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Unblockr is a privacy-first VPN and Smart DNS service that has been running since 2014. It was originally built for the Kodi community and has grown into the go-to tool for British expats and anyone who wants to watch UK TV from abroad — as well as anyone who simply values their privacy online.

VPN — how it works

When you connect to Unblockr's VPN, all of your internet traffic is routed through one of our secure servers before it reaches its destination. This does two things:

• Your real IP address is hidden — websites and services see our server's IP, not yours
• Your traffic is fully encrypted — your ISP, employer, or anyone on the same network cannot see what you're doing

This means you can watch BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, S4C and other UK services from anywhere in the world, bypass censorship, and browse with genuine privacy.

Smart DNS — how it works

Smart DNS is a lighter alternative to a full VPN. Rather than routing all your traffic, it only redirects the DNS queries that matter for geo-unblocking. The result is faster speeds for streaming, with no encryption overhead. It's ideal for smart TVs, streaming boxes, and devices where a full VPN isn't practical.

Which should I use?

• VPN — best for privacy, security, and all-round protection across all your devices
• Smart DNS — best for streaming-only use on devices where speed matters more than encryption

Unblockr offers a full 7-day free trial with no restrictions — you get the same access as a paying subscriber from day one. No crippled speeds, no limited servers.

To get started

1. Head to manage.unblockr.net/signup
2. Create an account and choose your plan (monthly, 6-monthly, or annual)
3. Enter your payment details via PayPal or Stripe — you will not be charged yet
4. Your 7-day free trial starts immediately
5. Download the app or follow a setup guide for your device

What happens after the trial?

After 7 days, your chosen subscription begins and your first payment is taken automatically. If you cancel any time during the trial — even on day one — you will not be charged at all. No questions, no hassle.

Cancelling during the trial

You can cancel immediately after signing up if you just want to try the service risk-free. As long as you cancel before the 7 days are up, nothing is charged. To cancel, log in to the client area and cancel your subscription from there.

This guide covers installing Unblockr VPN on Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick devices. Depending on your device model and Fire OS version, the app may be available directly from the Amazon Appstore — try that first before sideloading.

Step 1 — Check the Amazon Appstore first

From your Fire TV home screen, go to the search icon and search for Unblockr VPN. If the app appears in the results, install it from there — this is the simplest option and requires no extra steps.

If the app installs successfully, skip to Step 4.

Step 2 — Install Downloader (if app not found in Appstore)

Search the Amazon Appstore for Downloader by AFTVnews — it's a free app that lets you install apps directly from a URL. Install it and open it.

The first time you use Downloader, Fire OS will ask you to allow it to install apps from unknown sources. You need to allow this — without it, the install won't work.

• Go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options
• Turn on Apps from Unknown Sources (or Install Unknown Apps and enable Downloader specifically)

Step 3 — Download and install Unblockr VPN

Open Downloader and in the URL bar enter:

unblockr.net/Unblockr-VPN.apk

Downloader will fetch the file. Once downloaded it will prompt you to install — tap Install and accept any security prompts that appear. These are standard warnings for sideloaded apps and are safe to accept.

Once installed, tap Done (not Open — Downloader can't launch it directly). You can delete the APK file when prompted to free up space.

Step 4 — Log in and connect

Find the Unblockr VPN app in your Fire TV app library. Open it, enter your Unblockr username and password, choose a server location and tap Connect. Accept any VPN permission prompts — Fire OS will ask you to confirm that you trust the app to set up a VPN connection.

Reconnecting automatically

The app will remember your login and last used server. Next time you open it, just tap Connect.

Installing Unblockr VPN on Android is straightforward. Try the Play Store first — if the app isn't available on your device or region, you can download it directly from our website in seconds.

Step 1 — Check the Play Store first

Open the Google Play Store and search for Unblockr VPN. If it appears, tap Install and you're done — skip to Step 3.

Step 2 — Install directly from our website (if not on Play Store)

Open your browser on your Android device and go to:

unblockr.net/Unblockr-VPN.apk

The APK will download automatically. Once complete, tap the notification to install it. Android will warn you that the app is from an unknown source — this is a standard warning for any app installed outside the Play Store and is safe to accept. Tap Install anyway when prompted.

If Android asks you to enable installs from your browser, go to Settings → Apps → [your browser] → Install unknown apps and enable it, then try again.

Step 3 — Log in and connect

Open the Unblockr VPN app, enter your username and password, choose a server location and tap Connect. Android will ask you to confirm the VPN connection — tap OK to allow it.

This guide walks you through connecting to Unblockr VPN on Windows using OpenVPN 2.4.9. The whole process takes about 5 minutes.

What you'll need

• A Windows PC (Windows 10 or 11)
• Your Unblockr login credentials
• Your Unblockr VPN configuration files (downloaded from the client area)

Step 1 — Download OpenVPN 2.4.9

You need the specific file: openvpn-install-2.4.9-I601-Win10.exe

Download it from the OpenVPN community releases archive at openvpn.net/community-releases — scroll down to find version 2.4.9 for Windows.

Step 2 — Install OpenVPN

Run the installer and follow the prompts, accepting the default options. Once installed, you'll see the OpenVPN icon in your system tray (bottom-right of your taskbar).

Step 3 — Get your config files from the client area

Log in to manage.unblockr.net and go to your VPN settings.

If this is your first time setting up, click the Regenerate button to generate your personal configuration files. You only need to do this once — regenerating will invalidate any previously downloaded configs.

Step 4 — Download your config files

Download the .ovpn config files for the server locations you want to use. They'll land in your Downloads folder by default.

Step 5 — Copy config files to the OpenVPN folder

Copy your downloaded .ovpn files into the following folder on your PC:

C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config

You may need administrator permission to paste files here — click Continue if Windows prompts you.

Step 6 — Connect

Right-click the OpenVPN icon in the system tray. You'll see your config files listed as profiles. Hover over the one you want, then click Connect. Enter your Unblockr username and password when prompted.

The tray icon will turn green when you're connected.

Troubleshooting

• Connection failing? Make sure you're running OpenVPN as Administrator (see Step 2)
• IPv6 issues? Right-click the tray icon, go to Settings, and select IPv4 tunnel only

This guide walks you through connecting to Unblockr VPN on a Mac using Tunnelblick — a free, open-source OpenVPN client for macOS. The whole process takes about 5 minutes.

What you'll need

• A Mac running macOS 10.14 or later
• Your Unblockr login credentials
• Your Unblockr VPN configuration files (downloaded from the client area)

Step 1 — Download and install Tunnelblick

Go to tunnelblick.net and download the latest stable release. Open the downloaded .dmg file and follow the installation prompts.

During installation, Tunnelblick will ask if you have any configuration files to install. Select No — you'll add them in a moment.

Step 2 — Log in to the client area and get your config files

Log in to manage.unblockr.net and navigate to your VPN settings.

If this is your first time setting up, click the Regenerate button to generate your personal configuration files. You only need to do this once — regenerating will invalidate any existing configs, so only do it again if you need to reset your credentials.

Step 3 — Download your configuration files

You'll see several .ovpn config files available to download — one for each server location. Download the ones for the countries you want to connect to.

Step 4 — Install the config files into Tunnelblick

Once downloaded, double-click a .ovpn file. macOS will ask what to open it with — choose Tunnelblick. You'll be prompted to install the configuration for all users or just yourself — either works.

Repeat for any additional config files you downloaded.

Step 5 — Connect

Click the Tunnelblick icon in your Mac's menu bar (top right). You'll see a list of your installed configs. Click the one you want to connect to, then click Connect.

Enter your Unblockr username and password when prompted. You can tick Save in Keychain so you don't have to enter it every time.

The Tunnelblick icon will turn dark when connected. You're good to go.

Disconnecting

Click the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar and select Disconnect. Your traffic will revert to your normal connection immediately.

Switching servers

To connect to a different country, disconnect first, then click the Tunnelblick menu bar icon and select a different configuration. Each .ovpn file corresponds to a server location.

Running Unblockr at the router level means every device on your network is protected automatically — no apps to install on individual devices. Router setup varies significantly depending on the make, model, and firmware, so this guide covers the general approach for both protocols.

OpenVPN (most common)

Most routers with VPN client support will work with OpenVPN. The general process is:

1. Log in to your Unblockr client area and download the .ovpn config file for your preferred server location
2. Log in to your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a browser)
3. Find the VPN client section — typically under Advanced Settings → VPN or Services → VPN depending on firmware
4. Import or paste the contents of your .ovpn file
5. When prompted for credentials, no username or password is required — the config file handles authentication
6. Save and connect

If the connection doesn't establish, double-check that the config was imported cleanly and that your router firmware supports the OpenVPN version in the config. If you're still stuck, get in touch and we'll help.

We no longer maintain a dedicated Kodi add-on for Unblockr. The good news is you don't need one — the best way to use Unblockr with Kodi is to run the VPN at the device or router level, so all traffic including Kodi is protected automatically.

Running Kodi on Android or Fire TV?

If you're running Kodi on an Android device or Fire TV stick, install the Unblockr VPN app alongside it. Once connected, Kodi will route through the VPN without any additional configuration.

• Setting up Unblockr on Android
• Setting up Unblockr on Fire TV / Fire Stick

Running Kodi on Windows or macOS?

Install the Unblockr VPN client on your PC or Mac and connect before launching Kodi. All Kodi traffic will go through the VPN.

• Setting up Unblockr on Windows
• Setting up Unblockr on macOS

Running Kodi on a dedicated box or media centre?

The cleanest solution is to set up Unblockr at the router level — every device on the network, including your Kodi box, will be covered without needing to install anything on the device itself.

• Setting up Unblockr on a Router

If the Unblockr app reports it can't connect to the internet, your ISP may have content filtering enabled on your account. This is separate from your router settings — it's controlled from your ISP's website. Find your provider below and disable it, then restart your router.

Sky Broadband — Sky Broadband Shield

Log in at broadbandshield.sky.com and turn off Broadband Shield.

BT Broadband — Smart Setup & Parental Controls

Log in to your BT account and disable Smart Setup and any Parental Controls that are active.

TalkTalk — Home Safe

Log in at talktalk.co.uk, go to Extras & Offers → Manage Home Safe and turn it off.

Virgin Media — Web Safe

Log in at my.virginmedia.com, go to My Apps → Web Safe → Settings and disable it.

Plusnet — Safeguard

Log in to your Plusnet account and turn off Safeguard. Note: changes can take up to 2 hours to take effect.

Vodafone Home Broadband — Content Control & Safe Sites

Log in at support.vodafone.co.uk and disable both Content Control and Safe Sites.

EE

EE does not apply content filtering on home broadband by default. If you've set up parental controls manually, remove them from your router settings.

After making any changes, unplug your router for a minute then reconnect. If you're still stuck, contact us.

A VPN will always add a small amount of overhead to your connection — your traffic is being encrypted, routed through a server, and decrypted at the other end. In most cases this is barely noticeable, but there are a few common causes of significant slowdowns and most are easy to fix.

Try a different server location

The further a server is from your physical location, the higher the latency. If you're in Europe and connected to Australia, speeds will be slower. Try connecting to the nearest UK or European server and see if that helps.

Switch to WireGuard

If you're using OpenVPN, try switching to WireGuard. WireGuard is a modern, leaner protocol that is significantly faster than OpenVPN — particularly on mobile devices and slower connections. If your client supports it, WireGuard should be your first choice.

Your device may be the bottleneck

VPN encryption and decryption is handled entirely by your device's CPU. On older or low-powered devices — budget Android phones, older Fire TV sticks, ageing routers — the processor simply may not be fast enough to encrypt and decrypt data at full speed. This is especially noticeable when streaming HD or 4K content.

If your device is a few years old and struggles with the VPN, switching to WireGuard (which is far less CPU-intensive than OpenVPN) can make a significant difference. Alternatively, setting up the VPN on your router offloads the encryption work to the router's hardware instead.

Check your base connection speed

Disconnect from the VPN and run a speed test. If your base connection is already slow, the VPN will compound that. Contact your ISP if your speeds without the VPN are below what you're paying for.

Check for background activity

Other apps or devices on your network downloading updates, syncing files, or streaming in the background will all eat into available bandwidth. Try pausing other activity and see if speeds improve.

Try a different protocol or port

Some ISPs throttle or deprioritise VPN traffic on certain ports. Switching between UDP and TCP in your VPN client settings, or trying a different port if your client allows it, can sometimes bypass this.

If UK streaming services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 or S4C aren't working, the most common cause is connecting to the wrong UK server. Unblockr has two types of UK node and they serve different purposes.

UK vs UK-TV — what's the difference?

• UK — a general purpose UK server. Good for general browsing, privacy, and most UK-based services. It is not optimised for catch-up TV and may not work with BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 or similar services.
• UK-TV — specifically configured for UK catch-up and streaming services. Use this server for BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, S4C and any other UK broadcast streaming platform.

Still not working? Check your device settings

UK streaming apps don't just check your IP address — many also check your device's region, language, and time settings. If these are set to another country, the app may still block you even when connected to a UK server.

Check and update the following on your device:

• Region / Country — set to United Kingdom in your device or app store settings
• Language — set to English (United Kingdom)
• Time zone — set to London (GMT / BST)
• App store region — if the streaming app was downloaded from a non-UK store, it may behave differently. Consider switching your app store region to UK and reinstalling

These checks apply to smart TVs, Fire TV sticks, Android devices, and streaming boxes alike — not just phones and computers.

Still having trouble?

Try clearing the cache of the streaming app and restarting it while connected to the UK-TV server. If it still doesn't work, email support@unblockr.net with the app you're trying to use and your device type and we'll investigate.

To cancel your subscription, log in to your account and go to your profile. On the first tab you'll see your current subscription — click Cancel there and you're done.

Your access continues until the end of the period you've already paid for. If you'd prefer an immediate refund instead, see How do I get a refund?

Email us at billing@unblockr.net with your account details and we'll process your refund within 7 days.

On the login page, click Forgot Password and enter your registered email address or username. You'll receive a reset link to get back in.

If you don't receive the email or get stuck, email us from the address you signed up with and we'll sort it out.

No. Unblockr operates a strict no-logs policy — we do not record, store or monitor your activity, connection times, IP addresses, or traffic.

Our VPN endpoints exist entirely in memory. All output from VPN services is directed to /dev/null, meaning nothing is written to disk. There is nothing to hand over even if we were asked.

Unblockr currently supports OpenVPN with 2048-bit encryption — reliable, widely supported, and compatible with all platforms we offer.

WireGuard support is coming soon. The server-side infrastructure is in place and a native client is on the way.