If any streaming service has placed the UK on the map, the BBC iPlayer app would likely sit atop that list. It’s a complete platform that would please just about every family member, so integrating it into your FireStick is a great idea!
The BBC iPlayer on FireStick is an exclusive streaming service developed by BBC for its UK audience. Although some of their programming is accessible outside the UK, some BBC iPlayer content remains exclusive to the region.
In this post, we’ll show you how to install BBC iPlayer on FireStick so you can enjoy your favorite British programs outside the UK. What’s more, we’ve included alternative ways to access it if the app falls short on your FireStick device. Read on!
Can I watch BBC iPlayer on my Amazon FireStick?
The BBC iPlayer app is officially available for Amazon FireStick users in the UK. You can watch BBC iPlayer on your Amazon FireStick using its dedicated streaming app or official website.
You can watch BBC iPlayer on FireStick and stream popular British shows like Peaky Blinders, Killing Eve, Sherlock, Doctor Who, and more. Note that these shows are accessible on the iPlayer app only if you have a valid BBC UK account.
How to install the BBC iPlayer APK on FireStick
If you’re in the UK, installing the BBC iPlayer app on your FireStick device shouldn’t have any issues. After all, you can easily find it on your region’s Amazon App Store to download and install it directly on your FireStick device.
Unfortunately, installing the BBC iPlayer app becomes tricky when you’re from the US or other countries outside the UK. In such cases, you must use workarounds to install BBC iPlayer on your FireStick device and stream its exclusive content offering.
For this to work, you must treat the BBC iPlayer like other third-party apps and install it using the Downloader app. Therefore, you must use a direct link to a BBC iPlayer APK file to download and install it on your FireStick device as an unknown app.
Before installing its APK file on your FireStick device, you must meet specific conditions. These conditions are essential because FireStick devices, by default, are prohibited from installing apps downloaded outside the official Amazon App Store.
This restriction applies to the BBC iPlayer app even though you can download it from the UK’s Amazon App Store. Therefore, aside from getting the Downloader app, you must allow your FireStick device to install apps from unknown sources.
Doing so will let you download and install the BBC iPlayer APK file using a direct download link to an internet source. Please follow the three-part process below to install BBC iPlayer on your FireStick device.
Part 1. Install Downloader on your FireStick/Fire TV
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | A FireStick/Fire TV A FireStick remote A working internet connection |
FireStick users from other regions must rely on the Downloader app because you can only install BBC iPlayer on FireStick devices if you’re from the UK. The Downloader app can download the BBC iPlayer APK file and install it on your FireStick.
The Downloader’s built-in web browser uses a direct download link to locate and download the BBC iPlayer APK file. With this method, you’ll install BBC iPlayer like other third-party apps unavailable from the Amazon App Store.
Therefore, having the Downloader app on your FireStick device is integral to this guide. After all, you can’t download and install the BBC iPlayer APK file unless you resort to less reliable and shady alternative app stores.
Even then, most alternative app stores are third-party apps you must install using Downloader. Indeed, getting the Downloader app for your FireStick device is essential regardless of your method of choice.
Step 1: Tap the Home key on your FireStick remote to return to your Fire TV home screen. |
Step 2: Scroll to the magnifying lens icon on the home screen menu panel to use its Find feature. |
Step 3: Go to the search bar. |
Step 4: Type “Downloader” with the on-screen keyboard and click the “Downloader” text from the suggestions. |
Step 5: Select the Downloader app on the APPS & GAMES section. Note: The Downloader app should be first on the list. |
Step 6: Click Download or Get to add the Downloader app to the FireStick library. |
Part 2. Enable FireStick apps from unknown sources
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 8 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 40 seconds |
| Things Needed | A FireStick/Fire TV A FireStick remote |
The Downloader app aside, your FireStick device must have permission to install apps from unknown sources. As mentioned, FireStick devices can’t install apps downloaded outside the Amazon App Store, primarily for security reasons.
As such, jailbreaking your streaming device to allow apps from unknown sources is also integral to installing BBC iPlayer on FireStick. Otherwise, the Downloader app can’t install the BBC iPlayer APK file even if downloading it succeeds.
We recommend unlocking your FireStick’s developer options to enable the installation of unknown apps. Activating this feature will turn off the default restrictions on your Amazon FireStick device.
This allows you to install the BBC iPlayer APK file.
However, you must note that downloading APK files from internet sources is risky, so observing due diligence is necessary. You never know whether the APK file you’re downloading contains malware or viruses that may harm your FireStick device.
Step 1: Tap the Home key on your FireStick remote to return to your Fire TV home screen. |
Step 2: Scroll to the cog icon on the home screen menu panel to open Settings. |
Step 3: Open the My Fire TV menu. |
Step 4: Open the About page. Note: Proceed to Step 6 if you see the Developer Options below About. |
Step 5: Click your FireStick device’s name seven times to reveal the developer options under the My Fire TV menu. |
Step 6: Return to My Fire TV and open Developer Options. |
Step 7: Click “Apps from Unknown Sources.” Note: If this option appears as “Install unknown apps” on your FireStick or Fire TV, click the Downloader app. In some FireSticks or Fire TVs, you must toggle the app(s) you want to use this feature. |
Step 8: Click Turn On to authorize the FireStick device to install apps downloaded from unknown sources. |
Part 3. Sideload the BBC iPlayer app on your FireStick
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 10 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 1 minute and 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | A FireStick/Fire TV A FireStick remote A working internet connection |
Once you complete the abovementioned conditions, the next step is to sideload BBC iPlayer on your FireStick device. After, you must use the Downloader app to locate the BBC iPlayer APK file and download it to your FireStick via a link to its source.
Since your FireStick device has permission to allow unknown apps, you can install the BBC iPlayer APK file after downloading it. It makes the installation process quick and easy to execute, as long as you have a link to a reliable internet source.
We’ve scoured the internet on your behalf to provide you with a download page hosting the BBC iPlayer APK file. With this, you won’t have any issues downloading and installing BBC iPlayer on your FireStick device using the Downloader app.
Also, you can even use the knowledge you gained here to install other third-party apps on your FireStick device. Remember, the Amazon FireStick can install any APK file compatible with the Android-based Fire TV OS.
Step 1: Tap the Home key on your FireStick remote to return to your Fire TV home screen. |
Step 2: Open Downloader from the home screen. Note: Go to the Apps & Channels page if the Downloader app isn’t accessible from the Fire TV home screen. |
Step 3: Click the search bar on the Downloader app’s home page. |
Step 4: Type “28907” and click Go. Note: You can press your FireStick remote’s Play/Pause button. |
Step 5: Wait for the download page to load and tap Menu twice on your FireStick remote to enter Fullscreen Mode. |
Step 6: Scroll to the download page’s category section and click UK TV. |
Step 7: Click the BBC iPlayer option. |
Step 8: Scroll down and click the Download – Fire TV/Android TV button. |
Step 9: Wait while the Downloader app downloads the BBC iPlayer APK file. |
Step 10: Click INSTALL after downloading the BBC iPlayer APK file. |
Step 11: Wait while BBC iPlayer installs on your FireStick device. |
Step 12: Click Done to complete the BBC iPlayer APK installation. |
Step 13: Click Delete to remove the BBC iPlayer APK file. |
Step 14: Click Delete again. |
Step 15: Look for the BBC iPlayer app on your Fire TV home screen or Apps & Channels page. |
How to Watch BBC iPlayer in the USA or Other Countries Outside the UK
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 10 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 2 minutes and 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | A FireStick/Fire TV A FireStick remote A working internet connection |
Before we proceed with the methods for watching BBC iPlayer on FireStick from the USA or other countries outside the UK, you must complete certain conditions again.
First, you must have a valid BBC account to stream content using the iPlayer app.
Fortunately, signing up for a BBC account is quick and easy, even outside the UK. You only need a valid email address and UK postcode to create a BBC account registered under the UK region.
Second, you must install a VPN app on your FireStick device to access a UK server. Connecting to this VPN server allows you to spoof your current location, making your FireStick device appear as though it’s in the UK.
The second condition is essential because you can’t load content on the BBC iPlayer app unless it detects the UK as your FireStick device’s location.
Spoofing your location will help even if you watch BBC iPlayer using another method we will discuss later.
Step 1: Open the Amazon Silk Browser on your FireStick/Fire TV. Note: You can use a PC or smartphone browser to perform Steps 1 to 4. |
Step 2: Click the address bar and go to the BBC registration page to create an account. |
Step 3: Select your age group to continue. |
Step 4: Enter your birth date and click Continue. |
Step 5: Enter your information and click Register. Note: You can use a postcode generator for the UK to use a random one. |
| Step 6: Check your email address for a verification link from BBC. Note: Clicking the verification link will activate your BBC account. |
Step 7: Tap the Home key on your FireStick remote to return to your Fire TV home screen. |
Step 8: Open your FireStick device’s VPN app. |
Step 9: Scroll down and select the United Kingdom to connect to a UK VPN server. |
Step 10: Wait for the VPN app to connect to the UK server. Note: This action will spoof your location, making it appear like you’re in the UK. |
1. Use the BBC iPlayer app
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | A FireStick/Fire TV A FireStick remote A PC or smartphone A working internet connection |
Once you have a valid account and VPN connection, you can run the BBC iPlayer app on FireStick and stream your desired content. The process is simple since you only need to use BBC iPlayer like any other application on your FireStick device.
Please follow the step-by-step guide below for using your FireStick device’s BBC iPlayer app. You must already be using a VPN connection to a server in the UK to run the BBC iPlayer app and sign into your account.
Unfortunately, a separate web browser on a PC or smartphone is necessary to sign into the BBC iPlayer app for TV. It’s where you’ll sign into your BBC account and enter the code displayed on the BBC iPlayer app.
Step 1: Open the BBC iPlayer app. |
Step 2: Click Sign In. |
| Step 3: Open the link on the screen on your PC or smartphone’s browser to access your BBC account and enter the code to complete the sign-in.  |
Step 4: Navigate the app to find and stream your desired content. |
2. Use a FireStick web browser
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 8 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 40 seconds |
| Things Needed | A FireStick/Fire TV A FireStick remote A working internet connection |
Although we’ve discussed installing the BBC iPlayer app, it’s not the only way to stream their content on your FireStick device. After all, you can achieve similar results using only a web browser installed on your FireStick device, like the Amazon Silk.
With this, you can skip sideloading the BBC iPlayer APK file on your FireStick using the Downloader app. However, this method still requires a VPN connection to the UK to access the content from the BBC iPlayer on your FireStick.
Since this method uses a web browser, you must stream directly from the BBC iPlayer website. Unlike the TV app, you can sign into the BBC iPlayer website without a separate device or web browser.
This method is handy if your FireStick device’s internal storage is almost full. After all, installing too many apps on a FireStick device isn’t ideal due to its low storage space compared to a cheap smartphone.
| Step 1: Open the Amazon Silk Browser on your FireStick/Fire TV. Note: You can use a PC or smartphone browser to perform Steps 1 to 4. |
| Step 2: Click the address bar and go to the BBC iPlayer web page. |
Step 3: Click Sign in on the BBC iPlayer home page. |
Step 4: Enter your BBC account and click Sign in. |
Step 5: Select the BBC iPlayer content you want to stream. |
BBC iPlayer Alternatives
Here are alternative streaming apps for watching BBC channels and content exclusive to the UK. You can install these apps on your FireStick device if the BBC iPlayer app isn’t working.
FAQs about BBC iPlayer on FireStick
You can watch Live BBC on your FireStick. It doesn’t matter whether you’re using the BBC iPlayer app, your FireStick web browsers, or another streaming app that offers live BBC channels.
Restarting your FireStick is an excellent way to troubleshoot your faulty BBC iPlayer app. Furthermore, you can clear the BBC iPlayer app’s cache or reinstall it on your FireStick device.
You can watch BBC channels and shows on Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime can access popular BBC shows like Top Gear UK, Sherlock, The Office UK, and BBC Select documentaries.
BBC iPlayer is available on digital boxes (e.g., Virgin Media, Sky) and game consoles. Additionally, you can watch BBC iPlayer using digital media streaming devices such as Chromecast, Roku, Freesat, and FireStick.
Streaming BBC iPlayer is legal because it’s an official streaming service developed by BBC. However, the content on the BBC iPlayer app is only officially available to UK residents since their TV license fees fund the streaming service.
