Unlike most of the videos on Youtube, the paid subscription service YouTube TV is region locked for licensing reasons. If you try to watch YouTube TV on vacation, you will encounter a location error message. Luckily, you can use a VPN to unblock YouTube TV from anywhere in the world.
The only caveat is that many VPNs have now been blocked by YouTube TV. That means you must pick a recommended VPN for YouTube TV that can provide a valid US IP address. If your VPN is supposed to work with YouTube TV, there are a few reasons why you might encounter problems.
This guide gives tips to get your VPN up and running. We will explain why your VPN might be failing to unblock YouTube TV, and we will give you a list of fixes to get you streaming.
Why isn’t my VPN working with YouTube TV?
If you’re trying to watch YouTube TV abroad you will probably have experienced one of two distinct error messages.
Most subscribers will see a location error message. It warns you that you are prohibited from using your account abroad, or that you are “Outside your home area.” If you are receiving this message, you will need to connect to a VPN.
Sometimes, however, people who attempt to use a VPN will encounter a message that reads, “VPN/Proxy Detected.” Unfortunately, most of the time this means that your VPN has already been blocked.
YouTube knows that people try to sidestep its region locks. To comply with licensing agreements, it makes every effort to block VPNs. As a result, the vast majority of VPNs have already been blacklisted by YouTube TV.
If you are using an incompatible VPN, you may have to cancel your subscription and get a different one. On the other hand, if you are already subscribed to a VPN that works with YouTube TV, you can use this guide to fix the YouTube TV VPN proxy error message.
Below, we have included a list of reasons why your VPN might not be working:
- The VPN server IP address has been blacklisted by YouTube TV.
- Your device’s GPS location and IP address don’t match.
- YouTube TV has stored a cookie on your device that tells it you are outside of the US.
- Your real IP address is leaking and the VPN is failing to conceal your location.
- The server you’re using is not compatible with YouTube TV.
How to use a VPN to watch YouTube TV abroad
If your main problem is that you have no idea how to use a VPN to watch YouTube TV on vacation, the good news is that it is very easy.
Here’s how to use a VPN to watch YouTube TV abroad:
- Choose a VPN that works to watch YouTube TV abroad. We recommend NordVPN because it is fast, secure, and reliable. Alternatively, you can try Surfshark, which works and is cheap. Or ExpressVPN, which is a touch pricey but a fantastic all-rounder.
- Follow one of the links above to navigate to the VPN’s website. Using our link will get you the VPN at the lowest possible cost thanks to our exclusive discount coupon.
- Subscribe to your preferred VPN for YouTube TV and download the VPN app. Our recommendations have apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. You can stream YouTube TV on any of your devices.
- Install the VPN app for your device and log in.
- Connect to a VPN server in the US and launch YouTube TV in your browser or in the app.
As soon as your VPN connects, you should be able to start watching your YouTube TV account from abroad. If you have any problems streaming, we recommend that you use the troubleshooting tips below to get it working as quickly as possible!
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What problems occur when using a VPN for YouTube TV?
Some common problems that crop up when attempting to stream Youtube TV through a VPN include:
- Proxy/vpn/ error message
- Location error message
- Unable to watch a particular network
- Lengthy buffering times
- Poor quality video playback
How to fix a VPN with YouTube TV
Below we have included fixes for a variety of problems, including the ones listed above.
Slow VPN causing buffering on YouTube TV
If your problem revolves around poor-quality video or buffering, then it is possible that you may need a faster VPN.
In this case, you may want to check that your VPN is fast enough for streaming. Unfortunately, if it is not on our recommended list of the best VPNs for YouTube TV, you may need to switch to a different provider.
If you are having trouble with a slow VPN, try the fixes below first:
- Try a US server that is closer to you physically. You can pick from the East or West coast depending on where you are, as a server that is closer will usually perform much better.
- Ask your VPN provider which US server to use.
- Try changing the VPN protocol in your VPN application. We recommend WireGuard, OpenVPN UDP, or IKEv2.
VPN not working with YouTube TV
If your VPN problem with YouTube TV is more severe, and you are not able to log in or watch YouTube TV at all, then you will need to consider the steps below. By working through each of the troubleshooting tips, you should be able to get any compatible VPN working pretty quickly.
Here’s how to fix your VPN not working with YouTube TV:
- Restart your computer, restart the VPN application, and launch your browser again.
- Try re-installing the VPN to ensure it is up to date.
- Clear the cookies and cache in your browser.
- Try connecting to a different US VPN server.
- Try a different browser.
- Ask your VPN which US server has been optimized for streaming services like YouTube TV.
- Enable leak protection in your VPN’s settings menu. This will prevent YouTube TV from detecting your real location.
- Change the VPN protocol.
- Try watching on a desktop PC rather than a mobile device.
- Disable geo-location/location sharing in your browser.
In this guide, we have done everything we can to try and solve common YouTube TV VPN problems. However, if you still encounter problems we strongly recommend asking your VPN for help.
Which VPNs still work with YouTube TV?
If you want to know which VPNs work with YouTube TV we recommend checking out our full guide (follow the link). However, if you are in a rush, we have proved a quick list below:
- NordVPN: #1 VPN for YouTube TV. Fast servers in the US that are compatible with YouTube TV. Works with Netflix and other streaming services. Strong security features, 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.
TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly. - Surfshark: Best cheap VPN for YouTube TV. Super-fast WireGuard protocol. A fast and secure provider with no connection or bandwidth limits. Works well with YouTube TV and other streaming providers.
- ExpressVPN: Over 3000 servers in 94 countries. Very secure and has fast servers in the US compatible with YouTube TV.
- CyberGhost: Perfect for beginners. Apps for all popular platforms. Plenty of fast servers in the US to watch YouTube TV. Also works with Netflix.
- IPVanish: Allows any number of simultaneous connections on a single account. Superb speeds for streaming US TV networks abroad.
- PrivateVPN: Fast, secure, and allows torrenting. Great if you want to watch YouTube TV, torrent, and play games!
- Atlas VPN: Speedy, secure, and great for families because of its unlimited connection allowance. Ideal for watching YouTube TV from anywhere
Can I use a free VPN to watch YouTube TV?
No. Although there are some free VPNs on the market, these are not suitable for watching YouTube TV. Free VPNs have very few servers that are easy to spot and block. As a result, we have been unable to find a single free VPN that works to watch YouTube TV on vacation.
Free VPNs are also very slow. This is because they have very few servers that are oversubscribed with users located worldwide. This makes free VPNs too slow to enjoy HD streaming because they cause low-quality playback and constant buffering.
In addition to these performance issues, free VPNs have invasive privacy policies, they track users, sell data to marketing companies and data brokers, and even have apps that contain spyware.
