SlingTV is a popular TV streaming service. But, SlingTV being US-based, the service can only be used within the United States. SlingTV has the right to broadcast inside the United States only.
Even if you have a SlingTV subscription in good order, it won’t help if you’re outside the United States. But there is a way. Many people overcome this limitation while traveling abroad on vacation by using a VPN. Surfshark is one such VPN that can get around SlingTV’s geographical restrictions. But there are a few things you need to do to get it working.
If you find yourself unable to access SlingTV using Surfshark, we can probably fix that. In this post, we look at what you can do to get SlingTV working with Surfshark.
Why isn’t Surfshark letting me access SlingTV?
Because SlingTV’s streaming service can only be accessed from within the United States, its content will be inaccessible to anyone outside the US – this is known as geo-blocking. Surfshark VPN assigns you a US IP address, which in turn allows you to stream Sling TV from other countries.
If you’re running into issues, there’s a good chance it’s for one of the reasons below:
- The Surfshark VPN server you’re connected to is located outside the United States. Again, because SlingTV is US-based, you must connect to a US server. You may also need to try more than one US server to get things working. A bit of trial and error is usually required to get streaming working over VPN.
- SlingTV may have placed a cookie in your app or browser. These cookies can reveal your original IP address and location to the streaming service, allowing SlingTV to block the connection.
- You’re connected to a VPN server whose IP address is blocked by SlingTV. It’s relatively trivial to identify and block server IP addresses.
- You’re suffering from a DNS leak, and it’s exposing your “real” DNS servers’ IP address(es) to SlingTV. Those servers are likely provided by your ISP, which is outside the United States, leading to a block.
We can easily fix these issues.
How to fix Surfshark not working with SlingTV
Here’s how to fix Surfshark not working with SlingTV:
- You need to connect to a Surfshark 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.
- Try enabling private/incognito mode in your browser or using a different browser.
- You can also run a DNS leak test to see if you’re experiencing a DNS leak. Follow the link to learn how to do this – it’s pretty simple.
- Surfshark also supports split tunneling, which allows you to choose which apps or URLs go through the VPN tunnel and which ones go through your ISP connection. Make sure your browser or SlingTV URLs aren’t configured to use split tunneling and actually go through your VPN connection. This is done within Surfshark’s app.
- Restart your device.
- Restart the Surfshark app.
How to sign into SlingTV with Surfshark
Once you’re connected to a US server that can access the SlingTV site, signing in and using the service is easy.
- If you haven’t done so yet, sign up for Surfshark. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk to your wallet.
- Download and install Surfshark’s client app for the device you’re using.
- Log in to the Surfshark app and connect to a US-based server.
- Go to the SlingTV website. It should be accessible.
- If it’s not accessible, follow the steps above to get it working.
WANT TO TRY SURFSHARK RISK-FREE?
Surfshark is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up on this page. You can use the VPN service without any restrictions for a month—great if you want to try the best available VPN.
Surfshark works well with SlingTV and there are no hidden terms to be aware of—just contact support within 30 days if you decide Surfshark isn't right for you, and you'll get a full refund. Start your Surfshark trial here.
Surfshark & SlingTV FAQ
Which are the best VPN providers to stream SlingTV?
Even though streaming support is a very popular feature among VPN users today, not all VPN providers support it. So you want to choose one that explicitly states it works with streaming sites. Here are some of our favorites:
- NordVPN: NordVPN is our top choice for SlingTV. It offers its users excellent privacy, security, and speeds. And it works exceptionally well with almost every streaming service available.
- Surfshark: Yes, Surfshark makes this list. It not only works, but it’s the perfect choice for the thrifty: low prices, fantastic streaming support, and an extensive VPN network with many servers to choose from.
- ExpressVPN: Another highly recommended VPN provider. ExpressVPN has top-notch privacy and security practices while supporting most streaming sites.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost is another provider with great streaming support at a fair price.
- IPVanish: IPVanish may be a somewhat lesser-known VPN provider, but it provides unlimited connections and works with many streaming sites.
What can I watch with SlingTV?
SlingTV offers its subscribers a great selection of live television shows and on-demand content. The available channels include:
Are there any free VPN services that work with SlingTV?
There could be, but they would be few and far between. Free VPNs usually have small server networks. Large portions of their users end up using the same servers. That puts them at a higher risk of getting their IPs blocked quickly. Another thing to consider is that most free VPNs provide subpar speeds and questionable security practices, so we usually don’t recommend them.
How does SlingTV know I'm using a VPN?
Whether you’re using a VPN or not, as soon as you access the internet, your device is assigned an IP address. Your IP address is tied to your location. When you access a website or online service, it will invariably glean your IP address. If you’re using a VPN, the site or service will get the VPN server’s IP address, not your original IP address assigned by your ISP.
VPN server IP addresses can be identified quite easily. Streaming services are likely to have lists of VPN server addresses they can use to block VPN users.
But even if SlingTV doesn’t obtain these lists, when a large number of SlingTV users’ traffic comes from the same US-based IP address, that could be enough for SlingTV to deduce that a VPN is being used.
Will using a VPN slow down my connection?
Anytime you connect to any intermediary server between your device and the resource you want to access, it adds latency to your connection. That includes VPNs. Higher latency translates to slower speeds. But a good VPN provider should be able to limit the speed hit, so it’s barely noticeable in most situations. But, yes, a VPN will inevitably slow your connection down to some degree.
If you want the best speeds, using the WireGuard protocol is recommended and supported by Surfshark.
Can I install Surfshark on my router instead of using the app?
Not all VPN providers support routers, but Surfshark does.
A VPN connection on your router provides two significant advantages:
- It allows you to connect to your VPN service without using an app. You just need to connect any device to the router, and you’re done.
- It enables you to bypass your VPN provider’s limit on simultaneous connections. However, Surfshark already allows for unlimited simultaneous connections.
Surfshark provides instructions on how to configure its VPN service on supported routers.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch SlingTV?
There’s nothing illegal about connecting to a VPN server and accessing the internet. But while that may be true, accessing SlingTV from outside the US does violate its terms of service. Doing so is enough for SlingTV to block your IP address even if you have a paid subscription. I doubt SlingTV would delete your account, but banning your VPN’s IP address is “fair game” for SlingTV, and it likely occurs on a daily basis.
Does Surfshark keep any logs?
Surfshark is one of the best VPN providers regarding privacy and security. It’s very explicit about its logging policy, which keeps no traffic logs at all. It does not collect IP addresses, browsing history, session information, used bandwidth, network traffic, etc.
What it does collect is the VPN server you connected to, your user ID, and a connection timestamp, which are all deleted within 15 minutes of the VPN session being terminated.
Have a look at our full Surfshark review for more details.
Will my ISP know if I'm using a VPN?
Yes, your ISP will know if you’re using a VPN. It will know that you’re connected to a VPN server and will be able to deduce the provider. And because it’s happening over its network, your ISP will also be aware of the port and VPN protocol you’re using, along with your consumed bandwidth and connection times.
But it won’t be able to see which websites you visit or which files you download. Your DNS queries are also off-limits, assuming you’re not suffering from a DNS leak.
