Does Disney+ Work with a VPN?

If you’ve been a fan of Disney blockbusters, the Star Wars franchise, and the Marvel universe, then it’s most likely that you’ve subscribed to Disney+.  But Disney+ isn’t just known for releasing English-language shows. It also produces originals in foreign languages such as French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, to name a few. However, most of these are exclusively available in select regions.

And if you live in or travel to countries where Disney+ isn’t available yet, then it can be impossible to access the platform’s content without using a VPN to change your IP address to a new location.

So what VPN service best works with Disney+ to bypass these restrictions? Read on as we reveal our top recommendation.

What is Disney+

Disney+ is a streaming service owned by The Walt Disney Company, and is offered in more than 60 countries. It offers original programming as well as content from Pixar, National Geographic, Marvel, Star Wars and third-party content from Sony, StudioCanal, eOne and BBC Studios.

The streaming service, which was launched in 2019, now boasts more than 130 million global subscribers that can access a library of original content and third-party shows streamed on the platform. Subscribers can also have access to films ahead of the premier or on the same day of theatrical releases like Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon.

Why Can’t I Watch All Shows on Disney+?

There are several reasons why you can’t access all programs on Disney+.

In January 2022, Disney announced that its streaming service will be offered in an additional 42 countries and 11 territories (including Egypt, San Marino, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Vatican City), making it available to a total of 64 countries including the United States and Canada as of this writing. But there are still many countries that it has to cover, so it can be frustrating if you can’t access it.

In addition, many of its original productions, especially non-English language programs, are limited to certain countries. For example, the Italian fantasy-drama series The Knights of Castelcorvo is exclusively available in select territories while the educational show Testers can only be accessed when you’re in Brazil, and Chicken Run is limited to select European territories only. (However, there are still a few foreign language shows such as the Argentine musical Intertwined that are available in all markets.)

When your access is geo-restricted, you will be notified with an error code 22, which means that the show cannot be watched because you’re in a location outside its authorized streaming.

A VPN service, on the other hand, makes it possible to get around such limitations so you can reset your location settings easily.

However, upon the launch of Disney+, the company announced that it can detect VPN connections and will restrict users to access content not covered by the region where they are located. That can be frustrating, especially if you’re traveling abroad and would want to catch up on your missed episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ms. Marvel or The Mandalorian.

But there’s a way to get through the geo-restrictions by Disney+, and it’s selecting a reliable VPN service that can work well with the streaming platform.

A VPN That Just Works With Disney+

Not all VPN service providers can unblock Disney+ from different locations. To prevent getting an error code 22, the VPN must offer reliable access, faster speeds for smoother streaming, and, of course, a wide range of servers that can access the Disney+ platform.

We’ve tested the leading VPN service providers today and found out that among these, only ExpressVPN lives up to our expectations when it comes to accessing all geo-restricted Disney+ shows. Here’s why:

First, ExpressVPN offers the fastest connection speed. We all know how VPN can slow down connections but with this tool, streaming any content on Disney+ was smooth and buffer-free.

Second, ExpressVPN has a large network of 3,000 servers so it’s almost impossible to run out of options that will let you access geo-restricted Disney+ content.

Third, beyond geo-blocking, ExpressVPN offers the best IPv6 leak protection. This makes it even more difficult for Disney+ or any streaming service to detect your real location so you continue accessing their region-restricted content. 

Fourth, ExpressVPN doesn’t log any of your personal data. You can always maintain your privacy and anonymity without having to worry if your personal information will be sold to third-party data research companies.

Finally, if you’re concerned about the cost, ExpressVPN offers the best value for your money. If you select the 12-Month Plan today, you get a 49% discount that puts your monthly bill to only $6.67. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a full year of free unlimited cloud backup from Backblaze.

How to Watch All Disney+ Online Shows

If you want to bypass geo-restrictions by Disney+ to access all shows that are unavailable in your region, all you need to do is to connect to a VPN server offered by ExpressVPN. To do this, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Subscribe to ExpressVPN.

Step 2: Download and install the VPN app to your device or several devices (since ExpressVPN allows simultaneous access using a single VPN account).

Step 3: Launch ExpressVPN and connect to a VPN server in a country that can access Disney+ select programs.

Step 4: Launch Disney+ and sign in using your login credentials.

Step 5: Select the shows that you want to access and enjoy.

If you want to learn how to watch Disney+ in a different country using your iPhone, Android, Roku or PC, we’ve prepared a complete tutorial for you.

Note: If you encounter errors, try switching VPN servers or clearing your browser cookies and cache. You may also need to restart your device and router to resolve login issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a VPN to stream Disney+?

Disney+ uses geo-blocking to deny access to their service from any device located in countries other than the ones it is available. Some shows are also geo-restricted, so you can’t watch them when you’re in the United States. So, when you hop onto their website, it tracks your IP address and detects your location.

Where is Disney+ available?

Check out this complete list of countries where Disney+ is available.

Can Disney+ detect my location if I use a VPN?

They shouldn’t be able to, provided that you use a reliable VPN service that can bypass the streaming service’s tracking capabilities. ExpressVPN is one of the few VPN services that successfully unblocks Disney+.

Ready to use ExpressVPN?

Start making each browsing experience by choosing your ExpressVPN plan today. Enjoy the internet with privacy and security!