Netflix has cracked down on VPNs this week, and VPN users and non-users alike are having trouble accessing content in the short term. If you’re having trouble accessing US content from Netflix, and want to get to streaming right away, follow these steps to the two active ExpressVPN servers we’ve tested that are currently working:
- Go to ExpressVPN’s website, and register for an account.
- Download the software to your device.
- Sign in to your account using the credentials you created.
- Connect to ExpressVPN’s Atlanta or New York server.
ExpressVPN
Read the full article to find out what’s going on with Netflix’s new crackdown.
Many Netflix customers found themselves unable to access certain movies and shows this week as the streaming giant ramped up its crackdown on VPNs and their ability to unblock international content restrictions. Many customers, however, couldn’t access their subscription content whether they were using a VPN or not.
Netflix Doubles Down on VPN Ban
Though Netflix policy has blocked VPNs and proxy servers for roughly six years, premium VPNs have been able to easily bypass these restrictions. Though VPN providers are tight-lipped about the tech and how it’s done, experts say VPNs use residential IP addresses to make it seem as if their customers are using a regular Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Due to international licensing agreements, users are only able to access certain content based on their geographical location. So to stream US-licensed content, customers would have to use either an ISP located in the US, or use a VPN.
But Netflix’s crackdown this week saw even the top providers scrambling for a solution. As TorrentFreak reported, Netflix has taken their VPN-blocking measures up a notch — which is catching non-VPN users in the crossfire.
Residential IP Addresses Targeted by Netflix
Apparently, Netflix’s crackdown is not only affecting VPN users concerned about their privacy and security but also non-VPN users trying to access content from their normal residential IP addresses. Many outlets have reported that it’s likely these IP addresses have been associated with or are similar to VPN proxy IP addresses.
Twitter was littered with users bemoaning only being able to access Netflix original content — which is available to all customers worldwide. “Cannot access non-exclusive TV shows or movies on Netflix. It’s been like this since Monday,” one Twitter user wrote. “Have not used a VPN and weirdly able to access entire Netflix library on my phone, just not on my smart TV or PlayStation; they are all on the same Wifi home network.”
Reddit users who had been caught up in the clampdown also had questions and concerns. “I noticed that my account is displaying nothing but Netflix originals and a handful of non-Netflix original content on my TV, but on my phone, it displays everything as usual/normal,” One Redditor wrote. “I was just wondering if this was a problem others are having and if so, what can I do to solve this?”
Watch US Netflix Content with ExpressVPN
At the time of writing, ExpressVPN was the only provider that we were able to access the entire US Netflix library within the short term, though not all of their servers worked. If you want to access the US-based Netflix right now, you need to connect to either their Atlanta or New York servers. Though there’s no guarantee they couldn’t experience issues later as well. ExpressVPN customer service told us they could confirm there were “known issues” and they were “in the process of recovering from the outage.”
If you’re having trouble accessing Netflix, and don’t have ExpressVPN, try these quick steps:
- Go to ExpressVPN’s website, and register for an account.
- Download the software to your device.
- Sign in to your account using the credentials you created.
- Connect to ExpressVPN’s Atlanta or New York server.
During our tests, all of NordVPN’s US servers were unable to access US-licensed Netflix content. NordVPN customer support said: “We are currently experiencing issues with Netflix and our team is working on a long-term solution. With that being said, you can try connecting to different servers, but there are no guarantees that it would work,” NordVPN said. “We do not have an ETA on when Netflix issues will be fully resolved.”
Surfshark, which also has issues with Netflix has a message on their website: “Please note: we are experiencing issues accessing streaming services. Our team is currently working on a solution and we expect to fix the issues soon. This note will be removed once the fix is found. Apologies for the inconvenience.”
Watching Netflix with a VPN
Though it’s not illegal to stream Netflix with a VPN, it is against the Terms of Use customers agree to when they sign up. Netflix has never banned or penalized users before for using VPNs, though they have tried to block access via VPNs and proxies. This latest crackdown seems even heavier than usual.
If you haven’t used a VPN and are experiencing issues, Netflix advises you to contact your ISP. Netflix customer service reads: “If you disabled proxies, VPNs, or other routing software but still see this message, contact your internet service provider. They’ll be able to determine why your IP address is associated with proxy or VPN use.”
