How to watch Migu Video abroad when live sports and shows are region-locked
In short: Migu Video (咪咕视频) is best known for live sports, with dramas and movies as well. Open it abroad and live matches and many shows are region-locked. Install Homeway, switch on the moon gate, fully close Migu Video and reopen it, and it works just as it does in China. It works on phones, on TV (Migu Video for TV) and in a desktop browser, and the video still streams from the server nearest to you, so live games don't slow down.
What's on Migu Video
- Live sports: live matches and replays across football, basketball and more are Migu Video's main draw. Which competitions it carries depends on the rights it holds that year.
- Dramas, movies and variety shows: a decent catalogue, though smaller than all-round platforms like Tencent Video and iQIYI.
- TV app: Migu Video for TV, made for watching games on the big screen.
Why live sports are blocked abroad
Sports broadcasting rights are sold country by country, and Migu Video usually holds the rights for mainland China only. So live matches are almost always blocked abroad, often more strictly than dramas. You may see a black screen in the live room, a message that the stream isn't available in your region, or only the score and text commentary.
A membership doesn't change that; members abroad are blocked too. Homeway sends the few region-check requests Migu Video makes from inside China, and the live stream plays normally. For more detail, see "Only available in mainland China" errors.
Check the time difference before kick-off
Matches in China are mostly scheduled for the Beijing evening, which usually means the morning in North America and midday or the afternoon in Europe. Open Homeway and Migu Video ten minutes or so before the start to make sure the live room loads. For time differences by country, see the country guides.
To watch the CCTV-5 sports channel live, you can also use Yangshipin; see How to watch CCTV live abroad.
Getting started on TV, phone and computer
TV (Migu Video for TV)
- Install Homeway for TV on your TV or box; see the TV and box install guide. Your TV needs to run Android TV or Google TV. For Samsung and LG TVs, plug in an Android TV box; see Samsung and LG TVs.
- Install Migu Video for TV (咪咕视频电视版) rather than the phone app. It's usually not on Google Play outside China, so download the TV installer (APK) from Migu's official website and install it the same way as Homeway for TV.
- Open Homeway and switch on the moon gate first, then open Migu Video for TV, sign in as prompted and go to the live stream.
Phone
- On Android, follow the Android install guide. On iPhone and iPad, get Homeway from the App Store.
- Sign in with an email code and switch on the moon gate.
- Fully close Migu Video (swipe it away) and reopen it, then go back to the stream or show that was blocked.
Computer
- On Windows, install the Windows app. On a Mac or any other computer, use the browser extension for Chrome, Edge or Firefox.
- Switch on the moon gate and open the Migu Video website; if it's already open, just refresh the page.
Memberships and pay-per-view matches
Homeway only deals with region restrictions; it doesn't include a Migu Video membership or any paid matches. Free streams and shows play once Homeway is on. For matches that need a membership or a separate purchase, sign in to your own Migu account and buy them there. An account registered in China signs in abroad without problems, and anything you've already bought stays yours.
On many platforms a phone membership doesn't cover TV. If you want to watch members-only matches on TV, check on Migu Video's membership page which devices a plan includes before you pay.
Buffering during a match
Homeway only relays the few playback authorisation requests; the stream itself still comes from the server nearest to you, so the delay mostly depends on Migu Video's own live latency. If the picture keeps stalling at the crucial moments, check your home network first: use a cable for the TV or box if you can, and connect Wi-Fi on the 5 GHz band. The full checklist is in how to fix buffering.
FAQ
Live sports on Migu Video show a black screen or a region message abroad. What do I do?
That's the region lock; sports rights usually cover mainland China only. Switch on Homeway's moon gate, fully close Migu Video and reopen it, then enter the live room again. On a computer, refresh the page.
Will Migu live streams be slower with Homeway than in China?
Not noticeably. Homeway doesn't send the video on a detour; Migu Video streams it straight from the server nearest to you, so the delay mostly comes from Migu Video's own live latency.
Can I watch pay-per-view matches once Homeway is on?
No. Homeway only lifts region restrictions and doesn't include any membership or paid matches. Buy paid matches with your own account in Migu Video.
Which competitions does Migu Video show?
It depends on the rights Migu holds that year, and the same competition can move between platforms from one year to the next. Search for the competition in Migu Video before the match, or check whether CCTV-5 on Yangshipin is showing it too.
Can I watch Migu Video on a Samsung or LG TV?
Samsung and LG TVs can't install Migu Video for TV or Homeway on their own system. Plug an Android TV or Google TV box into the TV and install both apps on the box; see Samsung and LG TVs.
Other platforms: Tencent Video, iQIYI, Youku, Mango TV, Bilibili and QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music. See the full list in Supported apps.
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