Sky customers can download the Sky Go app (available for iPhones, iPads and Google Android devices) and watch up to 72 channels live (depending upon which package you subscribe to), using either. Virgin TV Go; Sky Go; See the latest TV deals. Watch BT Sport online. BT Sport also has a dedicated app, or you can live stream through the BT Sport website. These provider apps also support BT.

• Free Sky Watch Apps
• Watch Sky Go Online Without Apps
• How To Watch Sky Go Without App
• Can You Watch Sky Go Online Without The App

If you have a Sky TV subscription, you’re automatically given access to its on-demand service Sky Go, which allows you to watch programmes on a smartphone, tablet, desktop PC or laptop. But not – or at least not any more – if you’re one of the millions of people who use Chrome, Google’s hugely popular web browser.

This is because Sky Go requires a plugin called Microsoft Silverlight in order to work, and Google recently stopped supporting Silverlight as a way of displaying online interactive content, switching to the far more popular HTML 5.

As a result, Sky Go no longer works in the desktop version of the Chrome browser. Sky’s current stance on the matter is that it has no intention of changing Sky Go, meaning that for the foreseeable future it will stay inaccessible on Chrome. We’ve reached out to Sky for a comment and some clarification, but have yet to receive a response.

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How to get Sky Go working on your computer again

So, what can you do about it? Sadly, you’re powerless to get it working in Chrome again. It’s simply not going to happen until Sky decides to change something. That leaves you with two options.

1) Use a different web browser

It’s a pain, we know, particularly if you only ever use Chrome, but it’s a simple enough solution. Just go to go.sky.com as you normally would, but use a browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera or Safari. If you’re using Windows 10, be warned that the new Edge browser doesn’t support Silverlight either (yes, Microsoft’s own browser doesn’t support Microsoft’s own plugin).

2) Download Sky Go Desktop

Your other alternative is to download the dedicated desktop app. It offers largely the same functionality as the Sky Go web page with a couple of additional features. It allows you to save programmes to watch offline, and you can also access it via another internet-capable device (like your smartphone) to download programmes when you’re out and about.

The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

• watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
• watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
• download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.

Free Sky Watch Apps

This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

Live TV means any programme you watch or record as it’s being shown on TV or live on an online TV service. It’s not just live events like sport, news and music. It also covers soaps, series, documentaries and even movies.

An online TV service is any streaming or smart TV service, website or app that lets you watch TV programmes over the internet. This includes services like All 4, Sky Go, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and ITV Hub.

Don't forget, a TV Licence also covers you to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand on your television, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

A standard colour TV Licence costs £159. Find out about ways to pay.

You could still need a TV Licence if you don’t have a TV

A TV Licence covers you to watch or record TV programmes live on any channel or TV service. This includes watching TV live online. A TV Licence also covers you to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer. This applies to any device and provider you use, including:

• TV sets (including smart TVs)
• DVD, Blu-ray and VHS recorders
• Laptops and desktop computers
• Tablets, mobile phones and other portable devices
• Digital boxes or PVRs (such as Sky, Virgin Media or BT TV)
• Games consoles
• Media streaming devices (such as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku and Now TV)
• Freeview, Freesat or YouView

Some of these devices can be powered solely by their own internal batteries. Your home TV Licence will usually cover you to use these away from home.

However, if you’re away from home and plug one of these devices into the mains and use it to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, or to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer, you need to be covered by a separate TV Licence at that address (unless you’re in a vehicle or vessel like a train, car or boat). It’s the law.

Please tell us if you think you don't need a TV Licence.

Do I need a TV Licence to watch TV live online?

Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch TV live online. You need a licence to watch or record any TV programme live, on any channel or TV service. It doesn’t matter if you receive it over the internet, from a cable or satellite provider or through an aerial.

This applies to any provider you use, including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4, Sky Go, Virgin Media, BT TV, Apple TV, Now TV, YouTube, Roku and Amazon Prime Video. You need to be covered by a TV Licence if you watch live TV on a television, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

You also need a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

Answers to your questions

Watch Sky Go Online Without Apps

Yes. If you record any programme on live TV, you need a TV Licence. It doesn’t matter when you watch it, how you record it or whether you watch TV on a television, laptop or any other device.

You don’t need a licence if you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on BBC iPlayer).

You also don’t need a licence to watch DVDs, Blu-rays or videos.

You need a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use.

• Yes – if you watch or record live TV on any channel, or through any provider.
• No – if you don’t watch any live TV and you only ever watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer.

Yes. If you record any programme on live TV, you need a TV Licence. Even if the device or technology you use creates a delay between when the programme is shown and when you watch it.

Yes, you do. You need a TV Licence to watch or record any programme that’s being shown on live TV, whether you watch it on a TV, laptop, mobile phone or any other device. This includes repeats of any programmes that have already been shown.

Yes you do – as you’re still watching a programme as it’s being shown on TV, whether you watch it on a TV, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

Yes, you need a TV Licence to watch live TV programmes being shown on Red Button services.

It doesn’t matter if you receive TV programmes from a cable or satellite provider, through an aerial or over the internet. You still need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel. This also includes watching TV on a television, laptop, mobile phone or any other device.

You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, no matter where they are broadcast or distributed from. This includes satellite or online streamed programmes from outside the UK or Channel Islands, such as sporting events and foreign shows.

You don’t need a TV Licence to watch videos or clips on demand on YouTube. But you do need a TV Licence if you watch TV programmes live on YouTube. An example of this would be watching Sky News live. But it isn’t just live news or sport which needs a licence – it’s any programme which is part of a TV channel, broadcast or transmitted for everyone to watch at the same time.

Yes. Online-only TV channels still count as live TV, so you need a TV Licence if you’re watching or recording their programmes.

It depends what you watch.

You don’t need a TV Licence if you only ever download or watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on BBC iPlayer). And you don’t need a licence to watch S4C TV on demand.

But you will need a licence if you watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV or live on an online TV service, or you download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand. This applies to any device and provider you use.

How To Watch Sky Go Without App

Subscription channels like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Now TV are television services that are normally paid for on a monthly basis via cable, satellite or the internet.

You will need a TV Licence if you watch live TV on a subscription channel. But you don’t need a TV Licence to watch on demand programmes (other than those on BBC iPlayer) on paid-for subscription channels.

You need a TV Licence to watch or record live TV programmes on any channel or device, no matter where they are broadcast or distributed from. This includes satellite or online streamed programmes from outside the UK or Channel Islands, such as sporting events and foreign shows.

You don’t need a TV Licence if you:

• never watch or record live TV programmes on any channel and
• never download or watch BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand.

This could be on any device, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

If you only do the following, you don’t need a licence:

• Watch on demand or catch up programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer (and you also never watch live TV programmes on any channel, including on BBC iPlayer)
• Watch S4C TV on demand
• Stream, rent or buy movies from providers like Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV, Netflix or Amazon
• Watch DVDs, Blu-rays or videos,
• Play internet video clips through services like YouTube or to play video games.

Note: if you are a landlord and you provide a TV to allow your tenants to watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, that address needs to be covered by a TV Licence.

If you’re thinking of buying a new TV you may find our TV buying guide helpful.

Can You Watch Sky Go Online Without The App