If you are planning a holiday abroad or travelling internationally for any reason, you may find yourself discovering your home country Netflix content is not available while you are abroad.
As a paying Netflix subscriber, you may be feeling frustrated, especially as prices continue to rise. But due to various licensing agreements, Netflix can only show certain content in certain countries. This means that when you’re out of the country, you may be blocked from streaming the shows and movies you love to watch from home.
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Using a virtual private networkyou can watch all the Netflix content you want, no matter where you are in the world. Here’s how to do it, with one caveat.
While Netflix no longer explicitly blocks access when it detects a VPN, the streaming provider says you can only watch content for which it holds global rights when using a VPN. However, in my experience, using one of CNET’s best VPNs for Netflix has allowed me to stream region-specific content from abroad without any issues. That said, it’s important to check the Netflix Terms of Use in mind, as they can change at any time, and the company can terminate your account if it detects abuse. We do not encourage people to violate their user agreements.
Can I watch Netflix internationally with a VPN?
Yes, you can – in four simple steps:
- Subscribe to a VPN service. Not all VPNs are able to unblock Netflix, but some top VPN service such as ExpressVPN or Surf Shark should work reliably while you are abroad. Before subscribing, check that VPN use is legal in your destination country.
- Download the VPN software on your computer or device. The download and installation process is the same as downloading any other app.
- Connect to a VPN server in your home country. To watch your Netflix catalog at home while abroad, simply open your VPN app and connect to a server in your home country by clicking on the corresponding country. For example, if you’re from the US, connect to a US server, or if you’re from the UK, choose a UK server.
- Start Netflix. Access Netflix on your computer or device as you normally would and you should be able to watch all the titles you would at home. If you have any issues or receive an error message, try connecting to a server outside of your country or contact your VPN provider’s customer service.
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How does this work?
This works because when you connect to a VPN server, your IP address changes to match the address of the VPN server you are using. Your real IP address and physical location are hidden from Netflix in the process. Netflix therefore registers your location as the location of the VPN server you are connecting to and should deliver the content it makes available in that country.
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Only attempt this in regions where Netflix offers its services and where the company, according to the company’s Terms of Service, has the rights to stream such content.
Keep in mind that using a VPN to bypass geoblocking generally isn’t illegal (unless VPN use is banned in the specific country you’re visiting), but Netflix can still suspend or terminate your account if it determines that you’ve violated the company’s Terms of Service. So proceed at your own risk. That said, I haven’t heard of any reports of people having their accounts terminated for using a VPN to unblock Netflix content.
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