SlingTV is arguably one of the best TV streaming services available today. Its catalog is filled with a massive selection of live TV shows and videos on demand. However, SlingTV being a US-based service, it only has the right to broadcast content inside the United States.
SlingTV is inaccessible outside the US, even if you have a valid subscription. But there are ways to get around that limitation. VPNs are used by many people worldwide to do just that. Not all VPN providers work with streaming sites, but IPVanish is one of those that can. Getting it to work requires checking a few things. But it’s all pretty straightforward, and you shouldn’t have any trouble getting IPVanish working with SlingTV.
So, if you can’t access SlingTV with IPVanish, don’t worry; we’re going to show you how to fix it.
Why isn’t IPVanish letting me access SlingTV?
Because SlingTV is a US-based service, its broadcast rights are limited to the US. Its contract with rights holders spells out its obligation to make its content unavailable to users outside the US (geo-blocking).
Connecting to an IPVanish VPN server within the United States will change your IP address to a US IP address. So when your request hits SlingTV’s servers, it will appear to be coming from the US. And that should enable you to stream Sling TV from anywhere. But accessing streaming sites over VPN can require a bit of trial and error.
If you’re having connection issues, it’s likely due to one of the reasons listed below.
- You didn’t connect to an IPVanish VPN server located in the United States. It’s mandatory that you connect to a VPN server that’s based in the US to access SlingTV. You might also need to try more than one US server to get things working. But if the VPN provider supports streaming, as IPVanish does, you should find one that works relatively quickly.
- Sling TV knows the IP address you’re using belongs to a VPN server and blocked your connection.
- SlingTV may have placed a cookie in your app or browser. These cookies can be used to obtain your original location. If that’s your situation, SlingTV may have deduced your location and blocked your connection.
- You could be leaking DNS, which would expose your original (non-US) DNS servers’ IP address(es). ISPs typically assign their in-house DNS servers to their customers by default. If they’re not US-based, SlingTV won’t be available.
But these issues can easily be fixed.
How to fix IPVanish not working with SlingTV
Here’s how to fix IPVanish not working with SlingTV:
- As mentioned above, the most critical step is making sure you’re connected to a US-based IPVanish VPN server. If you’re sure you’ve connected to a US server, try a different US-based server. The IP address of the first server you tried may already be blocked.
- Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
- Enable private/incognito mode in your browser, or try another web browser.
- Try running a DNS leak test to make sure you’re not leaking DNS. Follow the link to learn how to do this – it’s quite simple.
- IPVanish supports split tunneling on Android and FireTV. Using this feature, you can define which applications send their traffic through the VPN tunnel and which ones send it through your ISP gateway. So you want to make sure the feature is turned off or that you haven’t configured your browser or app to go through your ISP gateway. Check this within IPVanish’s app.
- Restart your device.
- Restart the IPVanish app.
- Try a different VPN provider, like NordVPN.
How to sign into SlingTV with IPVanish
Once connected to a US-based IPVanish VPN server that works with SlingTV, it’s easy to sign in and start using the service. Here’s how:
- If not already done, sign up for IPVanish. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there’s no risk.
- Download and install the IPVanish app for your device.
- Sign in to the IPVanish app and connect to a US-based server.
- Go to the SlingTV website – it should now work.
- If it doesn’t, follow the steps above.
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IPVanish & SlingTV FAQ
What can I watch with SlingTV?
SlingTV offers a wide selection of live TV shows and on-demand content. Below are some of the available channels:
Are there any free VPN services that work with SlingTV?
There will be some – but not very many. Most free VPNs have very small server networks. So large portions of their users end up using the same VPN servers. That, in turn, makes it more likely their IPs will get blocked by streaming services. When a significant amount of traffic originates from the same IP address, it can be a signal that the traffic is coming from a VPN server. And a block will usually follow. You should also keep in mind that most free VPNs have poor speeds and questionable security practices, so we don’t usually recommend them.
How does SlingTV know I'm using a VPN?
SlingTV will know you’re using a VPN when it obtains your IP address. When you’re on the internet, you’re assigned an IP address – whether or not you’re using a VPN. IP address ranges roughly correspond to different locations. IP addresses in Italy are different from IP addresses in the United States. And you can approximate one’s location by looking at their IP address. That’s how VPNs spoof your location – by simply changing your IP address. Any website or online service you access will invariably get your IP address. When you’re on VPN, Sling gets the VPN server’s IP address rather than your original ISP-assigned IP address.
It’s also relatively trivial to identify VPN server IP addresses. The VPN IP address lists mentioned earlier are readily available online, and there’s little doubt in my mind that streaming services are using those lists.
Will using a VPN slow down my connection?
Yes – there’s no way around that. But a quality VPN provider will limit the slowdown as much as possible. Because the VPN server represents an extra hop between your device and the internet, it increases your connection’s latency. Increased latency translates to a slowdown. So you want to ensure you choose a reputable VPN provider that will limit your speed hit.
If you’re looking for the fastest speeds (I can’t think of a reason why you wouldn’t), I recommend using the WireGuard protocol, which IPVanish supports.
Can I install IPVanish on my router instead of using the app?
Not every VPN provider out there supports routers. But IPVanish does.
Configuring a VPN connection directly on your router provides you with two big advantages:
- You’ll be able to connect to your VPN without needing a dedicated app. All it takes is for you to connect your device to the router, and you’ll be tunneling your traffic through the VPN.
- You can bypass your VPN provider’s limit on simultaneous connections. IPVanish already allows unlimited simultaneous connections. But this still represents a benefit with most providers.
You can have a look at our guide on VPN routers if you’d like more information on the subject.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch SlingTV?
Yes, it is. There’s nothing illegal about connecting to a VPN server to access the internet. But while not illegal, it does run contrary to SlingTV’s terms of service, which state that SlingTV should only be accessed from within the United States. So, if you try to access SlingTV from outside the United States (or without a US-based VPN IP address), SlingTV will, of course, block your connection. I highly doubt SlingTV would ban your account for trying. But you can be sure it will have no qualms blocking your connection from outside the US.
Does IPVanish keep any logs?
IPVanish has an excellent privacy policy and adheres to a strong – and independently audited – no-logging policy. Many VPN providers claim to be “no-logging” VPNs but still collect all sorts of data points from their users. Not so with IPVanish. It only collects diagnostic data to understand how its service is working, troubleshoot any issues that may arise, and improve its service. None of this information can identify a particular user, nor does it relate to your online activities.
All your online activities are protected with IPVanish.
Have a look at our complete IPVanish review for more details.
Will my ISP know if I'm using a VPN?
It will. Your ISP will know that you’re using a VPN because it can see the IP address of your VPN server when you connect. It will also know which port and VPN protocol you’re using, your consumed bandwidth, and connection times. There’s nothing you can do about that – you’re using its network, after all.
What it won’t be able to see are the websites you visit, the files you download, or your DNS queries, as long as you’re not suffering from a DNS leak.
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