CTV isn’t working with VPN: 5 simple fixes

CTV is a popular streaming service for viewers in Canada, but if you live abroad you might struggle to use it. A VPN can help you, but what if it fails? Our guide explains what to do if CTV isn’t working with your VPN.

When you fancy catching up with CTV shows, you shouldn’t have to deal with error messages. If the VPN you’re struggling with is no good, there’s a chance CTV has blacklisted your servers. See our list of fixes below.

Which VPNs work with CTV?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Where is CTV available?

Without a VPN, you can only use CTV while you’re in Canada. A message on the website explains:

“CTV.ca and the CTV app can be used anywhere in Canada on your mobile device or computer, however, it is not available for use outside Canada.”

Why is CTV not working with my VPN?

If the CTV website works out that you’re trying to use a VPN to connect from outside Canada, your connection will be blocked right away.

So here’s the problem: your current VPN isn’t working with CTV – that’s probably because it’s not doing a good job of hiding your real location. Some or all of the VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN may be blacklisted by the CTV website.

How does CTV detect my VPN?

Good question. If your VPN isn’t hiding your real location, CTV will attempt to interfere with the server you’re using, which means your VPN is practically useless. Bad VPNs take an age to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to TV shows and movies on the CTV website.

Simply put, common reasons for CTV failing include the following:

• The Canadian streaming service has blocked your VPN servers
• Your current VPN isn’t good enough and is leaking your IP address to CTV
• A bad internet connection is causing problems
• Browser cookies are sharing your real location instead of the one you’re trying to spoof

CTV fixes

1. Update your VPN

If your VPN doesn’t unlock CTV outside Canada, you need to make sure you’re using an up-to-date build.

On Android, open the Play Store. Select your profile icon in the corner and then Manage apps and devices. You’ll find the option to update individual apps or update all of them.

On iPhone, open the App Store. In the top-right corner, tap your user profile. From there, you can check for available updates.

On a computer, launch your VPN and go to Settings. You’ll find an Update button, which redirects you to the VPN provider’s website. Try CTV when the update is complete.

2. Ask Customer Support

The VPN services listed further down on this page have customer support teams that are there to lend a hand with technical hiccups. Ask the team about known CTV issues.

3. Use a different VPN server

VPN servers can be slow at times, so switch to a different VPN server if you’re experiencing lag on CTV.

4. Restart your VPN

To continue troubleshooting, uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open your VPN and CTV to see if the issue has been resolved.

5. Check your internet connection

First, disconnect from your wi-fi, reconnect and then try your VPN again. If that doesn’t help, you can perform a full reset by restarting your router. Sometimes, we’ve found that working through this process can get CTV working once again.

Assess your internet connection using an internet speed tool, such as this one from Ookla. This test will allow you to compare the results with your Internet Service Provider’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed.’

Even more CTV fixes:

• Clear cache and cookies. From Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. And on Apple’s Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.
• Make sure you aren’t the victim of a DNS leak. If you’re using a broken VPN, it doesn’t disguise your real IP address and location when you visit CTV. To check it’s working, turn it off and head to the IP Address Lookup tool. Make a note of your typical IP address, activate your VPN, run the test again and see if those details change. If you don’t see a difference, your VPN isn’t working.
• Enter your VPN username and password again. If you can log in now, load up CTV once again and try streaming.
• Check your VPN servers. If you can’t connect, your provider might be dealing with an issue. The best providers (we like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Ivacy and PureVPN) are quick to fix blacklisted servers.
• Check your firewall. On Windows, open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall. With your firewall settings adjusted, try streaming from the CTV website.
• Are you using the right browser? Ensure that your web browser is compatible with your VPN. If you’ve updated your VPN, don’t forget to update your browser as well. On Chrome, access Settings > About Chrome.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

The best VPNs for CTV

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If the VPN you’re using fails, switch to ExpressVPN. We’ll happily recommend this beginner-friendly VPN – it’s easy to use, fast and works brilliantly if you’re looking to watch TV on CTV from abroad.

ExpressVPN does a great job of replacing its blacklisted servers. That means that, even if CTV disables incoming connections from ExpressVPN, the VPN will have a replacement server up and running ASAP. To access your account, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server in Canada and go from there.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy is worth a closer look if you want to stream TV on CTV while you’re travelling. This is one of the most popular, affordable VPNs around, thanks in part to its battle against blacklisted servers.

This trusted VPN will hide your real location so you can use all of CTV’s features, even if you’ve roamed outside of Canada. Use our exclusive link below and you get instant access to over 1,000 VPNs servers across the world. A single membership to Ivacy also means you can protect up to 10 gadgets at a time.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Here’s another VPN for your shortlist if you want to use CTV abroad. NordVPN has servers all over the world and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. That means they’re extremely secure and you can connect without handing over your valuable personal data to companies that shouldn’t own it.

If you run into some problems while getting to grips with NordVPN and CTV, you can make use of the live chat feature for a helping hand.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

If your current VPN doesn’t work with CTV, treat yourself to a better alternative. PureVPN is a great example, being powerful enough to unlock geo-locked websites so you can enjoy them without a hassle. You’ll be able to log in to your CTV account even if you’re not currently in Canada.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

Watch CTV on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android

How to watch CTV on Windows

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From Windows, open ExpressVPN and select a server in Canada.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the CTV website.
5. Log in to your CTV account.

Watch CTV on Mac

1. Pick one of our chosen VPNs and create an account – ExpressVPN, for example.
2. After making an ExpressVPN account, sign in with your username and password.
3. From Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server located in Canada.
4. When you’re connected, visit the CTV website.
5. Log in to your CTV account.

How to watch CTV on iPhone

1. Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the CTV app to your device – it’s on the Apple App Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in Canada.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the CTV app and log in to your account.

Watch CTV on Android

1. Head to the Google Play Store from your Android tablet or smartphone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the CTV app to your device – it’s on the Google Play Store.
4. Sign in to your ExpressVPN account, and then connect to a server based in Canada.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the CTV app and log in to your account.

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