How to get around an ESPN blackout

If you love streaming games on ESPN, you’re probably tired of the service blocking certain games in your region. However, you may be able to watch locked games on cable TV without interruptions. But let’s be honest. Many people are cutting the cord and now prefer to stream content. So, if you’ve chosen the streaming route, you deserve to enjoy your favorite games and live events without any restrictions.

This article will show you how to avoid an ESPN blackout so you can enjoy your favorite games no matter your location. Keep reading to know more.

How to get around an ESPN blackout

ESPN is a popular television service for streaming games and is estimated to have over 80 million subscribers in the United States alone. It also has an online streaming version that has over 2 million subscribers. While the televised version works without restrictions, the streaming version does not enjoy the same level of convenience because some games are locked according to the user’s region.

For example, if a game is supposed to be broadcast only in the United States, ESPN will block users outside that country. To understand your location, ESPN uses cookies from your browser, the details provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and, most importantly, the IP address of the device you are using to access the website. Therefore, if you find a way to hide your IP address, there is a good chance that you will be able to access the game without getting blocked.

Why a VPN is a great solution to hide your IP address

A great way to hide your IP address is by using a virtual private network (VPN). When you use a VPN app and switch to a specific server, the VPN provider assigns you the IP address of that particular physical server. Please note that servers are physical computers located in a specific country. So if the server is in the United States, it is assigned a local US-based IP address.

When you connect to the Internet, your traffic will be routed to the IP address of the VPN server you selected instead of your own. So, if you connect to websites and apps through a VPN, the IP address displayed will be that of the VPN server instead of yours. This is also called IP masking.

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So a great way to avoid an ESPN blackout is to use a VPN. But then again, not all VPNs will help you get around an ESPN blackout. Some of them, especially the free ones, are extravagant and will send your real IP address to ESPN’s servers instead of masking it.

Fortunately, there are some great options on the market and our top recommendation is ExpressVPN. It has a network of more than 3,000 servers distributed in 94 countries, so you are guaranteed a secure connection to at least most of the world. Aside from that, they have a feature called IP masking and as the name suggests, you can hide your real IP address, making it impossible for ESPN to know your exact location.

Additional features that make ExpressVPN The best option to unblock geo-restricted ESPN games includes the following:

• Supports multiple devices including routers, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS.
• You can switch to different servers as often as you like without any limits.
• Secure data encryption based on AES-256 algorithm so that your data is protected and cannot be leaked to ESPN servers, Internet service providers and hackers.
• You can block any suspicious apps and websites, especially those that try to track your online behavior and location data.
• They have their own DNS servers, which makes their connections faster and more secure.

How to bypass an ESPN blackout using ExpressVPN on a PC

To begin, you must go to ExpressVPN website, create an account and purchase a subscription. Once you have an active subscription, make a note of the activation code on your dashboard because you will use it to activate access to the VPN app. If you have the activation code, follow these steps to access content that ESPN has blocked using ExpressVPN.

1. Download and install ExpressVPN on your computer.
   
2. Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions. Also, enter the activation code on your panel if prompted.
   
3. Press the switch icon to connect to the VPN server.
   
4. Choose a server located in the region where the game is based.
   
5. Go to the ESPN website and enjoy the content that was initially blocked.
   

If you followed the instructions above and still can’t access the game you want, simply open the VPN and switch to another server.

Other great VPN services that can help you get around an ESPN blackout include:

• NordVPN
  
• BrowseVPN
  
• cyberghost
  
• Private Internet Access
  
• IPVanish
  

How to get around an ESPN blackout on Android and iOS

The mobile version of ESPN requires you to turn on GPS before accessing content. Currently, there are no valid methods to spoof your GPS coordinates. A VPN can hide your real IP address, but ESPN’s servers will still know your location because they receive coordinates from your phone’s location services.

Frequent questions

How do I fix an ESPN+ content block?

The process to overcome an ESPN+ blackout is similar to that of ESPN. Simply connect to ExpressVPN, open your browser, and navigate to the ESPN+ website.

Can I use a free VPN to avoid an ESPN blackout?

Yes, you may be able to use a free VPN to access content that ESPN blocks. But here are some reasons why it might not be the best option.

1. Many free VPNs lack the technology necessary to prevent ESPN’s servers from detecting that you are using a VPN. So they can easily see that you are using a VPN and block you from accessing their servers.

2. Most free VPNs have lower bandwidth traffic. The result is poor streaming quality and lots of lag and buffering.

3. Most VPNs have a daily bandwidth limit. Once this limit is exceeded, you will not be able to access the service for the rest of the day.

Paid VPNs have no limitations, so a subscription is worth it.

Does using a VPN slow down my ESPN stream?

It’s true that a VPN directs your Internet traffic to its servers and then to ESPN’s servers, so in theory this should slow down your Internet speed. However, almost all premium VPNs offer high connection speeds, so you shouldn’t notice any effect on your internet speed.

Is it legal to use a VPN to unblock content that ESPN blocks?

Using a VPN to access content that ESPN has blocked is legal. As things stand, no one has been prosecuted for using a VPN to access blocked content. However, this practice is against the terms of use. ESPN and cable TV companies have the right to block accounts that use VPNs to access their content, even if they still have an active subscription.

Enjoy your favorite games without restrictions

As you can see, bypassing ESPN connections shouldn’t be a problem as long as you have a VPN subscription. You just need to purchase a subscription from one of the top VPNs, connect to the VPN server, and visit the ESPN website. Now you can enjoy your favorite games without facing geographical restrictions. Unfortunately, the same process does not work with mobile devices. The ESPN mobile app requires access to your GPS location, which VPNs generally can’t hide.

Do you know any other methods to avoid an ESPN blackout? Have you tried using the methods we have shown above? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.