Watch Optus Sport in the UK: how to unlock the website (3 steps)

Optus Sport is region-locked, so you can’t use it (officially) outside Australia. To unlock the service from the UK in just a couple of minutes, work your way through our guide. You’ll be able to watch Optus Sport in the UK in no time.

The best VPNs unlock Optus Sport by providing you with a temporary IP address from Australia – meaning you can watch live sport while you’re in the UK. See below for more details, along with troubleshooting tips if your current VPN breaks.

Which VPNs work with Optus Sport?

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 use Optus Sport in the UK: 3-step guide

Step 1. Download a VPN

To stream sports from the Aussie website while you’re in the UK, you need a trusted VPN. We recommended ExpressVPN at the moment 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.

Step 3. Connect to a server for Optus Sport

As Optus Sport is targeted at an Australian audience, you need to connect to a VPN server based in Australia.

To do this 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.

In the screenshot above, we’ve loaded up the Optus Sport website on desktop by connecting to a suitable VPN server. This means that, although we’re based in the UK, Optus Sport thinks we’re streaming from Australia.

How to fix Optus Sport errors

If Optus Sport discovers that you’re trying to access it from a country other than Australia, your connection will be blocked right away. A trusted VPN will let you bypass that restriction so you don’t need to worry about getting chucked out.

Some or all of the VPN servers you have available to you through your VPN may be blacklisted by the website. Other Australian sites including 10 Play and Foxtel Go function the same way. Work your way through our list of fixes:

Update your VPN

If your VPN doesn’t let you watch live sports and TV on Optus Sport, make sure you’re using the latest version – an issue might have been patched with an update.

From a computer, load your VPN and then choose Settings or Options. The best VPNs display a message on the start screen like this:

Clicking Update will usually take you to the VPN provider’s website.

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 Optus Sport

Specific VPN servers can become unavailable or slower than usual. If Optus Sport isn’t working, the server might be at fault.

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.

Try disconnecting from the server that you’re using. Precise steps will vary, 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 VPN support

Our recommended providers manage teams that deal with problems you’re having. If Optus Sport streams aren’t working with your VPN, try them out.

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

Restart your device and open your VPN again to check for changes.

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

Check your internet

The problem might be with your own internet rather than the VPN. Disconnect from your wi-fi and 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 internet speed tool and compare results alongside your ISP’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise. Contact your ISP if your connection is unstable outside of VPN use.

More Optus Sport fixes:

Clear your cache and cookies. On Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. On Safari, go to Settings > Privacy > Manage Website Data.

Re-enter your username and password. Double-check your credentials. If you can’t remember your details, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website.

Check that your VPN servers are online. 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.

Check your PC firewall. 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.

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 Optus Sport. 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.

Are you using the latest version of your web browser? 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 tiring out your VPN? When 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.

Best VPNs for Optus Sport

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 doesn’t unlock Optus Sport, switch over to ExpressVPN. We’ll happily recommend this beginner-friendly VPN because it’s easy to use, quick and works great if you’re looking to access Optus Sport from abroad.

ExpressVPN does a killer job of replacing its blacklisted servers. That means that, even if Optus Sport temporarily disables incoming connections from ExpressVPN, the VPN will have a replacement server up and running in no time. To access your account, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server based in Australia and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address hidden around the clock, so websites (including Optus Sport) won’t know you’re accessing stuff 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 Optus Sport coverage while you’re abroad. This is one of the most popular, affordable VPNs around, thanks in part to its ongoing fight against blacklisted servers.

This trusted VPN can hide your real location so you can use all of Optus Sport’s features, even if you’ve roamed outside Australia. 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 Optus Sport abroad. NordVPN has servers all over the world and each and every one is protected by military-grade encryption. In other words, they’re extremely secure and you can connect without handing over your personal data to companies that shouldn’t have it.

If you run into trouble while using NordVPN, you can make use of the live chat feature.

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 is failing to give you access to Optus Sport, it’s time to treat yourself to a better service. PureVPN is the perfect example, being powerful enough to bypass geo-locked websites and services so you can enjoy them without a fuss. You’ll be able to log in to your Optus Sport account even if you’re outside Australia.

Aside from Optus Sport, 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

FAQs: Using Optus Sport abroad

Can you use a free VPN with Optus Sport?

Free VPNs could potentially sell your data for money as they do not charge a monthly fee. Connecting to a server might take a long time and your connection could drop.

Is it against the law to use a VPN to watch Optus Sport?

While using a VPN to stream Optus Sport content isn’t illegal, violating the provider’s terms of service could result in account suspension or termination. We recommend you do plenty of research.

Is there a free way to watch Optus Sport abroad?

No, you will need to have a valid, paid-for membership with Optus Sport to access its coverage from around the world.

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