Getting started with �鶹Լ�� iPlayer

Getting started on a computer

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:46:29 +0000

Getting started on a computer

What computers can I use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on?

You can use the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website on the following computers:

Mac
Windows PC
Linux

You'll need to use one of our supported internet browsers to use the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website. Find out what browsers are supported on the Supported internet browsers and operating systems page.

Not sure what a browser is? It’s a piece of software installed on your computer that gives you access to websites.

How do I use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on my computer?

Watch live or on-demand
Watch live and on-demand programmes on your computer by heading to the website: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer. Once you've found the programme you want to watch, just press the play button and you're off!

Can I watch offline?
When using iPlayer on a computer, you will need to be in the UK and be connected to the internet. However, you can download programmes to watch offline or when outside of the UK using the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer mobile app. For more information, have a look here: How can I watch programmes when I'm offline?

Do I need to sign in to use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?
Yes, you do. One of the benefits of signing in is a more personalised experience. Find out more on the Personalisation in �鶹Լ�� iPlayer page, and visit �鶹Լ�� account help for help with creating a �鶹Լ�� account.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

Can I watch programmes using my mobile data?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:42:28 +0000

Can I watch programmes using my mobile data?

Yes, you can play and download programmes over a mobile network as well as over WiFi.

Your phone might block this by default or when you have a data saving option switched on, so follow these steps to check that you can use the app over a mobile network:

Android: Go to device Settings > Apps > �鶹Լ�� iPlayer > switch on the Allow App While Data Saver On option in the 'Mobile data and WiFi' section
iOS: Go to device Settings > Scroll down to �鶹Լ�� iPlayer > switch on the Mobile Data option

You can find the option to download programmes via mobile data by opening the iPlayer app and heading to Settings > Downloads > Use mobile data.

The amount of data used to stream programmes will vary depending on the length of the programme, and the video quality. The mobile app will adjust the quality according to the connection strength. An hour-long programme will typically use 700MB of data, so if data-use is a concern, it might be best to switch to WiFi, or download via WiFi and watch offline.

�鶹Լ�� iPlayer is a free service but remember your mobile operator may charge for the data you use on their network. If you’re unsure how much mobile data costs or what your data allowance is, please contact your mobile network operator.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

Getting started on a mobile or tablet

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:46:29 +0000

Getting started on a mobile or tablet

What mobiles or tablets support �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

�鶹Լ�� iPlayer is available on compatible Amazon Fire, Android, and iOS mobile and tablet devices. Check our Can I use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on my mobile or tablet? page to see if your device is supported to use the app or website.

What can I do on my mobile or tablet?

On the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app, you can play live or on-demand programmes and download programmes to watch when you're not connected to the internet.
On the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website, you can watch live or on-demand programmes by typing bbc.co.uk/iplayer into your device's internet browser.

You'll need to make sure you're connected to the internet to watch programmes live or on demand. If you lose connectivity while streaming, the stream will cut out.

Here are some more pages to help get you started:

Do I need a �鶹Լ�� account to use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

Yes, you do. Head to the Using the �鶹Լ�� website to find out how to create your �鶹Լ�� account. For advice on signing in to �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on the app or the website, visit this page: How do I sign in to �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on my computer, mobile or tablet?

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

What is �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:43:36 +0000

What is �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

�鶹Լ�� iPlayer is where you can watch �鶹Լ�� programmes online.

You can watch all of our TV channels online and nearly all of our programmes are available to watch shortly after they've been broadcast for a set amount of time. We also curate shows from the �鶹Լ�� Archives and offer live events and online exclusives.

How do I use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

As long as you’re in the UK you can enjoy �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on a computer, phone, tablet, smart TV or games console using the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app (connected TV, mobile and tablet only) or the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website.

Find out how to use �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on your device in the following pages:

You can also download most programmes on the mobile/tablet app. Downloaded programmes can be played when you’re not connected to the internet or when you're overseas, so download before you go. You can find more information about downloading in the How can I watch programmes when I’m offline? page.

Do I need to sign in?

Yes, you do. One of the benefits of signing in is a more personalised experience. Find out more in the Personalisation in �鶹Լ�� iPlayer page.

Visit �鶹Լ�� account help if you need support signing up for a �鶹Լ�� account.

How do I play a programme?

Once you've found the programme you want to play, just click on the play icon (highlighted below). You might see a short trailer for another �鶹Լ�� programme before the episode begins.

Watching live and just missed the start of a programme? You can use Live Restart to go back to the beginning of a programme that’s being shown on TV right now. Find out more about Live Restart in the How do I use Live Restart? page.

Do you have any further questions or need help?

Try searching using the search bar above or browsing via the categories listed below. You can also have a look at our What do all of these words mean? page for information on the terms and phrases we use on this website.

If you still can’t find the help you’re after, you can contact us using the on-screen Contact Us button at the bottom of our FAQ pages. Or use live webchat to talk to someone from the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer team in real-time. Find out more about using live webchat in our Can I contact you using Live Chat? page.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

How do I watch live TV on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:46:29 +0000

How do I watch live TV on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

Most of the live channels and programmes that are broadcast on �鶹Լ�� TV are also available to watch live on iPlayer. We also have some iPlayer channels and online-only streams which can be accessed live via �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on any device.

On the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website

Select a channel within the Channels tab
Choose Watch live

On the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app for mobiles and tablets

Select Explore
Choose the channel you would like to watch from the channels rail at the top
Tap 'Watch live' underneath the current programme.

On the TV app

Select a channel in the Channels tab
Choose Watch live or Watch from the start

Online-only streams

Some live streams are online-only. These can be found at the top of the homepage on any device, or within the category for that stream. For example live rugby can be found at the top of the Sport category, live festival streams in the Music category and news programmes like Question Time, which is online-only at 8pm* before the TV broadcast, can be found in the News category. They can also be found by searching for the programme names and selecting the 'Live' episode.

**Update 14 November 2024**

For the next few weeks, Question Time will be available to watch live at 9pm on iPlayer before the TV broadcast at 10.40pm.

iPlayer channels can be found on the homepage or within the categories of the streams.

Please note that once you've started watching live TV on your connected TV, the live stream will stop after three hours. You can restart it again by going back to the Channels tab, or the Live stream icon on the homepage or category page, and selecting it again.

Missed the start?

You can choose to watch from the start of the programme on most devices. Check the How do I use Live Restart? page for more information.

Are live streams no longer available on your TV? Check here for more information: Why can't I watch live TV streams on my TV?

All of our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through �鶹Լ�� iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. Read more about this here: Why aren't all live streams available on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

How do I access �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on Sky?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:43:36 +0000

How do I access �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on Sky?

You can watch �鶹Լ�� programmes on Sky+HD and Sky Q.

Sky+HD

With Sky+HD you can catch up with �鶹Լ�� programmes by selecting:

�鶹Լ�� on your Sky remote control
On Demand then Catch Up
�鶹Լ�� from the menu

Programmes are listed in our channels, featured and most popular sections. You can also find and play a range of regional, signed and HD programmes. Programmes that have been downloaded will automatically delete from the Sky EPG once they are due to expire.

To see the file size of a programme before downloading it, press the (i) button on your remote while on the programme page. Additional information will appear including the size of the programme file.

The time it takes to download a programme will depend on your internet connection. A programme will need to download for a short while before playback can start.

Sky Q

In addition to the above method, the fully-featured �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app is available on Sky Q by:

selecting �鶹Լ�� on your Sky remote control
navigating to the Apps section
selecting the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app

Alternatively, press red over a �鶹Լ�� channel and select �鶹Լ�� iPlayer, or follow the link from the �鶹Լ�� catch-up area.

Sky Glass

Sky Glass offers multiple ways across the Sky Glass ecosystem to access programmes in �鶹Լ�� iPlayer. You can also directly access �鶹Լ�� iPlayer either via the red button (on a �鶹Լ�� channel) and by selecting �鶹Լ�� iPlayer in the Apps section.

�鶹Լ�� iPlayer is personalised and allows you to pick up and resume your watching across other devices, so you'll need to sign in with a �鶹Լ�� account to use the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app. For more help on this, visit the How do I sign in to �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on my TV? page.

Please note Sky Q and Sky Glass aren't currently supported for our Ultra HD content.

Getting help with �鶹Լ�� iPlayer on Sky

For any issues with Sky On Demand, visit the Sky On Demand help site.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

What do all of these words mean?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:48:41 +0000

What do all of these words mean?

Not sure what a word or phrase means on the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer help site? Have a look through our list of popular terms and meanings.

ABCD	EFGH	IJKL
MNOP	QRST	UVWXYZ

A B C D

Term	Meaning
Android	Android is an operating system designed by Google for mobiles, tablets, and other handheld devices.
Bandwidth	Bandwidth measures the amount of data that can transfer through a communications channel over a given period of time.
Beta	A beta application or website is one which is open for testing before it becomes available as the standard version to the public. Providing feedback on beta versions helps developers find out what to fix or improve before making that version standard.
Bitrate	This is the speed at which information in a file is read by hardware. A high bitrate file will contain more detailed data, so it will take longer to be processed.
Browser	The browser is the software on your device that you use to open websites. Examples of browsers are Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
Cache	Your browser saves information from websites to help them load more quickly next time you visit them. This information is saved to the cache.
Connected TV	A connected TV is a TV device which is connected to the internet, for example, a smart TV, streaming stick or box, Blu-ray player or set-top box.
Cookies	A cookie is a piece of data saved on your browser to remember the settings you've saved on websites you've visited.
Device	A device is the piece of equipment you're using to access �鶹Լ�� iPlayer. For example, a mobile, computer, tablet, or connected TV.
Display name	A display name is the name that will show on your account when you are signed in. On iPlayer, you'll see your display name on the 'Select who's watching' page.
Download	When you download something, you take it from the internet and save it on your device so that you can watch it when you're not connected to the internet. Downloaded programmes can't be saved forever, though. You can read more about this here: How long am I able to watch a programme once it's been downloaded?
DRM	DRM means Digital Rights Management. It's a way of controlling how different types of files are used.

E F G H

Term	Meaning
FAQ	FAQ means Frequently Asked Question.
Firmware	Firmware is the system programmed into your device, usually TV devices. It enables the device to function and allows it to run applications and tasks. Firmware will need updated regularly.
Hardware	Hardware is what we call the physical components of a piece of technology. For example, a hard drive, mouse, keyboard, monitor, or laptop can all be considered pieces of hardware.
HD	HD means High Definition. This is one of the standards of quality through which you can watch video streams. Other standards are SD (Standard Definition) or UHD (Ultra High Definition).
HTML	HTML means HyperText Markup Language. This is a universal type of computer code used for making websites and controlling how they are displayed.

I J K L

Term	Meaning
Install / uninstall	Installing means adding a piece of software to your device. For example, you can install the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app onto your mobile. Uninstalling means removing this piece of software from your device.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)	Your internet service provider is who supplies your internet connection.
iOS	iOS is an operating system designed by Apple for their handheld products, for example, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
IP address	Your IP address is what websites use to determine where in the world you are accessing the internet from. IP addresses can be manipulated though, especially if you're using a VPN, so it might not always accurately reflect where you are geographically.

M N O P

Term	Meaning
Mobile data	Mobile data, also known as 4G or 5G, is a way to access the internet from your mobile or tablet device. Most people will use their mobile data when they don't have access to WiFi. How much data you have access to is usually determined by your mobile network provider.
On demand	An on-demand programme is one that you can watch whenever you want -- on demand.
Online / offline	Something can be described as online if it's connected to the internet. If something is offline, it's not connected to the internet. For example, you can watch programmes online if your device is connected to the internet. When you download a programme, you can watch it when your device isn't connected to the internet, and is offline.
Operating System (OS)	The operating system is the system your computer, mobile or tablet runs in order to function. The OS enables your device to run applications and perform tasks. It's the interface between you and your computer.
PC	PC means Personal Computer. This is usually a laptop or a desktop computer with a separate hard drive, monitor, mouse and keyboard.
PIN	PIN means Personal Identification Number. We'll ask you for a PIN if you set up a parental guidance lock.
Platform	This is a combination of hardware and software which software can run on. For example, our �鶹Լ�� iPlayer software can run on mobiles, tablets, computers and connected TVs, which are all platforms.
Programme	A programme is a full TV production that you can watch from beginning to end. It might only have one episode, or it might have several episodes. These episodes could be split into multiple series.

Q R S T

Term	Meaning
Register	Registering means signing up for a service by providing some details, such as your name or email address.
RSS	RSS means Really Simple Syndication. RSS feeds are lists of information taken from a website or service and updated in real-time with any new information added to that website. They allow you to stay updated when something new, like a podcast, becomes available.
Software	Software is what we call the components of technology which are coded into the computer, and not physical. Applications, programs and operating systems which tell the computer what to do are considered software.
Stream	Streaming is watching something online. You can stream by finding what you want to watch on the website or app and simply pressing play.
Troubleshooting	Troubleshooting is the process of following some steps to try to figure out what's going wrong if something is broken. You can also try troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

U V W X Y Z

Term	Meaning
URL	URL means Uniform Resource Locator and it's another way of referring to a website address. This is what you type into the address bar to go to a website. For example, "www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer" is a URL which will take you to the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website.
Username	This is a name which identifies you when you sign in to a service. You can choose it yourself and it doesn't need to be your name.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

What's the difference between live and on-demand?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:44:09 +0000

What's the difference between live and on-demand?

A live programme is what's being broadcast on a TV channel at that moment, or an event that's being broadcast at the same time that it's happening, for example, live football matches, concerts, ceremonies. These can be watched at the live point, or if your device supports it, rewound to the beginning (up to two hours).

On-demand programmes (or video on demand/VOD) are programmes that aren't live, and that you can watch whenever you want. They tend to be programmes that the �鶹Լ�� has already broadcast on a TV channel, or programmes that are available exclusively on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer. On-demand programmes are available on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer subject to availability and programme rights.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

How do I change the language on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:50:03 +0000

How do I change the language on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer?

On the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website

Users can choose between English, Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh on the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer website.

You can change the language of the text displayed using the Change Language option located at the bottom of the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer homepage, next to the change location option:

On the TV app

The �鶹Լ�� iPlayer TV app will use either English or Welsh. The preferred language can be selected by using the speech bubble icon on the top right of the 'Select who's watching...' screen.

On the mobile/tablet app

The �鶹Լ�� iPlayer mobile/tablet app will use either English or Welsh, depending on the language set as the system default language on the device.

For help with changing the preferred language on an iPhone or iPad, have a look here: Change the language on your iPhone or iPad.

For help with changing the preferred language on an Android device, have a look here: Change the language on your Android device

Language not updating? Make sure you're using the latest version of the app. You can check this in the App or Play Store.

Things to note:

Not all the text will change, for example, the language of the programme title and programme description will not change.
If the language has defaulted back to English when you return to �鶹Լ�� iPlayer, check that you have cookies enabled.

On the iPlayer website, if you’re accidentally on another language, 'Change Language' will show as:

Newid iaith
Atharraich cànan
Athraigh teanga

Select whichever phrase you're seeing on the bottom of any iPlayer page, then select English from the menu that appears.

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019

What internet speed do I need for playing programmes?

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:45:00 +0000

What internet speed do I need for playing programmes?

High-quality �鶹Լ�� iPlayer programmes stream at up to 5 Mbps or megabits (5000 kbps) and our standard quality version is 1.5 Mbps (1500 kbps).

You'll actually need a little more bandwidth than this to watch programmes on �鶹Լ�� iPlayer. If you think your internet connection is slower than expected, please contact your internet service provider.

What should I do if the programme is buffering?

Try switching off other devices using your network at the same time as they will be competing for bandwidth and may slow down your connection. This is especially the case if devices are downloading or uploading anything.
If you're watching in HD, try switching to SD:
- On the website, click the settings cog in the playback bar then click Video Quality and choose Low or Medium.
- On connected TVs, go to Settings in the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app, then Video Quality.
- On the �鶹Լ�� iPlayer app for mobiles and tablets, the video quality will automatically adjust to your internet connection.
Take a look at our How do I check if my internet connection is fast enough for �鶹Լ�� iPlayer? page to find out if your internet connection is fast enough to stream programmes.

Still having trouble with buffering? You'll find more advice on our What can I do to help with buffering or playback problems? page.

If you're unable to stream consistently due to a slower or unreliable connection, you might prefer to download programmes to watch offline. More information can be found here: How can I watch programmes when I'm offline?

Anonymous (not verified) 03 October 2019