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With an extensive selection of live TV and on-demand content, YouTube TV is the go-to streaming service for cord cutters.
But, the streaming service is only available in the US, and even then, the programs you can access vary based on your location.
Luckily, there are ways to bypass these geo-restrictions.
Here’s how YouTube TV location restrictions work and how to change your location on YouTube TV.
What subscribers can watch and record via YouTube TV depends on their home area and playback area.
Your home area is your home location. When signing up for the streaming service, YouTube asks users to provide their zip code and verify the area via their device’s location permissions to ensure they get access to the right networks.
Your Youtube TV current playback area is any area that’s outside your home area. YouTube detects it based on your current location tags.
When you travel outside of your home area, you cannot watch local networks that are only available in your home area. You only have access to the local programs in the area where you travel to.
On top of that, YouTube only allows users to record programs in their home area.
Here’s an example:
If you live in Boston, Massachusetts, and provided the respective zip code when creating your YouTube TV account, the streaming service will remember it as your home area. When you leave Boston for a trip to New York City, YouTube will mark New York City as your playback area.
While in New York, you’ll only be able to watch the networks that are available to New Yorkers, but you won’t be able to record any of these programs since they’re not available in Boston– your home area.
If you’re looking to watch YouTube TV in different locations, here’s how you can bypass the geo-restrictions:
If you’ve moved to a different area and want to record the programs available there, you can change your YouTube TV location.
To do that:
YouTube TV will change your home area based on your current YouTube TV location settings (which the streaming service automatically detects).
When changing your home area, keep in mind:
The easiest way to access content that’s not available in your area, without having to change location on YouTube TV, is to use a VPN.
Choosing the right VPN for this purpose can be tricky. Streaming services like YouTube TV, Netflix, and HBO put a lot of effort into identifying and blocking traffic that comes from VPNs– and they constantly come up with clever ways to stop users from getting around their restrictions.
A good VPN for YouTube TV should:
One of the best VPNs on the market for bypassing geo-restricted content is NordVPN. It offers 5,500+ servers worldwide– 1,970 of which are located in the USA.
If you need a VPN for your Android device, Surfshark is the way to go. It has a double VPN, a private DNS, and a camouflage mode, that makes your connection look more regular traffic.
Looking for more options? Here are our picks for the top five VPNs for streaming.
If you want YouTube TV to change location, there’s a good chance that the service will ask you to verify it by allowing it to access your device’s location– regardless of whether you’re looking to change your home or playback area.
If you don’t have a VPN, are not in your home area (to change it), or YouTube TV has you in the wrong playback area, you can simply spoof your location to watch YouTube TV in different locations.
To do that you’ll need to download and install a GPS spoofing app.
A popular choice among Android users is the Fake GPS Location Spoofer app which doesn’t require users to root their phones.
To spoof your location with Fake GPS Location Spoofer:
iOS users can try iTools from ThinkSky:
Another location spoofer for iOS that doesn’t require you to jailbreak your device is Foneazy MockGo.
The short answer is: You can’t.
YouTube TV requires users to add their zip code and automatically tracks their location so it can offer programs in their area.
If you’re wondering how to change your location on YouTube TV, there are a few ways to do it: You can change your home and playback area in the app, use a VPN, and even spoof your location to bypass geo-restrictions.
If you opt for a VPN service, make sure you choose a reliable one that works with YouTube TV. Streaming services keep getting better at detecting and blocking VPN addresses, so it’s important to find one that can stay one step ahead.
Deyan Georgiev
Deyan has been fascinated by technology his whole life. From the first Tetris game all the way to Falcon Heavy. Working for TechJury is like a dream come true, combining both his passions – writing and technology. In his free time (which is pretty scarce, thanks to his three kids), Deyan enjoys traveling and exploring new places. Always with a few chargers and a couple of gadgets in the backpack. He makes mean dizzying Island Paradise cocktails too.
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