How to watch Britbox outside the UK: BEST method (walkthrough)

Britbox is only available in certain countries, but a reliable VPN lets you access it from anywhere in the world. Using our guide, you can watch Britbox outside the UK in just a couple of minutes.

Our recommended VPNs open up the Britbox website and app by assigning an IP address from the UK – so you can stream outside the country. See below for more details, along with troubleshooting tips to help if your VPN breaks.

Which VPNs work with Britbox?

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.

How-to guide: use Britbox abroad in 3 steps

At a glance: To use Britbox outside the UK, download a VPN, sign in, connect to a server based in the UK (Docklands, for example) and reload the website/app.

Step 1. Download a VPN

To stream Britbox favourites including Downton Abbey and Love Island, you need a trusted VPN. We recommended ExpressVPN currently as it’s affordable and lets you use up to 5 devices at one time.

Step 2. Sign in to your VPN

Once you’ve created your account and downloaded the software to your device, sign in with your username and password. Make a note of your details in case your forget them next time you want to enjoy some Britbox content.

Step 3. Connect to a server for Britbox

As Britbox is targeted at an English audience, you need to connect to a VPN server based in the UK. Top VPNs will have multiple servers in the UK that you can jump between if needed.

To unlock Britbox using ExpressVPN, open the app, tap the three dots icon and use the search box to enter a location. Then, click the power icon to connect and wait for the green light.

How to fix Britbox errors

If the Britbox website comes to the conclusion that you’re trying to access it from a restricted region, your connection will be blocked right away. Other British streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub function the same way.

At the time of writing, Britbox is officially available in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, the US, Sweden Finland, Denmark and Norway. ExpressVPN and Ivacy can unlock it.

Update your VPN

If your current VPN isn’t working with Britbox, make sure you’re using the latest version – the developers might have identified an issue and patched it with an update. You need to take a trip to your VPN settings. The best VPNs for Britbox are treated to regular updates.

On a PC, open your VPN and then the Settings or Options menu. Some VPNs will display a message on the start screen telling you about updates. ExpressVPN, for example, shows this:

Clicking Update will usually take you to the VPN provider’s website, where you can learn more about what’s new.

If you’re using an Android phone, you need to open the Google Play store, tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen and then Manage apps and device. Choose Update or Update all.

On an iPhone, open the Apple App Store and tap your user profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

Use a different VPN server to connect to Britbox

In some cases, specific VPN servers can become temporarily unavailable or slower than usual. This will affect your Britbox profile.

The best VPNs offer multiple servers per country. For example, ExpressVPN hosts a ‘UK – Docklands’ server as well as alternatives in East London, London and the Midlands. Cycle between them and see which one works best for you.

Try disconnecting from the current server that you’re using.

Precise steps will vary depending on your VPN, but ExpressVPN users can select the three dots icon to see a list of alternative servers in the same country. You can also favourite the server (use the Star icon) that works best for you.

Contact your VPN support team

Our recommended VPN providers all manage support teams that can deal with specific problems you’re dealing with.

From a computer, head to your VPN provider’s website and find the Support or Contact us pages. Some VPNs offer a live chat service for members.

Reset your VPN

The classic ‘off and on again’ trick often works with computer issues and we’ve found that the same goes with VPNs. Whether you’re on a PC, smartphone or tablet, restart your device and open your VPN again.

If that doesn’t work, delete and reinstall your VPN. Load up your VPN and Britbox and see if performance has improved.

Check your internet connection

The problem might be with your own internet connection rather than your VPN.

Disconnect from your wi-fi network and then reconnect. Try and run your VPN once again. You can also go a step further and restart your internet router. Speeds of 5-10Mbps should be enough, but you might prefer over 20Mbps if you’re streaming or gaming.

Run a free download speed tool and compare the results alongside your ISP’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise. Contact your ISP if your connection is unstable outside of VPN use.

More Britbox fixes:

Have you cleared cache and cookies from your internet browser? On Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Have you entered your VPN username and password correctly? Double-check your login credentials. If you can’t remember your details, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website so you get a reset link sent to your inbox.

Are your details public due to a DNS leak? A broken VPN can’t conceal your IP address and location when you load up Britbox. To test if your VPN is working, disable it entirely and head to the IP Address Lookup tool. Note down your IP address. Then, turn on your VPN and run the test once again – if you aren’t assigned a new IP and location, your VPN is faulty.

Are the VPN servers active? If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be experiencing an outage. The best providers are transparent about this and actively update their server status online.

Is your firewall blocking your VPN or Britbox? If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

Does your web browser need updating? Your current web browser version might be incompatible with your browser-based VPN. Assuming you’ve updated your VPN, make sure you update your browser as well. On Chrome, for example, you would go to Settings > About Chrome.

Are you overworking your VPN? If you’re streaming, gaming and using social media at the same time, your VPN might struggle to keep up. We suggest you close a couple of apps to test if doing so has a noticeable impact.

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

Best VPNs for Britbox

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)

We suggest you switch over to ExpressVPN. We’ll happily recommend this beginner-friendly VPN over and over again – it’s easy to use (we wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t), speedy and works great if you’re looking to access Britbox from abroad.

ExpressVPN does a delightfully good job of replacing its blacklisted servers. That means that, even if Britbox decides to temporarily disable 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 based in the UK and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden around the clock, so websites (including Britbox, of course) won’t know you’re accessing content from abroad. ExpressVPN members benefit from servers in over 90 countries across the globe.

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 look if you want to enjoy Britbox 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 can hide your real location so you can use all of Britbox’s features, even if you’ve roamed outside the UK. Use our link below and you can get instant access to over 1,000 VPNs servers across the world. A single Ivacy membership 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	5,200+
📈 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 for your shortlist if you want to use Britbox 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 personal data to companies that shouldn’t own it.

If you run into trouble while using NordVPN, 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 Britbox isn’t playing nicely with your VPN, try this. PureVPN is powerful enough to unlock geo-locked websites so you can enjoy them without a hassle. You’ll be able to log in to your Britbox account even if you’re in a country where it doesn’t usually work.

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

FAQs: Using Britbox

Can I access Britbox outside the UK?

Yes, you can access Britbox abroad, but the library of shows you have available to you varies depending on where you are. With a VPN, you can swap between content libraries whenever you need to.

Britbox initially launched as a UK-exclusive, but it’s now available in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the US, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway as well. If you’re living outside of those countries, you need a VPN to spoof your location.

Can I use a free VPN with Britbox?

If you’re trying to save yourself some money, free VPNs can be a real temptation. But our advice is to steer clear.

Free VPNs for Britbox might sell your data for money since they do not charge a regular, monthly fee. Connecting to a VPN server might take a long time and your connection could drop without warning.

Top, paid-for VPNs have servers all over the world, letting you access websites and apps. On the other hand, free VPNs often provide coverage for a very limited number of countries.

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