BBC iPlayer is a treasure trove of great British content. However, its web player could be more streamlined, which is one of the reasons why the iPlayer WWW Kodi addon is so popular. We explain how to watch iPlayer on Kodi, even if you’re currently traveling away from home (outside of the UK).
Note that legally, you’ll need a TV License to use BBC iPlayer, even if you’re only watching on-demand content. This fact is mentioned whenever you stream using the iPlayer website but it’s easy to accidentally click past the message when launching the Kodi addon, so we thought we’d best highlight it again here.
Like most major streaming platforms, BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted. This can cause problems for any Brits traveling abroad, since they won’t normally be able to keep watching their favorite shows. Luckily, there is a workaround: using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
How to stream BBC iPlayer anywhere on Kodi with a VPN
VPNs route your internet traffic through servers elsewhere in the world, hiding your true location and helping you regain access to your usual content from anywhere.
Here’s how to stream BBC iPlayer on Kodi:
- First, you’ll need a reputable VPN provider (we recommend NordVPN)
- Download and install the app on your device
- Log in and select a British server. This changes your IP address, making it seem like you never left the UK
- Connect, then open Kodi and try using the iPlayer WWW addon again. You should be able to watch TV just like you were actually back home
Install the BBC iPlayer Addon (iPlayer WWW) in Kodi
Before we can usethe iPlayer add-on, we’ll first need to install it. The BBC iPlayer addon, iPlayer WWW, is available through the official Kodi addon repository.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
Here’s how to install the BBC iPlayer Addon in Kodi:
- To install iPlayer WWW, first select Add-ons and then select the Package Symbol on the top left.
- From there, select Install from repository.
- Next, locate the Kodi addon repository and select it. Then, select Video add-ons. Scroll down to locate the iPlayer WWW addon.
- From there, click on the Install. Button. You’ll see a successful install message pop up on the top right of your screen.
- Finally, to find your BBC iPlayer WWW addon, go to Addons > Video Add-ons from your Kodi home screen.
BBC iPlayer Kodi Addon not working? Here are a few tips
There’s a chance you might find that your BBC iPlayer Addon won’t connect properly. There are some notable reasons for this, which we’ll walk through here.
1. You’re using a VPN that doesn’t work with iPlayer
Don’t say we didn’t warn you beforehand! We’ve found through testing that the BBC effectively blocks most VPNs out there. So if you’re using a free VPN (which we highly recommend you don’t for safety and security reasons), you’ll likely have connection issues. Likewise, many paid VPN services don’t work with the iPlayer Kodi addon or any version of the iPlayer. IPVanish is one notable example here.
If you’re getting a failure to connect message, try signing up for a free account with ExpressVPN and testing again.
2. Your iPlayer WWW addon is outdated
There are several versions of iPlayer WWW floating around, as well as other versions of the BBC iPlayer Kodi addon as well. We recommend iPlayer WWW because it’s the version we found works, but you’ll also need to make sure you’ve downloaded the most recent version from the source we recommended above.
3. Your credentials don’t work
If you’ve entered your BBC iPlayer username and password into the addon, double-check that both are correct. To enter your username and password, do the following:
- Right-click or long press on the iPlayer WWW addon tile
- Click on Configure
- Enter or fix your login credentials
4. Your settings are incorrect
Alternatively, you can use the BBC iPlayer Kodi addon without entering your login credentials. However, you’ll just need to make sure that both Enable BBC iD and Sign in automatically are turned on in the configuration settings.
So what does this mean for users? Well, not much. For simplicity and security, it’s always best to use the latest version of Kodi available. You can also safely assume that just about every addon built for Kodi 16 (Jarvis) is broken, so sites that talk about these are likely hopelessly outdated.
