Watch French TV from the UK: 2-Step Tutorial

You are aware that the content accessible on the Internet depends on the country in which you are located. Every country has its specialties. This is valid for listings on streaming platforms, game servers, some websites… and even TV channels. If you go to the UK you won’t be able to watch French channels. But luckily there is a solution. Learn how to enjoy French TV from the UK in 2 easy steps.

Step 1: Install VPN

Being able to watch French TV while in the UK, The first step you should take is equipping yourself with a VPN. In fact, it is this type of software that allows you to bypass geo-blocks and watch your favorite shows from the United Kingdom. This is possible on all networks and on all your devices.

And, it’s useful to know You can watch French channels live and on repeat. To install a VPN, it’s very easy: go to the official page of the publisher you want to choose, then register. Then follow the suggested steps and then select a plan.

Pay for your subscription and download the application. Choose the version that suits your device and operating system and install the VPN. Rest assured, all this is done in a simple manner with just a few clicks and minutes.

From then on, you can take the next step to watch French TV in the UK. If you don’t know which provider to approach, don’t worry. Below we provide a quick overview of two very high-quality software for this application.

ExpressVPN

If you want a quality VPN to watch French TV in the UK, you might want to take a closer look at the ExpressVPN service.

This software can come with you everywhere, thanks to its multi-platform use. It can be installed on a computer, tablet, smartphone, but also on a smart TV and connected box.

ExpressVPN offers servers in France to allow you to unblock French channels in the UK. So, while in the UK, you can actually connect to the TV to watch it as if you were in France.

To make it as enjoyable as possible, know that the ExpressVPN app is very easy to use, even if you don’t have a VPN. Customer support is also always available if you have any issues. Additionally, the publisher has high-speed servers, so you can watch your content smoothly, even in HD.

By the way, ExpressVPN has obfuscated servers, which are intended to hide the fact that you are using a VPN. This will allow you to override geo-blocking more intelligently without being noticed by French channels.

Apart from this, note that ExpressVPN keeps you safe online by encrypting your data and hiding your IP address. It allows unlimited bandwidth and you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously on one account. Finally, a 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try the software with peace of mind and change your mind without consequence.

ExpressVPN Test

Cyber ​​Ghost

© Cyber ​​Ghost

There is a second very interesting VPN for watching French TV in the United Kingdom: CyberGhost (see our review of CyberGhost here). With this software, you can also access French channels when you’re in the UK, thanks to multiple servers in France.

CyberGhost shows very good connection speeds, although they are slightly slower than ExpressVPN. However, this VPN has servers optimized for streaming, which is great for finding the right server for your needs.

On another note, know that CyberGhost takes good care of your online security and anonymity. Its application is easy to use, and it is compatible with major operating systems (Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux). With a subscription to CyberGhost, you can connect up to 7 at the same time, and have access to 24/7 support.

With CyberGhost, you get access to unlimited bandwidth, which is very advantageous when watching TV shows. Finally, the “satisfaction or money back” guarantee with this supplier lasts for more than 45 days (except for 1 month subscription). So you can try without fear.

Cyber ​​Ghost Test

Step 2: Enable VPN to watch French TV from UK

Once you have your VPN, you can access French TV from the UK in seconds.

To do this, open the VPN app and identify yourself. From this moment, you can use VPN. Most of these tools work the same way (the following applies especially to ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, which we mentioned above).

To watch French channels in the UK, activate the VPN by clicking the “On/Off” button in the center of the app. But before doing that, open the list of available servers by clicking on the space below the activation button. The software will open a list of countries that you can connect to. Double-click on France.

ExpressVPN App © Lemon Squeezer

At that point, the VPN automatically takes care of locating you in France, even if you’re actually in the United Kingdom. You can minimize the VPN application and run it in the background. Visit French TV channels as usual to watch your shows live or on rerun sites.

Enjoy watching French TV while in the UK, then when you’re done, all you have to do is turn off the VPN by clicking the same button you started with. Nothing more to do. No technical manipulation, just a few clicks, and you’re done.

Watching French TV in the UK: some important information

If VPNs allow you to watch French channels while in the UK, do you know how that works? We will explain it shortly below.

How Geoblocks Work

As we said in the introduction, on the Internet, the content you can access is governed by your geographic location. It is actually explained by several very simple elements. Indeed, in order to broadcast content, each country must have broadcasting rights, but also the copyright of the content in question.

All countries are culturally different and marketing principles that work are not the same. This explains in a very clear way that although some elements overlap, each territory has its own content.

This applies to streaming catalogs, websites, game servers, but above all our favorite TV channels here. This is why you can’t access French TV when you’re in the UK. The question you need to ask yourself is: How do French TV channels know I’m in the UK and prevent access to me?

Your IP address is responsible for this blocking.. The latter actually has elements that allow you to know your geographic location more accurately. French channels allow you to detect your IP, its location and watch them depending on it – or not -.

The resource in the image with our tool allows you to know its IP address and its location in real time:

Getting an IP in Portugal with ExpressVPN © Presse-citron

Purpose of VPNs

Knowing this, let’s see how VPNs bypass these blocks. These softwares usually have servers all over the world. Thanks to this, you can connect in the country of your choice, regardless of the territory where you are actually located.

For French TV from the United Kingdom, you need to connect to a French server. So your IP address will be changed automatically. If your traffic goes through a server in France (your VPN provider’s), you will have a French IP address. This will allow you to fool the geolocation systems, so you can access French channels as if you were actually on the soil of this country.

But if VPNs are interesting for French TV in the UK, it’s because they protect your connection. They anonymize you online so that no one knows your activity.

These tools free you from any restrictions imposed by your ISP or the networks you connect to in terms of bandwidth or speed. Clearly, these are the best software to unblock French TV in the UK.

Conclusion: How to watch French channels in UK?

It’s time to summarize the information in this article to get an overview.

There are different reasons for geo-blocking, and the same applies to TV channels. This explains why, in the UK, you can’t access French TV.

Fortunately, all you have to do is change your IP address to where you feel on the net. For that, the best software available is VPNs. Two steps are enough to watch French TV in the United Kingdom: install a VPN and activate it on a French server. French channels are available for you without any worries.

Visit ExpressVPN

Frequently Asked Questions

Some frequently asked questions about French TV and VPNs in the UK. If you ever ask them, we will answer them briefly.

How to watch French TV for free in the UK?

You will surely understand that the VPNs we talked about in this article are paying. Instead you can look for a free solution to watch French TV channels from the UK. Unfortunately, even though there are free VPN providers, they are not really good at bypassing geo-blocks.

In fact, free VPNs often do not have servers in France and their general parameters are much lower quality than premium software. However, keep in mind that the software we talked about (ExpressVPN and CyberGhost) can only be accessed for a few euros per month.

Are VPNs legitimate software?

VPNs are legally questionable tools. So, be aware that the law regarding these tools is different from one country to another. In France, this software is completely legal. The same is true in the UK where VPNs are allowed.

But be careful, if using a VPN is not reprehensible, what you do online under the guise of a VPN is at your own risk. Using it to go beyond the law can get you charged.

How to watch French TV online in the UK?

Watching French TV on the Internet in the UK works the same as we saw in this article. All you need to do to get an IP in this country is to activate your VPN in a French location and go to the sites that broadcast the programs you want to watch.

You can access these without worry and this applies to both live and replay. When you’re done watching French channels on your desired sites, simply deactivate the VPN.