Is My5 free to watch?

Yes. My5 is completely free with a registered account. There's no subscription or premium tier. All content, including live Channel 5, is free with adverts.

Do I need a UK postcode to sign up for My5?

No. My5's registration only requires an email address and password. Unlike some other UK streaming services, it typically doesn't ask for a postcode during sign-up, which makes creating an account from outside the UK much easier.

How long does My5 keep shows after they air?

My5 typically keeps episodes available for 30 days after broadcast. Some series stay longer, particularly ones that My5 has acquired exclusively. That's on a par with the catch-up windows on other UK free streaming services.

My5 keeps buffering through my VPN. How do I fix it?

Buffering through a VPN is usually caused by a server that's too far away or heavily loaded. Try a UK server that's geographically closer to you: if you're in Europe, a London server should add minimal delay. Also check your VPN protocol: WireGuard tends to be faster than OpenVPN for most connections, and switching to WireGuard in your VPN app's settings is worth trying if you haven't already.

My5 VPN Not Working? These Fixes Actually Work

Q: My5 works in the browser but not the app. Why?

A common reason is split tunnelling in your VPN app. Some VPN apps only protect browser traffic by default, leaving other apps on your regular connection. Go into your VPN app's settings and check whether split tunnelling is enabled: if it is, either disable it or add the My5 app to the protected list.

My5 is one of the easier UK streaming services to get working with a VPN. It doesn't run the layered checks that BBC iPlayer or Sky Go do, which means if you're blocked, a quick server switch is usually all it takes to get back in.

Why My5 blocks VPNs

My5 is Channel 5's free streaming service, available in the UK only. Like other UK streaming services, it checks your IP address and blocks connections that look like they're coming from a VPN server rather than a regular home broadband connection. Compared to BBC iPlayer or Sky Go, My5 tends to be one of the more straightforward services to unblock: it doesn't have the account-level checks that Sky Go uses, and it's generally less aggressive about blocking VPNs, which is why a quick server switch usually does the job.

Fix 1: Switch to a different UK server

This is almost always the fix. Open your VPN app, select a different UK server, and try My5 again. My5 keeps a list of blocked VPN servers, but it updates it less frequently than services like BBC iPlayer or Netflix, so you'll usually find one that works within a couple of tries.

If your VPN app lets you filter by city, try London first, then Manchester or Birmingham if London is blocked. If your provider has streaming-optimised server options, those can be worth trying. Free VPN providers are much more likely to have all their UK addresses blocked, since they have fewer servers and are slower to replace flagged ones.

Your VPN's kill switch is worth enabling if you haven't already. If the VPN drops mid-session, it can quietly reconnect to a non-UK server, meaning My5 sees your real location. The kill switch pauses your internet if the connection drops, so your location stays hidden.

Fix 2: Create a My5 account if you haven't already

My5 requires a free account to watch anything. Go to channel5.com, click Sign in, then Register. You'll need an email address and a password. Unlike some other UK streaming services, My5 typically doesn't ask for a UK postcode during sign-up, which makes it one of the easier accounts to set up from outside the UK.

If you already have an account but aren't signed in, do that before hitting play. Some users get a location error when not signed in even with a working VPN, so it's worth ruling out.

Fix 3: Clear cookies and use a private window

If you've visited My5 before without a VPN, your browser may have stored location data from that session. Even with your VPN showing a UK location, those cached cookies can cause My5 to refuse playback.

Connect your VPN to a UK server, then open My5 in a private or incognito window. Private windows start fresh with no cookies, so My5 sees you as a new UK visitor. If My5 works in private mode but not your regular browser, clear your My5 cookies specifically without wiping your other saved logins:

Chrome: SettingsPrivacy and securityCookies and other site dataSee all site data and permissions, search for channel5.com and remove.
Firefox: hamburger menuSettingsPrivacy & SecurityManage Data, search for channel5.com and remove.
Safari: SafariSettingsPrivacyManage Website Data, search for channel5.com and remove.
Edge: three-dot menuSettingsCookies and site permissionsManage and delete cookies and site data, search for channel5.com and remove.

Fix 4: Confirm your VPN is connected and showing a UK location

My5 loads quickly enough that it's easy to miss a brief VPN disconnection. Before going further, open your VPN app and check it's showing an active UK connection. Some VPN apps quietly reconnect to a different server after a drop, which might not be UK, meaning My5 sees your real location instead.

Use our IP address checker with your VPN switched on to confirm. If it shows a UK location, your connection is fine and something else is causing the block. If it shows your real location, switch to a different UK server and check again.

If the IP checker shows UK but My5 is still blocking you, run a DNS leak test. A DNS leak happens when your device's lookup requests slip outside the VPN tunnel and reveal your real location, even though your IP address looks correct. If your home internet provider shows up in the results, enable DNS leak protection in your VPN app's settings, reconnect, and try My5 again.

Fix 5: Try the My5 app instead of a browser

My5 has apps for iPhone, Android, and many smart TVs. If the browser version isn't working with your VPN, try the app, and vice versa. On mobile, if the app is blocked but the browser works fine, the likely cause is split tunnelling. This is a VPN setting that routes browser traffic through the VPN but leaves other apps on your regular connection. Go into your VPN app's settings and either turn split tunnelling off, or make sure the My5 app is included in the protected list.

On smart TVs, My5 is available on most major platforms. If your TV doesn't support a VPN app directly (most don't), your best bets are installing the VPN on your router or casting from a VPN-connected phone or laptop.

What's on My5

My5 carries Channel 5's broadcast catalogue, including live TV and catch-up. That covers shows like Celebrity Big Brother, Neighbours, reality formats, documentaries, and the US drama imports that Channel 5 picks up. It also has a selection of older series available on demand. The library is smaller than BBC iPlayer or ITVX, but it's completely free and the catch-up window is generous.