If you are a Major League Baseball fan and are looking for the freedom to watch any MLB games without worrying about blackout restrictions getting in the way, then we’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re a Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, or Toronto Blue Jays fan, national blackout restrictions can be a pain to deal with when you want to watch MLB games live — not to mention frustrating if you pay for a monthly subscription!
In this article, we will go over how to get around MLB TV blackout restrictions on your browser and different devices so that you can always watch MLB games, whether you’re in the US or abroad. Best of all, you will just need an MLB subscription and a (Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Let’s get started!
In a Hurry? Here’s How to Bypass MLB Blackouts
What Is a Live Blackout?
A live Blackout is a term used for a game that’s blocked on streaming sites in certain regions due to content rights.
Before each baseball season, the major league baseball team meets to decide which broadcasting companies will have the sole rights to air which games.
Usually, the local stations will get exclusive rights to their local teams, which means that when you are in their geographical location, no other streaming service or company will have the rights to air that game. This is especially disappointing because it means that fans will be blocked from their local team’s games.
This can seem deceitful to fans given what MLB has written clearly on its website:
“…Watch every out-of-market game, regular-season game live. or on-demand on over 400 supported devices…”
But, if you take a closer look, in the small fine print it’s written:
“All live games streamed within any MLB.TV product and available through the MLB App and any other location or device where MLB.TV is sold or available is subject to local and national blackouts. If a game is blacked out in an area, it is not available for live game viewing through MLB.TV. If you are an MLB.TV subscriber within an area subject to blackout, the applicable game will be available as an archived game approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game”
Still, this frustrates MLB fans who have subscribed to MLB and are paying at least $25 a month to view these games live. Even those who have a premium MLB subscription now have to pay extra for a satellite or cable TV subscription to watch blacked-out games.
Bypassing MLB blackouts with a VPN, however, is very simple!
How Do I Know that an MLB Game Is Blacked Out?
The easiest way to check if live games are blacked out is to visit the MLB website and type in your ZIP code. This site provides a list of games played in your region that are blacked out so that fans can plan accordingly.
If your long-awaited Miami Marlins game, for example, is blacked out, then you will get a notification that you can’t stream in your region, and you’ll need to use a VPN to get around this block.
Why You Need a VPN to Get Around MLB Blackouts
Due to licensing restrictions and content rights, when local broadcasting stations have the exclusive rights to air an MLB game, no other streaming service or company can then stream that game in that region. So if you are within that geographical region, you won’t be able to stream the game through MLB and will have to purchase a cable subscription as well.
There is, however, an MLB.tv blackout workaround.
When you are online, your browser or app checks the IP address that determines where you are located so that you can access content accordingly. If you connect to a server with an IP address in the UK, they will see the UK IP address and only show you UK-approved content.
By using a VPN service provider, you can gain access and connect to servers around the world, changing your IP address to a different region to spoof your location.
By connecting to an out-of-state server, the VPN providers are able to “trick” your browser into thinking you are somewhere where games are not blocked. This allows you to bypass MLB.TV blackouts without having to leave the comfort of your couch.
Another common use for a VPN is to enhance security on your device. VPNs use encryption and security features to ensure that your data, credit cards, and online activity all stay secure and don’t fall into the wrong hands.
3 Best MLB TV VPNs to Use for MLB Blackout Workaround
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN not only to bypass MLB.TV blackouts, but also to unblock streaming services from anywhere in the world; and its rocket-fast speeds allow you to stream with no buffering or lag.
ExpressVPN offers a huge server network of over 3,000 servers in 94+ countries, so you will never have trouble finding a server in any country you are trying to be “in.”
When choosing server locations, it’s important to keep in mind that not every server will allow you access to MLB games, so be sure to choose a server location where MLB games are not blacked out.
ExpressVPN is also known for its top-notch security features, like military-grade high-end encryption, a strict no-logs policy, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and a Kill Switch.
ExpressVPN has apps compatible with pretty much every device and platform, including iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android; and it offers 5 simultaneous connections on a single user account, so you can unblock MLB TV on your device while your family members access YouTube TV, Netflix, Hulu, or any other blocked services on their devices, all at once.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 live-chat support
- Broad server network
- Super-fast speeds
- 5 simultaneous connections
- More expensive price
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is another one of the best VPNs to use for MLB.TV.
NordVPN has a network of over 5,200 server locations in 60 countries around the globe, including over 1,970 VPN servers in the US alone, making it a great VPN for MLB.TV, so you will always be able to find the right city from which to watch, whether it’s a Los Angeles Dodgers game or the San Francisco Giants.
Nord is one of the most secure options in the VPN industry, offering military-grade encryption, a Kill Switch, a no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection, so you are always protected online when using this VPN provider.
NordVPN has an intuitive and easy-to-use VPN app, compatible with your iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows device; and it offers up to 6 simultaneous connections, so you’ll be able to unblock MLB easily and effortlessly while your family members access their favorite blocked content at the same time.
- 6 simultaneous devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Large server network
- 24/7 live-chat support
- Desktop app not as reliable
3. Surfshark
Surfshark is another VPN provider that will help you unblock your favorite team’s games on MLB.TV from anywhere.
Surfshark has a server network of 3,200 servers in more than 65 countries around the globe, including over 600 in the US spread across over 23 cities, so you will have plenty of options to choose from when looking for an unblocked region to watch your favorite MLB teams.
Surfshark is a very budget-friendly provider, costing only a little over $2 per month for a subscription, which is less than a single cup of coffee at the local cafe
For this price, you’ll not only be able to unblock content, but you’ll get an easy-to-use VPN app and an unlimited number of devices on a single-user subscription, which is more than ExpressVPN and NordVPN allow.
Surfshark also offers users the same top privacy and security protections, such as military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a Kill Switch, and leak protection, so your online activity will always remain secure.
It’s important to note that Surfshark does sometimes have slower speeds, so you may have to sit through some buffering, or switch servers from time to time if you find that your current server isn’t connecting you to your National League game as smoothly as you’d like.
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Affordable price
- 24/7 live-chat support
- Speed can be slower
- Some buffering
How to Bypass MLB TV Blackouts in Your Web Browser
Bypassing blackouts can be simple with a VPN service and an active Internet connection.
Once you’ve subscribed to one of our recommended VPN providers, follow the steps on the VPN site to download and install the appropriate app.
After you’ve completed the simple steps to download, open the VPN app and select a server located outside the blackout area. Once you’re connected, you will have the freedom to access all the blocked baseball games in your region with no trouble at all.
Keep in mind, you may need to clear your cookies and cache and refresh your webpage if you are still seeing an error that the content is still not available in your region.
How to Bypass MLB TV Subscription Blackouts on Android & iOS (Bat App)
Due to location services, it is much harder than it once was to bypass MLB TV blackout games on Android and iOS devices.
Before 2017, all you had to do was change your IP address by connecting to a VPN server outside the blackout restricted area. Android users could then just download a fake GPS app to match the location of their VPN. This would trick the MLB At Bat app into thinking they were in a different location, and they were able to watch freely.
Unfortunately, this MLB workaround no longer works on Android and iOS. MLB At Bat can now detect a mock location, and when you try to access its streaming services, you’ll get an error message that says:
“MLB At Bat is unable to verify your location. Click here to learn more about blackout restrictions.”
So now, to avoid MLB blackouts on Android or iOS, you’ll need to either root your Android device or jailbreak your iOS device.
Bypass MLB Blackouts on Android
To bypass blackouts on Android:
1. Root your Android
You’ll need to Root your Android device in order to bypass MLB.TV blackouts, which is a process that needs to be followed carefully so as to not permanently harm your device.
2. GPS Spoofing
Next, you’ll want to download and install a GPS location spoofing app
3. Install At-Bat App
Then download and install MLB At Bat app, and enjoy!
How to Bypass MLB.TV Blackouts on iOS (Bat App)
To bypass blackouts on iOS:
- In order to unblock the iOS MLB app, you’ll need to first jailbreak your device. This can be complicated and can lead to permanent damage on your device if not done properly, so make sure you find reputable instructions that are easy to follow.
- Next, you’ll want to download and install Protect My Privacy (PMP) from the Cyndia store.
- Download and install the MLB At Bat app, and head to the stream
- When MLB asks for access to location services, PMP will pop up with an option to protect your location. This substitutes your location for one that is random.
- You may also need to use a VPN to connect to a different server location and change your IP address.
- Enjoy watching MLB At Bat!
FAQs
“If you circumvent, or attempt to circumvent, any blackout restriction or other use restriction, your subscription will be subject to immediate termination and you will be charged one hundred dollars for early termination; you may be subject to legal action. MLB reserves the right to report such misconduct to appropriate law enforcement authorities.”
We haven’t yet heard of a case where MLB has taken that action, but users need to be aware that this is a possibility.
Watching MLB from a different country may even be easier since you won’t need to worry about the local blackout restrictions, although it is important to note that you will still need a US address to create a subscription, even if you choose to watch on YouTube TV.
Not only are free VPN services unreliable, but your VPN connection won’t be secure, making you vulnerable to your personal information being sold to marketing agencies or leaked to cyber criminals.
Conclusion
No matter who your favorite MLB teams are, you won’t want to miss their big games due to blackout restrictions in your area.
Blackouts occur when certain broadcasting stations have the sole rights to air a game, restricting any other streaming platform from streaming that game live, not even MLB.TV. So, if a local game in your region is blacked out, you will either have to get a cable or satellite subscription or watch the game on MLB an hour or so after it originally aired.
This is disappointing for fans who already pay for a monthly subscription to MLB.TV. But luckily whether you’re watching from your browser, TV, or mobile device, there is a way to bypass these restrictions with the help of a premium VPN provider.
By using a VPN, you can switch your virtual location to one outside the blackout zone so that you can watch games live on MLB with no restrictions to hold you back.
Our top recommendation is ExpressVPN, which you can test out for up to 30 days, risk-free!
