Take a trip outside Sweden, and you’re automatically restricted in terms of the Swedish TV channels you can enjoy. An error message will pop up each time you try, whether or not you own an active subscription to a TV channel while back in the country.
These restrictions are a result of licensing agreements, which dictate the availability of content across international borders. TV platforms like SVT Play, TV4, Tele2 Play, and Kanal 5 employ geo-blocks to limit content to their broadcast areas.
Luckily, a VPN presents a practical approach to bypassing those restrictions to enjoy Swedish TV on your vacations or other trips abroad. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to doing so.
How to Watch Swedish TV Outside Sweden (In-Depth Tutorial)
Following these 5 simple steps, you’ll be back to catching up on news, sports, and entertainment on your favorite Swedish TV channel, wherever you are abroad. We’ll demonstrate using ExpressVPN.
- Choose a reputable VPN: Opt for a reputable VPN service with strong security features, reliable performance, and a wide network infrastructure with servers in Sweden. We recommend ExpressVPN, but any of the best VPNs for Sweden will help you access and watch Swedish TV channels from abroad.
- Sign up for the VPN service: Visit the ExpressVPN website to pick and purchase a subscription plan. Download and install the app on your device once you’ve created an account.
- Select a Swedish server: Launch the installed app and go to the server selection menu. Pick a Swedish server to get a Swedish IP address.
- Connect: Click the connect button on the home screen to connect to the Swedish server. The VPN app will complete the process in moments.
- Visit the Swedish TV channel: Visit the website of the TV channel. Some may only require you to register or log in to an account. Others are paid. After following the instructions on the website, clear your browser’s cookies and refresh.
If you used a VPN with Swedish servers and good unblocking abilities, you should now be set to enjoy Swedish TV content from anywhere in the world.
Why You Need a VPN to Access Swedish TV from Abroad
When you’re home in Sweden, you only need a subscription to watch TV — and sometimes, not even that. As long as your subscription stays active, you can enjoy all the sports, news, shows, and programs available on SVT Play, Viaplay, Kanal 5, and other TV platforms.
But what happens when you travel away? Going abroad automatically cuts out your access to Swedish TV channels, thanks to licensing agreements and the geo-blocks that enforce them.
An error message appears if you go on a Swedish TV website and try to watch content when you’re not in Sweden.
That’s where a VPN comes in. Websites and other online services can pinpoint your location based on your IP address. It’s assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and acts like a digital address, revealing your approximate geographic location.
When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through a remote server in the location of your choice, in this case, Sweden. The VPN server then assigns you a new IP address from its pool of Swedish addresses. As a result, websites and online services see the VPN server’s IP address instead of your real one.
This clever substitution allows you to effectively mask your actual location and appear as if you’re browsing from Sweden, even from thousands of miles away. This is the key to answering the question of how to watch Swedish TV abroad.
The Best VPNs to Watch Swedish TV Online — Our 4 Picks
Sweden is a fairly common VPN country, so the availability of options is not an issue when picking the right one. That said, several other factors make choosing the right provider a tedious task. Good thing we’ve streamlined your options following extensive testing.
Here are the VPNs you can trust to unblock Swedish TV channels from anywhere.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is steadily gaining a reputation for being the best provider on the market. Little wonder it’s the best VPN for those looking to enjoy Swedish TV from abroad.
The VPN offers a sizeable collection of 3,000+ servers across 94 countries, including Sweden. They are high-speed servers, ideal for watching content in high-definition and higher over the internet with no buffering. It’s part of what makes ExpressVPN such a great streaming VPN.
That, and its excellent unblocking abilities. The VPN unblocks Viaplay, SVT Play, Kanal 5, and other TV platforms so you can follow along from anywhere. Besides Swedish TV, ExpressVPN bypasses geo-blocks on popular streaming platforms, including Netflix (US and Sweden), BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
Thanks to robust features like military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection, your data stays secure while you stream. ExpressVPN’s innovative TrustedServer technology means the provider cannot store identifying logs on its servers, even if it wants to. An independent audit of its logless policy confirms this.
ExpressVPN is compatible with a wide range of operating systems and devices, including computers, smartphones, routers, streaming sticks, and game consoles. In fact, we consider it the best VPN for smart TVs. A single subscription covers up to 8 devices simultaneously.
If you have a question or concern, 24/7 customer support provides prompt, helpful email or live chat support.
Watch Swedish TV abroad with ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost offers 100 servers in Sweden. They’re part of its absolutely massive network comprising 9,600+ servers in 91 countries. Sweden aside, the provider has locations spread across the Nordic region.
The VPN offers streaming-optimized servers, but you don’t need those to watch live Swedish TV from abroad — simply getting a Swedish IP address will do. CyberGhost does a great job unblocking exclusive content on any TV channel you’re interested in when you’re abroad. That means you can easily follow your favorite TV3 shows while vacationing.
CyberGhost replicates its geo-restriction bypassing abilities on popular streaming platforms, like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
Next-gen 10 Gbps servers and high-speed protocols like WireGuard mean you don’t have to put up with annoying lags or buffering while you stream.
CyberGhost protects your data with AES 256-bit encryption. It’s the industry standard and virtually uncrackable. A kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection means you’ll avoid potentially disastrous data leaks. What’s more, the VPN has a strict no-logs policy that has undergone third-party scrutiny.
You can use CyberGhost apps across several platforms and devices, simultaneously protecting up to 7 devices on one account. The VPN’s customer support is available around the clock, offering live chat and email support.
Unblock Swedish TV Channels with CyberGhost
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is a reputable provider with tons of privacy and security features. With 140+ servers in Stockholm, it’s also one of the best VPNs to let you watch Swedish TV.
In total, NordVPN has over 5,800 servers in its network, spanning 60 countries. Thanks to its glut of Swedish servers, there’s little chance of congestion or slowdowns.
NordVPN offers blazing-fast VPN connections, especially on its custom NordLynx protocol. You can stream live sports on Viaplay or TV shows on Tele2 Play, enjoying smooth, stable connections all the way.
The VPN breezes past geo-blocks on Swedish TV channels, as well as other websites and online services. SmartPlay, seamlessly implemented in all its apps, allows you to access geo-restricted content quickly and easily on local and international platforms.
NordVPN scrambles your online traffic with bank-level AES 256-bit encryption. It also offers a pretty advanced kill switch with system-wide and app-level configurations. NordVPN’s no-logs policy has undergone independent auditing to prove your online sessions don’t leave trails behind.
On top of that, you’ll avoid pesky ads while streaming, thanks to its Threat Protection. The feature also handles malware and trackers.
Devices compatible with NordVPN cut across computers, smartphones, routers, gaming consoles, and more. A single subscription lets you use the VPN on up to 6 devices at the same time.
While NordVPN offers detailed tutorials, you can get help directly through email or live chat.
Watch Swedish TV anywhere with NordVPN
4. Surfshark
Looking for a budget VPN to help you watch Swedish TV from abroad? You can’t do much better than Surfshark.
The Netherlands-based provider offers a growing network of 3,200+ servers in 100 countries, Sweden included. It’s present in all Nordic countries, so you can also watch local content on Icelandic, Finnish, Danish, and Norwegian TV channels.
Surfshark offers impressive speeds, so your streams are not bogged down by buffering. Its array of protocols includes WireGuard, which is best for performance.
With a Surfshark-assigned Swedish IP address, you can follow the news, sports, and entertainment on Viaplay, SVT, and other channels. But Surfshark is just as impressive when it comes to unblocking exclusive libraries on international platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
It may be affordable, but Surfshark doesn’t skimp on keeping you safe and private. The provider offers AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. Powerful leak protection means you’re not exposed to DNS and WebRTC leaks. Plus, it offers effective blocking against malware, ads, and trackers through CleanWeb.
Surfshark supports a wide range of platforms and devices. Which is great, as it places no limits on simultaneous device connections. That means one subscription caters to all your VPN needs.
Email and live chat channels are available if you need direct contact with a representative.
Conclusion
You shouldn’t have to wait until you’re back in Sweden to keep up with the local content you follow and love. A VPN bypasses geo-restrictions so you can watch Swedish TV channels like Viaplay and Kanal 5 — even when you’re on a trip abroad. Just follow the simple guide provided in this article.
Because not all VPNs are on the same level, we provided a shortlist of the best options. Our #1 recommendation is ExpressVPN, thanks to its excellent unblocking abilities, lightning-fast speeds, and strong privacy features.
FAQs
Can I use a free VPN to access Swedish TV channels?
You can use a free VPN if it has Swedish servers. However, it’s not the ideal choice to unblock and watch Swedish TV from abroad. Free VPNs come with performance limitations that can make using them frustrating. Even worse, they are often security and privacy risks.
If pricing is a concern, you may find cheap options with significantly better service.
Why can I not watch Swedish TV from abroad?
When you connect to the internet, your device is assigned a unique identifier called an IP address. It’s like an online address that websites track to determine your location.
If your IP address is not Swedish-based, you may be blocked from accessing content on sites like Teliaplay or SVT Play due to geo-restrictions.
What is the best VPN for watching Swedish TV outside Sweden?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN to watch Swedish TV channels (live and on-demand) from abroad. It comes with excellent unblocking abilities and rapid connection speeds. What’s more, the VPN offers strong privacy and security features to protect your identity and data.
