I’m Going on a Big Trip, but I Want to Stream My Shows Too

Can’t figure out the next steps? Tech expert Ed Baig will tell you what you need to know

Edward C. Baig,

AARP

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Published July 16, 2024

A man holds a suitcase designed to look like a tv near the Eiffel Tower

Photo Collage: Paul Spella; (Source: Getty Images (3)))

Tech is supposed to be your servant — devices and services to help you do what you want more easily — not the other way around where you find yourself at its mercy.

Unfamiliar doesn’t have to mean impossible. I’m here to help turn the unknown into something you feel confident in exploring.

Each Tuesday, I’ll answer a question about the tech you have or the tech you want. I’ll also mention a quick tip that you might find helpful.

The question: Vacation is when I catch up on my shows….

I’ll be traveling internationally this summer. Will I be able to watch the streaming services I subscribe to while there?

In many cases, you can. But be aware you’ll find, um, a stream of caveats.

What you can watch and whether you can watch at all depends on where you’re visiting, the streaming services you subscribe to and the type of subscription you’re paying for.

Half of more than 1,000 Americans that Investment Property Exchange Services surveyed in December indicated that they planned to travel more in 2024, nearly 2 in 5 internationally.

My college-age daughter, Sydney, who is interning in Dublin this summer, discovered that Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Netflix all work in Ireland, but that's not so for Disney’s bundle partner Hulu. When Sydney entered the account credentials for Hulu, which Dad pays for, she received a message that service doesn’t work anywhere outside the United States.

Ask The Tech Guru

The message also warned that Hulu “cannot be used with an anonymous proxy service,” which means you can’t trick the service into thinking you’re in the U.S. when you’re not.

By contrast, Netflix content is available in 190 countries, but the No. 1 streaming company in the states points out that each country has its own catalog of licensed TV shows and movies. So you may not be able to watch all your favorite fare until you return home.

Ratings systems also differ across countries and regions. If you’re traveling with kids or grandkids, content that you deem off-limits at home and monitor via parental controls might play in a foreign country. The reverse could also be true.

One possible hack: Download a VPN app

A potential workaround is to use a virtual private network (VPN) that conceals your whereabouts. For instance, Squid Game and Stranger Things both fit this category if you’re a fan of either show.

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Netflix imposes other restrictions. You can’t stream the service with a VPN if you’re on an ad-supported plan. Livestreamed events are also off-limits via VPN.

And you can’t change the country of your Netflix account unless you move to that country. Within the past year or so, Netflix cracked down on sharing passwords with people who don’t live under the same roof.

Have Max? Check for each country on your itinerary

It turns out Ireland is uncharted territory for Max, though HBO’s service is available in several other European countries, as well as parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries in Southeast Asia are on the 2024 road map, HBO says.

Plan for your big trip

•  Medicare while on vacation
•  Medicare coverage outside USA
•  How to pick travel insurance
•  Thinking about flight insurance?
•  Members only: Stream TV abroad

If you’re in a country where Max is listed as available but you’re having trouble connecting, HBO says you should disable your VPN or proxy, turn off the device with Max, restart your modem or router, and power back on.

Still having problems? You may have to contact your internet provider or HBO customer service. After a hiccup, Sydney had to contact Disney customer service in Ireland, but she got everything up and running.

While it’s nice to be able to binge favorites while traveling, take this piece of unsolicited advice: Don’t spend too much time in front of the screen when you could be touring or enjoying the sun. Your couch will be waiting for you when you return.

How to Save Space on Your Phone: Delete the Dupe Photos

Bonus tip: Easily zap duplicate photos, free up space

Without your realizing it, duplicate images may have piled up through the years in your smartphone photo libraries. Eliminating such dupes can save precious space on your devices. Here’s how on the most popular platforms:

If you have an iPhone, in the Photos app, tap Albums and scroll to the Utilities section. Tap Duplicates. You’ll see thumbnails of the cloned pics that you can exorcise by tapping Merge.

On a Samsung Galaxy, open the Gallery app, tap the three horizonal lines ≡ in the bottom right corner. Tap Suggestions | Delete Duplicate Pictures.

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Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.