Zattoo not working with VPN: troubleshooting tips

Zattoo streams live TV to users in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. You can use it abroad if you have a reliable VPN, but what if it fails? Our troubleshooting guide explains what to do if your VPN isn’t working with Zattoo.

If your VPN refuses to unlock geo-restricted content, there’s chance Zattoo has blacklisted the VPN server that you’re trying to persist with. On this page, we’ve shared a list of common Zattoo fixes.

Which VPNs work with Zattoo?

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 Zattoo not working with my VPN?

If the Zattoo website is intelligent enough to realise you’re trying to access it from a restricted region (outside of the countries we’ve mentioned above), your connection will be blocked.

So, let’s assume that your current VPN won’t work with Zattoo. There’s a strong chance that’s because your VPN isn’t doing a very good job of spoofing your location. Sticking with a flawed VPN means many Zattoo servers will be unavailable to you.

How does Zattoo detect my VPN?

If your VPN isn’t very good and doesn’t hide your actual location, Zattoo will try and interfere with the server you’re using, which means your VPN is no good. Bad VPNs take a long time to replace those blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to shows streaming on the Zattoo website.

In summary, common Zattoo issues include:

  • The service might have blacklisted the servers of your VPN
  • You have a bad network connection
  • Cookies reveal your actual location, rather than the location you’re trying to mimic
  • Your VPN may be revealing your IP address while trying to enjoy Zattoo

Zattoo fixes

1. Check your VPN is up to date

If your VPN doesn’t seem to work with Zattoo, check that you’re using the most recent version. The team behind the VPN might have fixed a technical issue through an update.

2. Try using a different VPN server

VPN servers can die at random moments. If Zattoo isn’t functioning, 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. For instance, ExpressVPN has a ‘UK – Docklands’ server, along with additional options in East London, London, and the Midlands.

Change server to use Zattoo

3. Message Customer Support

The most popular VPNs employ teams to address technical issues. If you’re having trouble using Zattoo 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.

Our table data: We recorded the time it took to connect with a human after selecting 'Start chat.' To calculate an average, three wait times were logged on a single day at 13:00 BST, 18:00 BST and 21:00 BST.

4. Reset your VPN

We suggest you try restarting your PC or phone and then relaunch your VPN. If that doesn’t resolve the issue with Zattoo, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN.

5. Check your internet connection

Disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and then reconnect. Once your connection is restored, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a thorough reset. Check for a button on the back of your router (you might need a pin to press it down), or consult the brand’s manual online.

More Zattoo fixes:

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 the VPN servers you’re trying are online. If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be experiencing an outage. The best providers are transparent about this and actively update their server status online.

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.

Check Zattoo alongside firewall

Are you using the latest version of your web browser? Your current web browser version might be incompatible with your browser-based VPN. If you’ve already updated your VPN, make sure you update your browser as well. On Chrome, you would go to Settings > About Chrome.

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.

Are your details public due to a DNS leak? A broken VPN can’t conceal your IP address and location when you load up Zattoo. To test if your VPN is working, disable it entirely and head to the IP Address Lookup tool. Note down your IP address. Then, turn on your VPN and run the test once again – if you aren’t assigned a new IP and location, your VPN is faulty.

For a printer-friendly overview of the tips we’ve discussed above, you can download our free VPN troubleshooting poster.

The best VPNs for Zattoo

ExpressVPN

An overview of ExpressVPN
🌎 Number of servers160
📈 BandwidthUnlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat serviceYes
📱 Number of devices5
⏱️ Our speed test results-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If the VPN you’re using right now isn’t reliable, switch to ExpressVPN. We’ll happily recommend this beginner-friendly VPN – it’s easy to use, nippy and works brilliantly if you’re looking to watch TV on Zattoo from abroad. You won’t have to stare at annoying error messages on the Zattoo website if you’re protected by this tried and tested VPN.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, so websites won’t know if you’re streaming TV through Zattoo while abroad. Every ExpressVPN member can enjoy servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on lots 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

    An overview of Ivacy
    🌎 Number of servers5,700
    📈 BandwidthUnlimited
    🗣️ 24/7 live chat serviceYes
    📱 Number of devices10

    Ivacy is worth a closer look if you want to stream TV on Zattoo while you’re travelling. This is one of the most popular, affordable VPNs around, thanks in part to its battle against blacklisted servers.

    This trusted VPN will hide your real location so you can use all of Zattoo’s features, even if you’ve roamed outside Switzerland, Germany or Austria. Use our exclusive link below and you get instant access to over 1,000 VPNs servers across the world. A single membership to Ivacy also means you can protect up to 10 gadgets at a time.

    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

    An overview of NordVPN
    🌎 Number of servers5,200+
    📈 BandwidthUnlimited
    🗣️ 24/7 live chat serviceYes
    📱 Number of devices6
    ⏱️ Our speed test results-14% download, -7% upload (London)

    Here’s another VPN for your shortlist if you want to use Zattoo abroad. 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 valuable personal data to companies that shouldn’t own it.

    If you run into some problems while getting to grips with NordVPN, you can make use of the live chat feature for a helping hand.

    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

    Atlas VPN

    An overview of Atlas VPN
    🌎 Number of servers750+
    📈 BandwidthUnlimited
    🗣️ 24/7 live chat serviceYes
    📱 Number of devicesUnlimited
    ⏱️ Our speed test results-22% download, -5.6% upload (London)

    Atlas VPN will act as a shield against online nasties while unlocking geo-restricted content for you. It’s a good pick for buyers on a tight budget and comes with a built-in tracker blocker that stops ads, dodgy websites and phishing links in their path. It’s a solid choice if you want to watch Zattoo anywhere in the world.

    As an added benefit, Atlas VPN members get access to a 24-hour live support service. 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 Zattoo without encountering region-based error messages.

    Pros: Performed above-average in our live chat speed test, regularly discounted (particularly around winter), can use unlimited number of devices at once

    Cons: One-month subscription plan isn't cheap, doesn't have as many servers compared to key rivals

    Try Atlas VPN today

    PureVPN

    An overview of PureVPN
    🌎 Number of servers6,500+
    📈 BandwidthUnlimited
    🗣️ 24/7 live chat serviceYes
    📱 Number of devices10

    If your current VPN doesn’t work with Zattoo, 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 Zattoo account even if you’re in a country where it doesn’t usually work.

    PureVPN also works with ITV Hub, Hulu and Amazon Prime. There are around 2,000 secure PureVPN servers based in over 130 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: Using a VPN to watch Zattoo

    Can I use a free VPN with Zattoo?

    If your current VPN fails, you might be thinking about a free VPN to save money. However, we recommend that you stay away from free VPNs.

    Some free VPNs aren’t safe. Because you don’t pay a standard, monthly fee, free VPNs for Zattoo might sell your personal data just to make a profit. Plus, they might take ages to connect to a server compatible with Zattoo, and your connection could drop without warning.

    How to watch Zattoo on Windows

    1. Pick one of our recommended VPNs and sign up – let’s use ExpressVPN for this example.
    2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in using your username and password.
    3. From your Windows device, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in Switzerland, Germany or Austria.
    4. Once you’re connected to that server, head to the Zattoo website.

    Watch Zattoo on Mac

    1. Pick one of our recommended VPNs and create your account – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
    2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in using your username and password.
    3. From your Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in Switzerland, Germany or Austria.
    4. Once connected, head to the Zattoo website.

    How to watch Zattoo on your iPhone

    1. Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
    2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
    3. Download the Zattoo 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 Switzerland, Germany or Austria.
    5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Zattoo app and log in to your account.

    Watch Zattoo 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 Zattoo 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 Switzerland, Germany or Austria.
    5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Zattoo app and log in to your account.
    As per our affiliate policy, we might earn affiliate commission when you select a retailer link. Prices and information correct at time of publication.
    Steph Hargreaves

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