How to watch Sling TV abroad in 3 steps (walkthrough)

Sling TV is designed for an American audience, so you can’t use it overseas unless you have a VPN. If you want to watch Sling TV abroad in just a couple of minutes, our guide can help.

A reliable VPN can unlock Sling TV by issuing a temporary IP address from the US. That means that the streaming service will think you’re in America regardless of where you’re streaming from. Keep scrolling for details on how to get started, plus tips on troubleshooting your current VPN if it doesn’t work with Sling TV.

Which VPNs work with Sling TV?

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.

Step-by-step: using a VPN to watch Sling TV

At a glance: To watch Sling TV abroad, download a trusted VPN, sign in to your account, connect to a server based in the US and then reload the website or app.

1. Download a recommended VPN

To stream region-locked content abroad without any issues, you need to pick a trusted VPN provider. By choosing wisely, you can make sure you have software that’s easy to use and secure as well – it won’t leak your personal details to third parties.

We like ExpressVPN as it’s affordable and lets you use up to 5 devices at one time, but you might want to shop around and see what works best for you in terms of monthly cost and features.

2. Sign in to your VPN

Once you’ve created your account with a VPN provider and downloaded the software to your device, you need to sign in – enter your email/username and password. It’s good practice to make your password unique to your VPN account, so don’t use the same one that you use for other services.

Remember that VPN providers have different rules when it comes to multi-user access. Some are quite strict with the number of people who can use your account at any one time, so check their terms. Others are a little more flexible – Ivacy, for example, supports 10 users on a single account.

3. Connect to a server for Sling TV

As Sling TV is designed with an American audience in mind, you need to connect to a VPN server based in the US.

To do this using ExpressVPN, open the app, tap the three dots icon and use the search box to enter a US location. We’ve used New Jersey in our example. Then, click the power icon to connect and wait for the green light.

In the screenshot above, we’ve loaded up the Sling TV website on desktop by connecting to a New Jersey VPN server. This means that, although we’re based in the UK, the Sling TV website thinks we’re streaming from abroad. In other words, we’ve unlocked the entire content library in just a couple of clicks.

How to fix Sling TV errors

If your current VPN fails to unlock Sling TV, there’s a chance the issue is linked to blacklisted servers. VPN servers stop working when lots of people around the world are assigned the same temporary IP address. But the best VPNs for Sling TV are quick to deal with those blacklisted servers by providing alternatives.

See our list of troubleshooting tips below so you can regain access to Sling TV:

1. Update your VPN

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.

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.

2. Use a different VPN server to connect to Sling TV

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

When I fancy binging more episodes of Friends on Sling, I usually end up connecting to the New York server just because it’s quick to load on my wi-fi network. You can also try alternatives in Washington or New Jersey, though.

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.

3. 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.

4. 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 Sling TV and see if performance has improved.

5. 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 Sling TV fixes:

Check if you have been hit by a DNS leak. To clarify, a DNS (domain name system) leak means your real IP address and location is visible to websites you visit, even if you have a VPN installed. Use the IP Address Lookup tool to see if your IP address changes when you activate your VPN and visit Sling TV. If it doesn’t, your VPN is broken.

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 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 Sling TV? 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 an overview of what we’ve mentioned above, download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster.

Best VPNs for Sling TV

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 can’t get enough of ExpressVPN. For starters, it’s easy to use and does a top-notch job of replacing it’s blacklisted servers. With an ExpressVPN membership, you can unlock the Sling TV website and enjoy your favourite shows from anywhere in the world. That includes Killing Eve, which is awesome, by the way.

I’m based in the UK, so watching an episode of Beacon 23 on Sling TV is easily done by connecting to a server in New York. I load up the VPN on my PC first and then load up the Sling TV website as a second step once my connection is confirmed. This isn’t one of the cheaper VPNs, but in my opinion it’s one of the best.

ExpressVPN is a tried and tested service that effortlessly battles against geo-restricted websites to open up the content for everybody. Your IP address will be kept away from prying eyes at all times, so your ISP will have no way of knowing that you’re using a VPN to spoof your location.

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 a real treat if you’re searching for a reliable VPN that can unlock geo-locked websites. It’s fully compatible with Sling TV and helps you stream online content without having to worry about your ISP keeping tabs on your activity.

I appreciate the fact that Ivacy has clearly been made with newbies in mind. All of the menus you’ll spot are very clearly labelled and jumping between territories only takes a couple of seconds on a good home wi-fi network.

Joining Ivacy today with just a single paid-for account means you’ll be protected on up to 5 different gadgets at once. That means you can stream Sling TV shows just by connecting to a US-based server.

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)

NordVPN hosts reliable servers all over the world. A load of them are based in the US, which means you can use NordVPN to stream the most popular Sling TV shows without trouble. All of NordVPN’s servers are protected by military-grade encryption, which means you’re free to stream content without your IP address being tracked.

When using the mobile version for the first time, you’ll be asked to log in. Then, you’ll spot the Quick Connect – it’s one of my favourite features of the software. Tapping that button will connect you to a secure network within your own country, which is great news if you want to browse the web anonymously. I also appreciate the fact you can filter the NordVPN server list by popularity.

If you run into a problem, you can reach out to a team of NordVPN experts using the 24/7 live chat service. It’s super handy.

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

Take a trip over to the PureVPN website and learn more if you’re looking to unlock Sling TV. PureVPN effortlessly opens up Sling TV and is also compatible with other popular sites including BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime.

If you’re using PureVPN on your computer, you’ll notice the ‘Recommended server’ list on the left-hand side of the screen. I like being able to favourite the servers I use the most because it saves me from endlessly scrolling through the list of countries.

PureVPN boasts around 2,000 secure servers in over 130 countries. Try it for yourself if you’re travelling abroad or living overseas permanently. It works flawlessly with Sling TV.

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: Streaming with Sling TV

Why does Sling block connections outside the US?

Streaming content via Sling TV is only possible in the US. In fact, the whole website is locked-up – I had to use ExpressVPN’s New York server just to access the FAQs page to research this article (shown below).

Sling TV implements geoblocking to try and control access based on your location. The system is usually related to licensing agreements. Content providers negotiate licensing deals for specific regions, which is why you might not be able to tune in when you’re overseas.

Can I use a free VPN with Sling TV?

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 Sling TV 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.

Can I watch Sling TV on multiple devices?

The number of devices you can use at any one time is based on the tier of Sling TV membership you’re using. Here’s a quick overview:

• Sling Orange – you can watch on one device at a time.
• Sling Blue – you can watch on up to three devices at the same time.
• Sling Orange & Sling Blue (combined membership) – you can watch on up to four devices at the same time.

How much is Sling TV a month?

The price you pay for your Sling TV subscription will vary depending on the package you choose.

Sling Orange will set you back by $40 a month, although you get your first month for just $20. The Orange package provides you with 32 channels in total, including 7 exclusive Sports and Family channels. You can stream on 1 device at a time.

Meanwhile, Sling Blue is $45 a month, but $22.50 for the first month. You get 42 channels in total, including 17 exclusive News and Entertainment channels. You can stream on 3 devices at a time.

See also: Sling TV services

What shows are on Sling TV?

The list of shows on Sling TV is changing all the time, but some of my own favourites include The Walking Dead, Friends (it’s a classic) and True Detective.

In terms of TV channels, your line-up includes AMC, BBC America, Cartoon Network, History Channel and more.

This is a popular service and I expect we’ll see the library grow for many years to come. In fact, figures from 2023 note that Sling TV has over 3 million active subscribers.

Can I watch Sling TV for free?

Sling has a free, ad-backed platform called Sling Freestream, which is available on both Roku streaming sticks and Amazon Fire TVs. The brand says you get access to over 400 free live TV channels and over 40,000 on-demands shows.

Can you use Sling TV on a phone?

Yes, the Sling TV mobile app lets you watch your favourite shows on both Android and iOS devices. Just head to your device’s app store and run a search for ‘Sling TV.’ You’ll need a valid Sling TV account to log in and start watching shows.

Does Sling TV block VPNs?

Yes, to limit access to its content because of licencing agreements. Many popular streaming services enforce a similar system. For example, BBC iPlayer, Netflix and Hulu all restrict access in some parts of the world.

If you have a reliable VPN, your software is brainy enough to stay hidden when the Sling TV website runs its checks on your IP address.

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