Peacock not working with VPN

Is Peacock not working with VPN? Don’t panic. There’s an easy way to fix it.

What’s likely happened is Peacock has managed to identify the IP address your VPN has given you and has blocked it.

It has managed to do this because the measures your VPN uses to stop all of its IP addresses from being blocked by Peacock are no longer working, or it doesn’t have these sorts of measures in the first place.

The good news is fixing the problem is easy. All you need to do is follow this article, and you’ll be able to fix Peacock not working with VPN in no time.

The best VPNs for Peacock

Our Pick 🥇

ExpressVPN
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  • Best-in-class performance
  • Super-fast dedicated servers worldwide
  • Specialised Lightway protocol

Buy now for $6.67/month

Highly Recommended 🥈

NordVPN
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  • Incredibly reliable servers
  • Proprietary NordLynx protocol
  • Available on most devices

Buy now for $3.99/month

Runner-up

Private Internet Access
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  • Install on an unlimited amount of devices
  • Independently audited no-logs policy
  • A bundle of features for an affordable price

Buy now for $2.03/month

Budget Option

Ivacy
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  • One of the most affordable VPNs
  • Advanced features like port forwarding
  • Option for a personal dedicated IP address

Buy now for $1.00/month

Budget Option

CyberGhost
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  • Reliable NoSpy servers
  • Servers in over 90 countries worldwide
  • Kill Switch and Split Tunneling support

Buy now for $2.19/month

Peacock not working with VPN: Quick Fixes

Total Time: 3 minutes

  1. Connect to a different US server

    Peacock not working with VPN is most likely happening because your IP address has been blocked by the streaming service.

    If you’re running into the “sorry, accessing Peacock through a VPN is restricted,” error. You should try to connect to a different US server. 

    Connecting to a different server will give you a different IP address and Peacock may not have blacklisted this new IP. If that’s the case, this will fix Peacock not working with VPN. If it doesn’t fix Peacock not working with VPN, move on to the next fix.

  2. Upgrade to a VPN that works with Peacock

    If Peacock still isn’t working with VPN, you need to upgrade to a more reliable service that works reliably with Peacock.

    I recommend using a high-end streaming VPN such as ExpressVPN ($6.67/month).

    ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) tops our list of the best VPNs because its fast, secure and has the best setup for unblocking major streaming services like Peacock. 

    ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) has numerous servers and IP addresses for you to use. It also has a massive network of dedicated servers all around the world.

    But its best feature is it plays a game of Cat and Mouse with Peacock. This is a simple measure that ensures you can watch Peacock reliably anywhere in the world. Any IP address provided by ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) that gets blacklisted by Peacock, gets closed. And a new fresh, undetected IP will be opened – therefore allowing users to stay one step ahead of Peacock’s VPN blocking techniques. 

Why is Peacock not working with VPN?

The reason your VPN isn’t working with Peacock is because the IP address it has given you has been blocked by the streaming service.

Although Peacock is different to other streaming services like Netflix, it still blocks VPNs. Peacock is owned by the US telecommunications conglomerate Comcast and it only has the rights to broadcast its content in the US. Comcast has paid a lot of money for these rights and it protects its investment by enforcing geo-restrictions with Peacock. This is why Peacock is not available outside of the US. 

Because someone using a VPN could gain access to Peacock outside the US, the streaming service has adopted VPN blocking techniques to prevent that from happening. If it didn’t do this it could face severe financial repercussions for breaching copyright and licensing agreements.

If you’re trying to access Peacock with a VPN and you’re coming across errors like – Peacock not working with VPN – your VPN either doesn’t have measures to get around these blocks, or the measures it does have aren’t working. And Peacock has managed to identify and block all the IP addresses your VPN can currently provide.

Peacock not working with VPN

Does Peacock work with a VPN?

Yes, Peacock works with a VPN, I’ve been watching Peacock in New Zealand for years without running into Peacock not working with VPN issues.

The trick is you need to use a VPN that’s good enough to get around Peacock’s VPN- blocking techniques. This means you need a VPN that’s incredibly fast, secure and that has a significant amount of IP addresses based in the US.

From our tests, we’ve found the best VPNs for Peacock are ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) and Private Internet Access ($2.03/month).

Both of these VPNs work well with Peacock because they have fast servers based in the US and they have measures in place to ensure they always have an IP address that works with Peacock.

They do this by playing a game of Cat and Mouse with the streaming service, in which if an IP address gets blocked by Peacock, they’ll close it and open a new one that hasn’t been blocked.

Although this measure sounds simple, it’s incredibly expensive and not many VPNs have the infrastructure to be able to do this. Fortunately both  ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) and Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) have these measures in place, so you’ll be able to watch Peacock reliably anywhere in the world without running into Peacock not working with VPN issues.

Can I watch Peacock with a free VPN?

Subscribing to a free VPN can be enticing however, from our tests we’ve found that free VPNs don’t work very well with Peacock. This is because they don’t meet certain criteria that we deem to be mandatory when using a VPN.

These are speed, security, servers and the ability to stay one step ahead of Peacock’s VPN blocking techniques.

Firstly, a lot of free VPNs limit the features that you can use. They throttle speeds, impose data restrictions and more. We’ve found that in order to watch Peacock with a VPN reliably you need to use a fast VPN.

Secondly a lot of free VPNs aren’t secure. From our DNS tests – which test how well a VPN keeps your online connection private and anonymous – most free VPNs failed to ensure a fully anonymous connection. To make matters worse, a significant amount of free VPNs have been found logging users data.

Third, free VPNs often have limits on the amount of servers you can use. In order to fix Peacock not working with VPN, you need a VPN with enough servers so you can switch between them if one isn’t working.

And lastly, free VPNs simply can’t keep up with Peacock’s VPN blocking techniques. They don’t have measures to ensure you can get around them and watch Peacock reliably worldwide.

The best VPN servers (September 2023)

1. ExpressVPN 🥇 $6.66/month

The fastest and most reliable streaming VPN of 2023

  • 160+ IP addresses in 94+ countries
  • 5 simultaneous devices
  • Live chat support
  • Over 3,000 servers
  • >80% connection speed
  • Unlimited bandwidth
ExpressVPN review

ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) is still the best VPN. And importantly, it ALWAYS has servers that are open with major streaming sites such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

Special Offer for you!

(30-day money-back guarantee)

2. 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 Best VPN image

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.

Special Offer for you!

(30-day money-back guarantee)

3. 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
Best VPN list - PIA

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.

Special Offer for you!

(30-day money-back guarantee)

4. 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
Ivacy Best VPN image

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.

Special Offer for you!

(30-day money-back guarantee)

5. 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 Best VPN image

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.

Special Offer for you!

(30-day money-back guarantee)

Additional steps to fix Peacock not working with VPN

Nine times out of ten, changing to a different US server will fix Peacock not working with VPN. If not though, here are some additional fixes you can try:

  1. Delete Cookies: Deleting Cookies is a good place to start. Cookies often interfere with VPN connections and will tip off Peacock that you’re using a VPN to access the service. To ensure this isn’t happening, try deleting your Cookies.
  2. Change Protocol: VPN protocols are the set of rules a VPN uses to encrypt your data and divert it through its own server. If you’re coming across Peacock not working with VPN issues, check and see if your VPN supports multiple protocols. You might be coming across Peacock not working with VPN errors because the protocol you’re using is no longer compatible with the streaming service.
  3. Reinstall your VPN: If all else fails, we recommend resorting to a tried-and-true fix. Reinstalling your VPN will give you a fresh installation of the software and this will get rid of any bugs or errors you may have inadvertently picked up.

Is watching Peacock with a VPN legal?

Yes, watching Peacock with a VPN is perfectly legal, however it’s important to know that it may go against Peacock’s terms of use.

The Peacock terms of use state “The Peacock Services are for viewers in the United States (including its territories and possessions). You may not access or use the Peacock Services, or the applicable portion thereof, if you are outside of the United States (including its territories and possessions) or are barred from receiving the Peacock Services under these Terms.” And “We have the right to suspend your account for any reason, including due to a violation of these Terms.”

What this means is if Peacock figures out you’re using a VPN to watch the streaming service outside the US, then they can block and possibly ban your account.

With that said there are many legitimate and legal use cases for VPNs, like online privacy and anonymity. It’s fair to suggest that banning customers for using a VPN would be a heavy-handed and financially costly policy for Peacock (and other streaming services) to enforce.

In theory, if you’re trying to watch a streaming service (that you pay for) in a region where it does not traditionally operate, you risk having your account banned. However, as VPNs use military-grade encryption, it’s impossible for streaming services to trace where you’re physically accessing its content from.  And there’s one final thing to note on the subject: Peacock has never banned anyone for using a VPN to access its service.