Every few weeks/month StrongVPN will stop working with BBC iPlayer. Why? BBC iPlayer is constantly trying to detect and block VPNs from connecting to its servers.
In this article, I’ll take you through how BBC iPlayer detects and blocks VPNs, and also list the things you need to do to beat BBC iPlayer’s VPN ban.
See also:
- How to watch BBC iPlayer abroad: The EASY 2-minute method!
- How to get BBC iPlayer on the US App Store: The SIMPLE method!
- BBC iPlayer not working with VPN? Here’s how I FIXED that!
StrongVPN not working with BBC iPlayer: Quick Guide
To fix StongVPN not working with BBC iPlayer, follow these simple steps. Go through them one by one and if one doesn’t work, move onto the next.
Total Time: 2 minutes
Delete Cookies
You may have noticed that some websites ask you to accept cookies when you visit them. Cookies aren’t malicious, they’re designed to make your online experience better.
The potential issue here is cookies can sometimes store information that discloses your location. BBC iPlayer can access this information and figure out you’re trying to watch its service from outside the UK. If you are, then your connection will be blocked.
A good place to start when trying to fix StrongVPN not working with BBC iPlayer is to delete your cookies.
Change to a different UK server
StrongVPN isn’t working because BBC iPlayer has been able to identify and block the IP address that StrongVPN has allocated to you.
If you change to a different server on StrongVPN, you’ll be provided with a different IP address. If the BBC hasn’t blocked this IP then the streaming service will work with StrongVPN again.
Upgrade to a better VPN
If steps one and two don’t work then, BBC iPlayer has managed to block all of the IP addresses StrongVPN can provide. This means that it won’t work with BBC iPlayer, and you need to upgrade to a better VPN. We recommend NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month)
These VPNs work well with BBC iPlayer, and they have measures in place that prevent BBC iPlayer from blocking all of their IP addresses. StrongVPN doesn’t have these measures in place, this is why you’ve run into these issues.
When BBC iPlayer identifies an IP provided by NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month) they close that IP address and open a new one. This allows you to watch BBC iPlayer anywhere in the world reliably. It also stops you from running into the same problems that you have with StrongVPN.
Why has BBC iPlayer blocked StrongVPN?
BBC iPlayer actively tries to block VPNs from connecting to its service. This isn’t new. Other streaming services like Netflix, BBC, Amazon Prime and Disney+ have been trying to block VPN connections for a long time. The reason the BBC tries to prevent VPNs from connecting is due to copyright and licensing issues.
The BBC only has the rights to broadcast its content in the UK. It does not have international broadcast rights. To avoid running into copyright and licensing issues, the BBC blocks users outside of the UK from accessing its content, you’ll run into an error like this, “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
Because StrongVPN allows you to spoof your location when connecting to BBC iPlayer, the BBC blocks StrongVPN connections from accessing its service. These blocks are why StrongVPN is no longer working with BBC iPlayer.
How does the BBC block StrongVPN?
The BBC blocks StrongVPN by monitoring connections that connect to BBC iPlayer.
StrongVPN has mores customers than IP addresses and that results in customers having to share IPs. The BBC scans for an abnormal amount (more than an average household) of connections coming from the same IP address. When it sees hundreds or thousands of connections coming from the same IP address, the BBC knows that this is an IP that a VPN has provided, and it blocks it.
The BBC also uses two other techniques to block VPN connections:
- The BBC monitors for IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks that can tip the service off you are using a VPN.
- The BBC teams up with GeoIP databases like Maxmind to identify IP addresses. If the IP address your VPN provides is on one of these databases, the BBC will be able to find out where in the world you are connecting to the internet from and it will block you.
This is a problem for StrongVPN because Strong doesn’t have measures in place to get around these blocks. Eventually, the BBC can identify all of the IP addresses StrongVPN can provide and block them, which results in StrongVPN no longer working with BBC iPlayer.

Does BBC iPlayer still work with VPNs?
Yes, BBC iPlayer still works with VPNs. However, you need a VPN that is compatible with BBC iPlayer. We recommend NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month).
To reliably watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN, you need a VPN that works well with the streaming service. Both NordVPN ($3.49/month) and Ivacy ($1.33/month) have fast UK based servers, they work well with BBC iPlayer and most importantly, they have measures in place to get around the BBC’s blocks. When the BBC identifies an IP address provided by NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month), these VPNs close that IP address and open a new one. This cat and mouse game means you can watch BBC iPlayer reliably from anywhere in the world, and it also means you don’t run into issues as you have with StrongVPN.
How to fix StrongVPN not working with BBC iPlayer
To reliably watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN, you need a VPN that plays cat and mouse with iPlayer. You need a VPN like NordVPN ($3.49/month) or Ivacy ($1.33/month). These VPNs work very well with BBC iPlayer and they have measures in place that ensure you’ll never run into issues when streaming the service from outside the UK.
Below is a list of VPNs that work well with BBC iPlayer. All of these VPNs stay one step ahead of the BBC’s VPN blocking techniques and they all have servers around the world
The best VPNs to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK
1. NordVPN
The BEST VPN of 2022

Pro
- Fast servers
- No logs
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 6-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
SPECIAL OFFER – $3.49/month
2. Ivacy
The BEST low-cost VPN

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- Dedicated streaming servers
- 5-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 5 devices
- Sometimes runs slow
- Occasionally blocked by streaming sites
SPECIAL OFFER: 7-DAY TRIAL ($0.99)
3. ExpressVPN
A very reliable and fast VPN

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
SPECIAL OFFER – 3-MONTHS FREE!
4. Private Internet Access
The BEST mid-range VPN for streaming!
Pros
- Fast and reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 48 server locations
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 82%!
30-day money-back guarantee
5. CyberGhost

Pros
- 1-day free trial
- Reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 7-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
- Average speed scores
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
30-day money-back guarantee