BBC iPlayer detecting/blocking VPN [How to fix]

VPNs are commonly used for security as they provide the privacy most people seek online through encrypted tunnels across the open internet architecture.

For people who travel a lot and for long periods of time, VPNs come in handy to keep data secure while being able to access geo-restricted content whenever they want to watch their favorite shows on streaming media such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Amazon Prime, among others.

The primary reason for using a VPN, however, is to bypass internet censorship and country-level filtering, where there are severe censorship regulations. VPNs do this by hiding your current location and IP address such that the website you visit only sees that of your VPN and not your real one.

If you’re a BBC fan and you’d like to access the content from a different location other than the UK, sometimes you’ll find your VPN blocked by BBC, and there are reasons why this happens.

One reason is that BBC blocks VPN connections from accessing the iPlayer application. However, it is hard to completely block out VPN access, which can involve manual intervention because a strong, well-configured VPN can go undetected.

In fact, some reports have said that about 60 million people outside the UK can access BBC’s iPlayer via VPN connections or other unblocking tools, which is a more significant population than those living in the UK.

This is probably why the BBC is actively stopping unauthorized users from accessing the content.

To resolve the VPN blocked by BBC issue, try the solutions below.

Has BBC blocked VPN? Here’s how to unblock it

1. Preliminary checks

• Sometimes, the VPN blocked by BBC issue happens because your VPN account may have expired, so you’re unable to connect. Confirm if your account is still valid or has expired.
• Check third-party app settings like your security software settings, which sometimes block the PPTP and L2TP protocols, especially when you set them higher than the normal level. Disable them and try connecting again, then allow PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec through your antivirus and firewall and reenable the security software.
• Check your router settings if you’re connected to a WiFi router.
• Check for PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec pass-through options under the Router Firewall/Security tab and enable them. If these options don’t exist, disable the router firewall and try again, then reenable the firewall.
• Check that you entered the correct user credentials – username and password for logins.
• If you get an error message saying: You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy or You’ll need to disable your anonymizer, contact your VPN tech support team for help.
• Check your IP address for information, such as your city or region (country) next to your selected location. If it shows a location near you, you’re not connected to a server location associated with your VPN, so try connecting again.
• Check your internet connection by first disconnecting from your VPN and trying to access websites normally. If you cannot access it even when disconnected from the VPN, check your internet connection.
• Try connecting to a different UK VPN server.
• Try switching the web browser you’re using.
• Contact your VPN’s support team and see if they can help you bypass the VPN block.

2. Change your VPN

For guaranteed access, go for a VPN that is optimized for streaming, such as Private Internet Access.

When it comes to fighting online censorship, PIA is unmatched. According to its statement, this world-leading VPN provider has made it its mission to liberate the internet for you, as it was always intended.

With unlimited bandwidth and the highest download speeds, PIA is your best bet to unblock BBC content and enjoy all your favorite shows, buffering-free and without worrying about ISP throttling.

In addition, all the servers composing PIA‘s impressive network of worldwide gateways are streaming and P2P sharing compatible, which takes out the question of having to blindly search for a server location that the BBC does not block.

Activate your VPN, choose the server closest to you to rule out proximity-related issues, and enjoy a smooth, reliable, and stable connection for as long as you want.

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3. Download the latest version of your VPN

Uninstall the VPN app you’re running, sign in to your VPN account, and set up the VPN. Find the latest version for your device and reconnect, then see if you can access BBC.

To set up the VPN in Windows 10, do the following:

• Right-click Start and select Apps and Features

• Find your VPN from the list and select Uninstall
• Click Uninstall, then click Close to exit
• Connect again to your VPN and see if you can access BBC

Read more about this topic

• Google One VPN changes the Windows DNS, affecting security and Internet speed
• VPNs may become victim to password spraying attacks, Cisco alerts
• Brave browser’s new version doesn’t install its VPN to all users anymore
• BBC iPlayer stops downloads on Windows and Mac, faces backlash

4. Get a dedicated IP address

This may cost you a bit more, but go for one if you want uninterrupted streaming. A dedicated IP address is more complicated to blacklist because the shared ones are already on BBC’s radar.

But with a dedicated IP, you won’t be sharing with many other people, just a few selected users, which makes you look like a regular household compared to a big company.

5. Download the latest version of your VPN

Uninstall the VPN you’re running, then sign in to your VPN account and run the setup again. Find the latest version for your device and reconnect.

6. Flush the DNS

Flushing your DNS cache allows your computer to automatically access your VPN’s DNS for the proper/correct entries. To do this:

• Click Start
• Select All Apps
• Click Accessories
• Right-click Start and select Command Prompt (Admin)

• Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter. A confirmation that says: Windows IP Configuration Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache will be displayed

7. Manually configure DNS settings

Configure your computer with your VPN’s DNS servers’ IP addresses so that it automatically connects to your VPN’s DNS servers. Manually configuring your computer with other DNS server addresses helps you access BBC and enjoy faster connection speeds. To do this:

• Open Network Connections settings by right-clicking Start and select Run

• Type ncpa.cpl and click OK
• In the Network connections window, find your usual connection, either LAN or Wireless network connection.
• Right-click the connection and select Properties
• Set the DNS server addresses by double-clicking Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) or just Internet Protocol
• Select Use the following DNS server addresses
• Type these Google DNS server addresses: Preferred DNS server 8.8.8.8; Alternate DNS server 8.8.4.4

• If Google DNS is blocked, try the following: Neustar DNS Advantage (156.154.70.1 and 156.154.71.1) enter and press OK; Level3 DNS (4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2) enter and press OK
• Once configured, flush old DNS entries again, as described in the previous solution.

8. Manually configure proxy settings

A proxy server hides your real location so you can access websites such as BBC. Ensure your browser is set to auto-detect proxy or no proxy, then use the instructions to configure proxy settings for your browser manually. To do this:

• Click Tools

• Select Internet Options

• Go to the Connections tab
• Click LAN settings
• Uncheck all the options except Automatically detect settings and click OK for all

You can apply the same fixes when encountering the BBC iPlayer error code 02050.

Let us know if these solutions helped fix the VPN blocked by BBC error by leaving a comment in the section below.