If you’ve been watching ITV Hub with ExpressVPN and suddenly you cannot play any content, ExpressVPN isn’t currently able to provide any IP addresses that work with the streaming service.
This is happening because ITV Hub constantly monitors for and tries to prevent VPNs from accessing its service.
To fix ExpressVPN not working with ITV Hub, follow these simple steps. You can also read to the end of the article to find out why this is happening and how you can prevent it from happening again in the future.
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ExpressVPN not working with ITV Hub: Simple fixes
Follow the steps below in order. If one fix doesn’t work, move onto the next until you resolve ExpressVPN not working with ITV Hub.
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Delete Cookies
Deleting your cookies is a great place to start when trying to fix ExpressVPN not working with ITV Hub.
Even if you don’t remember explicitly accepting Cookies, they may still be stored on your browser. Cookies are small files designed to make your online experience better. You may have noticed websites asking you to accept them. They aren’t malicious or dangerous; however Cookies sometimes contain information about your location.
If you’re outside of the UK, ITV Hub can potentially access this information on your Cookies to find out you’re outside the UK and then block your connection. That’s why it’s a good idea to delete them and see if that fixes ExpressVPN not working with ITV Hub.
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Change to a different UK server
ITV Hub may have stopped working because the streaming service blocked the IP address ExpressVPN has given you.
The good news is ITV Hub can’t block ExpressVPN entirely. The bad news is it can block the IP addresses it provides. Fortunately, this doesn’t necessarily mean ITV Hub has been able to block all of ExpressVPN’s IPs.
Changing to a different UK server will provide you with a different IP, and if that IP hasn’t been blocked, ITV Hub will work with ExpressVPN again.
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Upgrade to a more reliable VPN
If deleting your cookies and changing to a different US server doesn’t fix ExpressVPN not working with ITV Hub, then all of ExpressVPN’s current IP addresses have been blocked by ITV Hub, and you’ll have to wait for Express to fix it on their side.
There’s no telling how long this will take, and also, seeing as you’ve already run into this issue, it’s clear that ExpressVPN doesn’t have measures in place to stay ahead of ITV Hub’s VPN blocking techniques. If ExpressVPN releases new IP addresses, inevitably these will get blocked by ITV Hub as well.
The quickest and most effective way to fix this is to use a VPN that is still compatible with ITV Hub. We recommend NordVPN ($3.79/month).
Why has ExpressVPN suddenly stopped working with ITV Hub?
ExpressVPN is no longer working with ITV Hub because all of its current IP addresses have been blacklisted by the streaming service.
ITV Hub does not have the rights to broadcast its content internationally. Only customers in the US can use the service. For this reason, ITV Hub tries to prevent users outside the US from accessing its content.
ITV Hub could potentially run into content and licensing issues if it doesn’t attempt to block customers outside its broadcast zone.
Because ExpressVPN is a well-known way to spoof your IP address and watch ITV Hub outside of the UK, it could be the reason for ITV Hub being financially punished. To prevent this from happening ITV Hub tries to identify and block ExpressVPN connections.
How does ITV Hub block ExpressVPN?
The main way ITV Hub blocks ExpressVPN is by monitoring the IP addresses connecting to its service.
Like all VPNs, ExpressVPN has more customers than IP addresses. VPNs need this in order to work as a business. However, this business model’s problem is that customers using ExpressVPN are forced to share IP addresses.
ITV Hub knows this and uses it to its advantage. When ITV Hub notices a large number of connections coming from the same IP, it knows that that is an IP that ExpressVPN has provided, and it blocks it. This is because only a household of devices usually connects to ITV Hub via the same IP address. If more than that connects to ITV Hub via the same IP, it’s obviously a VPN IP address.
This isn’t specific to ExpressVPN, this happens to all VPNs. However what’s important is that the VPN has measures in place to get around this. ExpressVPN struggles with this however, NordVPN ($3.79/month) has measures to get around ITV Hubs blocks.
Does ITV Hub still work with VPNs?
Yes, ITV Hub will still work with a VPN, but you need to use a VPN that has IP addresses that are still compatible with the service. That means you need a VPN that hasn’t had all of its IP addresses blocked by ITV Hub and that can stay ahead of ITV Hub’s blocks.
To fix the problem, you need a VPN that plays a game of cat and mouse with ITV Hub. You need a VPN like NordVPN ($3.79/month)
When ITV Hub identifies and blocks an IP provided by NordVPN ($3.79/month), it will close that IP and open a new one. This will allow you to watch ITV Hub from anywhere in the world reliably, and it will help to prevent the errors you’ve run into from happening again.
The best VPNs to watch ITV Hub
1. NordVPN $3.79/month
An incredibly fast and trustworthy VPN
- ✔Over 5,000 servers worldwide
- ✔6 simultaneous devices
- ✔Reliable customer service
- ✔Fast NordLynx protocol
- ✔Cybersec ad and tracker blocker
- ✔Easy to use interface
NordVPN is the most widely-used VPN in the world. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a polished app that delivers fast connections (more on this later) to a massive network of VPN servers.
It’s the most reliable at unblocking popular streaming services too – US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. This is because NordVPN hired a full-time technical team (that’s responsible for monitoring its servers’ connections with popular TV streaming services) and has been aggressively investing in its network of IP addresses in key locations.
Read our full NordVPN review.
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2. Private Internet Access $2.03/month
An affordable, reliable VPN
- ✔35,000 servers worldwide
- ✔Unlimited simultaneous devices
- ✔24/7 chat support
- ✔Servers in over 80 countries
- ✔MACE ad blocker included
- ✔Supports multiple protocols
Private Internet Access is one of the leading no-log VPN services with over 1-million paying customers.
This VPN is one of the best in the industry at beating streaming sites’ VPN bans. It provides reliable connections with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, MAX, Disney+ Amazon Prime, and many more.
Even better, it allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous devices to be connected to its servers at the same time. So you can share the account with all of your friends.
Read our full Private Internet Access review.
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3. Ivacy $1.00/month
A trustworthy and affordable VPN
- ✔5700+ servers worldwide
- ✔10 simultaneous devices
- ✔24/7 customer support
- ✔Dedicated IP address option
- ✔Available on all major platforms
- ✔Great price
If you’re looking for an excellent VPN, with an even better price tag, Ivacy ($1.00/month) is a great option.
While it doesn’t do much more than the other VPNs on this list, the main attraction is the price. This is an affordable VPN that will allow you to stream BBC iPlayer, in HD, from any country in the world on Mac, PC, Android, iOS and FireStick. You’ll also be able to unlock other services like US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, MAX, Amazon Prime, etc. with ease.
Read our full Ivacy review.
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4. CyberGhost $2.19/month
A solid VPN package
- ✔Deloitte verified no logs policy
- ✔Servers in 91 countries
- ✔7 simulatenous devices
- ✔Proprietary NoSpy servers
- ✔Multiple protocol options
- ✔Split tunneling support
CyberGhost is one of the more established VPNs on the market. It has a well-established, and well-tested global network of servers that perform well.
It also offers NoSpy servers which are specially designed to provide an extra layer of security and privacy for users.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
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Is watching ITV Hub with a VPN legal?
There are only a handful of countries (spot the authoritarianism link) where using a VPN is illegal; these are: China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, North Korea, Iraq, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Seychelles, Suriname, Namibia, Slovenia, Nicaragua and Tajikistan.
If you’re outside these countries and are using a VPN, you’re legally allowed to do so. However, it’s important to know that using a VPN with ITVX may breach the service’s terms of use.
In here it states: “In order to register for and use the Service, you must be:in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (the Territory)”
What this means is if you’re accessing ITVX outside the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man with a VPN, then ITV is within its rights to ban/block your connection or account.
However, with ITVX being a free streaming service that doesn’t require any sort of subscription, you aren’t obliged to accept a contractual agreement meaning there’s less restrictions when it comes to using a VPN with the streaming service.
This means, although ITVX will try and stop you from accessing its content with a VPN. It won’t ban your account for using one.
Also, ITVX has never banned anyone for using a VPN to access its service.
For more information you can check out our article answering Is streaming with a VPN legal?
