Bilibili doesn’t work with VPN: Try these FIXES

Bilibili is a video-sharing site that’s only available (officially) in China. You can watch from anywhere with a VPN, but you might experience technical problems. On this page, we explain what to do if Bilibili doesn’t work with your VPN.

If you’re dealing with a broken VPN, you won’t be able to use Bilibili unless you’re based in China. On this troubleshooting page, we run through several fixes that can solve the problem.

Which VPNs work with Bilibili?

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.

Why is Bilibili not working with my VPN?

If the Bilibili website identifies that you’re trying to stream content from outside of China, your connection could be blocked. However, top VPNs for Bilibili can still help you stream shows and movies from anywhere in the world, even if you’re traveling around.

If your VPN isn’t hiding your real location from Bilibili, the website will interfere with the server you’re using, making your VPN useless. Bad VPNs take an age to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to content on the Bilibili website.

In summary, these are the most common Bilibili problems:

• The Chinese site has blacklisted your VPN servers
• You have a bad network connection that stops you from using Bilibili
• Cookies are revealing your location
• Your VPN is revealing your IP address

Ways to fix Bilibili

1. Update your VPN

On a computer, start by launching your VPN and then go to Settings. Typically, you’ll find an Update button, which redirects you to the VPN provider’s website. There, you can get all the details on the latest updates and improvements.

For mobile users, the job only takes a couple of minutes. On Android, update your VPN by heading to the Play Store. Start by tapping on your profile icon in the corner and then select Manage apps and devices. You’ll find the option to update individual apps or update all of them.

If you’re using an iPhone, open the App Store and tap on your user profile in the top-right corner. From there, you can easily check for and install any available updates.

2. Use a different VPN server

Sometimes, VPN servers can be a bit sluggish and might stop working as expected. If you’re having trouble with the Bilibili website or app, consider switching to a different VPN server.

3. Get help from Customer Support

The VPN services we’ve recommended on this page usually have dedicated customer support teams to assist with technical issues. If Bilibili doesn’t function outside of China, don’t hesitate to reach out to them for help.

4. Restart your VPN

If switching servers didn’t fix the problem, completely uninstall your VPN, then reinstall it. After the reinstallation, open both your VPN and Bilibili 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 more thorough reset by restarting your router. You’ll typically find a button on the back of the gadget.

You can also assess your internet connection by running a free internet speed test, such as Ookla. This test will allow you to compare the results with your Internet Service Provider’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise.

More Bilibili fixes:

Clear cache and cookies. In Chrome, navigate to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. If you’re using an Apple computer with Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Re-enter your VPN username and password. It may seem obvious, but check if you’ve entered your VPN login details correctly.

Check to see if you’ve been hit by a DNS leak. This means your typical IP address and location is visible to websites and apps, even if you’re running a VPN. Try the IP Address Lookup tool to see if your IP address swaps when you activate your VPN and visit Bilibili. If not, your VPN is broken.

Check the VPN servers. If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be to blame. The best providers (we like ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Ivacy and PureVPN) are transparent about this.

Check your firewall allows VPNs. On Windows, open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

For a printer-friendly overview of the tips we’ve discussed above, you can download our free VPN troubleshooting poster.

Best VPNs for Bilibili

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 you want to enjoy streaming video on Bilibili from anywhere in the world, consider creating a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, speedy and works well if you’re looking to access Bilibili outside of China. To watch shows anywhere, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server based in China and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, so Bilibili won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of China. Every ExpressVPN member has access to servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on a range of different devices including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.

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 works well with Bilibili and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend loads on a VPN to watch fun user-submitted video. This service is built to support 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away, and on top of that you get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.

This is one of the most widely-used VPNs proven to work hand-in-hand with Bilibili. If you try it today, you’ll have access to over 3,000 VPN servers around the world. One subscription has you covered on up to 10 different devices at once.

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	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

Here’s another VPN that lets you watch video on Bilibili outside of China. NordVPN has servers across the globe and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. And with Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.

In just a couple of minutes, you can start streaming video abroad using NordVPN. To access the service, just connect to a VPN server based in China. If you need help at any time, you can call on NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.

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

FAQs: Watching Bilibili with a VPN

How to watch Bilibili 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 China.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the Bilibili website.
5. Log in to your Bilibili account and enjoy.

Watch Bilibili 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 China.
4. When you’re connected, visit the Bilibili website.
5. Log in to your Bilibili account.

How to watch Bilibili on iPhone

1. Head to the Apple App Store from your iPhone.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app to your device.
3. Download the Bilibili 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 China.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Bilibili app and log in to your account.

Watch Bilibili 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 Bilibili 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 China.
5. Now that you’re connected to a VPN, open the Bilibili app and log in to your account.

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