The Amazon FireStick is a popular streaming device that allows you to access various streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more on your TV. However, some of this content may be geo-restricted based on your location. Fortunately, there are a few easy methods to change your streaming location on a FireStick device.
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Use a VPN
The best way to change your location and access geo-restricted content on a FireStick is by using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN allows you to mask your IP address so streaming platforms think you’re accessing them from a different country.
Here are the main steps to use a VPN on your FireStick:
- Choose a VPN Service: Select a fast, reliable VPN that works well with streaming. Some top options are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, etc.
- Install the VPN App: Download and install your chosen VPN’s app directly through the Amazon App Store on your FireStick.
- Connect to a Server: Launch the VPN app on your FireStick and connect to a server located in your desired country. For example, connect to a US server.
- Access Geo-Restricted Content: You can now open any streaming app and access content that was previously blocked in your country.
Using a VPN is the easiest way to change your streaming location on a FireStick. It also provides security and privacy benefits.
Change Your Amazon Account Region
You can also change your geographic location at an account level in Amazon. This makes your FireStick think it’s registered in another country.
Follow these steps:
- Go to Amazon.com and login to your account
- Under “Accounts & Lists”, visit “Content & Devices”
- Click on “Preferences”
- Under “Country/Region Settings”, choose “Change”
- Enter details for a new country
- Save the changes
- Restart your FireStick
Once your device restarts, it will pull content based on the new country. Keep in mind you lose access to any previous purchases or rentals.
Use Location Spoofing Apps
If you don’t want to use a VPN, some apps can spoof your GPS location on a FireStick. They work similarly to a VPN.
Some top options include:
- Fake GPS Location: Allows you to manually enter a location that apps will think is your real GPS location. Easy to use.
- LocationGuard: Spoofs your location based on a connected VPN server. Also has other privacy features.
- Location Spoofer: Another simple GPS spoofing app for FireStick. Quickly change to a new location.
These apps function well for location spoofing although aren’t as secure as a VPN. But they get the job done if you just want to access geo-restricted streams.
Tips for Changing Your FireStick Location
Here are some additional tips when changing locations on your FireStick:
- Double check streaming app compatibility after changing locations. Some may not work.
- Use a second Amazon account to register your device in a new region to keep purchases separate.
- Occasionally clear the cache and data of streaming apps after location changes.
- Always disconnect from the VPN or turn off spoofing when not streaming restricted content.
- Test different server locations connected through your VPN for best streaming speeds.
The Benefits of Changing Regions on a FireStick
Here are some of the great benefits you get after changing locations:
- Access More Content: View TV shows and movies not available in your country. The content libraries vary greatly by region.
- Watch Events Live: Catch live sports, news, and other events that may only stream in specific countries.
- Improved Language Options: View foreign language films and shows in their original language rather than dubbed versions.
- Price Differences: Some paid channel subscriptions and rental prices differ across regions, allowing you to pay less.
- Enhanced Privacy: Using a VPN provides more privacy around your streaming activity and internet usage in general.
Final Thoughts
Changing your streaming location region on a FireStick is easy to accomplish with the methods outlined above. You can access so much more content.
Using a VPN is the best approach as it also keeps your streaming activity private and secure. But options like changing your Amazon region or GPS spoofing also get the job done quickly.
Give it a try and unlock a whole new world of streaming entertainment on your FireStick device. Just be aware of any app compatibility issues based on the new region.
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Based on my experience using VPNs and streaming devices, here are some additional details to provide more context:
When choosing a VPN for a FireStick device, I highly recommend ExpressVPN. I’ve used it extensively and find it provides fast streaming speeds, easy connections, and access to a wide variety of geo-restricted platforms. Some examples where ExpressVPN has worked very reliably for me include watching Netflix UK and Canada, Hulu Japan, and Eurosport from different European countries – all by simply connecting to different VPN server locations.
In terms of changing your Amazon account region, I suggest creating a second Amazon account to keep purchases separate rather than changing your primary account. I ran into issues in the past when I changed regions on my main Amazon account and temporarily lost access to previous app, video, and music purchases I had made. Using a secondary account just for streaming avoids this headache.
One thing I’ll call out with location spoofing apps is you have to manually enter locations which can get tedious. I like how VPNs make it easy to connect to different countries just by clicking on a server. But the spoofing apps do offer more customization for targeting very specific locations if you want to dial things in.
From personal experience, I can say that using a FireStick VPN unlocks a huge amount of shows, movies, and channels that aren’t accessible in my home country. It’s a game-changer for any cord-cutter. I always keep my VPN running whenever I’m streaming something. The privacy perks are nice too.
I hope these additional details from first-hand experience are helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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I’m happy to provide any other details about my experience changing locations on a FireStick! Here are a few additional tips:
When using a VPN on your FireStick, I recommend enabling the VPN app’s “kill switch” feature if it has one. This will cut off your internet access if the VPN connection drops, preventing any data leaks that could expose your real IP address and location. Surfshark and NordVPN have great kill switches.
For the best streaming speeds, choose VPN servers that are geographically close to your actual location rather than connecting to distant countries. Nearby servers tend to provide faster speeds. I’m based in the U.S. so I’ll typically connect to a Canada or Mexico server to watch Netflix content from those countries.
Be prepared for some trial and error finding streaming platforms that work with different VPN server locations. Hulu Japan, for example, blocks most U.S. IP addresses. It took me a few server tries before accessing it successfully. But the content there is awesome!
One last tip – make sure to clear the cache and data for any streaming app giving you trouble after changing locations. I’ll typically force stop the app, clear cache and data, then launch again. This often resolves any connection issues.
Let me know if any other FireStick VPN or location spoofing questions come up!
