Peacock not working with VPN: Fix it in 5 steps (QUICK method)

Peacock is a US service, so if you’re trying to stream abroad, you’ll run into trouble. A VPN can help, letting you spoof your location so you can keep watching. But what if your current VPN isn’t working with Peacock?

The VPN server you’re trying to use has probably been blacklisted. That means you won’t be able to stream shows outside the US. Try our list of VPN fixes and consult our troubleshooting tips.

Which VPNs work with Peacock?

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 Peacock not working with my VPN?

If the Peacock website works out that you’re trying to access it from a restricted region, your connection will be blocked every time. An error message (we’ve taken a screenshot below from the UK) explains: “This service is unavailable in your region.”

If your current VPN isn’t working with Peacock, it’s not doing a very good job of spoofing your location. Some or all of the VPN servers you have available to you through that service may be blacklisted. Swapping to a better VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN) will save you.

How does Peacock detect my VPN?

Poor VPNs don’t do a very good job of hiding your location, which means Peacock prevents you from streaming content. When the Peacock website identifies VPN use, it’ll blacklist the temporary IP address provided by your VPN so you can’t use it again. The worst VPNs do a lousy job of replacing their blacklisted servers.

Have a browse through our recommended VPNs for Peacock below and enjoy a superior alternative. On the plus side, you don’t need to spend big to get yourself a top-tier VPN.

In summary:

• Your VPN servers might have been blacklisted by Peacock
• Cookies stored in your browser are telling the streamer about your real location and not your spoofed location
• A VPN is unfortunately leaking your IP address, which makes Peacock block traffic

Peacock fixes

1. Update your VPN

From your PC, open the VPN and then the Settings or Options menu. Some VPNs that I’ve tested in our office will display a message telling you about updates. See an example here:

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

If you’re using an Android smartphone or tablet, 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. Finally, choose Update or Update all.

On an iPhone or iPad, 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 Peacock

VPN servers can sometimes become unavailable or slower than usual. That’s no good if you’re trying to enjoy your favourite shows through Peacock.

The best VPNs that we’ve been hands-on with offer multiple servers for each country. ExpressVPN has a UK Docklands server as well as alternatives in East London. I suggest you go between them and see which one works best.

Try disconnecting from the current server that you’re using. 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 a VPN support team

Our recommended VPN providers all manage support teams. For times when the Peacock site fails to load, reach out to an expert for step-by-step guidance.

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 Peacock and see if performance has improved.

5. Check if your internet connection is strong enough

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

Disconnect from your wi-fi network and then reconnect, before running your VPN again. You can also go a step further and restart your internet router if you need to. Note that speeds of up to 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 Peacock fixes to try:

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? It could be that your provider might be experiencing an outage. The best providers are transparent about this and actively update their server status online.

Are your details public due to a DNS leak? A broken VPN can’t conceal your IP address and location when you load up Peacock. 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.

Is your firewall blocking your VPN or Peacock?

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 Peacock

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 at the moment refuses to work, switch to ExpressVPN. We’ll happily recommend this newbie-friendly VPN time and time again – it’s easy to use, quick and works brilliantly if you’re looking to access Peacock from abroad. You won’t have to stare at annoying error messages on the Peacock website if you’re protected by this tried and tested VPN.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden, so websites won’t know you’re accessing content from abroad. Every ExpressVPN member can enjoy servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on lots 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 is worth a closer look if you want to enjoy Peacock shows 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 effectively hides your real location so you can use all of Peacock’s features, even if you’ve roamed outside the US. 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	5,200+
📈 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 Peacock 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 getting to grips with 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 your current VPN doesn’t work with Peacock, 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 Peacock account even if you’re in a country where it doesn’t usually work.

PureVPN also works with ITV Hub, Hulu and Amazon Prime. There are around 2,000 secure PureVPN servers based in over 130 different countries.

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

How to watch Peacock using a VPN

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 your device, download and open the ExpressVPN app and select a server based in the United States.
4. Once you’re connected, load up Peacock.
5. Log in to your Peacock account and enjoy.

FAQs: Using Peacock outside the US

Why is Peacock not available outside America?

Access to Peacock from outside the United States is limited (in an official capacity) because of licensing agreements put in place by the streamer. You can use a VPN to spoof your location and watch shows from anywhere, but we suggest you consult Peacock’s terms of service beforehand.

Can I use a free VPN with Peacock?

If your VPN isn’t letting you stream TV shows through Peacock, you might think about a free VPN. However, I recommend that you stay away for the following reasons:

Some free VPNs aren’t safe. Because you don’t pay a monthly fee, free VPNs will often sell your personal data just to make a profit.

Free VPNs can be slow. They might take a long time to connect to a server that works with your bookie, and your connection could drop without warning.

You might not get many servers. The best VPNs have servers all over the world, which means you can instantly unlock TV streams and movies. However, free VPNs only cover a small number of countries.

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