Yes, you can use Private Internet Access (PIA) to unblock and stream DirecTV from outside the USA.
The VPN easily unblocks DirecTV and delivers super-fast speeds for seamless streaming. It also works with all DirecTV-compatible devices, directly and indirectly.
And in this guide, I’m going to show you how.
Want to just get started? Click here to sign up for PIA and get an exclusive discount on your first subscription.
Watch DirecTV With PIA in 5 Quick Steps!
Here’s how to use Private Internet Access with DirecTV Stream (AT&T TV Now):
- Sign up for Private Internet Access.
- Download and install the PIA VPN app on your device.
- Launch the VPN app and sign in.
- Connect to a US server.
- Open the DirecTV app or web player and watch your favorite US TV channels from anywhere.
How to Watch DirecTV With Private Internet Access on Any Device?
The setup process for using PIA with DirecTV will depend on your device.
For starters, you can access the DirecTV Now app on Android, iOS, Roku, Samsung TV, and Amazon Fire devices. You can also watch DirecTV on Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge browsers.
Unfortunately, not all DirecTV-compatible devices can install a PIA app.
So, you need a workaround to use it on Roku and Chromecast.
I’ll walk you through the setup process for each device.
First, here’s a quick guide on how to use PIA with DirecTV on various devices:
| Setup Method | DirecTV STREAM Device |
|---|---|
| PIA VPN App | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV |
| PIA Smart DNS | Apple TV, Samsung TV |
| PIA VPN Router | Roku, Chromecast, etc. |
| PIA VPN Mobile Hotspot | Roku, Chromecast, etc. |
How to Use PIA With DirecTV via the VPN App?
PIA offers native apps for PCs (Windows, macOS, and Linux), mobile devices (Android and iOS), and some Smart TVs (Android and Amazon Fire TV).
Here are steps to unblock DirecTV using the PIA VPN app:
- Sign up for Private Internet Access.
- Download and install the Private Internet Access app on your computer, smart TV, or mobile device.
- Launch the VPN app and enter your PIA account username and password.
- Open the VPN server menu and scroll to “United States.” Then pick a city (server location) and click to connect.
- Open the DirecTV app or web player and watch your favorite TV shows, live and on-demand!
How to Use PIA With DirecTV via Smart DNS?
Another way to set up PIA directly on your device is through its Smart DNS service.
This method works well with Apple TV, Samsung TV, and similar streaming platforms.
It’s much easier to set up compared to configuring PIA to your router.
Here’s how:
- Subscribe to Private Internet Access.
- Go to the Private Internet Access control panel and log in with your username and password.
- Select the Smart DNS tab on the left panel.
- Select the streaming device you want to set up Smart DNS on.
- Select “United States” as the Smart DNS IP location. Wait for your Smart DNS IP to be auto-generated.
- Note down the IP addresses; you’ll need this information later.
- Open the DNS settings on your device. On Samsung TV, go to Settings > General > Network > Network Status IP Settings. On Apple TV, navigate to General > Network > WiFi > Configure DNS.
- Select the “manual” option and enter the Smart DNS IP address from earlier.
- Save the changes and open the DirecTV Stream app.
How to Unblock DirecTV via PC Mobile Hotspot?
Don’t have a router? That shouldn’t stop you from using PIA with DirecTV on any device. That’s because PIA lets you share its VPN connection via a Windows PC’s mobile hotspot.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Sign up for PIA and install the VPN app on your PC.
- Launch the VPN and connect to a US-based server.
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot and enable “Share my internet connection with other devices.”
- Look for “Change adapter options” on the top right corner of the same window, and click to open the Network Connections window.
- Right-click on the connection tagged “Private Internet Access Network Adapter” and select “Properties.”
- Click on the “Sharing” tab and select “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.”
- Choose “Select a private network connection,” and click the mobile hotspot connection you set earlier.
- Click OK to save the changes.
- Turn on your Roku, Apple TV, Samsung TV, Chromecast, or Firestick and connect to the PIA-enabled mobile hotspot.
- Unblock DirecTV from anywhere.
How to Use PIA With DirecTV via Router?
Lastly, you can unblock DirecTV by configuring Private Internet Access on your router. You can check your router’s model against compatible firmware lists to see if it works with the VPN.
| PIA Compatible Firmware | Device List |
|---|---|
| DD-WRT | Router models |
| Merlin | Router models |
| pfSense | Router models |
| OpenWRT/LEDE | Router models |
Here’s how to set up PIA on DD-WRT routers:
- Subscribe to Private Internet Access.
- Download the PIA configuration file for your preferred server. In this case, that would be the USA.
- Enter 192.168.8.1 in your browser’s address bar to open the DD-WRT control panel.
- Go to Setup > Basic Setup and set the following:
- Connection Type: Automatic Configuration – DHCP
- NTP Client: Enable
- Time Zone: Local time zone
- Click Apply Settings.
- Open Setup > IPv6 tab and disable IPv6. Click Apply Settings.
- Go to Services > VPN, and under OpenVPN Client, select “Enable” to “Start OpenVPN Client.”
- Enter your PIA VPN server address in the Server IP/Name. You can find a US server address in the .ovpn file you downloaded earlier.
- Input the following information:
- Port: 1197
- Tunnel Device: TUN
- Tunnel Protocol: UDP
- Encryption Cipher: AES-256 CBC
- Hash Algorithm: SHA256
- User Pass Authentication: Enable
- Username: Your PIA account username
- Password: Your PIA account password
- Advanced Options: Disable
- Download the CA CERT, open it in a text editor, and copy the entire content into the router panel’s CA CERT field.
- Enter the following commands into the Config field.
persist-key
persist-tun
tls-client
remote-cert-tls server
pull-filter ignore "auth-token"
- Click “Apply Settings” to set up the connection.
- Your PIA VPN router connection should now be up and running. Connect your streaming device to the resulting Wi-Fi network and unblock DirecTV.
Why Is PIA Great for Watching DirecTV?
PIA meets all the requirements of a top VPN service for streaming.
I used it with DirecTV over several days, and I noticed some things:
- Fast servers: The VPN only lowered my internet speed by a negligible 15% on average. And that’s when connecting to its US servers from Europe. You should obtain faster speeds when watching DirecTV in Canada or other locations closer to the USA.
- It unblocks DirecTV reliably: With many VPNs, you might need to try a few servers before you find one that works with DirecTV. Incredibly, all PIA’s US servers unblock DirecTV. As a bonus, you can also unblock other primary streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.
- Supports Smart DNS: This makes it perfect for watching DirecTV Now on Apple TV and Samsung TV.
- Provides a kill switch: This prevents IP and DNS leaks, ensuring an uninterrupted streaming experience.
- Unlimited bandwidth: Even after days of streaming and many Gigabytes later, my VPN speeds remained super fast. Truly, PIA doesn’t throttle your bandwidth or impose data caps.
- 10 simultaneous connections: That’s 10 devices unblocking DirecTV and streaming simultaneously! This makes the VPN service an ideal choice for large households.
- User-friendly app: PIA offers a dedicated app for all the primary platforms. On top of that, the provider has browser extensions for Chrome and Edge, which can unblock and stream the DirecTV website.
- 30-day money-back guarantee: Although PIA doesn’t offer a free VPN, it has a no-questions-asked refund policy to test the VPN with DirecTV risk-free.
What Can I Watch on DirecTV With Private Internet Access?
DirecTV is awash with great content – from sports to news, kids, nature, and lifestyle channels. It packages everything in 4 subscription tiers:
| Package | Choice | Entertainment | Premier | Ultimate |
| Cost | 69.99/mo | 89.99/mo | 104.99/mo | 149.99/mo |
| Features | 75+ Channels | 105+ Channels, Regional Sports Networks | 140+ Channels, Regional Sports Networks | 150+ Channels, Regional Sports Networks |
While DirecTV doesn’t produce original on-demand movies and TV shows, its Ultimate Package includes HBO Max, Starz, SHOWTIME, and Cinemax content.
Here are some of the channels available on DirecTV:
| Sports | Entertainment | News | Kids |
|---|---|---|---|
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PIA Not Working With DirecTV? Try These Quick Fixes
Here are the main reasons why you might be experiencing issues streaming DirecTV with PIA and how to fix those issues:
- You’re using a blacklisted PIA server: Confirm you’re connected to a US server, and if so, switch to a different US server to fix the proxy error.
- IP leaks: If you experience a proxy error mid-stream, it’s most likely due to connection leaks. Enable the kill switch to fix the issue.
- Browser cache: The DirecTV website might have stored location cookies from an earlier visit. This can tell the streaming service your location even when using a VPN. Clear cookies or use a new browser.
- Non-US profile: On some devices, DirecTV can pull location data from your profile and billing address. Ensure you’ve set a US profile on Roku and Amazon Firestick.
Private Internet Access Alternatives for DirecTV
Not many VPNs work better with DirecTV Now than Private Internet Access.
If, for some reason, you’re not convinced by PIA, the following providers are great alternatives:
- NordVPN: Offers faster server speeds than PIA. NordVPN also has a relatively larger US server network and IP pool, making it a better option for bypassing DirecTV’s VPN IP blocks.
- Surfshark: While PIA’s 10 simultaneous connections are impressive, Surfshark allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices.
- CyberGhost: The VPN provides DirecTV-optimized streaming servers, making it easy to use and a great choice for beginners. Plus, you get a 45-day window to test the VPN risk-free.
FAQs
Is It Legal to Stream DirecTV With PIA?
It’s legal to stream DirecTV with PIA. You won’t get into trouble with the law, and DirecTV won’t pursue you in any way.
But if you’re traveling abroad, ensure you comply with local laws regarding VPN use. In this case, the jurisdictions to watch out for include China and North Korea.
Can DirecTV Ban My Account for Using PIA?
DirecTV won’t ban your account for using PIA to stream content outside the US. However, the streaming service provider uses VPN IP filters to block VPN users.
If you’re having trouble streaming, switch to another PIA US server and try again.
Which Is the Best PIA Server for Streaming DirecTV?
The best PIA server for watching DirecTV is usually the one closest to you.
If you’re using the PIA VPN app, I recommend choosing the server with the lowest latency.
Conclusion
Private Internet Access is one of those VPNs that performs extremely well with DirecTV while also being easy to use.
You can set it up directly on most streaming platforms in minutes using its VPN app, Smart DNS service, or other routes. Follow the guides above, and you’ll be unblocking DirecTV streams in no time.
The VPN is quite affordable too, and you can save a few dollars with our exclusive discount. Good luck!
