How to use a VPN to watch Netflix

If you’ve ever tried to watch Netflix while connected to a VPN, there’s a chance you’ve run into this message.

Credit: Screengrab: netflix

Due to licensing and copyright issues, certain shows and movies are restricted to certain countries. No single country has access to the entire Netflix catalog at once, so a lot of people now use VPNs to spoof their locations. The problem is that Netflix is notorious for logging IP addresses known to belong to VPN servers.

Fortunately, all hope is not lost. There’s always something you can do to watch what you want on Netflix while connected through a VPN.

Try different servers

A lot of VPNs offer options for different servers within several countries.

If you find that the server you’re accustomed to using isn’t working, the easiest thing to do is to try another one. This assumes you’re using a VPN that offers that option and that they have multiple servers within the country you need to appear to be in. If not, you’ll need to try another approach.

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Change the VPN protocol

It sounds strange, but sometimes connecting to a server in the same location using a different protocol can do the trick. I’m not totally sure how it works, but I’ve experienced it myself, so it’s worth a shot if all else fails.

See Also: Comparing popular VPNs? Folks on Reddit have some thoughts.

Use another VPN

The truth is, not all VPNs are up to the task of letting you watch Netflix while connected to their servers.

In reality, it should really be as easy as connecting to your VPN, logging onto Netflix, and watching whatever you want. If this is something that’s important to you and you have to jump through hoops to get it to work, I recommend switching to a provider that you can count on.

You want to look for a VPN provider with known support for streaming platforms; there’s a lot of conversation on Reddit and other forums about which VPNs are working at a given time, and these should give you some idea. Some providers, such as CyberGhost, even have servers especially optimized for watching Netlfix, so you can be sure you’ll always have access.

Don’t forget to take advantage of those trial periods. Most providers offer money-back guarantees for a limited time, so you can check them out to be sure they’ll work for you before you sign up for a long-term plan.