Stream TV shows online easily with Avast SecureLine VPN
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Are you trying to binge your favorite TV shows abroad or just trying to watch something new? Try a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs do more than just safeguard your personal privacy online — they're also handy for streaming content. Read on to learn how to use a VPN to stream securely from anywhere in the world.
One of the biggest advantages of using a VPN for streaming is being able to watch the shows you love anywhere you want, even if you’re traveling. VPNs are great for accessing geo-blocked online TV or streaming other content that may have certain restrictions attached to it.
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Besides unblocking content, there are other reasons why you might need a VPN when streaming content. These include hiding your streaming history and activity from third parties, and staying secure if you watch something on public Wi-Fi.
In this article, we’ll show you how to use a VPN to stream your favorite TV shows and movies. And we’ll answer the most common questions about VPN streaming, including using a VPN on your TV, how to use a VPN for live streaming, and whether it’s legal to use a VPN for streaming.
To use a VPN for streaming, you first need to choose one of the best VPNs for streaming and install it. Next, you need to choose a server location that best meets your viewing needs. Then, you can start streaming your favorite content.
Before you can start streaming, you need to download and set up a VPN. Most VPN providers offer a dedicated app, which is easy to install on any computer or device, whether you want to use a VPN for your PC, a VPN for Mac, a VPN for iOS, or a VPN for Android.
Avast SecureLine VPN not only unblocks content on your favorite streaming sites; it also offers true internet privacy and military-grade encryption to help hide your IP address and online activity from third parties.
Next, open up your VPN and choose a server location. VPN server location is important, because it can affect everything from how fast your connection speed is to your ability to unblock content to the level of privacy you’ll get. Server locations that are farther away can slow down your internet speed, and some countries have restrictions or regulate VPN use.
The best VPN server location for streaming will depend on where you are and what you want to watch. Content libraries in the United States typically have the widest range of TV shows and movies available. Check out our list of top VPN server locations to learn more about choosing a location based on internet access, content limitations, and user rights.
The best VPNs for streaming let you choose the server location
Once you’ve installed the VPN on your device and selected your target location, you can open up the streaming service you want and start watching. As long as your VPN is enabled, it will appear that you’re watching from the VPN server’s location, which should let you access all the content that’s available in that region.
While streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, or HBO Max are great, movies and TV shows might not be the only content you want to watch. Sometimes, you may want to watch free TV channels online to catch a TV show, the daily news, or a big sporting match. Good news — you can also use a VPN for live streaming or watching TV on the internet.
So, how do you stream your favorite TV channels? There’s no big difference in how to stream TV channels or watch a live stream with a VPN as long as you’re on the internet. Just choose the VPN server location that makes the most sense for what you want to watch, open the page where the content is located, and click play.
It’s simple to use a VPN with almost any smart TV by following these steps:
Make sure your smart TV has an app store and is connected to the internet.
Go to the app store, find the VPN app you want to use, and install it.
Log in (or sign up) and connect to a server in the location where you want to watch.
Open the app you’d like to use, select the content you want to stream, and click play.
Some smart TVs might not let you install the VPN you want. There are ways around this — you can set up a VPN on your router’s specific brand and model or connect to the VPN on your computer or phone, then connect your TV to your device over a mobile hotspot or with an HDMI cable. If you already have your favorite VPN on your computer or phone, this is a practical solution that doesn’t require setting up a new VPN.
But is VPN TV streaming useful? Similar to streaming on your computer, installing a VPN on a TV lets you watch regionally-blocked content if you want to expand your library options or access certain apps. It’s also helpful for keeping your viewing history and other online activity private. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, which keeps your internet service provider (ISP) from monitoring what you do and can even help prevent ISP throttling.
Most of the usual streaming sites work with a VPN, and a VPN helps you tune into the most popular TV broadcasts wherever you happen to be in the world. So if you’re hooked on Shark Week, are a die-hard NFL Sunday Night Football fan, or haven’t missed an episode of NCIS since it first aired in 2003, a VPN can help you connect to the best content.
You can use a VPN to change your Netflix region and unblock other streaming sites like Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more. Using a VPN temporarily replaces your IP address to make it appear that you’re in the location where your VPN server is.
VPNs are also commonly used to unblock websites, which is helpful if you’re on a closed school or work network, want to get around location-based pricing, or are located in a country that restricts free access to online content.
For streaming, though, a VPN is especially helpful for accessing the full roster of TV shows and movies available to view since most of these sites offer different content selections across regions. When you connect with a VPN, you can hide your IP address to unblock shows and relocate virtually to find a new world of content to watch.
VPNs help you unblock content and stream your favorite shows online.
Generally speaking, it is legal to use a VPN to watch foreign TV and other types of online programming (unless the content is banned in the country you’re in). In the US, and in most other countries, VPN use is legal, whether you’re streaming or using one for other reasons. Many companies even encourage employees to use a VPN to protect their identity and data online.
While circumventing geo-blocking might be considered a violation of some streaming services’ terms of use, it is not usually considered an illegal act. Before traveling to a foreign country, check the country’s local laws to make sure using a VPN to steam content is legal.
Let’s say you want to use your VPN to watch US TV abroad. You simply sign in to your VPN and select any server location in the US. From there, you’ll log into your streaming service or go to the website where the content is located — and that’s it.
Using a VPN can help you stream shows while traveling abroad.
This works for any location, so you can pick a VPN server in any country where you want to access content and you’ll appear to be located in the country where that VPN server is. There are other ways you can change your IP address, but using a VPN is one of the easiest.
Ready to start streaming with a VPN? Not all VPNs are created equal — some can improve your overall streaming experience while others can noticeably slow down your connection speeds.
Avast SecureLine VPN helps you access the content you love wherever you are, while providing smooth, uninterrupted streaming. Our lightning-fast servers are optimized to have enough bandwidth to handle even the highest-quality streams, so you don’t have to worry about buffering or lags.
Plus, you’ll get all the enhanced security that comes with using a VPN built by one of the world’s leaders in cybersecurity. Avast SecureLine VPN comes with military-grade encryption and one-click privacy protection so you can connect from anywhere and keep online spies away. Start streaming easily and privately today.