Are you struggling to access Sling TV while connected to a VPN? Clearing your cookies and trying a different US server is often enough to fix the problem, but if that didn’t help, keep reading. I’ll explain how to troubleshoot and resolve the most common issues people run into when streaming with a VPN.
How to fix errors and stream Sling TV with a VPN
There are numerous reasons your VPN might not be working with Sling TV. The good news is that you can fix most VPN streaming issues in a few minutes of troubleshooting. Follow these steps, and you’ll be watching Sling TV in no time:
- Remove outdated location data by clearing your browser’s cache and cookies. This stops Sling TV from cross-referencing your new location with old session data, which is one of the most common reasons why VPN users struggle to unblock streaming services.
- Double-check that you’re using a server in the United States. It sounds obvious, but that’s why this is so easy to overlook. Additionally, if you’re traveling abroad, the VPN may have connected you to the fastest available server, which is probably not in the US.
- Try a server in a different US city. Sling TV regularly blocks IP addresses associated with major VPN providers, so high-traffic locations like New York may be less reliable than somewhere like Minneapolis.
- Ensure Sling TV has as little information as possible by disabling location services in your browser and activating your VPN’s DNS and IPv6 leak protection features. If there’s a stealth protocol or obfuscation that disguises the signs of VPN traffic, this may help too.
- Ask your VPN’s support team whether your VPN works with Sling TV. If it does, they’ll provide further advice based on your setup, and if not, you can switch to a different VPN.
Sling TV troubleshooting guide for VPN users
I’ve covered the broad strokes above, but now I’ll show exactly how to troubleshoot Sling TV streaming issues, one step at a time.
What to do if Sling TV returns a 403 error
This platform is only available in the United States. Trying to access Sling TV from abroad (or while using a non-US VPN server) will normally cause the site to display a 403 error reading “The requested URL was rejected. Please consult with your administrator“. The only exception is if you’re in Canada, where the site loads properly but doesn’t actually let you watch anything.
To resolve this issue, we have to convince Sling TV that we’re actually in the United States. Open up your VPN and connect to one of the available US servers, then reload the page. Since you now have a US IP address, you should be able to use the site normally.
Don’t be disheartened if Sling TV still isn’t working; just try a few different servers in a few different cities. Streaming platforms regularly ban IP addresses with high volumes of traffic, so sometimes accessing your favorite service is just a matter of persistence.
If, after several attempts, you’re still getting the 403 Forbidden error, it’s possible your VPN simply isn’t capable of accessing this platform. Your VPN’s support team should be able to either suggest a server that works, or confirm the problem is on their end.
What to do if Sling TV shows an 11-6 error
Sometimes, Sling TV’s website loads as expected, only to show the following error when you try to stream: “Your connection is blocked. This can happen when you use a VPN. [11-6].”
There are three main reasons you might see this error:
- You’re not in one of Sling TV’s supported regions. If you’re seeing this instead of a 403 error, you’re likely in Canada or are using a Canadian VPN server.
- Sling blocked you because there’s something strange about your connection
- Sling TV has realized you’re using a VPN.
The first problem is an easy fix. If you’ve inadvertently connected to one of your VPN’s Canadian servers, simply swap to one in the United States and you should be able to watch as normal.
Problem two is a bit more tricky because there are so many variables to account for. To begin with, I suggest disabling location permissions then clearing your cookies and cache since this only takes a moment and resolves a wide range of different issues. Just follow the instructions below:
| Browser | Clear cookies and cache | Disable location permissions |
|---|---|---|
| Firefox | Open the menu > Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data > Check Cookies and site data plus Temporary cached files and pages > Click Clear | Settings > Privacy and security > Location > Check Block new requests asking to access your location > Save Changes |
| Chrome and Opera | Open menu > Delete browsing data > Select time range > Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files > Confirm | Open menu > Privacy & security > Site settings > Location > Don’t allow sites to see your location |
| Safari | Open settings menu > Privacy > Manage Website Data > Check the box beside www.sling.com > click Remove | Settings > Websites > Location > When visiting other websites > Change to Deny |
| Edge | Same steps as with Chrome and Opera | Open menu > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Location > Disable Ask before accessing |
What to do if you still can’t access Sling TV
If you’re still struggling, it’s time to dig into your VPN’s settings.
For starters, I’d suggest turning off any ad or tracker-blocking tools. These sometimes cause streaming platforms to display errors so it’s a good idea to deactivate them while testing.
Keep an eye out for DNS leak protection or IPv6 leak protection options. Enable these if they aren’t already active. With these features disabled, your real location could be visible, causing Sling TV to reject you even if you’re connected to an American VPN server.
Streaming apps can usually only detect certain types of VPN traffic so switching between different protocols might help. Obfuscated protocols such as NordVPN’s NordWhisper and Proton VPN’s Stealth are designed to mimic ordinary HTTPS traffic patterns which may reduce the chances of Sling TV identifying you as a VPN user.
At this point, if you still can’t watch Sling TV, it’s likely your VPN is the issue. Get in touch with customer support to confirm this before switching since there may be a specific server that works. Besides, you have nothing to lose; over the course of my career, I’ve spoken to staff from virtually every major VPN and rarely had to wait more than a few minutes for help.
Don’t be discouraged if these steps didn’t work
It’s not always easy to figure out why your VPN doesn’t work with a specific streaming app. However, the troubleshooting process is relatively straightforward and even if you couldn’t find a solution this time, knowing a little bit about how to deal with errors like these gives you a strong starting point if you have trouble again in the future. If all else fails, remember your VPN’s support team exists to help you and has almost certainly been asked about this service before.
Which VPNs still work with Sling TV?
In our tests, we found that the following VPNs work best with Sling TV:
- NordVPN: Consistently the best VPN for Sling TV. Unmatched speeds and has plenty of servers to unblock Sling TV. Best-in-class security and privacy. Easy-to-use apps for most platforms. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Sling TV. - Surfshark: Best budget pick to watch Sling TV. Easily bypasses blocks and employs strong security. Doesn’t impose a connection limit.
- IPVanish: Excellent speed and streaming reliability. Secure and favored by Kodi users. No device limits.
- ExpressVPN: Speedy and reliable servers that work with Sling TV and a host of other popular streaming services. Great on privacy and security.
- CyberGhost: Achieves some of the best streaming speeds in our testing. A great all-rounder at a low cost. Great for beginners.
- Private Internet Access: Extensive network of servers with reliable speeds and stable connections. Lots of security customization options.
Many VPNs claim to work with Sling TV but most (especially free VPNs) are often blocked. We regularly test the top 70 VPNs with all major streaming sites and this list only includes VPNs which reliably unblock Sling TV and offer a full money-back guarantee, allowing you to try them risk-free.
Sling TV Troubleshooting FAQs
Why does Sling TV block its service outside of the USA?
Sling TV has entered into a contract with the producers, broadcasters, TV networks, and copyright holders it licenses content from. These legal agreements limit where Sling TV is permitted to provide its service. In the case of Sling TV, those contracts are restricted to the US market only.
In order to comply with those agreements, Sling TV must check each visitor’s IP address every time they arrive on its website to purchase a subscription, log in, or stream content. If the viewer is located outside of the US, Sling TV will serve them a location error message to let them know they are not in the correct region.
Has Sling TV blocked my VPN?
Streaming providers work hard to block proxies and VPNs. They do this to prevent people from bypassing the region locks they have in place. Sling TV and other streaming platforms must attempt to block IPs associated with VPNs because they are under pressure to comply with the licensing agreements they have entered into with content producers.
Due to the VPN blocks that Sling TV implements, very few VPNs still work to access the platform. You must pick a VPN provider carefully to avoid disappointment. Luckily, we have found a few VPNs that still consistently work and have outlined them in the article above.
