Channel 4 or All 4 is a free-to-air streaming service but is accessible exclusively to UK residents. If you want to watch Channel 4 in Ireland, you will need to use a VPN.
Nevertheless, if you try to access Channel 4 in Ireland without a VPN, you may not be able to watch it. The following error message will appear on the screen:
“A playback error has occurred. Pleased try again later.”
As soon as I connected to the UK server over ExpressVPN is our #1 choice and other VPNs mentioned later in this guide, I was granted access to Channel 4 in Ireland in a snap.
Our Recommended VPN – ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended choice for streaming any geo-restricted services that are unavailable in Ireland OR it is used to stay anonymous over the internet for watching anything for free as it hides your streaming activity from the ISPs.
Subscribe to ExpressVPN today and enjoy 3 extra months for free. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Watch Channel 4 in Ireland
If you want to watch Channel 4 in Ireland or anywhere outside of the UK, know that you’re going to need a VPN subscription and you will need to create a free account.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Subscribe to a reliable VPN service (ExpressVPN is our #1 choice)
Step 2: Download and Install the VPN app on your preferred device
Step 3: Open the app and connect to a UK Server (e.g. Manchester)
Step 4: Open the Channel 4 website and click on “sign in to My4”
Step 5: Click on “register” if you don’t have an account already
Step 6: Add your email and password and click on “next”
Step 7: Enter all the required information and enter next (you can search for UK postcode from google)
Step 8: You will be directed to another page, click on “register”
Step 9: You will get to the homepage of Channel 4, click on “Live TV” from the top bar
Step 10: Select what broadcast you want to watch
Step 11: Enjoy Streaming
What are the Best VPNs to Watch Channel 4 in Ireland?
We’ve tested about 35+ VPNs with Channel 4, and we’ve found that only 3 VPNs showed satisfying results when unblocking Channel 4 from Ireland.
These are the 3 best VPNs to watch All4 in Ireland:
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our recommended VPN for unblocking Channel 4 in Ireland because it has a large number of servers all over the world i.e. 3,000 in 94 countries, many of which are located in four sites of the United Kingdom.
A significant feature of this VPN that other VPNs lack is its built-in speed test feature, which ensures that you’re streaming Channel 4 on the quickest server (89 Mbps out of 100 Mbps).
After signing up, I was granted immediate access to its content by connecting to its Docklands server. ExpressVPN is available for €6.42/month with a 30-day money-back guarantee. With a single account, you can connect with 5 devices simultaneously.
2. Surfshark
Surfshark is another best VPN that gives you access to Channel 4 in Ireland. It works at a fast speed (83 Mbps out of 100 Mbps) that serves buffering-free streaming.
Surfshark also provides access to more than 3,200 servers in 63 countries among which you will find servers in 3 cities of the UK.
If you subscribe to Surfshark, you will get access to the service on an unlimited number of devices, which is ideal if you need to use it on multiple devices at the same time.
You can use this VPN on restricted channels like Channel 4 and others thanks to features like No-borders mode, and the camouflage mode hides you from your ISP.
Surfshark is presently offering a 2-year subscription plan for only $2.49/month, making it one of the most affordable premium VPNs available and with a 30-days money-back guarantee.
3. NordVPN
Another excellent alternative for unblocking All 4 in Ireland is NordVPN because the service has over 440 UK servers in one place, as well as over 5,000 other servers across the world, all of which can be accessed simultaneously by up to six devices.
The benefit of having so many UK servers is that you’ll always have backups in case some of them go down and you need to watch Channel 4.
Double-protection, which gives you double layers of security, CyberSec, a mode that blocks access to harmful websites and content, are just a few of the fantastic features offered by NordVPN.
NordVPN comes with a 2-year subscription plan costing only $3.49/month. NordVPN, like most other VPNs, has a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you the opportunity to test the VPN before committing.
Why is a VPN Needed for Watching Channel 4 in Ireland?
As Channel 4 is only accessible to citizens of the United Kingdom, you won’t be able to watch any content in Ireland unless you use a VPN service to switch your actual location to that of the United Kingdom.
Due to licensing agreements and copyright ownership, this channel is geo-restricted outside of the UK. If you try to access Channel 4 in Ireland without a VPN, you will receive an error that says:
“A playback error has occurred. Pleased try again later.”
By connecting to the UK server of a VPN, you will be able to access Channel 4 without any restrictions. A VPN connection will also help you protect your online privacy because it hides most of your online activity; hence, there is no way to know what you’re doing online.
What to Watch on Channel 4 (All 4) in Ireland?
If you’re wondering what you can watch on Channel 4 and whether or not it’s worth the trouble of accessing it through VPN, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of some of our personal favorites for you to explore.
- Emergency
- Blackout
- True crime: unraveled
- Married at first sight Australia
- Gogglebox
- Flex Kitchen
- Celebrity hunted
- The Great British Bakeoff
- Bone Tomahawk
- Malcolm in the middle
- Supernatural
FAQs – Channel 4
Is Channel 4 a free service?
Yes, Channel4 is an absolutely free-to-air service, you will just need to register a free account to get access to the content of Channel4.
Is it possible to watch Gogglebox on Channel4 when I’m in Ireland?
It is possible, as you can watch dramas and other content without restriction if you have registered yourself on My4. The restriction is only for Live TV that you cannot watch outside of the UK.
Is Channel 4, All 4, and My4 are the same services?
All these are the alternate names of the same service.
Closing Words
Channel 4 (All4) is a free-to-air public streaming service that is only available in the UK. The only way to watch Channel 4 in Ireland is with the help of a VPN. However, we must point out that a VPN is capable of much more.
A VPN’s main aim is to keep you safe while you browse the internet. If you are using ExpressVPN, you can rest assured that the security of your data and device will not be jeopardized.
You don’t just obtain access to restricted content with ExpressVPN; you also receive back freedom and peace of mind that the internet hasn’t supplied in a long time.
