IPTV Not Working with VPN: Why and the Solution

IPTV Not Working with VPN: Why and the Solution
11 min read
28 February 2023

IPTV services continue to become more popular and a viable alternative to satellite and cable subscriptions.

Many subscribers use VPNs to watch IPTV, and doing so has many benefits. However, they may notice that their IPTV does not work with a VPN in some cases.

There are many reasons why your IPTV stream may not be working correctly, and in this article, we will provide all the information you need to make it work smoothly over a VPN.

What is VPN

The term VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network” and is a secure, dedicated server where people can browse the Internet anonymously.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) masks your IP address and ensures that it is encrypted. This means that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) cannot monitor your activity.

In the context of IPTV, this means they will not be able to restrict (slow down) your streaming. It also provides you with an additional layer of privacy.

VPN has three main functions.

  • Protects your identity by hiding your online behavior from Internet service providers
  • Unlocks censored content in areas with strict Internet laws
  • Helps you fake your digital location to access region-specific content and services, such as the U.S. versions of Netflix or Hulu

Should I use a VPN when watching IPTV?

We think anyone using an IPTV service should consider using a VPN, and here are 4 reasons why.

Circumvent your ISP’s restrictions on IPTV services

Many ISPs don’t hide the fact that they restrict their users’ Internet service by connecting to some sites and services more slowly than others.

Nevertheless, many people are surprised to find that their ISPs employ these tactics.

The likely reason for this is that the average Internet user does not know what throttling is. Simply put, throttling is when your ISP, slows down your connection.

ISPs claim to use throttling as a way to reduce network congestion and prevent network congestion. There is some truth to this claim, but it’s not something you pay them to do.

Imagine if you paid extra to get 60Mbps from a streaming service, only to find out after throttling that you only have 30Mbps.

Maybe you normally download files at 56Mbps, then suddenly, the download speed drops to 12Mbps.

That’s what throttling does to a connection. ISP limits can prevent you from watching online videos without buffering.

Throttling has become a bigger issue since the FCC voted to eliminate net neutrality, which prevents ISPs from creating “Internet traffic lanes” where service providers can charge people more to access certain services without throttling.

When you use a VPN, you prevent your ISP from limiting your traffic and slowing down your connection. This means you can access all the content you want without worrying about slowing down your connection.

Because ISPs often restrict connections based on what you access, using a VPN connection means your ISP can’t know what data you’re transferring – which means they can’t stop it.

Better privacy protection

As mentioned earlier, if you access to content and stream online without a VPN to obfuscate your traffic, your ISP can track you and what you’re doing online.

Your ISP can see everything you do, including the sites you visit and the content you stream and download.

If you try to access content that is prohibited in your area, your ISP can – and will – report you to the authorities. This is particularly troubling in areas with restrictive Internet laws, such as China.

Using a VPN means your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online. a VPN connection encrypts everything that passes through. You don’t give away your location or your actual IP address to the sites you visit.

A VPN ensures that you get a level of privacy and security when browsing the Internet and streaming media online – whether from an IPTV provider or another source.

Having this additional layer of online privacy protection also protects you from copyright infringement notices. However, do not use this as an excuse for online piracy, as we do not tolerate such behavior.

As more and more regions increase their attacks on the freedom of the Internet, using a VPN for IPTV can help you access blocked sites and avoid the prying eyes of authorities.

Circumventing ISP Blocking

IPTV services are legal, but that doesn’t mean cable companies will stand by and let them take their business. Rather than trying to do better, cable companies are calling their lawyers and pressuring ISPs to block IPTV services.

It’s easier to compete with lawyers and courts than to fight them by providing better service.

Some IPTV providers get around these legal battles, but the best way to make sure you stay safe and stream IPTV without worrying about ISP blocking is to use a VPN.

A VPN for IPTV is the best way to prevent streams from being blocked or interrupted by ISPs.

VPNs May Improve Streaming Performance

One of the problems people encounter when using VPNs for IPTV is that they can slow down your Internet speed. Having to connect to additional ports means that traffic may take longer to get through.

That said, VPNs can improve streaming performance and online performance by directing connections through less congested servers.

If you connect to a country through a VPN with little traffic, you may find that your content streams better than it would without the VPN.

In addition, VPNs prevent restrictions from governments and ISPs, which may result in a slight improvement in streaming performance. Using a VPN will not improve raw connection speeds, but it will improve performance.

Think of it like driving on an empty highway. Technically, you can’t speed, but there’s nothing stopping you from traveling faster for longer, and you’ll probably get to your destination faster.

We do have a warning when using IPTV in conjunction with a VPN. Please check to make sure that the IPTV service you are using allows VPN connections.

Most IPTV providers allow VPN connections, but some of them may not allow you to connect via VPN. Services are getting better at detecting VPN connections, and anyone who has tried to use a VPN for Netflix probably knows this.

Some services will look at and block connections from VPN tunnels.

What are the disadvantages of using a VPN for IPTV?

In addition to the main advantages, there are some considerations to take into account when using a VPN in conjunction with IPTV. In some countries, the use of VPNs is restricted or illegal, which means you should check their status before using them.

Another potential drawback is that some IPTV providers can check VPN usage and prevent you from using the service. However, higher-quality VPNs are often able to bypass these detection methods.

A low-quality VPN may also slow you down, which can cause delays when streaming. In general, the benefits of using a VPN are obvious.

Why IPTV doesn’t work with VPNs

Not all services allow VPNs, and some providers do not allow shared VPNs, but a VPN dedicated IP means it is just your IP and is not shared with other VPN users, so check with your provider.

Note: If you are using OTV IPTV, you will not have to worry about the VPN not working.

In some cases, you may notice that the VPN service causes your IPTV to stop working or may cause delays.

As we mentioned above, the problem may be that your streaming service detects VPN usage, or that it slows down your IPTV connection.

In these cases, you should try using a different VPN provider, such as ExpressVPN, and in some cases, the problem may be that the particular VPN server is too slow.

You can always try to reboot your IPTV device. Sometimes a simple reboot will get your VPN to work properly while you watch IPTV.

If you are getting slow results on all servers, it may be time to switch your VPN provider to one that can provide more reliable speeds.

Overall, these are the most common problems if your IPTV is not working with a VPN. If you have tried these steps and they still do not work, then you should contact your IPTV provider for further support.

What are the best VPNs for IPTV?

For those who want to wrap things up, these are the best VPNs for IPTV.

  • NordVPN: Our top choice for IPTV. Strong security and privacy features. Great for secure video delivery. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Best budget VPN. strong privacy and security, and easy-to-set-up streaming platforms.
  • ExpressVPN: Fast connection speeds and great online privacy features make this VPN a favorite for those who want to access streaming services from abroad.
  • CyberGhost: A low-cost VPN with fast connection speeds and good security features.
  • IPVanish: Good connection speeds and privacy features make this VPN popular with seed downloaders and Kodi users.
  • PrivateVPN: A new entrant to the VPN market that works well with content streaming services.
  • Atlas VPN: High-speed server that works with many IPTV services. Unlimited connectivity and security with MultiHop servers and ad blockers.

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here.

TEST WINNER

NordVPN

Surfshark

ExpressVPN

CyberGhost

IPVanish

PrivateVPN

Website

www.NordVPN.com

www.Surfshark.com

www.ExpressVPN.com

www.Cyberghost.com

www.IPVanish.com

www.PrivateVPN.com

Simultaneous Connections

6

Unlimited

7

10

Unlimited

10

Devices Supported

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Smart TVs, Routers

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux

Windows, macOS, Linux (command line), iOS, Android

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

Avg Speed (Mbps)

100+ Mbps

323.6 Mbps

100+ Mbps

100+ Mbps

100+ Mbps

71 Mbps

Conclusion

Overall, there is no doubt that using VPNs when using IPTV is a good practice. The enhanced security, privacy, and in some cases speed, make them a great add-on to the IPTV viewing experience.

Every IPTV user should consider using a VPN to ensure that no one can see that you are using an IPTV service.

Now you’ll know what to do when you encounter issues related to IPTV not working with VPNs, and you should be able to easily resolve those issues so you can get back to streaming your favorite live TV and sports shows.

 

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