Watching Netflix outside your country
The reason why Netflix only lets you watch series and films from the country’s library you are accessing the service from is mainly due to content licensing laws where each state has its own policies, making it impossible for Netflix to release all of its content everywhere.
Nevertheless, although Netflix has a rigid policy against VPN and proxy usage to reach geo-restricted content, it is legal to do so. Of course, to do that, you already need to have a Netflix subscription. So, first of all, you will need to create a Netflix account. While doing this, you will obviously be accessing Netflix through your default location but, at this stage, it doesn’t matter. After that, you just need to use a VPN provider and choose the location which offers the array of series and movies you want to watch.
However, it’s easier said than done. While the process is straightforward, due to Netflix’s strict policies against using any software to reach geo-blocked content, most VPN providers see their IPs blocked, which means most of them don’t work, even the ones who claim they do. Therefore, it’s essential to make sure you’re going for a VPN provider that is vigilant about ensuring its servers work with Netflix.
Unblocking the Netflix app
It’s pretty simple to unblock Netflix with a VPN; all you need is to make sure you use the right one. Netflix is available on all the devices you can think of – computers, tablets, mobile phones, smart TVs, consoles – you name it and Netflix has an app for it.
However, if you want to watch Netflix on more than one device, there’s an easier way to do it than installing the VPN provider on each and every device you own. You can set up your VPN service directly on your router, connecting all technology under your roof to the VPN IP address of your choice. Therefore, you can configure your router to use an American server, and watch American Netflix from any device you want without having to do anything else. Though it may seem harder to install a VPN service on a router than on your computer, most of the popular VPN providers have a tutorial on their website; you just need to follow the steps and you’re done.
Recommended VPN services
ExpressVPN
More and more it’s becoming clear that Internet Service Providers are deliberately slowing down streaming services, and Netflix is no exception. You could just keep watching Netflix at your ISP’s slowed pace, or take full advantage of the maximum streaming speed Netflix is allowing and the bandwidth you’re paying a lot of money for with your ISP.
Streaming Netflix content through a VPN service helps you bypass any speed or access burdens put in place by your ISP. Connecting to a website or online service through a VPN normally slightly slows down your connection, but in this case this effect is negligible compared to the huge speed bump you enjoy by accessing it through a different IP with the VPN service.
Of course, using a VPN to completely bypass geo-restricted content isn’t quite as straightforward as we would like it to be. Firstly, if you have an ad-supported subscription, then using a VPN is a total no-go – Netflix won’t let you watch anything until the VPN is disabled.
Using a VPN to stream content that’s not available in the country you are in is a violation of Netflix’s terms of service. So, it’s understandable that the platform has taken action to make this more difficult – but not impossible.
For instance, Netflix has made some changes to its Android app to force it to use Google DNS, making it very difficult to use a location unblocker. It’s no surprise that this streaming giant has tried to block VPN IP addresses as well, with movie studios like Sony complaining of misuse of their content and licensing agreements to adhere to.
On a brighter note, it is not illegal to watch Netflix with a VPN. Depending on how reliable your VPN is, you may not encounter any problems whatsoever when doing so.
Daniel C.
Inês P.
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