SlingTV is a TV streaming service that’s based in the US. Because the service is US-based, it’s only accessible from the United States – SlingTV has the rights to broadcast content only within the United States.
So even with a valid SlingTV subscription, you won’t be able to use it from abroad. Or will you? Many people use VPNs to overcome this technical limitation placed upon many streaming services. One such VPN that can circumvent SlingTV’s geographical restrictions is Avast Secureline VPN. But you’ll have to jump through a few hoops to get it working.
So if you’re running into issues trying to access SlingTV using Avast Secureline VPN, fear not. There are a few things you can do to get it up and running, and they’re all covered in this post.
Why isn’t Avast Secureline VPN giving me access to SlingTV?
SlingTV’s streaming service is only available within the United States. The content will be inaccessible for users located anywhere else (geo-blocked). But Avast Secureline VPN supports streaming and is known to work with SlingTV. If you’re having trouble, it’s probably because of one of the reasons below.
Here are the potential reasons why Avast Secureline VPN isn’t giving you access to SlingTV:
- The server you’re connected to isn’t located in the United States. SlingTV is only available within the US, so you must connect to a US server.
- SlingTV may have placed a cookie in your app or browser. That cookie can reveal your previous IP address and location, making SlingTV unavailable.
- You’re connected to a VPN server that has had its IP address blocked by SlingTV. VPN server IP addresses can easily be identified and blocked.
- Your DNS is leaking, exposing your “real” DNS servers. These are likely to be your ISP’s DNS servers which are outside the US.
But don’t worry. We can fix this pretty easily.
How to fix Avast Secureline VPN not working with SlingTV
Here’s how to fix Avast Secureline VPN not working with SlingTV:
- You want to ensure you’re connected to a VPN server located within the United States to get an American IP address. If you are already connected to a US server, try a different US-based server, as the IP address of the one you’re currently connected to may have been blocked.
- Clear your browser’s cache. That should remove residual cookies.
- You can try using private/incognito mode in your browser or try a different browser.
- Run a DNS leak test to ensure you’re not experiencing a DNS leak. Follow the link to learn how to do this – it’s pretty simple to do.
- Restart your device.
- Restart the Avast Secureline VPN app.
How to sign into SlingTV with Avast Secureline VPN
Once you’ve connected to a server that can access the SlingTV site, signing in and using the service is very simple.
- Sign up for Avast Secureline VPN if you haven’t already done that. Avast provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk.
- Download and install Avast Secureline VPN’s client app for your device.
- Log in to the Avast apnordo try its dedicated streaming servers first.
- Go to the SlingTV website. It should now be accessible.
- If it isn’t, follow the steps above to get it working.
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The best alternative VPNs for SlingTV
Not all VPN providers support streaming sites, so choosing one that explicitly claims to work with streaming sites is critical. Here are some of the best VPNs for SlingTV:
- NordVPN: It’s our top choice for SlingTV. NordVPN’s service provides excellent privacy, security, and speeds. And it also works very well with most streaming services available.
- Surfshark: An excellent choice for the thrifty. Fantastic prices, stellar streaming support, and many servers to choose from.
- ExpressVPN: Another highly recommended VPN provider. ExpressVPN has excellent privacy and security practices and supports most streaming sites.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost also provides great streaming support at an attractive price.
- IPVanish: IPVanish may not be a household name to most, but it provides unlimited connections and works with a large number of streaming sites.
Avast Secureline VPN & SlingTV FAQ
Which are the best VPN providers to stream SlingTV?
Not all VPN providers support streaming sites, so choosing one that explicitly claims to work with streaming sites is critical. Here are some of the best ones:
- NordVPN: It’s our top choice for SlingTV. NordVPN’s service provides excellent privacy, security, and speeds. And it also works very well with most streaming services available.
- Surfshark: An excellent choice for the thrifty. Fantastic prices, stellar streaming support, and many servers to choose from.
- ExpressVPN: Another highly recommended VPN provider. ExpressVPN has excellent privacy and security practices and supports most streaming sites.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost also provides great streaming support at an attractive price.
- IPVanish: IPVanish may not be a household name to most, but it provides unlimited connections and works with a large number of streaming sites.
What can I watch with SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a good mix of live television shows and on-demand content. The available channels include:
Are there any free VPN services that work with SlingTV?
There probably are, but not very many. Free VPNs usually have small server networks, meaning that large chunks of their users will use the same VPN servers. So they’re at higher risk of getting their IPs blocked quickly. And remember that most free VPNs provide poor speeds and have questionable security practices, so they’re not recommended anyway.
How does SlingTV know I'm using a VPN?
Whether you’re using a VPN or not, your device is always assigned an IP address when you’re on the internet. Whenever you connect to a website or online service, that site or service gets your IP address. When using a VPN, the site or service will still obtain your IP address, but this time it’s the VPN server’s IP address, not your ISP’s assigned IP address.
VPN providers’ IP addresses can easily be identified. There’s little doubt in my mind that streaming services keep tabs on these.
Another way SlingTV can figure out you’re using a VPN is if a vast number of users access the service using the same US-based IP address. With enough users, it’ll be enough for SlingTV to infer the IP address belongs to a VPN server and block it.
Will using a VPN slow down my connection?
Any VPN connection will inevitably add some latency to your connection, which means slower speeds. The speed hit shouldn’t be massive – and any good VPN provider would make it hardly noticeable in most situations. But, yes, a VPN or any intermediary server between your machine and the internet will slow your connection down.
If you’re looking for the best speeds, the WireGuard protocol is recommended. Of course, your VPN provider needs to support it. Avast, unfortunately, does not support WireGuard at this time. But hopefully, that will come in the near future.
Can I install Avast Secureline VPN on my router instead of using the app?
Some VPN providers support routers, while others do not. Avast Secureline VPN is in the latter group. So if running your VPN over your router is something you’d like to do, you’ll need to look elsewhere. You can take a look at our guide on VPN routers if you want more information on the subject.
Setting up a VPN connection on your router has two main benefits. The first benefit is that it enables you to connect to the VPN without an app. You just need to connect to the router, and you’re done. The second benefit is that it will allow you to bypass your VPN provider’s limit on simultaneous connections.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch SlingTV?
Yes, it is. It is not illegal to connect to a VPN server and access the internet. But accessing SlingTV from outside the US does violate its terms of service. So it can “legitimately” block your IP address even if you have a paid subscription. I don’t think SlingTV would go as far as deleting your account, but banning IP addresses happens on a daily basis.
Does Avast Secureline VPN keep any logs?
While Avast Secureline VPN has a strict no-logging policy, experience has taught me that “no-logging” can mean almost anything. Avast doesn’t collect information relating to your internet traffic. That means the websites you visit and your DNS requests are not logged. But Avast still collects quite a bit of information on its users – more than most. So it probably isn’t the best choice for those seeking high levels of privacy.
You can have a look at our full review of Avast Secureline VPN for more details.
Will my ISP know if I'm using a VPN?
Yes, it will. Your ISP will see that you’ve connected to a VPN server and will be able to identify the VPN provider. The port and VPN protocol you’re using are also up for grabs by your ISP, as are your connection times and the amount of bandwidth you’re using.
