How to Watch HBO on Amazon Fire Stick Outside the US
I’ve got myself an Amazon FireStick a while ago just to see what the fuss is all about. Well, it’s real. The best part about it is that you can get HBO on the streaming platform along with other premium channels. However, once I launched HBO, I got blocked on the spot courtesy of geo-restrictions. I’d like to share my experience with you and teach how to access HBO on Fire Stick even if you reside outside the US.
How to Watch HBO on FireStick Outside the US
HBO and Geo-restrictions
Whether you’re using the cable-based service HBO Go or the standalone one HBO Now, you’re bound to get blocked if you’re living outside the US. These channels examine your IP address before allowing you access to their content.
In other words, if you don’t hold an American IP, you won’t be able to stream HBO shows at all. However, some of us may feel lucky to try it out, but it backfires in the end. When you try to watch a video on HBO Go, this geo-error pops up:
“Not in service area. HBO Go is only supported in the U.S and certain U.S territories.”
The same thing happens when you try HBO Now as well. Don’t worry. When I got these errors I went ahead and searched for a solution. Luckily, there is but you need to know your way around it. That’s why I’m here to guide you through it.
How to Watch HBO on Amazon Fire Stick with a VPN
A Virtual Private Network is an internet tool that can alter your current whereabouts and make you appear elsewhere. This is done by rerouting all your internet traffic through one of its remote servers in a country of your choosing. In the process, the VPN will hide your original IP address and give you one valid in the region you’re connected to. That way, you’ll have full access to all the content exclusive for that territory.
If you connect to an American server, you will obtain a US IP address. This is a direct ticket to HBO’s content regardless of where you might be. Not only that, but you’ll get to see other US-based services like Netflix, Hulu, and CBS All Access. If I’m looking for a solution to a certain problem, I’d like detailed step-by-step analysis. That’s exactly what you’ll be getting. Here’s how you can unblock HBO on FireStick outside the US:
- Sign up with a credible VPN provider. In case you’re wondering, ExpressVPN is one of the top VPNs for HBO.
- Download and install the VPN app on your Fire Stick.
- Sign in with your VPN account and head over to the server list.
- Once there, look for a US server. If it’s taking too much time, use the search bar for a faster approach.
- Connect to an American server and wait a few seconds for the connection to take place.
- Now that you have a US IP address, launch HBO.
- Sit back and stream HBO on FIre Stick wherever you are.
A reputable VPN such as ExpressVPN is all you need for this to go as smoothly as possible. It has blazing fast servers in the United States and protects your devices against any possible only threat. For more info, check the table below of the best VPNs for Fire Stick.
VPN Alternative – Enter Smart DNS Proxy
Another way to unblock geo-restricted content is by using Smart DNS Proxy. If you change the DNS settings on your Fire Stick, you’ll be able to watch HBO despite residing outside the United States.
Smart DNS services rechannel part of your internet traffic that showcase your current location. By doing so, you’ll trick the channel into thinking that you’re accessing its service from within its area of coverage. As a result, you’ll have full access to its content anywhere you might be.
There are a lot of providers that offer a Smart DNS service. Some of them are originally VPN providers that like to give you more streaming options to choose from. So, with said, here are the best Smart DNS services to use on FireStick:
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is considered to be one of the fastest VPNs to use. It has more than 2000 servers in its network and they’re spread out strategically across 50+ countries. When it comes VPN features, you get the top security protocols to ever exist on the market.
On the other hand, this VPN provider offers its own Smart DNS service, MediaStreamer. You can unblock hundreds of channels without losing your connection speed in the process. That’s because Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your data. Therefore, you’ll be streaming at full speed.
BulletVPN
BulletVPN is based in Estonia. This is really good for people who cherish their online privacy as it’s far from the reach of the 5 eyes. BulletVPN is quite new to the VPN market. However, this one doesn’t have much to prove as it came out strong from day one.
This VPN doesn’t have a wide server network. It offers servers across 30+ countries. But what’s really intriguing is that although it’s new, it does give you an option to use Smart DNS as a VPN alternative. It’s kind of making up for the lack of server locations.
Unlocator
Lately, Unlocator gave its users the option to choose between VPN and Smart DNS. But ever since it debuted back in 2013, this service was a pure Smart DNS provider. It’s the only service that can unlock more than 230 channels around the world, which makes it a great choice for constant streamers.
You can watch your favorite channels with Unlocator without losing internet speed on whatever platform that comes to mind including PC, Mac, Apple TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox One, Phones, and of course, FireStick.
Top HBO Shows
Before you start streaming HBO on FireStick, you need to know what sort of content you’ll be expecting. Here are a few of my top picks:
- Game of Thrones
- The Sopranos
- Westworld
- True Blood
- Barry
- True Detective
- Big Little Lies
- Silicon Valley
- Veep
- Rome
- Girls
- Ballers
- OZ
- Entourage
- Band of Brothers
- The Newsroom
- Carnivale
- Boardwalk Empire
- Divorce
- Room 104
- Big Love
- Six Feet Under
- The Pacific
- The Leftovers
How to Watch HBO on Fire Stick Outside the US – Final Thoughts
Whether we like or not, HBO has proven its worth on the streaming market. It rivals the giants such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. However, just like the aforementioned channels, this service is only available to viewers residing within US soil. Fortunately, you now know how to access HBO on Fire Stick. Make use of the information you gained today and never miss an HBO premium show again.
Stephen
24.04.2023 @ 23:53
this method, you wont have to worry about any speed loss or encryption issues. However, keep in mind that Smart DNS doesnt provide any security features like a VPN does. So, if youre looking for a more secure option, go for a VPN. Overall, both methods are effective in unblocking HBO on Fire Stick outside the US. It all comes down to your personal preference and needs. Happy streaming!