YouTube TV is an online streaming service that’s usually reserved for a US audience. That means that, if you’re trying to watch YouTube TV outside America, you’ll run into trouble. Usually, a VPN would help you hide your location and watch from anywhere in the world – but what if your current VPN doesn’t work with YouTube TV? Fear not, because we’ll help you solve the problem.
If your current VPN refuses to work with YouTube TV, there’s a good chance that the VPN server you’re trying to connect with has been blacklisted by YouTube. That means you won’t be able to stream content from YouTube TV providers, such as ABC, CBS and Fox, without leaving the US. Have a look through our guide to see how to fix this issue.
In this article:
- How to use YouTube TV abroad: quick guide
- Why is YouTube TV not working with my VPN?
- How does YouTube detect my VPN?
- The best VPNs for YouTube TV in 2023
How to use YouTube TV abroad: quick guide
- Get ExpressVPN (£5.75+), Ivacy (£0.80+), NordVPN (£2.99+), Atlas VPN (£1.34+) or PureVPN ($2.08+)
- Open the VPN and connect to a server based in the US
- Sign in to your YouTube TV account
- Use YouTube TV from anywhere in the world
Why is YouTube TV not working with my VPN?
Once YouTube sees that you’re trying to use a VPN to view its region-locked content, your connection will be blocked and you won’t be able to stream your favourite shows.
In fact, if you try to access YouTube TV from abroad within a VPN, you’ll be hit with this annoying error message: “YouTube TV lets you stream must-see shows, movies, local sports, and news on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, and more. It looks like you’re outside of the United States. YouTube TV is only available in the US.”
If your current VPN isn’t working with YouTube TV, that means it’s not doing a good job of spoofing your location without revealing that fact to YouTube. YouTube will blacklist VPN servers if it needs to, so swapping to a more reliable VPN will save you some trouble.
How does YouTube detect my VPN?
The worst VPNs we’ve seen do a terrible job of spoofing your location, which means that geo-restricted services such as YouTube TV simply stop working. If YouTube identifies your temporary IP address as one issued by a VPN provider, you’ll be blocked from streaming content. The worst VPNs take ages to replace these blacklisted servers.
Instead, you’re better off upgrading your VPN provider to one that very quickly replaces its blacklisted servers. Keep scrolling for more details on our favourite VPNs compatible with YouTube TV.
The best VPNs for YouTube TV
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)
If the VPN you’re using at the moment doesn’t work with YouTube TV, do yourself a favour and switch over to ExpressVPN. We’ll happily recommend this beginner-friendly VPN time and time again – it’s speedy, a breeze to use and works brilliantly if you want to enjoy YouTube TV abroad. You won’t have to stare at annoying error messages on YouTube if you’re protected by this tried and tested VPN.
ExpressVPN does a superb job of replacing its blacklisted servers. That means that, even if YouTube TV temporarily disables incoming connections from ExpressVPN, a replacement server will be up and running in no time. To access your YouTube TV account, all you need to do is open ExpressVPN, connect to a US-based server and go from there.
ExpressVPN will keep your real IP address hidden at all times, so websites won’t know you’re accessing content from abroad. Every ExpressVPN member enjoys servers in over 90 countries around the world. This VPN works on lots of different platforms including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.
- Unlock YouTube TV in just a couple of clicks
- Spoof your location without any websites knowing
- Stream geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world
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)
Ivacy is a great pick if you want to enjoy YouTube TV while you’re outside the US. This is one of the most popular, affordable VPNs that you can get your hands on, thanks in part to its battle against blacklisted servers. The cheapest Ivacy subscription will only set you back $2.45 per month.
This trusted VPN will always hide your real location so you can use all of YouTube TV’s features, even if you’ve roamed outside the US. Use our exclusive link below and you get instant access to over 1,000 VPN servers across the world. A single Ivacy membership also means you can protect up to 10 gadgets at a time.
- An affordable VPN that can help you enjoy YouTube TV from anywhere
- Instant access to speedy servers across the globe
- Easy to set up for the first time
Try Ivacy with our unique discount code (30-day money-back guarantee)
For more on Ivacy, you can read our full Ivacy review.
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)
Here’s another VPN for your shortlist if you want to use YouTube TV overseas. NordVPN has servers all over the world and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. That means they’re extremely secure and you can connect without handing over your personal data to companies that shouldn’t own it.
If you run into trouble while getting to grips with NordVPN, you can make use of the live chat feature for a helping hand.
- Keep yourself and loved ones secure online without buying loads of VPN accounts
- NordVPN’s easy-to-use app is great for newbs
- Unlock YouTube TV from anywhere in the world
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)
Atlas VPN will act as a shield against online threats while at the same time unlocking geo-restricted content for you. It’s a good pick for buyers on a budget and comes with a built-in tracker blocker that stops ads, suspicious websites and phishing links in their tracks. It’s a solid choice if you want to watch YouTube TV anywhere in the world.
Other handy Atlas VPN features include a shielded connection that leaves ‘no room for unsecured data exchanges’, plus a data breach monitor that lets you know if your personal details have been exposed online. This awesome service also has a no-logs policy (your activities aren’t tracked) and a network kill switch that halts the service if your connection becomes unstable.
Atlas VPN currently offers access to over 750 servers around the world. Clicking the ‘Connect’ button will automatically pick the ideal server for you according to your distance, download speed and latency. Then, you can start watching YouTube TV wherever you are in the world. It’s also worth noting that Atlas VPN supports unlimited devices and works on both desktop and mobile.
As an added benefit, Atlas VPN members get access to a 24-hour live support service. That means that, if you encounter a technical problem or have any questions, you can reach out to a real person and get the situation sorted. Give Atlas VPN a try and watch YouTube TV without encountering region-based error messages.
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)
If your current VPN doesn’t work with YouTube TV, it’s time to treat yourself to a better alternative. PureVPN is a great example, being powerful enough to unlock geo-locked websites so you can enjoy them without a hassle. You’ll be able to log in to your YouTube TV account even if you’re in a country where it doesn’t usually work.
YouTube TV aside, PureVPN also works with ITV Hub, Hulu and Amazon Prime. There are around 2,000 secure PureVPN servers based in over 130 different countries.
- Access VPN servers all over the world to connect to YouTube TV
- Unlock YouTube TV with a single PureVPN account
- Military-grade encryption to keep your location hidden
Try PureVPN with our unique discount code (31-day money-back guarantee)
Prices listed above correct at time of publication