Sky Go is one of the best TV streaming services in the UK, and in this guide, I’m going to show you the incredibly easy steps you can take to watch Sky Go from abroad.
If you’ve got a Sky Go account and you’re outside the UK for a period, then you’ve probably tried to watch Sky Go and realised it’s not available outside the UK.
It has been a source of constant frustration for me when I have wanted to watch Sky Go while travelling abroad.
Quick-Guide: How to watch Sky Go overseas
- Sign up for ExpressVPN.
- Download and login to their app.
- Select United Kingdom.
- Connect and head to Sky Go.
If you want to know how to stream Sky Go abroad and enjoy top Sky TV entertainment, you’re going to need to sign up for a service called a Virtual Private Network or VPN for short.
A VPN allows you to route your internet traffic via another location and appear as if you are in that country.
For example, if you’re in Australia and you use a VPN, you can appear as if you’re in the UK, and so Sky Go will let you watch any content as if you were at home in the UK.
This is a universal Sky Go solution that works in any country. I have used it all over the world, it is bulletproof. So let’s find out how to get going.
Table of Contents
How to unblock Sky Go outside UK
To watch Sky Go abroad, you need to sign up for a VPN and this will let you use your Sky TV account for streaming Sky Go from anywhere in the world.
A VPN is a small piece of software for your Windows or Mac computer or an app for your Android, iOS device, Smart TV, or Fire TV Stick.
A good VPN for Sky Go should cost between $5 – $10 a month or less, which is around £5 and the longer you sign up, the cheaper it becomes. It’s a bargain, and there are loads of other benefits to enjoy as well.
How to use a VPN to unblock Sky Go
I’m using my recommended VPN for Sky Go, ExpressVPN and getting it set up to successfully watch Sky Go abroad and to unblock other streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer is really simple.
I’ll cover other VPN providers later in this guide.
Just follow the instructions below to get ExpressVPN and use it to get around the geo-restrictions and watch Sky Go abroad.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN by visiting their website. It’s easy to sign up, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy.
- Download and install their software or app for your desktop and mobile devices, tablet, mobile, or Fire TV Stick – essentially, any device on which you can access Sky Go. You can also add it to up to four devices as well as your main one and alternate between them if you so wish.
- Activate the app using the activation code from the ‘My Account’ area of the ExpressVPN website or log in using your account details.
- Select the location UK (United Kingdom).
- Press Connect.
Unlock Sky Go using ExpressVPN.
Once connected to ExpressVPN, open the Sky Go app.
You will need to be a Sky TV subscriber and to log into your account using your Sky account. After that, Sky TV customers will be able to go abroad and still watch anything, including Sky Sports.
If you see an error message, there are a few things you can do. Testing to check that your internet connection is fast a good place to start. Your internet provider will be able to help if there are any problems here.
I have had problems in different countries, and ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live customer support has always been able to sort me out when I needed them.
Then check your speeds to see if your streaming performance is OK. If you have trouble connecting to the ExpressVPN server, their excellent customer support team will happily help all users connect to their service.
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Which VPN to choose?
A VPN is usually an online privacy and security tool used to ensure private internet access and to protect your device’s internet traffic from snoopers and hackers.
But a VPN unblocks Sky Go, too, thanks to a quirk in how they work that lets users connecting to a VPN mask their IP Addresses. This neat feature lets you evade geo-restrictions on services like Sky Go and allows you to use your Sky TV subscription even if you are abroad.
When you search Google for the term “VPN”, you’re faced with a wall of options, and not every provider is suitable for watching Sky Go abroad. Over the years, I have signed up for a few VPNs that haven’t been able to unblock anything.
Some aren’t fast enough to stream video, which will leave you with buffering and stuttering, ruining your enjoyment of watching your favourite shows on Sky TV.
Others are blocked from accessing Sky Go. Some don’t even have a single UK server which is a requirement.
That’s why it is vital that you choose the right VPN to watch Sky Go abroad. You need a fast, reliable VPN that offers the right VPN software for unblocking Sky Go outside UK all over the world.
Through my testing, I found ExpressVPN to be the best provider to unblock Sky Go because they’re fast, reliable and one of the cheapest available. You can read my latest review of ExpressVPN to find out what I thought.
But there are a few providers that were in contention for the crown of best VPN to unblock Sky Go, and in this next section, we will show you the results of our extensive testing to identify the best VPN for Sky Go outside UK.
Here’s a rundown of the features of each of our top VPNs for unblocking Sky Go.
So if you want to know how to watch Sky Go abroad, all you have to do is read through this section and choose your favourite VPN, then follow the instructions above:
1. ExpressVPN
- Fast and consistent
- One of the largest server networks around
- The best security and privacy
- Unblock Netflix, Hulu, and more
- Only 5 simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN is our top recommended VPN for watching Sky Go abroad and one of the best VPN services worldwide.
It ticks all the boxes with a huge VPN server network, including hundreds located in the UK, which you can use to evade Sky’s geo-restrictions and unblock Sky Go outside UK.
These servers are all optimised, meaning they not only deliver fast speeds, but these speeds are consistent and make for a reliable VPN for Sky Go users. This is the main reason why ExpressVPN is my go-to VPN for watching Sky Go abroad and every other streaming platform too.
ExpressVPN’s encryption is second-to-none, with 256-bit AES encryption used as standard across all its servers and perfect forward secrecy. It has a watertight privacy policy with a trustworthy no-user logs guarantee which has been audited and verified.
You can use ExpressVPN on all of your devices, too, with five simultaneous connections available. It has dedicated apps available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and many more.
If you want to watch on a device that doesn’t have an app, you can either find one of their many manual VPN installation guides, set it up on your Wi-Fi router, or use their dedicated DNS proxy service, MediaStreamer, which is included for free with every subscription.
As well as Sky Go which will let you enjoy the Sky Sports channels, Sky Cinema channels and much more besides, ExpressVPN can also unblock US and UK Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Apple TV, Hulu, and HBO Max, as well as many more popular streaming services from the UK and other countries.
In the end, it is a reliable VPN service that works with all Sky apps and is ideal for anyone who wants to watch Sky Go outside the UK. It is also fast enough for reliable HD streaming as well.
Our Recommended VPN for Sky Go
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2. NordVPN
- Unblocks Sky Go from anywhere
- Fast connections and speeds
- Strong encryption and privacy
- User-friendly apps for most devices
- Not quite as fast as some of its rivals
NordVPN is another great option that deserves to be on the list of the best VPN services to use to watch Sky Go abroad. It has multiple UK servers, all of which are optimised for speed and streaming.
Just connect to one of these servers, and you will be ready to bypass Sky’s geo-restrictions and start streaming Sky Go outside the UK.
The connection speeds of NordVPN servers are very good, and thanks to recent infrastructure investment they are consistent too. Nord VPN is more than fast enough to stream as much HD-quality content as you like.
It has strong 256-bit AES encryption and a no-user logs guarantee which should be watertight as they’re headquartered in Panama.
NordVPN’s apps are very user-friendly and available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android and it can be installed onto almost any device you care to mention. There is unlimited bandwidth and thousands of IP Addresses that can be used to mask your real IP Address.
NordVPN is also able to unblock Netflix content in several countries, including the US and UK, and will also work with other streaming platform services like Hulu, HBO Now, BBC iPlayer, and almost any online television service you’d care to mention. This is another great way to access UK TV by connecting to a UK server.
You can also connect up to six devices at the same time. All in all, it is an excellent choice for anyone who wishes to watch Sky Go abroad and access all the main Sky Channels, including Sky Sports and Sky Cinema.
If you go for Sky Go Extra, you can even download programmes from your favourite channels to watch offline on up to 4 devices.
3. IPVanish
- Unblocks Sky Go abroad
- Good security and privacy
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- No cryptocurrency payment options
- Can’t unblock Netflix, Apple TV, or Hulu
IPVanish has a big server network with lots of UK-based servers that are able to unblock Sky Go from other countries.
There are no limits regarding VPN servers, unlimited bandwidth, or downloads, and connection speeds are extremely fast, making it ideal for streaming and avoiding that dreaded Sky Go error message.
Their high-end 256-bit AES encryption is backed up by a no-user logs guarantee. However, this hasn’t been proven with an audit like the above two providers, although it’s no logs claims have been given the thumbs up.
IPVanish has apps for most devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon devices. It even works with Kodi. Extra features include an internet kill switch, DNS leak protection, and unlimited simultaneous connections.
IPVanish isn’t so good at unblocking other streaming services, but it is more than a sufficient VPN for watching Sky Go abroad, or other UK services, like BBC iPlayer.
The Top VPN Recommendations for Sky Go
Our top recommended VPN for watching Sky TV abroad is ExpressVPN. It’s a super fast VPN service that has everything you need to unblock Sky TV and stream Sky channels through your Sky TV account where you are.
As we have explained, it has a huge range of VPN server locations, including, most importantly for Sky TV subscribers, plenty of UK servers that can give you a UK IP Address.
You can use the Express VPN app to stream Sky on just about any device you can think of. It’s easy to set up, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not entirely satisfied.
There are a couple of other VPN service options that are suitable to use to unblock Sky and other streaming platforms, such as Amazon Prime Video too. So, if you aren’t sure about ExpressVPN for some reason, its also worth checking out the following VPN providers:
- NordVPN – 30-day money-back guarantee.
- IPVanish – use on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously
Or if you’ve got lots of time on your hands, then our VPN Comparison Guide compares over 18 of the top providers and helps you decide the VPN for you to answer the question how to watch Sky Go abroad.
How to watch Sky Go abroad on an iPad or iPhone
You can watch Sky Go outside the UK on any device, including the Apple iPad and iPhone. It is helpful to download and install the Sky Go app before you leave the UK to travel abroad.
Just use your chosen VPN for Sky Go to connect to a UK-based server and then log into your Sky Go account as usual, and you will be able to watch Sky Go outside the UK.
You will quickly be watching all your favourite content, although we should note that only Sky TV customers with an active subscription will be able to do this.
I tried this once and then attempted to subscribe from abroad and that is a challenge even a VPN is unlikely to be able to help you out with.
How to watch Sky Go abroad with a VPN on Android
Sky Go is compatible with all versions of Android later than the Ice Cream Sandwich version 4, and the same is true for Sky Go Extra.
As long as you have a later version of the Android OS than this, you will be able to download and install and then watch Sky Go outside UK from anywhere.
Connect your VPN to a UK-based server from any of the other countries, and then open the Sky Go app.
Log into your account, and everything will work as if you were still at home, with all Sky TV channels and programs waiting for you inside the menu of your app meaning you can easily watch Sky Go outside UK.
Smart DNS works a bit like using a VPN, and it can be used to watch Sky Go outside of the UK.
But, instead of redirecting and encrypting all your data, it will only redirect DNS requests – the initial call to a website to let you access it.
A Smart DNS proxy server can be faster than regular VPNs, making them more convenient to access Sky Go outside the UK, but they are also more difficult to set up.
You usually don’t need any new software but will need to make adjustments to your DNS settings in order to access your favourite Sky Go channels.
Here is a short guide that should enable you to set up most Smart DNS proxies:
- Sign up for a smart DNS proxy provider.
- Validate your own device’s IP address with your Smart DNS proxy provider.
- Input the primary and alternate DNS server addresses into your own system’s internet settings.
- Save these changes and restart your device.
- Use the Sky Go app and start watching.
Personally, I found using a VPN app more convenient as it just takes one or two clicks.
You may have noticed that all of our recommended VPNs for unblocking Sky Go are paid-for services. There are a number of very good reasons for this.
Free VPNs are notoriously bad at unblocking and streaming content from other countries and providers like Sky. I’ve tried all the big names in my testing and not a single one has worked for me.
A free VPN has a limited number of servers and a huge number of users, and speeds are usually prohibitively slow, especially if you want to watch high-quality HD content on channels like Sky Sports, Sky Atlantic, or Sky Kids.
Many free VPNs also have limits on bandwidth and data usage which mean even one episode of a TV show will probably not run all the way through.
Free VPNs are also extremely insecure and likely to sell your user data, inject adverts into your browser and even infect your device with malware. Some even sell your idle bandwidth to other users.
In contrast, premium VPN providers like the ones we recommend come with no such problems and will give you a much better and more enjoyable streaming experience in exchange for just a few dollars a month.
All in all, it is unlikely that you can use free VPN providers to access Sky Go from outside the UK.
What to do if your VPN is not working with Sky Go outside the UK?
If you have signed up for one of our recommended VPNs and are still having trouble watching Sky Go, there could be a few different reasons for your problems.
Firstly, you will need to make sure that your device meets all of the technical requirements needed to access Sky Go outside the UK. These are:
- Your system settings must be in English.
- Your time zone must be set to UK time (UTC +0).
- Sky Go is also not supported on rooted Android devices.
Getting these three things right have always worked for me. But if you have problems connecting through your VPN, select ‘test internet connection’ and see if your connection is OK.
After that, the best advice is to try to connect to a UK server in another location. There can be a blip in any VPN from time to time, but it usually doesn’t take more than a couple of tries to find a server that is working.
If you are still having problems, try clearing your system cookies and cache and then try again. If the issue still persists, ask your VPN’s customer service for advice.
Where can I watch Sky Go?
With your new VPN provider, you can now bypass geo-restrictions and watch Sky Go anywhere in the world.
This includes full access to Sky Mobile, Sky Sports, Movies and whatever else your Sky package allows you to access.
It’s worth remembering that with the same VPN, you can not only access Sky Go, but you can also access any other UK streaming service, such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and more.
A VPN will also protect your online privacy at the same time, meaning no nasty hackers can see what you’re doing online.
It sounds complicated, is it?
Using a VPN to watch Sky Go abroad takes just a few steps, as we have demonstrated above.
Even if you’re a novice with technology, VPN apps are so simple to use that any skill level can work them. I have managed to teach both my elderly father and primary-school-age child in less time that it takes to microwave a ready meal.
Check out our example video below that shows how easy VPNs are.
Why is Sky Go blocked?
Every internet connection is assigned something called an IP Address.
An IP Address is similar to a phone number in that it’s unique to your connection. When you visit a website – such as Sky Go, the IP Address helps the website know who requested it and where to send all the bits of data.
One of the downsides of an IP Address is they also tell the websites you visit and apps you use what your real location is.
From this IP Address, the service knows you’re trying to watch Sky Go outside of the UK, and so it’s relatively easy for them to block you from watching.
Luckily a VPN changes your IP Address to one from another country, and in the case of Sky Go, it changes it to one from the UK, which is why you must use a VPN to watch Sky Go abroad.
A free VPN may struggle with this, but all our recommended VPNs are capable of it.
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FAQ
That depends. If you like Sky’s original programming and its great range of TV shows and movies, then it definitely is.
Sky Go is only available to users inside the UK. It is also no longer possible to watch in the EU without a VPN due to the UK leaving the EU.
With a VPN, you can watch Sky Go from anywhere in the world for as long as you want.
Sky Go is available on devices running on the Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Fire OS operating systems. You can watch on up to six devices simultaneously.
Summary
Recap of Top VPNs for Sky Go
We have tested all the top VPNs to use with Sky Go and found that whole some VPNs unblock Sky Go, not all do.
ExpressVPN is our pick. We tested extensively and it was ExpressVPN that came out on top. NordVPN and IPVanish are also both worth a mention. Both can do the job, but there are drawbacks with them that we didn’t find with ExpressVPN.
From experience, we can also suggest that you avoid free VPN services. We didn’t find a single one that could unblock Sky Go in our tests.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a VPN for Sky Go
When choosing a VPN to unblock Sky Go, there are a number of features you should look for:
- Fast and consistent speeds
- Apps for all your streaming devices
- Strong security protections
- Trustworthy privacy provisions
- Unlimited Bandwidth
We kept all of these in mind when undertaking our testing which is how we came up with our top three VPNs for the job.
Our Top Pick for the Best VPN for Sky Go
How to watch Sky Go abroad? The simple answer is to use ExpressVPN.
It is the fastest, most reliable, securist, and most user-friendly VPN service for the job. There are other VPNs that can do the job, as we have shown in this guide.
But none are as good as ExpressVPN which is why they are our top recommendation for Sky Go users who want to access all the best Sky TV content from anywhere in the world.
It would be great to hear where you’re watching Sky Go with your VPN so why not post in the comments section below?
Ready to watch? Try our recommended VPN service provider.
- Stream in any country
- Access all channels
- Simple to use
As of September 2021: Sky Go must be getting smarter as, even with a VPN set to UK, and time location set to UK, it still knows I’m not in the UK. Express VPN and Nord VPN not working and support cannot assist at the moment!
Hi Alison,
Working fine as of today (29th September) using ExpressVPN. Perhaps they’ve resolved the issue since your comment? Try the ‘East London’ server.
Hi, Christopher
This is a great article but it offers nothing that I didn’t already know about. That being said, this is only because I have spent (wasted!) so many hours searching for info about how to connect to Sky Go whilst abroad and using either IP Vanish or Nord VPN, both of which I have paid subscriptions to.
I have had many, many comms with the service reps from both companies about how to successfully connect on my iPhone and even though my configuration was exactly what was required, I am not able to connect to Sky Go and most importantly, see my Saved programs on my Sky Q box, all I can do is watch a live program, not a recorded program and obviously with considerable time differences around the world, it is only convenient to watch a recorded program, especially live Premier or Champions League football.
Nord told me that they couldn’t help me further as my Sky supplied router cannot be configured for a VPN and that I would therefore have to spend £200 plus to get one!! Very frustrating!!
Is there a VPN that you know for sure will allow me to actually see the recordings on my Sky Q box using Sky Go?
Sorry about the hugely long message but I’m hoping that by providing so much info, might help you to help me.
Thank you so much for this site!
Regards
Mik
Hi Mik,
As far as we’re aware it’s not possible to access Sky Q recordings via the Sky Go app.
You can schedule recordings via the Sky Go app but again, as far as we’re aware these only record to the Sky Q box for viewing from home.
Unless you have your Sky Q box with you? Then you would indeed need a VPN router such as the Invizbox 2 or others available as there is no app compatible with them.
Doesn’t work. I use Express VPN but Sky Go will not work, usually putting up error code 3-2. I have tried everything but no good. I think Sky have cottoned on to VPN’S and are able to spot them and deny access. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Stephen,
Working fine here. Have you spoke to Express VPN to see if there are any specific issues?
Thanks for your article. I’ve been using ExpressVPN for a year to access Sky services, including Sky Go and, for the last two months, Sky Stream. My VPN connection is maintained by a dedicated router running OpenVPN. A few days ago, both Sky Stream and Sky Go stopped working, with access-related error codes. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the problem. I changed the VPN connection to the various different UK servers provided by ExpressVPN, but to no avail. In the end I opened an account with a different VPN provider and configured the router to use their UK-based OpenVPN servers, and voila! both Sky Go and Sky Stream started working again. I’ve been constantly in touch with the support team at ExpressVPN, but the quality of their response has been close to useless. My conclusion is that Sky has figured out how to widely block ExpressVPN servers. Therefore you may wish to review your recommendation of ExpressVPN. At the moment, I can’t get a connection to Sky services via any of their servers, while I can with one of their competitors.
Hi Robert,
Thanks for taking the time to send over the report.
Unfortunately this kind of thing can happen to all providers at any point. Usually it will take anywhere between a few days or a few weeks for it to start functioning again. I appreciate this isn’t ideal if there’s something specific you want to watch.
It’s a shame ExpressVPN haven’t been able suitable answer your query. We’ll keep an eye on the situation and update accordingly. Thanks again for posting your experience.
I was very interested in your detailed explanation about VPNs. However you do not mention that you can’t get Sky Sports live content abroad, even with ExpressVPN. Their help desk told me that, specifically for iOS devices, “Sky Sports has a way of detecting your location” even with ExpressVPN installed. I have determined that this is true for Android devices as well.
I would be happy to hear a different view from you but it seems that your explanation about how to access abroad does not apply to Sky Sports live content (which is an attraction for a lot of people).
Hi Mike,
It’s worth watching on a laptop as it works well when using with a VPN.
On a phone you may want to try enabling Airplane mode and then reenable Wi-Fi, connect to your Wi-Fi connection and try again. Don’t forget to turn Airplane mode off after watching.
Alternatively, in your case you may want to take a look at Surfshark VPN. Not only does it change your internet connection location, but it also changes your GPS location to match the VPN server you connect to. This will resolve any issues with apps that use GPS for location.
Thanks for the tip. I can pick up Sky Sports Live now. It’s pretty fiddly to change the settings of GPS but it does work.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the update. Did you end up going with Surfshark, or use the airplane mode method?