How to watch Amazon Prime Video outside USA – VPN vs DNS Proxy
VPN 101 – Inside Virtual Private Networks
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) has the ability to reroute your internet traffic and make it seem to be coming from a different country of your choosing.
It all depends on the server you connect to. If you connect to an American server, you’ll appear to be browsing the web from the United States. Furthermore, once you connect, the VPN will encrypt your data, hide your IP address, and assign you a new one in the US.
As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy services and internet television that are restricted to the US. Expats outside USA (Australia, Canada, UK, Germany, Spain, France, and Dubai) can also greatly benefit from the many advantages of VPN:
- VPN allows you to anonymously surf the web so that websites won’t be able to track your activity.
- VPN will encrypt all your online data and thus shields you from hackers and spies.
- The software will give you access to various geo-restricted services and applications such as American Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, US Netflix, Crackle and many more.
- You can easily change and hide your IP address using a VPN.
- Connecting to a VPN server can help you get around some of the restrictions that your ISP might impose on your browsing or streaming activities (Throttling, DNS hijacking, and transparent proxies).
Take a look at the best VPN providers we have tested in order to watch Amazon Prime outside the US.
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How to Get American Amazon Prime Video Abroad
Amazon Prime has over 100 million subscribers in the USA alone. That number has significantly risen due to the fact that Amazon Prime Video is now available in almost every country around the world. Despite being available almost everywhere though, geo-restrictions still apply to Prime’s content.
Each country has a certain Amazon Prime catalog due to distribution rights. In other words, you might be able to watch a certain movie or TV show in one region but not another. The US catalog is still superior to all others both in terms of quality and quantity of available titles.
In order to spoof your geo-location and get American Amazon Prime Video, follow these steps. You don’t have to register for a new Amazon account i.e. you can use whatever Amazon Prime account you already have and in addition to a VPN to access American Amazon Prime from abroad.
- Sign up with ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the VPN application on your PC, Mac, Amazon Fire Stick, iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
- Launch the app, sign in, and connect to an American VPN server.
- Head over to Amazon Prime Video or launch the Amazon Prime Video app.
- Watch American Amazon Prime Video outside the USA.
Beware that some VPN services can hugely impact your internet speed. So be careful when choosing your VPN provider. Express VPN, for example, has minimal effect on internet speed based on our tests.
The provider has dedicated apps for Mac, PC, Android, iPhone, and iPad to aid you with your VPN setup. ExpressVPN also offers Smart DNS proxies that work on PS3, PS4, Xbox, Roku, Smart TVs, and routers.
These devices do not have VPN clients. Therefore you cannot install a VPN directly on them. A Smart DNS proxy allows you to work around that obstacle.
How to Unlock Amazon Prime Video using Smart DNS proxies
As mentioned in the introduction, a VPN isn’t the only way to bypass regional restrictions. Smart DNS Proxies grant you access to websites, services, and applications that are exclusively available in other regions of the world.
Unlike VPN, however, Smart DNS only redirects some chunks of your connection. Instead of downloading a VPN app, you need to configure your streaming device’s DNS server addresses. The new DNS codes will be provided to you by your Smart DNS proxy service provider. Here are the main features of setting up Smart DNS on your streaming platforms:
- Smart DNS won’t affect your internet speed in any way. This is mainly due to the fact that Smart DNS does not encrypt your Internet traffic.
- It will allow you to retain your local IP address so that you can still access your local websites while unblocking geographically restricted services.
- Smart DNS grants you the ability to watch multinational streaming services simultaneously. This means you get to watch American Amazon Instant Video and UK’s Now TV at the same time without having to configure your DNS server addresses again.
- Smart DNS works on all devices. Whether you want to unblock channels on your PC, iPhone, PS4, Xbox, Android, or Apple TV, Smart DNS will help you do that.
- If your ISP implements DNS hijacking or transparent proxies, Smart DNS will probably not function properly on your devices.
All of the VPN providers we included in the table above offer Smart DNS proxies as part of their subscription. In the case of Unlocator though, you can save some money by subscribing to their cheaper ‘Smart DNS only’ plan instead of the ‘VPN + Smart DNS’ package.
Unlocator even allows new users to benefit from a free 7-day trial period without asking for billing details during the sign-up process.
Amazon Prime Video – Device Compatibility
Now you know how you can get Amazon Prime wherever you may be. However, a problem will be at hand if you don’t have the right device for the streaming platforms. So, here’s a list of Amazon Prime compatible devices. Check if yours is among them:
- Roku
- Smart TVs
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Nintendo Wii
- iPhone
- iPad
- Apple TV
- Android
- PC & Mac
- Amazon Fire Stick
- Chromecast
What’s on Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime has millions of subscribers due to the fact that it offers a huge selection of content. It doesn’t matter what genre the content belongs to, it’s all there. As we’ve mentioned before, the content you get to access depends on which region you currently reside in.
Prime Video’s biggest hits include The Man in the High Castle, Grand Tour, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and so much more:
- Patriot
- Forever
- The Tick
- The Boys
- Bosch
- Modern Love
- Goliath
- Good Omens
- Carnival Row
- Hanna
- The Grand Tour
- Homecoming
- The Expanse
- Transparent
- Downton Abbey
- Sneaky Pete
- The Romanoffs
- The Widow
The aforementioned titles are just a simple look at what Amazon Prime has up its sleeves. You can find hundreds of other titles once you unblock the American version of the streaming giant.
The Bottom Line
Have you tried using a VPN, Smart DNS proxy, or both in order to access US Amazon Prime Video from overseas? Did you run into any trouble during the setup process or were you able to get it up and running without any issues? Make sure you leave some feedback in the comment section below.
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About Author
William Reeves
A technical wizard of 10 year experience. Certified in Linux, Ethical Hacking and all sorts of technical stuff . I did work on projects around the world worth millions of dollars. My aim is to free you the reader from location restrictions and protect your privacy.
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I’m in Canada with a USA Amazon Prime account. VPN Nord will NOT work. All their servers are blocked. The same with VPN Express. Blocked!
Now my old unlocator service has stopped also. It seems to be blocked. I either get error 5505 or unable to connect to the internet.
As of now, nothing seems to work.
William Reeves ? technical WIZARD ? big laughs. succeed in primevideo connection solution & we will praise you !
I’m in Canada with a USA Amazon Prime account. VPN Nord will NOT work. All their servers are blocked. The same with VPN Express. Blocked!
Now my old unlocator service has stopped also. It seems to be blocked. I either get error 5505 or unable to connect to the internet.
As of now, nothing seems to work.
I setup NordVPN via OpenVPN on my ASUS router. Can access US Netflix and US Amazon Video on my Mac just fine (I am in SE Asia), but on my LG smart TV only US Netflix works; Amazon Video still says “Not available in your location” for all videos. Chat with NordVPN team suggests Amazon is forcing use of their DNS server through the app. I suspect this means it will be forced through all device apps (Roku, PS4, etc.), leaving only browser connections open for now. Solution for now is to airplay Amazon from my Mac to AppleTV.
I’m in the Cayman islands. Just got an Amazon firetv stick. Have no problem with Netflix but can’t get Amazon Prime due to geographical issues. Can someone tell me the best way to get Amazon prime plz.
HI, my NORDVPN installation was working fine, I use it in my Windows 10 Netbook (ASUS) , ASUS tabletg and Samsung J5 Celphone.
After a Winows 10 update, about a week ago, my PC’s NORDVPN only shows about 7 countries and just a few servers, but my celphone and tablet shows them all. I was watching AMazon Prime Video and Netfliz through NORDVPN but now my PC shows that I am in a country qhere these videos are unavailable but the Tablet and Cellphones are working fine. What could have changed and how can I fix it. I tried to repair the NORDVPN app in my PC but not to avail. Thanks.
Hi Miguel. Have you tried uninstalling the NordVPN app and then installing it again?
I have express vpn and it’s not working. Amazon is saying:
Your device’s Internet connection is using an HTTP proxy which prevents playing your video. Please close or disable any proxy programs and try again. For further assistance, please contact Amazon Customer Service at “www.amazon.com/videohelp” and refer to error 1042.
Hello Carly. Try connecting to a different American VPN server to watch American Amazon Prime abroad. That should help you fix the issue.
Worked for me – thanks!
For over two years, I’d been using ExpressVPN successfully to use my US Amazon Prime Video when in Brazil, where I am at the moment. Until last week, I was using an iPhone, but it died and I had to buy an Android, because iPhones are prohibitively expensive in Brazil. When I first installed the Amazon Prime app, everything was fine, and still is in fact. However, today, it’s asking to be updated and wants access to the device’s location (which it never had before). I’m afraid to update it, because I think giving it access to that will automatically turn on the “Location services” on my phone, which I always make sure to turn off before activating the VPN. I’m also afraid to keep using the app without updating it . . . Does anyone have any insights into this problem? Does the VPN still hide my location if I give Amazon access to the location of my device (i.e., my phone)?
None vpn none dns works in Panama..zI tried for weks now.we are screwed.
I can use prime with vpn from Canada on my MacBook, but on my android I can see the listing but when the prime app launches it says the video can’t be found.location is turned off.any ideas?
I have all that but it stopped working sometime in this month
Hi
I live in Germany and use the NordVpn for some reason I cano access amazon prime Usa her in Germany only the amazon Germany which show you most of the movies in the German language,Bad for me. Is anybody can tell me how to access amazon prime Usa
Do you have instructions on how to setup DNS on a YOKA TV? It’s an android device.
Wayne
Since you are the guru, explain to me why even torguard told me Amazon is now blocking any VPN? They say there is nothing they can do. I was with Pia before and I cancelled because their vpn didn’t work with Amazon. Torguard worked for less than a year.
Hi Simon. Streaming services like Amazon Prime and Netflix have been blacklisting the IP addresses of VPN server for quite a while now. However, there are some VPN service providers that still allow you to get American Amazon Prime outside USA including the likes of ExpressVPN and BulletVPN.
ExpressVPN you say works but for how long? And it’s very expensive.
I agree. There are cheaper VPN service providers out there, but none of them work as good as ExpressVPN. That’s why they’re top of the list. In the end, you get what you pay for.
I have tried everything to access my UK Amazon Prime account from my house in France and everything is detected. UK IP VPN, virtual UK VPN, non-London servers (all HMA), turning off location services, change computer clock to UK time – nothing works.
Since Amazon Video launched here in Spain, Unlocator’s SmartDNS has stopped working for Amazon Prime Video UK.
IOS, Samsung Smart TV and PC all revert to the local service irrespective of the DNS settings. Unlocator tried to fob me off with a, “must be a transparent proxy” explanation, but all other UK streaming services, BBC, ITV, etc., are working fine; never heard of a “selective” transparent proxy!
Considering a VPN solution to get around this, however, concerned by some the posts here about Amazon getting wise to it.
Appreciate latest developments.
Have you tried contacting Unlocator support regarding the issue?
VPN is now generally blocked by Amazon prime Germany on iPad.
I tried all server of HMA in Germany.
Message: you are using a VPN device please switch off….
Any solution?
Hello, I have a question. I have a U.S. Amazon prime account, a fire stick and a PS4. I have been reading these articles and I would like some clarification, I am living in KSA now my PS4 is from here, my firestick is from the USA and I have installed Kodi on my firestick, now can I use kodi on my PS4? Can I watch Amazon Prime on PS4? Or would keeping it on firestick be better? I have already read a smart DNS for the Firestick should work but if I can watch it on PS4 what should I use?
Hi Craig. Kodi cannot be installed on PS4 unfortunately. However, you should be able to get American Amazon Prime Video on your PS4. If you have an American PSN account, use that to download the Amazon Prime video app and setup Unlocator on your PS4. If you don’t own a US PSN account, check this guide out https://thevpn.guru/change-psn-region-unblock-watch-us-apps-ps3-ps4-vpn-dns-proxy
Starting 2 days ago amazon prime is has been blocking my vpn for hidemyass. So now neither netfix U.S. will work or amazon prime while I am out of the country. any suggestions?
Hi Ko. If HideMyAss support can sort the issue out, I’d suggest either using ExpressVPN or Unlocator to unblock American Prime outside USA.
I ended up contacting them and they provided me with ips that are not being blocked. I am not sure how long this will solve the issue but the one thing I can say is that the ips they provided are now very slow…this could be because they are so far away from my location or they are being overused
I have Amazon Prime and I have installed IPVANISH on the Fire TV Stick but even with all the settings for the USA I still get the Geo IP Error or License error. I have been into the Apps settings and cleared all cache and data but that has no effect. Anyone with any other solutions please.
Have you tried connecting to a different American VPN server?
In Sweden, where I live, Amazon instant video app doesn’t appear in my smart TV list of apps available. I subscribed to Amazon prime membership, can watch the show on my internet browser but the show is in 4K HDR format which my laptop can not support, so what’s the point of the fancy Samsung SUHD TV I bought last month with 4K and HDR? also I can not watch the majority of shows due to geographical restrictions so I cancelled the membership and enjoyed the one month free membership. They force people to resort to torrents by not making the show available. The membership price is decent and I am willing to pay it with pleasure but they don’t want my money…
Hi Hussain. First, you have to change your Samsung Smart TV region to USA. Once done, use Unlocator Smart DNS to bypass geographic restrictions imposed on Amazon Instant Video. I am using that very same setup to watch Amazon Prime on my Samsung Smart TV outside USA.
I have an American Amazon Prime account and wanted to watch something on the UK site and of course got that stupid 4601 error stopping me. Tried changing my ip address to London and then Southhampton thru PIA and for a couple of hours it worked and then they caught it. What really pisses me off is the lie Amazon is trying to get me to believe that this is a geographical licensing restriction which they have no control over when the program is an Amazon Original. Their greed is all consuming and screw the customers.
I have been using the VPN services from Private Internet Access (PIA). It has been great for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video Streaming. As of last week, it is no longer working for either. I get a message on both sites to turn off my VPN. I wrote Amazon and they told me they have undated their programing and are now blocking all VPNs. Is there a work around? I am a USA expat living in West Africa.
Hello Ann. Have you tried contacting PIA support about the issue? I’d suggest using ExpressVPN in order to watch both Amazon Prime and Netflix abroad.
Hi – I’ve been running Amazon Prime using Express VPN in China with no problem until last night. Are they too cracking down? The weird thing is, I can stream on my iPad mini. Can I Unlocator while in China? Thanks. Already gave up Netflix – don’t want to give my Amazon too!
Thanks, in advance, for your response.
Hello Carla. The fact you can still use ExpressVPN to watch Amazon Prime on your iPad does suggest that their might be something wrong with your VPN setup. Are you connected to the same VPN server on all your streaming devices? I’d suggest contacting ExpressVPN support to get to the root of the issue.
Unlocator should, in theory, allow you to unblock Amazon Instant Video in China as well.
Hide my ass should be called waste my time! Their customer service is awful. They no longer work for Amazon.
Express vpn works for Amazon. Use Washington dc setting. New York doesn’t work
Amazon doesn’t work with smart DNS
Hi J. That depends on what Smart DNS service you are using. I know for sure that Unlocator does work with American, UK, and German Amazon Prime.
Is there a way to download the Amazon Video to an Xbox 360 for an Australian user? The ways on web suggest changing the Xbox region to US (doesn’t work) and using a VPN to change the IP address to a US IP address (also doesn’t work).
Hi. First you need to create an American Xbox Live account. Then, you have to setup VPN on your router.
Thank you. I did try that too – can get to the US app store, but it won’t allow a download.
I’ve just bought a firetv stick here in UK to take with me to Hong Kong when we emigrate later this month. I have VPN ( Hotspot Shield ) already but I’m not sure if I need to change VPN service in order to set VPN at either router or fire stick level. What’s the simplest way of approaching it? Thanks
Given that the FireTV Stick lacks a VPN client, VPN cannot be directly installed on it I am afraid. You have to setup VPN on router level. Alternatively, you could setup Smart DNS directly on the Amazon Fire TV Stick instead.
Hi Ladies and Gents,
Just signed up to Amazon Prime Video in the UK. Problem is that I’m moving to France (Lyon) soon and am concerned that I won’t be able to access the UK TV series and film catalogues once over there.
I’ve got access to PureVPN but I don’t want to stream via a desktop computer, tablet, notebook or anything convoluted – just want to access the Amazon catalogues via the Fire TV HDMI stick.
Is this possible or am I onto a loser?
Thanks!
Justin
Hi Justin. There are two ways to unblock Amazon Prime UK abroad: VPN or Smart DNS. Given that you want to watch UK Amazon Video on your Fire TV, I’d suggest using Smart DNS since it can be directly setup on the Amazon Fire TV Stick without the need to setup anything on router level. In case you wish to proceed with VPN, you’ll need to setup a VPN connection on router level. Not all router do support VPN though. VPN cannot be directly setup on Amazon Fire TV either.
Thanks a bunch!
Will give it a go and get back to you with the results ASAP. ?
I’ve been using a VPN abs successfully watching amazon video until recently. Now despite my VPN I’m getting blocked. It seems Amazon has caught on to the VPN just like Hulu has. Is there any way around it?
You might wonna give Smart DNS a try to unblock American Amazon Prime outside USA as if just tested it and can confirm it’s working properly.
I am using both a VPN and DNS but am still not able to get Amazon Prime to work. Are there any steps that I am forgetting?
Hi. As an educated guess, you might be using an Amazon Instant Video app from the wrong region i.e. if you wish to unblock US Amazon Prime, you must use an American Amazon Prime app.
You do NOT need Prime to watch Instant Video. I’ve been watching it for 5 years without it(I’m still here in the U.S but the point stands) otherwise, good article I learned a lot.All you need for Amazon Instant video is a normal Amazon account.
Hi,
I’m a UK Prime member but want to watch some of the American only shows. Do I have to buy another membership in the US or can I just use the UK one and a VPN?
You need a US Amazon Prime account in addition to VPN or Smart DNS to unblock American Amazon Instant Prime outside US.