How to Bypass VPN Blocks on IPTV Services & Apps

The following guide shows how to Bypass VPN Blocks on IPTV services, streaming apps, and add-ons.

IPVanish and Surfshark hold the top two spots in our VPN rankings for streaming and general Internet use.

Over the past several months, complaints about VPN blocking have surged across the TROYPOINT Insider, comments, and emails. Various IPTV services and Stremio add-ons are now detecting VPN connections and refusing to load content.

I’ve tested this problem on my own devices and put together two video tutorials showing how to work around these blocks using both IPVanish and Surfshark VPN. Here’s what I found and how you can fix this issue on your own setup.

Why Are IPTV Services Blocking VPNs?

IPTV services and certain streaming add-ons block VPN connections by flagging known IP addresses associated with popular VPN providers. Once a VPN server’s IP address gets flagged, any user connecting through that address will be denied access.

This problem affects every major VPN provider, not just one or two. The difference comes down to how many IP addresses each provider offers within a given server location.

A VPN with more IP addresses gives you better odds of finding one that hasn’t been flagged yet.

How IPVanish Handles VPN Blocks

IPVanish VPN stands out here because of its massive server infrastructure. With over 3,200 servers worldwide, the service offers something most competitors don’t: the ability to choose from 100+ individual IP addresses within a single city.

We cover this and more in our video below:

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Here’s how the process works. Open the IPVanish app and connect to the server closest to your physical location for the best speeds.

For me, that’s Chicago. Go into your favorited location and tap View Servers to see the full list available in that city. Each entry represents a different IP address.

If your IPTV service blocks one server, simply disconnect and pick another from the same location. During my testing, Chicago server number four was blocked by my IPTV provider.

After scrolling through the list, server seventy-four connected without any issues. The channel loaded right away.

Saving Your Working Server

One major advantage with IPVanish is that the app remembers your last successful connection. After finding server seventy-four in Chicago, I disconnected and reopened the app.

Right at the top, it displayed “Chicago B74” and reconnected to that exact address. You won’t need to hunt through the list again unless that IP eventually gets flagged too.

IPVanish has also started rolling out RAM only servers in select locations, with plans for full coverage by 2027. These servers wipe all data on every reboot, adding another layer of privacy protection.

How Surfshark Handles VPN Blocks

Surfshark VPN takes a different approach, and it does come with some limitations. We explain this further in our video below:

Get Surfshark VPN With Special Discount

Each server location still rotates through multiple IP addresses, but you can’t manually select a specific one. Instead, each time you disconnect and reconnect to the same city, Surfshark assigns a new random address.

During my testing with the Chicago server, I received three different IPs ending in .144, .58, and .152. The .144 and .152 addresses were both blocked by my IPTV service, but .58 worked without trouble.

The Limitation with Surfshark

The drawback is that Surfshark doesn’t let you save or favorite a specific IP address. You can only bookmark the server location itself. So if you find a working address, you’ll need to stay connected to keep it. Disconnecting means you might get assigned a blocked IP the next time around.

If every address within your closest city gets flagged, try switching to a nearby location. I moved from Chicago to Omaha and found a working connection on my first attempt. Some locations only carry a handful of addresses, though, making them easier to block.

I’ve personally left Surfshark connected for multiple weeks at a time on my streaming devices. Once you land on a working server, just leave it running.

IPVanish vs Surfshark for Avoiding VPN Blocks

For users dealing with VPN blocks, IPVanish has a clear edge. The ability to browse and select from dozens of individual IP addresses within one city makes troubleshooting much faster. Surfshark requires repeated disconnect-reconnect cycles with no control over which address you receive.

That said, many VPN users never encounter blocking issues at all. If you aren’t running into problems with your current provider, there’s no reason to switch. But if blocked connections are a recurring headache, IPVanish’s server selection tool is a real advantage.

What If Nothing Works?

If you’ve cycled through every available server and still can’t find a connection that isn’t blocked, consider switching to a different IPTV service, streaming app, or add-on.

There are plenty of options available that don’t restrict VPN usage at all. No sense fighting with a provider that won’t let you protect your privacy.

Final Thoughts on VPN Blocks

VPN blocking has become a growing frustration for cord-cutters who want to protect their online privacy while streaming.

IPVanish’s large server database gives users a practical way to work around these restrictions, while Surfshark requires more patience and a bit of luck. Both methods can get the job done, but IPVanish offers more control over the process.

Are you having issues with VPN blocks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!