Blog

How to Watch HBO Outside the US

23 June 2020

HBO is a powerhouse when it comes to putting out video content. And now, thanks to HBO Go, HBO Now, and HBO Max, there are even more reasons to subscribe to the network.

Sadly, those who live outside the US can’t get any of these services.

Not through conventional methods, that is.

HBO blocks access for those not in the United States. But there are workarounds you can implement that would bypass those restrictions. Just follow the steps laid out below and you should be able to watch HBO programming in minutes.

Interested?

Then read this guide all the way through the end so you can watch HBO outside the US today.

What Are HBO Go, HBO Now, and HBO Max?

HBO, the cable channel, has several streaming services aimed at helping the company’s subscribers to enjoy its shows and movies.

But what are the differences between the three?

● HBO Go — HBO Go comes with your HBO subscription. If you don’t have an HBO subscription or if your cable provider does not offer this feature, then you can’t watch shows and movies on HBO Go.

● HBO Now — Unlike HBO Go, HBO Now does not require you to have an HBO subscription. Even if you don’t have a cable subscription, you can watch HBO shows and movies. HBO Now subscribers currently have access to everything HBO Max has to offer.

● HBO Max — HBO Max is offered by WarnerMedia and has 10,000 hours of premium content. It bundles everything HBO has to offer including Max Originals.

All three of these have regional restrictions. If you want to watch HBO programs through any of these platforms and you live outside the US, then you’ll have to bypass the limitations placed by HBO through the method shown later in the post.

Why Should You Watch HBO Go, HBO Now, or HBO Max?

Before we jump into the “how,” people need to understand why HBO is worth subscribing to. In the era where Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ exist, why do you want to add HBO to your list?

Here are a few reasons that might convince you that HBO is worth investing in.

Reason #1: HBO Releases Original Shows

Who hasn’t heard of Game of Thrones at this point, right? Regardless of how you feel about the show now, there’s no denying that it’s one of the best series to come out in years.

But Game of Thrones isn’t the first original program that HBO put out. It has a good track record of original shows and movies that include Westworld, Watchmen, The Wire, and The Sopranos.

Reason #2: HBO Has News-Oriented Programs

You may not know it but HBO actually has some of the best political programs today. Both Real Time with Bill Maher and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver are Emmy-recognized with the former being nominated while the latter winning several years in a row.

It’s also home to Vice, a show that documents news stories from around the world.

Reason #3: HBO Announced New Shows Will Arrive Soon

As CNET reported, new shows will be coming to the network soon. This includes the Snyder cut of the movie Justice League (along with other DC movies over the last 40 years), all episodes of Friends, and new episodes of South Park.

Fans of Studio Ghibli can watch all of its movies right now, even those that weren’t released in the US before.

The Best HBO Shows

What kind of shows can you expect from HBO today? Let’s take a closer look.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

John Oliver breaks down the latest current events in comedic fashion, making it easier to understand complex issues that plague the US and the rest of the world.

Veep

Watch Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President Selina Meyer as she navigates her way through a job that’s nowhere near what she expected it to be.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David plays a fictionalized version of himself. Curb Your Enthusiasm explores Larry in his element in Los Angeles. The show features real-life celebrities who also play fictionalized versions of themselves.

Barry

Barry, played by Bill Hader, is a former Marine who turned into a hitman in Los Angeles. His target ended up in the city to study acting which means he has to do the same.

Westworld

Westworld explores a world where artificial has progressed to the point where it can satisfy human desires. This smash hit has already been renewed for another season.

How to Watch HBO Go, HBO Now, or HBO Max Outside the US

Here’s the good news:

You don’t need to buy third-party equipment or download any apps to watch HBO outside the US.

All you need is to subscribe to a Smart DNS or VPN service provider like Getflix

For those who are unfamiliar, VPN stands for virtual private network. It’s best known for securing your activity online. However, you can also use it to bypass regional blocks that prevent you from accessing services like HBO GO, HBO Now or HBO Max.

Once you’re subscribed to Getflix, you can configure your DNS settings to get HBO channels to work on any of the devices you plan on using.

If that sounds complicated, rest assured that it’s not.

We’ll walk you through the process.

Step #1: Subscribe to a Getflix Free Trial

Getflix has a 14-day free trial for first-time users. It doesn’t require you to enter your credit card details. All you’ll need is an active email address.

After you enter your email address, check your inbox. Getflix will send you a confirmation email. Click the specified link in the email to finish the registration.

Once complete, you will have access to the Getflix dashboard.

Step #2: Locate Your DNS Server

From your dashboard, check your IP Address Status. Unless something unforeseen happened during the setup stage, your IP address should be labeled as registered.

Do note that your IP address could change over time depending on your ISP provider. If that happens, there a force update button that you could press to restore the connection.

Next, scroll down a bit and you should find your DNS status.

Unlike your IP address, your DNS settings should not be configured at this point.

Here’s how you update your DNS settings.

You need to find the DNS server closest to your region/country. Here’s a list of DNS servers you could use. If you live near Spain, for example, then you should use 185.93.3.168 as your DNS server.

Step #3: Change Your DNS Server

You have two options. You can change the DNS server through your router or change the DNS server on every device you intend to use.

What’s the difference?

Updating your router will ensure that any device connected to it can access HBO. This is the more convenient route. However, those who are not familiar with their router settings might find this process inconvenient. But if you plan to update your DNS through your router, consult your user manual as every brand is different.

The easier method would be to change the DNS settings on your device.

Getflix has guides on updating your DNS server whether it’s for macOS, Apple TV, Android, Xbox, Playstation, and more.

For now, we’ll show you how to update the DNS server on Windows computers.

Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.

Go to View Your Active Connections and click Connections. If you’re using Ethernet, your connection will show Ethernet. Those who use WiFi will see Wireless Network Connection instead.

In the window that will pop up, click Properties.

This will trigger another window to open. Open the Networking tab. From the list of connections, look for Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

Once selected, click Properties.

Go to the General tab. You should find a field labeled Use the Following DNS Server Addresses. There, you’ll see two empty fields.

In the Preferred DNS Server field, enter the DNS server you selected (the one closest to your location). If you found another DNS server that’s also near you, you can enter it on the Alternate DNS Server field.

Once finished, click OK.

That’s it. You should now have access to HBO. Go back to the Getflix dashboard and check your DNS status to confirm.

Step #4: Activate Your VPN (Optional)

If you skipped the free trial and signed up for a Getflix plan straight away, you should have the option to activate your VPN.

Turning on your VPN not only secures your activity online, but it also prevents cybercriminals, ISP providers, and government agencies from tracking your movements while browsing the web.

It’s an additional layer of security that will give you peace of mind.

Conclusion

Even if your trial runs out, Getflix has one of the most affordable plans with a one-month subscription costing $4.95/month. Of course, the longer you subscribe, the more you will save.

Getflix lets you enjoy HBO GO, HBO NOW or HBO Max (and other streaming services) from anywhere in the world so it’s worth investing in.