In this guide, I will show you how to watch BBC iPlayer in the USA (and outside the UK). This post demonstrates how to watch this service on Amazon FireStick, Fire TV Cube, Kodi, and a computer/mobile browser.
BBC offers a range of popular and quality content including TV series, documentaries, docuseries, movies, and a lot more. A lot of their programs are available through various streaming services outside the UK. However, BBC iPlayer is one place from where you can access just about anything that’s BBC.
Sadly, BBC iPlayer is not available outside the UK.
Though, that doesn’t mean you cannot access it if you don’t live in the UK. This is precisely what I am going to show in this tutorial. As soon as you will finish the instructions exactly as they provided, you will have access to:
- BBC One
- BBC Two
- BBC Three
- BBC Four
- CBBC
- CBeebies
- BBC News Channel
- BBC Parliament
- BBC ALBA
How to Watch BBC iPlayer in the USA or any other Country
BBC is a premium service and invests a lot of resources to restrict access outside the UK. However, there is still a way you could get access by using a VPN. But that is also not very easy. BBC blocks most of the VPN providers and only a handful are able to bypass its protection wall.
One VPN that I found working great with the BBC iPlayer without any hiccups is ExpressVPN. It is a premium VPN and works flawlessly with BBC iPlayer and even unblocks Netflix, Hulu, facilitates torrenting, and does a lot more.
ExpressVPN is available at a 49% discount over its regular price when you buy its annual plan. Also, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee (no questions asked). So you get sufficient time to try the service and decide whether you want to continue or want a refund.
Let me show you how to install and set ExpressVPN up on your streaming devices and then how to get the BBC iPlayer app.
STEP 1: Connect to the UK VPN Server
Let me take you through the steps to install ExpressVPN and connect to a UK server.
How to set up VPN on a FireStick
If you are using any other device, I have shown the set up in the next section. The following steps are for Amazon Fire TV users.
1. Click here to visit ExpressVPN.com and buy the subscription.
2. Search ExpressVPN on Firestick and install the app.
3. Open the app and enter login credentials
4. Connect to the UK server
If you need more help with the VPN set up, you can follow this guide to learn how to install and use ExpressVPN on Firestick.
How to set up VPN on any streaming device
If you have an Amazon FireStick and have already set up using the above method, you can skip this and go directly to the next section where I have shown the BBC iPlayer app set up.
- Visit ExpressVPN.com and subscribe to service
- Click here to download and install the VPN software on your device
- Open the app and enter the login details
- Choose and connect to a UK server
That’s all. You are now ready to start using the BBC iPlayer in your country. Keep reading!
STEP 2: Sign up for BBC iPlayer Service
To sign up for the BBC iPlayer service, you need to visit the official BBC iPlayer website and register for a free account.
The catch here is that the service will block any request coming from outside the UK. Therefore, make sure you are connected to a UK VPN server.
Now, follow these steps:
1. Open a web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) Type in the following link to go to the BBC registration page: https://account.bbc.com/register?
2. Choose one of the options:
- Under 13
- 13 or over
I am choosing 13 or over
3. Enter your date of birth and click Continue
4. On the next page, enter the following details:
- Email address
- Password
5. Make sure you select the United Kingdom in the Country field
6. The moment you enter the email address and password and choose the country, the following fields will appear:
- Postcode
- Gender
Make sure you enter a valid postcode from the UK. If you don’t know any, you could generate a random UK postcode from here.
7. Click Register to continue
8. You are now signed up
9. Go to your email inbox and open the verification email from BBC. Click the verification link in the email
10. On the next page, select one of the following depending upon whether you wish to receive news and updates in your email:
- Yes Please
- No Thanks
I have chosen No Thanks
11. Click Continue
This is how you sign up for a BBC iPlayer account outside the UK.
STEP 3: Start Watching BBC iPlayer in the USA or any country outside the UK
Here we will discuss how you can watch BBC iPlayer on a FireStick, browser, and Kodi. Let’s take a look at all of them one-by-one:
How to install BBC iPlayer APK on Firestick
The BBC iPlayer app is not available on the Amazon app store. Hence, we need to sideload the iPlayer APK that works outside the UK. Check out the step-by-step instructions below:
1. Go to the FireStick home screen again and choose the Search option
2. Lookup for the Downloader app. Follow the on-screen instructions to install this app.
3. Click the Downloader Tile on the next screen
4. Click Download/Get and wait for the app to install
5. Once Downloader has installed, go to the Fire TV Stick home screen and choose Settings
6. Navigate to and open the option My Fire TV
7. Choose Developer Options
8. On the following screen, click Install Unknown Apps
9. Click the Downloader app and turn it ON
10. Open the Downloader app. Dismiss any prompts that appear and go to the main screen
11. Click the address bar/text box in the middle
12. Enter the following URL and click GO: http://bit.ly/bipl2
13. Wait for the download to finish, and then Click Install
14. Click Open to run the BBC iPlayer APK on FireStick
15. Access BBC iPlayer app from the section Your Apps & Channels
14. Click Sign in
16. You should now see this window on your FireStick with a code. Note down the code.
17. On a computer or mobile browser, go to https://bbc.com/account/tv
Sign in with your BBC iPlayer account username and password if required
Now, enter a Display name. You may choose any name you like.
Click Continue
18. Enter the code displayed on your FireStick screen
19. Click Sign in on your TV
20. Upon successful authorization, you should see the following message in your browser
21. BBC iPlayer app on FireStick will now display this screen. Click Continue
22. On this Privacy Notice screen, click OK, got it button
23. Here is your BBC iPlayer home screen. You may start streaming now.
You will find featured content on the home screen. You can browse more by choosing the options Channels and Categories on the top.
If you have something particular in mind, you may use the Search option on the top menu list
How to Watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK using a Browser
Follow the steps below:
1. Open the BBC iPlayer VPN on your computer/mobile and Connect to a UK server
2. Open a web browser and go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
3. Click Sign in on the top
4. Sign in with your BBC iPlayer account credentials
5. The following is the homepage of the website. Choose the content you want to watch
6. BBC iPlayer will now ask you if you have a TV License. Go ahead and choose I have a TV License. Watch now.
7. Start streaming.
How to install and use BBC iPlayer Kodi addon
BBC iPlayer is available via the official Kodi repository called Kodi Add-on Repository. You will find it by the name iPlayer WWW.
Here are the steps to install and use BBC iPlayer on Kodi:
1. Open the Kodi application on your device
2. Navigate to the top section on the left and click the gear icon to open Kodi Settings
3. Next, choose the option Add-ons
4. When this window is displayed, click Install from repository
Note: The official repository comes preinstalled with Kodi. You don’t need to install it separately
5. If you have installed any additional, third-party repositories, you will see a window like this (image below). Click Kodi Add-on repository
If you don’t see this window, jump to the next steps
6. Scroll down and choose Video add-ons from this list
7. On the next screen, scroll down this list of addons and click iPlayer WWW
Note: There are a lot of addons in the official repository. To find the addon easily, you may use the search option. Click Options in the bottom-left corner of this window and on the slide-out menu click Filter. Now, lookup for iPlayer WWW
8. Click Install on this screen
9. Kodi will now display the list of all the additional add-ons that will be installed with iPlayer. Simply click OK
10. Wait for the addon to install. You should see the notification iPlayer WWW Add-on installed in a minute or two (upper-right corner)
You have successfully installed the addon. Let’s learn how to access and use the addon
11. Go to the Kodi home screen. You may press the back button repeatedly.
12. From the home screen, navigate to Add-ons > Video add-ons. Click the BBC iPlayer icon
13. Now, here is the list of the options for you to stream.
Make sure you connect to a UK server through a VPN before you start streaming.
This is how you install and use BBC iPlayer on Kodi!
Wrapping Up
Well, this is pretty much about using BBC iPlayer in the USA (or outside the UK). Even though this service is restricted to the United Kingdom, with the help of a good VPN you can always unblock it no matter where you live. By unblocking BBC iPlayer, you gain access to tons of high-quality content from BBC.
Related:
- Best VPN for BBC iPlayer
- How to Jailbreak a FireStick
- Free Movie Apps for Firestick
- Best Addons for Kodi
Disclosure - FireStickTricks.com is reader-supported blog. When you buy a product through links on our site, we may earn commission. Learn More
Hi,
Gone thru the steps to download/install iplayer on my fire stick. Only problem no cursor or selection box shows in iplayer. I can’t select anything to watch. Any ideas?
Hi Denies, try following our guide on how to install Mouse Toggle on FireStick.
I downloaded the BBC iPlayer app and signed in it can’t watch anything. I’m in the USA and using UK VPN. I looked up the error code 02001 and apparently you can’t watch BBC iPlayer with a VPN. So why does everyone say you can?
Article: “Why is the iPlayer error 02001 happening?
Unfortunately there are many reasons the error message is coming up. Below are all the reported reasons to date.
IP address
The app thinks your IP address is outside of the uk. Due to the rights agreement the BBC iPlayer service is only within the UK. You can only download and stream media off BBC iPlayer only whilst in the UK.
You are using a VPN
BBC iPlayer will not work if it detects you are using a VPN, this is to stop users outside of the UK using the service.”
Hi Sandy. If BBC iPlayer detects your VPN, it will not allow you to use it. BBC iPlayer doesn’t always detect a VPN, but once it does it will continue to detect it. You can try changing VPN location to a different location in the UK and try again.
Hi. I have installed expressvpn with subscription to my firestick but i player still won’t play – any suggestions?
Hi Suzi, I just checked and it is working for me. Please make sure that ExpressVPN is connected to the UK.
Where is experimental video controls?
Hi Richard, I believe Pat is referring to the following: go to the BBC iPlayer app –> Settings –> Video Player –> select “New Video Controls – Try our experimental video controls.”
Hello Pat where do you find the “try experimental video controls ” settigs? I could not see that in the iPlayer settings or on FireTV.
Hi Regis, I believe Pat is referring to the following: go to the BBC iPlayer app –> Settings –> Video Player –> select “New Video Controls – Try our experimental video controls.”
When I choose what I want to watch, I get an error
BBC- something went wrong… error 0201
Hi Karen, try using the Amazon Silk Browser on your FireStick and go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and sign in to your BBC account from there.
I followed the guide, everything works well, including the splash screen. Once it loads however, everything is oversized, so I can’t see the entire APP screen. Any way to fix this issue oversized issue?
Hi Jakub, please go to FireStick Settings > Display & Audio > Display > Calibrate Display and check if your display is properly calibrated.
How can i fix that the iplayer up is so oversized ?
Hi Jakub, could you please elaborate on your issue?
got it figured out ! I had to select “try experimental video controls ” in the settings . Thanks again for your time.
play / pause / fforward / rewind. When I launch a program I see a the play bar but its disappears soon after so I can’t control any ply pause functions. I tried resizing the screen but it didnt make a difference. This only happens with the Iplayer. Thanks for responding with your help btw. very much appreciated.
Ok , step by step…! The mouse toggle works …Thanks ! but now I can see the transport controls once the program starts (bbc Iplayer) any thoughts on that ?
Hi Pat, what exactly do you mean by transport controls?
Thank you !
Hi , thanks for the guide to install the BBC Iplayer , ive installed it and logged in , my problem is the Firestick will only navigate up and down, sideways and enter does not function. Any suggestions ?
Hi Pat, you will need the Mouse Toggle app for it. Here is the guide: https://www.firesticktricks.com/mouse-toggle-firestick.html
This worked fine for me. Thank you for taking the time to create this guide.
The APK that you download from the link above does not work properly
Hi Kenneth, what’s the exact nature of the problem? Please elaborate so I can help you better.