |
Another top VPN that lets you watch region-locked content. NordVPN has servers all over the world and they’re protected by military-grade encryption. With Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.
NordVPN’s servers are secure and you can connect without handing over your personal data. This VPN doesn’t watch how you’re using the service, so privacy is guaranteed. You can also try the CyberSec feature, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with data-grabbing malware.
In just a couple of minutes, you can start streaming shows on DirecTV using NordVPN. To access the service, just connect to a VPN server based in the US. If you need help at any time, you can call on NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.
Our verdict: Even if it’s your first time using a VPN to watch goodies on DirecTV Stream, you’ll likely be up and running in just a couple of minutes.
Try NordVPN with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
Atlas VPN
- 1-month subscription: £8.09 per month
- 1-year subscription: £2.42 per month (70% off with code BIGDEAL)
- 2-year subscription + 3 months extra: £1.34 per month (83% off with code BIGDEAL)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once |
Atlas VPN can be your shield against online threats and also unlocks region-locked content on DirecTV Stream. It comes with a tracker blocker that battles against ads, suspicious websites and phishing links. Atlas VPN is a good choice if you want to watch US shows while you’re moving around.
Other features include a data breach monitor that alerts you if personal details have been exposed online. Atlas VPN has a no-logs policy, plus a network kill switch that halts the service if your connection becomes unstable.
Atlas VPN has over 700 servers all over the world. Connect to one based in a supported country and then you can start watching content on your PC or smartphone.
Our verdict: If you’re living outside the USA, Atlas VPN will easily allow you to unlock DirecTV Stream shows. Have a look at the pricing options and pick the best deal for your needs.
Try Atlas VPN today with our exclusive code (30-day money-back guarantee)
PureVPN
- 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month
- 1-year subscription: $3.24 per month (70% off)
- 2-year subscription + 3 months FREE: $2.08 per month (81% off)
| 🌎 Number of servers worldwide | 6,500+ in over 78 countries |
| 📈 Bandwidth allowance | Does not limit bandwidth per user |
| 🗣️ 24/7 live chat service | Yes |
| 📱 Number of devices supported at once | 10 |
PureVPN is still one of our favourite services to recommend for VPN newbies that are based outside the US. It’s a breeze to use and doesn’t limit bandwidth per user. PureVPN is a great VPN that allows you to bypass geo-locked websites so you can enjoy DirecTV Stream without a fuss, even if you’re not currently based in a supported country.
Our verdict: A tried and trusted VPN that offers up thousands of servers from around the world. It’s just what you need to unlock geo-restricted websites.
Try PureVPN with our unique discount code (31-day money-back guarantee)
Watch DirecTV Stream on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
- Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we'll use ExpressVPN for this example.
- Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
- From Windows, open ExpressVPN and select a server in the US.
- Once you’re connected, head to the DirecTV Stream website.
- Log in to your DirecTV Stream account and enjoy.
- Pick one of our chosen VPNs and create an account – ExpressVPN, for example.
- After making an ExpressVPN account, sign in with your username and password.
- From Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in the States.
- When you're connected, visit the DirecTV Stream website.
- Log in to your DirecTV Stream account and enjoy!
- Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
- Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
- Download the DirecTV Stream app to your device – it’s on the Apple App Store.
- Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in the United States.
- Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the DirecTV Stream app and log in to your account.
- Enjoy DirecTV Stream on iPhone.
- Head to the Google Play Store from your Android tablet or smartphone.
- Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
- Download the DirecTV Stream app to your device – it’s on the Google Play Store.
- Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in the US.
- Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the DirecTV Stream app and log in to your account.
- Enjoy DirecTV Stream on Android.
In summary: try these VPNs if you want to use DirecTV Stream
- ExpressVPN – one of our favourite VPNs that works well with DirecTV Stream.
- Ivacy – with this VPN, you’ll have no trouble unlocking DirecTV Stream without giving away your true location.
- NordVPN – even if it’s your first time using a VPN, you’ll likely be up and running in just a couple of minutes.
- Atlas VPN – this service allows you to connect to foreign servers and unlocked geo-restricted websites.
- PureVPN – a tried and trusted VPN offers up thousands of servers from around the world.