How to download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV abroad

Although BBC iPlayer is on Apple TV, it’s only available in the UK store for reasons related to copyright and licensing. This is particularly frustrating if you’re a TV license payer in the UK and want to watch your favorite BBC TV shows while on vacation. We’ll explain how you can download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV from abroad. You’ll need to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to do this.

A VPN is a service that encrypts your internet traffic, hiding your IP address (and location) in the process. Not only is this beneficial in terms of online security and privacy, but it also means you can spoof your location and bypass geo-blocking, such as that on Apple TV and BBC iPlayer. This is achieved by connecting to a server in your preferred country, and the VPN assigns you an IP address that matches that location.

How to download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV from abroad

If your Apple ID is already set to the UK, you only need to spoof your location with a VPN service to find and download BBC iPlayer via the App Store.

Here’s how to use a VPN to download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV from overseas:

  1. Select a reputable VPN provider with UK servers and an Apple TV app. We recommend NordVPN, but IPVanish and ExpressVPN are strong alternatives.
  2. Open the App Store on your Apple TV and search for your chosen VPN’s app.
  3. Download and install the VPN app.
  4. Open the VPN app and login before connecting to a server in the UK to get a UK IP address.
  5. Return to the App Store and search for the BBC iPlayer app.
  6. Download and install the BBC iPlayer app.
  7. You should now be able to stream BBC iPlayer on Apple regardless of your location.

Remember, you should connect to the VPN server in the UK before accessing BBC iPlayer from abroad.

How to change your Apple ID to the UK

You may travel regularly and, therefore, don’t have your Apple ID set to the UK. In this case, you have two options: change the region of your existing Apple ID or create a new UK Apple ID. Below, we explain how you can do both.

How to change your existing Apple ID country on iPhone and iPad:

  1. Using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro, go to Settings, tap your name, and select Media & Purchases.
  2. Select View Account. Note that you may be prompted to sign in.
  3. Tap Country/Region > Change Country or Region.
  4. Select the United Kingdom from the list of countries and regions.
  5. Review the Terms & Conditions and tap Agree and then tap it again to confirm.
  6. Select a payment method and enter the corresponding payment information and billing address. Note that you can choose “None” if you prefer.
  7. Return to your Apple TV and sign in with your new Apple ID.

How to change your existing Apple ID country on Mac or Windows PC:

  1. Open the Apple TV app (also works via the Apple Music app)
  2. On Mac, select Account > Account Settings from the menu bar. On Windows, click on your name at the bottom of the sidebar, followed by View My Account.
  3. You may be asked to sign in using your Apple ID.
  4. Click Change Country or Region from the Account Information page.
  5. Select the United Kingdom.
  6. Agree to the Terms & Conditions.
  7. Enter your payment information and billing address before clicking continue. You can select “None” instead of providing payment details.

How to create a new Apple ID for the UK on iPhone and iPad:

  1. Using your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro, open the App Store.
  2. Tap My Account followed by Create New Apple ID. You may need to sign out of iCloud to see this option.
  3. Provide an email address (this must be a different email to the one associated with your other Apple ID), create a password, and select the United Kingdom as your region.
  4. Enter your payment method and billing information and tap Next. Remember, you can choose “None” if you don’t want to provide billing information.
  5. Confirm your phone number and tap Next.
  6. Verify your email address via the verification email sent by Apple.

How to create a new Apple ID on Mac or Windows PC:

  1. Go to the Apple menu and select System Settings (or System Preferences in older versions of MacOS).
  2. Select Sign in with your Apple ID from the sidebar.
  3. Click Create Apple ID, provide an email address (this should be different to that of your other Apple ID), create a password, and set your device region to the United Kingdom.
  4. Enter your payment method (you can choose “None”) and your billing information and click Continue.
  5. Verify your email address via the email you receive from Apple.

Best VPNs to download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV abroad

Not every VPN is equipped to help you download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV. Many don’t even offer an Apple TV app and offer inferior unblocking or slow streaming speeds. The best VPNs listed below tick every box.

Here are the best VPNs for downloading BBC iPlayer on Apple TV from overseas:

  1. NordVPN: Best VPN to download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV abroad. Excellent tvOS app. Hundreds of UK servers and powerful unblocking. Fast for streaming without lag.
  2. Surfshark: Best value VPN. Fastest speeds we’ve tested.Easy-to-use app for Apple TV. Servers in four UK cities. Works with BBC iPlayer and 30+ Netflix libraries.
  3. IPVanish: Very strong all-rounder. Allows unlimited simultaneous connections. Apple TV app and servers in multiple UK cities. Speeds more than fast enough for streaming.
  4. ExpressVPN: Native app for tvOS 17. Servers in 105 countries including the UK. High-speed connections for streaming BBC iPlayer lag-free. Beginner-friendly apps.
  5. CyberGhost: Vast server network covering 100 countries. No Apple TV app but a SmartDNS service. Strong unblocker of region-locked content and offers good speeds.
  6. Private Internet Access: PIA has a large server network and the ability to unblock BBC iPlayer. Offers a tvOS app and its app is popular with power users for its customization.
  7. PureVPN works well with many international streaming services, including BBC iPlayer. It has an Easy-to-use Apple TV app and allows 10 simultaneous connections per account.

WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE?

NordVPN is offering a fully featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for BBC iPlayer on Apple TV with no restrictions for a month – great if you’re away for a few weeks and need time to test it out.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn't right for you and you'll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

BBC iPlayer on Apple TV FAQs

Can I use a free VPN to download BBC iPlayer on Apple TV?

There are a lot of free VPNs on the market but there are a few issues you’re likely to come across. For starters, free VPNs don’t usually offer Apple TV apps. Furthermore, very few free VPNs are actually capable of unblocking BBC iPlayer. That’s before we even consider their very slow speeds due to bandwidth throttling, as well as the fact that they may not properly encrypt your connection. Some VPNs even keep identifying logs of users to sell to third parties.

Why is BBC iPlayer not available outside the UK?

BBC iPlayer isn’t available outside the UK due to copyright laws and licensing agreements. Although the BBC owns the rights to certain content in the UK, the same content may belong to other broadcasters in other countries. To comply with all of this, the BBC ensures that all of its content is geo-blocked outside the UK. It does this by only allowing users who have UK IP addresses and TV licence to stream its live and on-demand content.

Does Apple TV support VPN apps?

Apple TV introduced native VPN support in tvOS 17. A number of VPN providers have since introduced Apple TV apps for you to download and use. This has simplified the process for accessing geo-restricted content on streaming services such as BBC iPlayer. Indeed, you need only download and install the VPN app, connect to a server in your preferred location (the UK for BBC iPlayer), and start streaming.

Is it legal to use a VPN to download BBC iPlayer?

VPNs are legal in most countries and it’s legal to use one with streaming services such as BBC iPlayer. You should exercise caution if you’re doing so in a country in which VPNs are illegal or a gray area however. Furthermore, using a VPN to download BBC iPlayer from abroad may go against BBC iPlayer and Apple TV’s terms of service. The good news is that streaming platforms rarely take any action against user accounts for this.

Why is my VPN not working on Apple TV?

There are several reasons why your VPN might not work on Apple TV. Make sure the app is properly installed on your Apple TV, and that you’re connected to a server in the right location (a server in the UK for use with BBC iPlayer). It may be that your current VPN IP address has been blacklisted by BBC iPlayer in which case you’ll want to switch servers. Failing this, check for any software updates to Apple TV as well as your VPN app.

Related: