Below in this Article, Hotstar Content When Traveling Abroad. More than 300 million people use Hotstar. To put that number in perspective, less than 30 million people use Amazon Prime and Netflix combined in the country. Hotstar is heaven for fans of Bollywood or cricket, and Indian expats who want to catch up with their favorites series. below in this article, we will cover the How to Stream Hotstar Content When Traveling Abroad.
But if you’re outside India, you won’t be able to use Hotstar. The company uses geolocation to block outside users. And that becomes a problem when you travel abroad and want to stream the latest episodes or watch live matches.
Don’t worry, though. There is a way you can do that. Follow the steps in this guide to access both the free and premium Hotstar services from anywhere else in the world.
Where is Hotstar Available?
Apart from India, two countries, the US and Canada, have access to Hotstar via the us.hostar.com and ca.hotstar.com domains. In these countries, you have to pay either a $9.99 US or $12.99 CA monthly subscription to access the platform.
But even if you pay for it, you can’t expect the same excellent quality of content. Because of copyright laws and licensing deals, you can only get access to a fraction of the full Hotstar catalog.
Users outside Canada, India, or the US may encounter this annoying error:
“Hotstar Content Not Available in Your Region“
Hotstar uses geo-blocking algorithms and IP filters that prevent users from accessing the platform if they are located in other countries. You can encounter the same issue when accessing sites like Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, etc.
How to Access Hotstar Outside India
Fortunately, you can unblock Hotstar (and other popular platforms) in a few steps.
1. Subscribe to a Premium VPN
VPNs or virtual private networks are the best tools to overcome geo-blocks. They also work for other network restrictions, for example, China’s Great Firewall. VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the target website.
In a nutshell, you connect to a third-party server, which then connects to the website of your choice. In the meantime, the VPN encrypts that connection and changes your IP address.
You need to select a server based in India, and Hotstar will see that your internet connection is originating in India. Meanwhile, you can be anywhere else in the world. It’s that easy.
Although there are a wide variety of free VPNs, you’ll need a premium one to access Hotstar. Hotstar can detect simple VPNs and other free tools like proxies. It will restrict access to accounts using them and, in some cases, even ban them. Also, some free VPN servers make money by selling their users’ bandwidth or data. And let’s be honest, no one wants that.
Thus, choosing the right VPN is essential. One thing to keep in mind is that you need a VPN that has high-speed servers in India. Also, the VPN must have unlimited bandwidth and the right tools to bypass geo-blocking.
2. Enable Your VPN
After you download and install your VPN, make sure you turn it on. You may need to close your internet browser and open it again. Once you do so, connect to the Hotstar website. You should reach the main home page with ease.
From here, enter your login credentials, and you’ll be streaming content in no time. You can also use the VPN on other sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. You can leave it on at all times to ensure privacy online.
Accessing Hotstar on a Mobile Device
If you’ve selected a VPN with a mobile app, then you can also use the Hotstar app on your smartphone or tablet. Before launching the Hotstar app, make sure your VPN is on. If it is, you can stream all your favorite content on your mobile device. You can also use the download option to have access to content even when you don’t have an internet connection.
Watching Hotstar on your Smart TV
If you want to watch Hotstar on your smart TV, you have a couple of options. If your smart TV can download apps, you can download your VPN as you would on your smartphone or tablet. In some cases, you may need to follow a few extra steps to add the app to your TV.
You can also set up a VPN on your router. It means that all connections will go through the VPN server so that you can watch Hotstar from your smart TV, computer, or any devices on your home network.
The Bottom Line
Hotstar is a perfect service for any fan of entertainment. It’s the best way to watch your favorite sports, new and classic Bollywood movies, and any popular movie or TV series. Hotstar also has a fantastic catalog of Hollywood films, TV shows, games, and more. Soon enough, it will host the Disney+ content in India.
You don’t need to limit Hotstar streaming to your home, though. You can watch everything Hotstar has to offer even if you’re traveling or living abroad. You only need to use a VPN service. They’re easy to install, user-friendly, and have many additional security and privacy benefits.
