How to watch BBC iPlayer on Kodi

As an all-in-one home media software, Kodi offers considerable versatility, but it isn’t always as easy as installing a few applications. Those living outside of the UK are normally restricted from accessing BBC iPlayer. But with an add-on called iPlayerWWW and if iPlayer isn't available in your location you will also need a VPN, which allows you to stream iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

What you will need

Before you begin following the steps below, you first need to make sure you have:

• A Kodi device
• iPlayerWWW
• A VPN that works with Kodi and iPlayer

We recommend using iPlayerWWW because it's an incredibly popular add-on due to its accessibility, ease of use, and wide range of support. No matter whether you have Kodi on your PC, a Fire Stick, smart TV or a dedicated Kodi box, it’s as simple as downloading and installing the application directly onto Kodi.

How to watch BBC iPlayer on Kodi

To get iPlayer working on your Kodi device, simply follow the steps below.

1. Head to the Kodi website and download the version of Kodi you need.

   Leia is available for Android, Linux, Mac OS X, iOS and Windows operating systems. In this guide, we will install and use the Windows version.

   Remember: Choose the installer you need depending on whether your system is 32- or 64-bit.

2. With Kodi installed, it is time to download and install the iPlayerWWW add-on.

   To begin, click on the Settings cog.

3. Now click on Add-ons.

4. Now click on Search and enter iPlayerWWW.

5. The search will successfully pull up the following add-on. Click on it to find the installer.

6. Click Install.

7. A window will now pop up telling you that a few additional add-ons are going to be installed. These are necessary so click OK.

8. iPlayerWWW will now say Downloading and then Installing. Wait for it to complete.

9. When the installation is complete iPlayerWWW will have a tick next to it. Now click on the app to launch it and then click Open.

10. iPlayerWWW will now warn you that viewing iPlayer in the UK without a TV license is illegal. Click OK to accept.

Choose a VPN to unblock BBC iPlayer anywhere

If you live in the UK, this is all you need to start viewing content on BBC iPlayer using Kodi. However, if you live anywhere else in the world, you will need to run a supported virtual private network (VPN) and connect to a UK server if you want to access the same service.

To make things easier, we have created a list of the best BBC iPlayer VPNs. It is worth considering speed, the number of connections, support for torrenting and no-logs privacy before you purchase a subscription. Once you have chosen, you just need to:

1. Download and launch your VPN and connect to a server in the UK. We recommend PrivateVPN because it is secure, cheap, and unblocks iPlayer. 

   If in doubt, check with your VPN provider to find out which UK server is optimized for streaming iPlayer.

2. Once connected, you are ready to begin streaming iPlayer content.

3. Launch the iPlayerWWW addon in Kodi and choose from the menu.

   To watch live TV click on the appropriate menu item.

You will now be able to select any of the BBC’s live channels, to stream BBC live on Kodi.

Check out our how to use a VPN on Kodi page for more information about installing and using a VPN on Kodi.

Installing iPlayer on Kodi Jarvis or Krypton

If you are currently running an outdated version of Kodi, it is probably a good idea to update to the latest version. If you can’t do this for some reason, you will potentially have a slightly different setup procedure on your device. However, the basic outline of what you need to do is identical:

What to do if BBC iPlayer isn’t working on Kodi

If iPlayerWWW still isn’t working after following our set up guide, There could be a number of reasons for this. Below we cover some common fixes that you can try.

Try a VPN that works with iPlayer

One possibility that your VPN is not functioning correctly. To find out if this is the case, use our VPN leak test tool to see if your VPN is giving away your real location.

Not all VPN providers work with iPlayer, and you will need to connect to a VPN server that works with iPlayer. For more information on accessing iPlayer from outside the UK, check out which VPNs we recommend for iPlayer.

Quit your VPN and Kodi and restart your computer

A standard first step in any technical troubleshooting.

Make sure you are connecting to the correct server

Once you have a VPN that is compatible with iPlayer, then you need to check you are using the right server. often VPNs will set up specific servers to unblock services like BBC iPlayer.

If it's unclear which server you should be connecting to, contact your provider through live chat on their website for a quick answer. 

Check iPlayerWWW is up to date

If your iPlayerWWW add-on isn't up to date, it could be causing you issues. Make sure to revisit the iPlayerWWW and check for updates.

Make sure your login credentials are correct 

You don't actually need to login to iPlayerWWW to watch BBC shows on Kodi. So, if you are having problems, go to the main menu of iPlayerWWW, scroll down, and choose the Sign out BBCiD option.