VPN not working with RTÉ Player? How to fix it

The quick fix

If RTÉ Player has stopped working through your VPN, do this first: reconnect to a different Irish (Dublin) server, make sure you’re signed in to your free RTÉ account, then reload. That clears it up most of the time — RTÉ has simply blocked the IP of the server you were on. If it’s still stuck, work down the ordered list below.

Why RTÉ Player fails through a VPN

Two things have to be true for RTÉ Player to work abroad: you need an Irish IP address, and that IP mustn’t be on RTÉ’s VPN blocklist. RTÉ geo-locks its content to Ireland and, like the big streamers, maintains a list of IPs it believes belong to VPNs. When the Irish server you’re using gets flagged, RTÉ decides you’re “not in Ireland” and stops playback — even though your VPN says otherwise.

It’s a moving target: providers rotate fresh Irish IPs, RTÉ blocks the ones it catches. That’s why switching servers works, and why a provider with a dedicated RTÉ server (CyberGhost) or a big pool of Irish IPs stays ahead of it.

The fixes, in order

Work top to bottom and stop as soon as it plays:

1. 1
   Switch to a different Irish server

   The number-one fix. RTÉ blocks VPN IPs as it spots them, so the Dublin/Ireland server you’re on may be burned. Disconnect and reconnect to another Irish server, then reload RTÉ Player.

2. 2
   Clear your cache and cookies (or restart the app)

   Stale location cookies can reveal your real country even with an Irish IP. Clear your browser cache and cookies, or force-close and reopen the RTÉ Player app, then try again.

3. 3
   Use the RTÉ-optimised server if you have one

   CyberGhost runs a server tuned specifically for RTÉ Player on Irish IPs — if you’re a CyberGhost user, pick that streaming server rather than a generic Irish one.

4. 4
   Make sure you’re signed in to a free RTÉ account

   RTÉ Player requires a free account. If you’re only connected to the VPN but not logged in — or your session expired — playback can fail. Sign in (or register, it takes a minute) and retry.

5. 5
   Turn on leak protection (DNS / IPv6)

   A DNS or IPv6 leak exposes your real Irish-or-not location. Enable your VPN’s DNS-leak protection and kill switch, and disable IPv6 if needed. Confirm with our leak-test guide.

6. 6
   Try browser vs app, and update both

   If the RTÉ Player app resists, the browser version often works, and vice versa. Make sure the RTÉ Player and VPN apps are both fully updated.

The “not available in your area” message

This is RTÉ’s way of saying it thinks you’re outside Ireland. There are only a few reasons it would: you’re not connected to an Irish server, the Irish server’s IP has been blocked, or a DNS/IPv6 leak is exposing your real location. Reconnect to a different Irish server, clear your cache and cookies, and make sure leak protection is on. If you’re on CyberGhost, switch to its dedicated RTÉ server. It rarely takes more than a server change or two.

VPNs that unblock RTÉ Player reliably

If you’re constantly blocked, your VPN may just be weak at RTÉ — some are, and PureVPN doesn’t support it at all. From our testing, the reliable choices are CyberGhost (dedicated RTÉ server), plus NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN. Our top picks:

Most reliable for RTÉ Player

NordVPN

Best all-rounder

9.6

View →

ExpressVPN

Best for streaming & privacy

9.4

View →

CyberGhost

Best for Irish streaming

9.1

View →

See the full ranking in our best VPN for RTÉ Player, or the full how to watch RTÉ Player abroad walkthrough.

Still not working?

• Try several Irish servers before giving up — some are blocked, others fresh.
• On a smart TV or Firestick, leaks are more likely — put the VPN on your router, or run our leak test.
• Ask your VPN’s live chat which Irish servers currently work for RTÉ.
• If your VPN can’t do RTÉ, switch. Not all can — our tested RTÉ picks are the ones that hold up.