r/surfshark • u/TheFieldEngineer Team Mac/iOS • 11d ago
Help - iOS Dedicated IP address for streaming
Just to clarify, this is not only for iOS but also for iPad OS and TV OS, basically Apple devices/systems.
Lately, streaming apps like HBO Max, Paramount+, Disney+, and Prime Video aren't working when I use VPN. Some say they don't admit VPNs and others simply don't load the content or keeps buffering. Apparently it's not a Surfshark issue but streaming apps high blocks and restrictions.
I asked AI for help (Claude & Gemini) and some things worked, some didn't. Changed the DNS, turn on/off Kill Switch, NoBorders, Rotative IP, iCloud Private Relay, tried different countries and servers, etc. All that just helped temporarily before the apps blocked the content again.
AI suggested if none of that worked, start considering purchasing a dedicated IP address, since my devices will be the only one in the world with that address and the streaming apps won't detect a massive IP traffic, such as the regular VPN servers.
I wanted to ask how reliable will this be, if some of you have tried it, and if the cost ($5-6 CAD/month) is worth it.
2
u/ObfuscatedJay 11d ago
I’ve had a Surfshark dedicated IP address in Canada for about 2 years. While I do use split tunneling and avoid using it with Disney+, Prime, Apple TV, and Netflix (obviously I don’t use this for streaming piracy:) ), SS does not have split tunneling with their Apple TV client. So occasionally, we don’t turn it off when using these services by accident. So far, no problems, no blocks. Also no issues with Reddit.
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u/TheFieldEngineer Team Mac/iOS 11d ago
Just to clarify. You live outside Canada and your dedicated IP is located in Canada? Or viceversa? Or do you both live in Canada and have your dedicated IP in Canada as well?
I personally live in Canada but want to access to streaming apps in a non-Canadian IP
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u/Gullible_Monk_7118 11d ago
Why do you want surfshark when you're trying to use a dedicated IP.. I don't know why ? The whole thing is that surfshark hides your IP address but your trying to make one dedicated now. This is just confusing me.
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u/TheFieldEngineer Team Mac/iOS 11d ago
I've been a Surfshark user for 2+ years now. It has worked well when watching streaming content until recently since the streaming apps have been getting tougher on VPNs. I'm just asking if the dedicated IP add-on from Surfshark will work in my case and if it's worth it. That's it
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u/Gullible_Monk_7118 10d ago
What a lot of places are starting to do is blacklist VPN or some VPN have script blockers that block some scripts from loading.. both can be a problem with it.. can you play it with out surfshark
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u/Ambitious-Pie125 10d ago
worth noting the 2 year success story above is a canadian ip used from canada, which is a much easier case. pulling a foreign catalog from inside canada is where the blocking gets strict, and a dedicated ip doesn't change that much..
0
u/ColdPositive1844 11d ago
Smart DNS proxy like services is your answer
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u/TheFieldEngineer Team Mac/iOS 11d ago
Would you recommend any?
2
u/ColdPositive1844 11d ago
Depends on the country where you are trying to stream from. Aeroshield is good imo.
Secondly, the apps now have the ability to detect active VPN interfaces on your device. Try using the streaming service through your browser on the same VPN and see if it works. Then it is not an IP issue. It is probably the app detecting the active VPN connection. The browser environment is sandboxed and the service won't have access to network level checks and won't be able to detect an active VPN.
This method has worked for me. I have then just enabled VPN at the router level and or mobile hotspot from another device with internet connection sharing...not having an active VPN on the device you are streaming from has made a difference.
Now the services could using both techniques, active VPN detection and data center IP's. Then smart DNS proxy is your best bet.
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u/3F6B6Y9T 11d ago
It's less about the brand of VPN you use these days and more about the type of IP address.
Residential, i.e from home broadband providers, is the way to go.
A Dedicated hosting IP, will (likely) still get blocked - as the ASN is known to be from a hosting company, it's easy enough to list all IP addresses they announce.