Help & FAQs

BBC iPlayer Help

What do I need to listen to radio in BBC iPlayer?

Currently, BBC iPlayer works slightly differently depending on which stations you want to listen to.

BBC UK Network Radio Stations

Whether you are in the UK or overseas, all you need is a recent version of Flash Player - the same program you also use to watch TV programmes on BBC iPlayer in the UK. You can listen live and listen again to BBC UK Network Radio Stations.

BBC World Service

Flash Player is also used for BBC World Service's listen again services.

To listen live to the World Service in the BBC iPlayer, you currently need RealPlayer. You can download it free of charge from BBC Webwise. Alternatively, you can visit http://www.bbcworldservice.com/ where you'll find hitting listen live will use Flash Player. We'll bring this Flash version to the BBC iPlayer shortly.

BBC Local Radio and National Radio

To listen to BBC local radio, nations stations like BBC Scotland, and BBC World Service's live programming, you currently need RealPlayer. Most stations also use RealPlayer for listen-again. You can download it free of charge  from BBC Webwise.

Wifi radios and other connected devices

You'll find many of our stations in other formats, like Windows Media and RealPlayer.

You can find the direct links you need in two pages here: one for BBC UK National services, and one for all the rest.

Generally, most wifi radios will already have the BBC channels preset. If you've a choice, we'd recommend you use the Windows Media streams where possible; those streams will generally supply the best audio quality.

Linux users

Adobe Flash Player works well on most versions of Linux; and you should normally be prompted to install it when you use the BBC iPlayer for the first time if it's not already installed with your distribution. This is the easiest way to listen to our radio stations. We're sorry, but we don't currently support use of Gnash or other open-source alternatives.

If you need RealPlayer to listen to your favourite local radio station, you can download it from Real's website.

This link will take you outside BBC Online. The BBC is not responsible for content or software downloaded from external sites.

Listening via something other than a computer?

We support a growing set of devices, including mobile phones and gaming consoles. Just point your device to www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer and see what happens: if we support it, you'll get a special version of the BBC iPlayer website just for you. However, we don't support BBC Radio on all devices - some will let you listen live, some won't; and some won't let you listen to radio at all right now, for which we'd like to apologise. We're always working to add more support.

Dial-up and other low-speed internet connections

BBC iPlayer is designed for broadband users. Our radio streams are around 128kbps in the UK, which is available on almost any broadband connection. However, if your internet connection is slower, you'll find that our RealPlayer streams will go as low as 20kbps.

Didn't see your answer here?

For further help you can Contact Us, or you can discuss this issue at the BBC iPlayer messageboard.