Because SlingTV only has the right to broadcast from inside the United States, you can only use the service from within the country. This applies even if you have a valid SlingTV subscription in good order. It won’t work if you’re outside the United States.
But fear not; there is a way. It’s possible to sidestep this limitation by using a VPN. This is perfect for when you travel abroad and want to access your content from home. Using a quality VPN provider, like ExpressVPN, you can get around SlingTV’s geographical restrictions. But there are a few things you need to check to get it working.
If you find SlingTV inaccessible when using ExpressVPN, there’s a good chance we can fix the issue. And that’s what this post is about: we’re going to look at what you can do to get SlingTV working with ExpressVPN.
Why isn’t ExpressVPN letting me access SlingTV?
Because SlingTV’s right to broadcast content is limited to the United States, the service has to make its content inaccessible to anyone outside the US (geo-blocked). But when you connect to a US-based ExpressVPN server, it assigns you a US IP address and should allow you to stream Sling TV from other countries.
If you’re running into issues, it’s likely due to one of the reasons below:
- The ExpressVPN VPN server you’re connected to is not in the United States. Again, connecting to a VPN server inside the United States is imperative to access SlingTV so you can get an American IP address. It’s also possible that you may need to try more than one US server to get things working.
- SlingTV could have placed a cookie in your app or browser. If you have such a cookie on your device, it can reveal your original location, triggering a block on SlingTV’s side.
- The server you’ve connected to is known to the streaming service and has been proactively blocked. It’s pretty trivial to identify and block VPN server IP addresses.
- You’re leaking DNS, and it’s revealing your original DNS servers’ IP address(es) to SlingTV. By default, you will be assigned your ISP’s DNS servers, which are likely outside the United States, rendering the service inaccessible to you.
But these issues can easily be fixed.
How to fix ExpressVPN not working with SlingTV
Here’s how to fix ExpressVPN not working with SlingTV:
- You need to connect to an ExpressVPN VPN server located within the United States. If you’re already connected to a US server, try another US-based server – SlingTV may have already blocked the IP address of the server you’re currently connected to.
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
- You can try enabling private/incognito mode in your browser or go for a different browser.
- Try running a DNS leak test to see if you’re experiencing a leak. Follow the link to learn how to do this – it’s pretty simple.
- ExpressVPN supports split tunneling. Split tunneling enables you to define which apps or URLs go through the VPN tunnel and which go through your ISP connection. You want to be sure that your browser or the SlingTV URLs aren’t configured to use split tunneling and end up going through your ISP connection. You can check this within ExpressVPN’s app.
- Restart your device.
- Restart the ExpressVPN app.
How to sign into SlingTV with ExpressVPN
Once you’re connected to a US server on ExpressVPN’s network that works with SlingTV, signing in and using the service is straightforward.
- If you still need to do so, sign up for ExpressVPN. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk at all.
- Download and install ExpressVPN’s client app for the device you’re using.
- Log in to the ExpressVPN app and connect to a US-based server.
- Go to the SlingTV website – it should work.
- If it’s not accessible, follow the steps above.
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ExpressVPN & SlingTV FAQ
What can I watch with SlingTV?
SlingTV provides an excellent selection of live television shows and on-demand content. Some of the available channels include:
Are there any free VPN services that work with SlingTV?
There are probably a few that will work, but not many. And besides, free VPNs tend to have tiny server networks – which isn’t ideal for streaming. Big chunks of their users will end up using the same servers. That heightens the risk of their IPs getting blocked quickly. It’s also important to keep in mind that most free VPNs have poor speeds and questionable security practices, so we typically don’t recommend them.
How does SlingTV know I'm using a VPN?
When you go out onto the internet, your device is invariably assigned an IP address. And that applies whether you’re using a VPN or not. Your IP address reveals your location (real or spoofed). When you access a web site or service, it obtains your IP address. If you’re using a VPN, it will get your IP address, but in this case, it will be the VPN server’s IP address, not your original IP address that your ISP assigned.
It’s also relatively easy to identify VPN server IP addresses. There are even lists of VPN IP addresses that can be downloaded online. Streaming services are very likely to use these lists to cut off VPN access.
But even without these lists, if a large number of SlingTV users connect using the same US-based IP address, that could well be enough for SlingTV to assume those users are on a VPN and block the IP.
Will using a VPN slow down my connection?
Yes, but a good VPN will make it feel seamless. Whenever there’s an intermediary server between your device and the resource you want to access, such as a VPN server, it will add latency to your connection. The higher the latency, the lower the speed will be. Again, a good VPN provider should limit the speed hit to the point that it’s barely noticeable. But a VPN will still inevitably slow your connection down to some degree.
If you want the best speeds, I recommend using the WireGuard protocol, which ExpressVPN supports.
Can I install ExpressVPN on my router instead of using the app?
Not all VPN providers support routers, but many do, and ExpressVPN is one of them.
A VPN connection on your router provides two significant advantages:
- It enables you to connect to your VPN service without needing an app. You simply connect your device to the router, and your traffic flows through the VPN server.
- It also allows you to bypass your VPN provider’s limit on simultaneous connections.
ExpressVPN supports many different routers and provides instructions for configuring its VPN service on supported routers.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch SlingTV?
Yes, it is. It’s not illegal to connect to a VPN server to access the internet. But it does go against SlingTV’s terms of service, which state that the service should only be accessed from within the United States. So while not illegal, using a VPN will be enough for SlingTV to 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 your VPN’s IP address will be fair game.
Does ExpressVPN keep any logs?
ExpressVPN is one of the most private and secure VPN providers. It adheres to its robust logging policy, which keeps no traffic logs at all. It does not collect IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, network traffic, etc. On top of that, all of its server infrastructure runs from volatile memory (RAM) and boots from read-only disks, which essentially guarantees that no residual data (i.e., logs) can remain on the system’s hard drive.
Have a look at our complete ExpressVPN review for more details.
Will my ISP know if I'm using a VPN?
Your ISP will be aware that you’re using a VPN. It will also see the VPN provider with which the server IP is associated. Your ISP will also be able to glean the port and VPN protocol you’re using, along with your consumed bandwidth and connection times – you’re still using its network, after all.
What it won’t see are the websites you visit and the files you download. Your DNS queries will also remain private as long as you’re not leaking DNS.
