How to get around blackout restrictions on Sling TV in 2025

Nothing is more frustrating than turning on Sling TV only to see an error message blocking you from watching your favorite sports team due to blackout restrictions. Sling TV blackouts occur due to broadcasting rights and local licensing agreements. These agreements affect sports fans watching NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college sports, restricting the availability of certain games in certain states. Such blackouts are especially frustrating to those relying on Sling TV instead of cable TV. After all, Sling TV is a paid service, and you still can’t watch all the games you want.

Luckily, a reliable VPN service can help you bypass Sling TV blackout restrictions by changing your IP address to the state where your game is broadcast. Continue reading this article as I explain more about why blackouts happen and how a VPN can help you bypass them.

Best VPNs to get around Sling TV blackout restrictions in 2025

1. NordVPN

   Best for bypassing Sling TV blackouts with high-speed servers
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   The most affordable VPN for bypassing Sling TV blackout restrictions
   9.5
3. Proton VPN

   Top privacy-focused VPN for Sling TV blackout workaround
   8.6

Together with the VPNpro team of experts, I tested all of the most popular VPN providers to find the ones that work with Sling TV and can bypass its blackouts. My main criteria were a wide network of speedy US servers, great security feature packages, excellent initial speed retention rates, and additional features to get you the most out of your buck.

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Why does Sling TV blackout games?

Sling TV blackouts happen when a live sports event is restricted to a specific location due to broadcasting rights. There are several reasons for this, including:

• Regional sports networks. Such a blackout happens when a local team’s games are restricted to designated broadcasters. It means that if you want to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play in their local market, which primarily includes Los Angeles County and parts of surrounding Southern California, you’ll only be able to do so on local broadcast channels like Spectrum SportsNet LA. The Dodgers’ games in this area will not be available on Sling TV, as local channels will have the right to broadcast them.
• National exclusivity. Big networks, like ESPN, Fox, and NBC, have exclusive rights to air games nationally. That’s one reason some games are unavailable on Sling TV or other local broadcast networks.
• League restrictions. MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL use blackout zones to protect ticket sales. This means that even if our team is playing in your town, you might not be able to watch the game on TV. This way, the league enforces ticket sales.

All of these annoying blackout restrictions will prevent you from watching all the games your favorite team plays, even though you’re paying for your Sling TV subscription to watch them. The easiest way to bypass these blackouts is to use a reliable VPN. A VPN can relocate your IP address to another state where the game is available, and by using this simple shortcut, you’ll be able to enjoy all the games on Sling TV without any blackouts.

Forget MLB blackouts with NordVPN

Best VPNs to get around Sling blackouts – detailed review

To find the best VPN to bypass Sling TV blackouts, I performed speed tests with several US servers, checked if the VPN could bypass the blackout restrictions, and how well it kept my real IP address hidden. In the end, I found the top 3 providers to eliminate Sling blackouts:

Top choice: NordVPN - best Sling TV VPN overall

NordVPN is the overall best VPN for bypassing Sling TV blackout restrictions. The provider offers around 2000 servers in more than 16 US locations, which makes it easy to switch your IP according to the Sling TV blackout areas.

When I used NordVPN to bypass the blackouts on Philadelphia Phillies games, I used a server in New York. The new IP address allowed me to access the otherwise restricted game and stream it live easily. I also tried NordVPN with other games and different servers to test its spectrum of capabilities and had no issues at all.

Of course, I also checked NordVPN connection speeds by performing my in-house speed tests. I found an average of 466 Mbps with a 94% initial speed retention rate. This is by far the fastest connection speed average in the industry, which means you’ll be able to stream your games on Sling TV in HD quality seamlessly.

NordVPN is very reasonably priced at $3.09/month. Each subscription covers up to 10 devices, and you can try it out first during the 7-day free trial or extend the free use period with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information, read our in-depth NordVPN review.

Second choice: Surfshark - affordable VPN for bypassing Sling TV blackouts

Surfshark is an excellent VPN to bypass Sling TV blackouts. It offers very competitive pricing, unlimited simultaneous connections, and a GPS spoofing feature for Android devices. It’s particularly useful if you use Sling TV on your mobile device.

Surfshark offers 600+ servers across 22 major US cities. This made it easy to find the right connection spot to avoid Sling TV blackouts. Additionally, Surfshark always kept my real IP well hidden, and I experienced no issues accessing games on Sling TV.

During my in-house speed tests, I found that Surfshark’s connection speeds average 466 Mbps with a 94% initial speed retention rate. This meant that I could stream the games in excellent quality with no lags or buffering.

Surfshark VPN is very reasonably priced, with subscriptions starting at only $1.99/month. Each subscription can be used with unlimited devices and comes with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information, read our in-depth Surfshark review.

Third choice: Proton VPN - freemium VPN to unblock Sling TV blackout games

Proton VPN is an excellent VPN for bypassing Sling TV blackout restrictions. It offers both a premium version and a free one with servers in the US. Additionally, Proton VPN is a great choice for those who prioritize cybersecurity.

Proton VPN has over 2,100 US servers in 14 locations. The sheer number of servers made it easy for me to always find the one I needed to bypass Sling TV blackouts. No matter which one I choose, I could stream all the home-market or out-of-market NFL, MLB, NBA, and other games.

During my speed tests, Proton VPN showed good enough speeds for lag-free streams. I found an average of 428 Mbps with an 85% initial speed retention rate. However, if you need a little speed boost, you can use the VPN Accelerator feature that enhances your connection speeds.

Proton VPN is a bit pricier, with subscriptions starting at $3.59/month. While the provider does not offer a free trial, you can use its fully free version or upgrade to premium with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more information, read our in-depth Proton VPN review.

How can a VPN help to get around Sling TV blackouts?

Sling TV determines your location primarily through your IP address. The service checks the IP to establish your geographic region when you connect. In addition, your billing address or device GPS data (if available) may also be used to confirm your location. So, if you’re in a market where local games are restricted, Sling TV will block your attempts to watch it.

A VPN can easily route your network through your selected server, supplying you with a new IP address while your real IP address is hidden. So, if you’re in the blackout market for Los Angeles Dodgers or any other team’s games, connecting to a server outside this market will allow you to bypass Sling TV blackout restrictions.

Using a VPN is legal in the US; however, using such a service to bypass Sling TV’s geo-restrictions might violate the terms of service and a temporary account suspension. That’s why choosing a reliable VPN, like NordVPN, is essential, as it will always keep your real IP address well hidden from Sling TV’s detection methods.

Bypass Sling TV blackouts with NordVPN

Bypass Sling TV live blackouts on desktop

Bypassing Sling TV blackouts is usually easier on desktops than on mobile devices for several reasons. For instance, desktop browsers usually allow more flexibility with VPN extensions and settings. Additionally, mobile devices may require additional GPS spoofing measures to change your IP address successfully. So, for easier access to Sling TV blackout games, I recommend using the VPN method with laptops and PCs. Here’s how to bypass Sling TV live blackouts on desktop:

1. Subscribe to a reliable VPN with servers in the US. I recommend NordVPN, as it offers around 2000 US servers and keeps your real IP address well hidden.
2. Download the VPN app and install it on your device.
3. Connect to a server outside the Sling TV blackout restriction area. For instance, if you’re in the local restriction market for New York Yankees games, choose a server outside the area, like Florida or Texas.
4. Verify your IP address and whether your real IP is well-hidden. You can test this by heading to the ipleak.net page and verifying that your current IP address matches the server you’re connected to.
5. Head to Sling TV and log in to your account. I recommend using the streaming platform's browser version, as it seems to work best with a VPN.
6. That’s it – you’re ready to stream your favorite team’s games without Sling TV blackouts!

I recommend using Incognito or Private mode when changing your region for streaming purposes. This prevents your browser’s cookies and cache from revealing your true location. To access it, open your browser’s settings menu and select New Incognito Window using Chrome or New Private Window using Edge or Firefox.

Bypass Sling TV live blackouts on Android/iOS

Bypassing Sling TV blackout restrictions on mobile devices is a bit more complicated as it forces smartphone users to turn on GPS location tracking to verify their location. Using this method, Sling TV ensures that you can only access geographically available streams. Because GPS technology is not tied to IP addresses, VPNs cannot obfuscate the smartphone location to bypass the Sling TV blackouts. So, to go around these restrictions while on a smartphone, you will need additional software, namely, a GPS spoofer. This software can change your phone’s virtual location, while a VPN will give you the US IP address to watch the games on Sling TV. Alternatively, you can choose a VPN with a GPS spoofing feature, like NordVPN or Surfshark.

1. Install a reliable GPS spoofer on your smartphone. Alternatively, you can choose NordVPN or Surfshark, both of which have GPS spoofing features.
2. Open the GPS spoofer, set the location outside the Sling TV blackout restrictions, and activate the spoofer to override your actual location.
3. Open your VPN app and connect to a server in a location where Sling TV blackouts do not apply.
4. As an additional measure, you can clear your device’s cache.
5. Open your Sling TV app and log in.
6. That’s it – now you can enjoy game streams without Sling TV blackouts.

Change your location with NordVPN

What games are blacked out on Sling TV?

Sling TV blackouts mainly occur due to various broadcasting rights between teams and sports leagues and local cable or satellite networks. Such blackout restrictions are the most common for home or out-of-market games in popular sports leagues like MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, and NCAA. Let’s take a closer look at what games are submitted to blackouts in each league:

• MLB and NFL. Games in the two leagues are affected mainly by home market restrictions. That means that if specific teams, for instance, the New York Yankees, are playing in their hometown, you won’t be able to watch their game on Sling TV. The rights for it will belong to local networks, and the Sling TV MLB blackouts will affect viewers both in New York and neighboring home market areas. Both MLB and the NFL employ this rule. Check out our expert research for the best MLB TV VPNs and a step-by-step guide on how to watch out-of-market NFL games.
• NBA and NHL. Similarly to the MLB and NFL, regional sports networks typically have the rights to broadcast NBA and NHL home games. Again, that means that if you’d like to watch the San Francisco 49ers playing on their home turf, you won’t be able to stream the game due to Sling TV NHL blackouts. However, these blackout restrictions aren’t exclusive to Sling TV, so you can still watch NBA home games or NHL matches on ESPN+ or NHL.tv by following our expert recommendations.
• NCAA. The same applies to College sports, especially when it concerns high-profile teams like The Ohio State Buckeyes or Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Once again, you won’t be able to stream these teams’ games when they play in their home market, as the rights will belong to regional sports networks. Here’s a guide on how to catch every NCAA game with a VPN.

Remember that using a VPN is an easy way to bypass these Sling blackout restrictions for NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, and NCAA league games. A VPN can quickly relocate your IP address to another state where the games are available on the streaming platform, and you’ll be able to watch them without any restrictions.

Avoid Sling network restrictions with NordVPN

How we tested Sling TV VPNs to bypass blackout restrictions

Here at VPNpro, we’ve many years of expertise testing and reviewing various VPN providers. To find the best VPNs for bypassing Sling TV blackouts, we ran hundreds of speed tests for each provider, checked for IP and DNS leaks, and compared server networks and security features. Additionally, we evaluated price-to-feature ratios, checked geo-unblocking capabilities, and scrutinized privacy policies.

To find the best VPNs for Sling TV blackouts specifically, we tested their capabilities for IP masking, IP leak prevention, connection speeds, and unlocking geo-restricted content. In the end, NordVPN stood out as the best VPN to bypass Sling TV blackout restrictions, as it kept my IP address well-hidden at all times, offered around 2000 US servers for a quick connection, and blazing-fast speeds for uninterrupted streaming.

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FAQ

Why does Sling say this content is subject to blackout restrictions?

Content on Sling TV may be subjected to blackout restrictions due to various broadcasting agreements. To bypass these Sling TV blackouts, you can use a VPN and connect to a server outside of the blackout zone. My top choice for the task is NordVPN, as it offers around 2000 US servers and blazing-fast speeds.

Does Sling Blackout local MLB games?

Yes, Sling TV blackouts local MLB games. The rights to broadcast local games usually belong to regional sports networks and are restricted on streaming platforms like Sling TV. You can bypass these blackouts by using a VPN and connecting to a server outside the local market zone.

Does Sling track your location?

Yes, Sling TV tracks your location on its mobile app. Because of this, it is a bit harder to bypass Sling TV blackouts on mobile devices. To do so, you’ll also need to use GPS spoofing software in addition to a reliable VPN.

How do you bypass a Sling blackout?

To bypass a Sling blackout, you’ll need to use a VPN. I recommend choosing NordVPN, downloading the app, and installing it on your preferred device. Once that is done, connect to a server outside the Sling TV blackout zone, open up the app, and you should be able to stream the restricted games.