If you've tried to watch ITV abroad, you've probably hit the "this content is not available in your location" message. It happens whether you're in the USA, Spain, or Australia. The fix is straightforward: use a VPN with UK servers. A VPN gives you a UK IP address, which makes ITVX (the new name for ITV Hub) think you're in the UK. That's it — you get the live TV and on-demand content back.
Important: Tegant VPN is a privacy and security tool. You are responsible for complying with ITV's terms of service and ensuring you have the appropriate rights to access their content.
Why Can't I Watch ITVX Abroad? The Geo-Blocking Problem
You're in your hotel in Spain, or at home in the USA, and you try to watch Coronation Street or catch the latest Love Island. Instead you get the geo-block message. It's not a glitch — ITV is deliberately blocking anyone outside the UK. Millions of UK residents abroad and international viewers deal with this.
The reason is content licensing. ITV can only legally broadcast its shows in certain territories. But there's a way around it.
Understanding ITVX, ITV Hub, and Geo-Blocks
Quick clarification: ITV Hub was rebranded to ITVX in late 2022. If you search for "watch ITV Hub abroad," you'll end up on the ITVX platform. Different name, same problem — it checks your IP address, and if you're not in the UK, you're locked out.
A VPN solves this.
- A VPN masks your real IP address and assigns you a new one from a server in a country of your choice.
- By selecting a UK server, you can reliably watch ITVX from anywhere, including the USA, Spain, Australia, and the UAE.
- Once connected to a UK server, ITVX works as if you were in the UK — live sports, soaps, dramas, everything.
While you're sorting out streaming access, it's worth thinking about real-world safety too. If you're traveling, this guide on staying safe abroad covers common travel scams to watch out for.
How to Watch ITV Abroad with a VPN: A 5-Step Guide
The whole process takes a few minutes. Whether you want to watch ITV live abroad or catch up on box sets, the steps are the same. We'll use Tegant as our example here — its UK servers and WireGuard protocol handle live TV well without buffering.
Step 1: Download a VPN with UK servers. Choose a reliable VPN provider like Tegant and install the app on your phone, tablet, laptop, or Fire Stick.
Step 2: Connect to a UK server. Open the VPN app and select a server location in the United Kingdom. London usually works well. This gives you a UK IP address.
Step 3: Go to the ITVX website or open the app. Navigate to itv.com in your web browser or launch the ITVX application. The platform will now see your UK IP address and grant you full access.
Step 4: Create a free account (if you don't have one). ITVX will ask you to create a free account, which requires a UK postcode. Don't worry if you don't have one handy.
Pro Tip: Any valid UK postcode works for registration. You can use a famous one like SW1A 1AA (Buckingham Palace). This is a one-time step for account creation only; the VPN handles the geo-unblocking.
Step 5: Start streaming! That's it. You can now watch all live and on-demand content on ITVX from anywhere in the world.
This is also how to watch ITV Player abroad — a term people still search for even though ITV Player became ITVX. For more on what makes a good streaming VPN, see our guide on the best VPN for streaming.
What Can I Watch on ITVX Abroad?
Once you're connected with your ITVX VPN, you get access to everything — live channels, catch-up shows, and full box sets. ITVX has grown well beyond the old ITV Hub. If you want to watch ITV in USA or anywhere else, there's a lot of content available.
Live TV and Must-Watch Shows
You can stream all the main live channels (ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, ITVBe, and CITV), which is useful for live events like Six Nations matches or the Love Island final.
The on-demand library is large. You can keep up with:
- Soaps: Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
- Reality TV: Love Island, I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!, and The Masked Singer.
- Dramas: Vera, Unforgotten, and The Tower.
- Entertainment: Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and The Chase.
- Sport: Six Nations Rugby and football highlights.
To give you an idea of the demand: the launch of I'm A Celebrity… on ITVX pulled in 10.8 million viewers. ITV published the full viewership numbers on their press centre.
Free vs. Premium: What's Available Abroad?
ITVX has two tiers, and both work when you watch ITV abroad with a VPN.
ITVX Free Tier: For most people, the free ad-supported tier is enough. You get every live channel, catch-up shows, and hundreds of box sets. The trade-off is ads, same as regular broadcast TV.
ITVX Premium Tier (£5.99/month): Removes all ads. It also includes the full BritBox catalogue, which adds a large archive of older British television plus exclusive premieres and offline downloads.
| Feature | ITVX Free Tier | ITVX Premium Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £0 (Ad-supported) | £5.99/month or £59.99/year |
| Ads | Yes | No ads |
| Live Channels | Full access to all ITV channels | Full access to all ITV channels |
| Catch-up & Box Sets | Thousands of hours (with ads) | Everything in the free tier |
| BritBox Content | Not included | Full BritBox library included |
| Downloads | No | Yes, for offline viewing |
Devices That Work With ITVX Abroad
You might want to watch on your phone, tablet, or TV rather than a laptop. An ITV abroad VPN like Tegant works across all the main platforms.
Here's what works:
- iPhone/iPad: Use a VPN for iPhone and stream via the ITVX app or Safari.
- Android: A VPN for Android works with the ITVX app or Chrome browser.
- Laptops (Windows/Mac): Connect to a UK VPN server and go to itv.com in your browser.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick: Install a VPN for Firestick on the device, connect to a UK server, and get the ITVX app from the Amazon Appstore. This is probably the easiest way to watch on a TV.
- Smart TVs & Roku: Trickier. Some Samsung or LG TVs let you change the app store region, but it's fiddly. Casting from your phone (via Chromecast or AirPlay) is easier.
App Store Tip: Can't find the ITVX app in your App Store or Google Play? That's because your store region is set outside the UK. The simplest fix isn't to change your account settings, but to just use your device's web browser. Go to itv.com—it has the exact same content and works perfectly with a VPN.
Troubleshooting Common ITVX Streaming Issues
Even with a good VPN, things can go wrong occasionally. Streaming platforms keep updating their detection methods. Most issues are easy to fix though.
Here are the most common problems when using an ITVX VPN and how to fix them.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Not available in your location" error | This is often caused by old location data. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, then reconnect the VPN and refresh the page. |
| Buffering or slow live stream | Your current server might be crowded. Disconnect and reconnect to a different UK server in your VPN app (e.g., switch from London to Manchester). |
| ITVX app not in your app store | Don't change your store region. Simply use your device's web browser at itv.com. It's the easiest workaround. |
| Login issues | Ensure you used a valid UK postcode during signup (e.g., SW1A 1AA). This is only needed once. |
| VPN is detected (rare) | Try another UK server. If the issue persists, switch to a different VPN protocol in your app's settings. Some VPNs offer "obfuscated" servers for tougher blocks, which can be useful in places like the UAE. |
| Live TV not loading | Double-check that your VPN is actively connected to a UK server and try refreshing the page. |
If none of that works, our guide on why your VPN may not be working covers more advanced troubleshooting.
FAQ: Your Questions About Watching ITVX Abroad Answered
Common questions about watching ITVX from outside the UK.
Is It Legal to Watch ITVX with a VPN?
Yes, using a VPN is legal in most countries, including the UK, USA, Spain, and Australia. While using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may go against ITV's terms of service, it is not a criminal offense for personal viewing. There are no known cases of individuals facing legal trouble for watching catch-up TV from abroad.
Do I Need a UK TV Licence for ITVX?
No, you do not need a UK TV Licence to watch ITVX. Unlike the BBC, ITV is a commercial broadcaster funded by ads, so its content is free with a valid account. That makes it a good companion if you also watch BBC iPlayer abroad or watch Sky Go abroad.
Can I Use a Free VPN to Watch ITVX Abroad?
Generally no. Free VPNs tend to be slow, overcrowded, and their IP addresses get blacklisted by services like ITVX quickly. Many also log and sell your browsing data, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place. If you want to watch ITV live abroad without constant buffering and connection drops, a paid VPN is the way to go.
What's the best ITV VPN?
You need a VPN with fast UK servers. ExpressVPN and NordVPN both work, but they're expensive and their servers can get blocked. Tegant uses WireGuard, which is fast enough for live TV — football matches, reality TV finals, that sort of thing — without buffering.
Legal Notice: Tegant VPN is a privacy and security service and should not be used as a means of copyright circumvention. We cannot see or control what you do while connected to our VPN, so you are responsible for complying with our Terms of Service, ITV's terms, and any applicable laws.
Tegant VPN has UK servers that work well with ITVX for both live TV and on-demand content. If you want to watch ITV abroad without dealing with buffering or blocked connections, it's worth a look.