Netflix Not Working With a VPN? How to Fix It
This guide is for people who live in the country of their Netflix account and keep a VPN on at home for privacy, then find that the app or a title will not start. Work through the fixes in order, check the message on your screen against Netflix’s own help pages, and then look at what other sites’ tests report about the VPN you use in your country.
Why does Netflix block VPNs?
Netflix’s help center does not explain how it spots a VPN, and we do not guess at it here. What it does say is that “VPN apps or services can make your device or network look like it’s connecting from somewhere other than your physical location and can cause this error or other issues.” It also says that with a VPN you “may only be shown TV shows and movies Netflix has worldwide licensing for,” and that you “may need to turn off your VPN to see TV shows and movies that are available in your region.”
So what you can watch depends on where Netflix thinks you are, and a VPN changes the location Netflix sees. The same pages add that VPNs “aren’t supported for watching Live events on Netflix or if you’re on an ad-supported experience.” If you are on an ad-supported plan, switching servers will not change that.
How do you fix Netflix not working with a VPN?
Work through the steps in order, and try to play a title after each one so you know which step made the difference.
- Check that the VPN is the cause. Disconnect the VPN, restart the Netflix app and play a title. If it plays, reconnect and carry on with the next step; if it still fails with the VPN off, the problem is elsewhere, and the network steps on Netflix’s help page are the place to start.
- Check which plan you are on. Netflix says VPNs are not supported on an ad-supported plan. Open your account page and look at your plan; on an ad-free plan, carry on.
- Match the server to the country you live in. Connect to a server in the country where you live and where your Netflix account is registered, not the nearest server in a neighboring country. Check that the VPN app shows that country before you open Netflix again.
- Switch to another server in the same country. Disconnect, pick a different server or city in that country and reconnect. Confirm in the VPN app that the server name has changed, then restart Netflix and play a title.
- Restart the app and clear stored data. Close and reopen the Netflix app, or in a browser clear the cookies and cached files for the Netflix site and sign in again. Then play a title.
- Turn on leak protection or turn off IPv6. If your VPN app has a leak protection or IPv6 setting, turn it on; if it does not, turn off IPv6 in your device’s network settings. Then open an IP-lookup page and confirm that it shows only the VPN server’s address and country, not your own.
- Update the VPN app and the Netflix app. Install the latest version of both from the provider or your app store. Check the version number in each app’s settings, then try a title again.
- Ask the VPN’s support team which servers work. Tell them that you use Netflix in your own country and which servers you have tried. Some providers keep certain servers for streaming. Connect to the one they suggest and check that the app shows it before you play a title.
If none of that helps, Netflix’s own page suggests turning the VPN off, resetting the network settings on the device, and restoring the modem or router to its default settings, trying Netflix after each step. It also suggests contacting your internet service provider.
How can you check whether a VPN is on?
Netflix’s help center gives a quick test. Open a web browser on a device on the same network, go to fast.com, wait for the test to stop and click Show more info. Note the country next to Client. Netflix says that if the country does not match your location, your device or network likely has a VPN turned on. It also notes that some antivirus software comes with a VPN that might be turned on.
What do Netflix error messages mean?
The message below comes from Netflix’s own help center and is quoted as it prints it. A message reported on any other site is not listed.
| Message on screen | What it means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| “You seem to be using a VPN or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.” (error code E106) | Netflix Help says that VPN apps or services “can make your device or network look like it’s connecting from somewhere other than your physical location and can cause this error or other issues” | Netflix Help’s own steps: turn the VPN off and try Netflix again, check your plan, reset the network settings on the device, restore the modem or router to its default settings, and contact your ISP. If you want the VPN on, try the server and leak fixes above first |
Error codes and their explanations as published by Netflix Help Center (opens in a new tab) (help.netflix.com/en/node/277), read on .
Error codes and their explanations as published by Netflix Help Center (opens in a new tab) (help.netflix.com/en/node/114701), read on .
Which VPNs worked with Netflix in published tests?
The tables list what other sites’ tests report, country by country, with each site’s name and date. Each result answers one question: were this VPN’s servers in that country blocked by Netflix there? A VPN is marked as recommended only when at least two sources agree that Netflix played and none reports a block.
In the US
Were each VPN's servers in the US blocked by Netflix there? Every row is one source's own published result, credited and linked. Nothing is merged or averaged, and a result is only as current as its date.
RecommendedAt least two sources from the last 12 months, and the newest result of every one of them is a pass.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played in 4K with no buffering on a dedicated streaming server; they say the dedicated servers avoided the heavy throttling they saw on standard regional servers | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US worked | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library was among the 15 or more that worked, and they say both optimized and regular servers worked with Netflix | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| TechRadar (opens in a new tab) | Played CyberGhost reached the US Netflix library without hitting an obstacle on any attempt | article updated Feb 2026 | not stated | |
| CyberInsider (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played in HD with no buffering on CyberGhost's dedicated servers | article updated Jan 2026 | run from the US | |
| ExpressVPN | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US worked | article updated Nov 2026 | not stated |
| Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played at full resolution with no buffering | article updated Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library opened with no need to switch servers | article updated Sep 2026 | not stated | |
| NordVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played the full catalog in 4K UHD | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US worked; the reviewer noted that the VPN picked a server on its own that reached the US library | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| CNET (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library opened on the first server tried | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| Proton VPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan was blocked | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played They could stream Netflix in the US; the free version also reached Netflix but with long load times | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| PureVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US was unblocked on the first attempt | tested Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US worked | tested Aug 2026 | run from the US | |
| Surfshark | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played in 4K with no buffering on WireGuard | article updated Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library worked | tested Oct 2026 | run from the US |
Results conflictListed, not recommended: at least one source reports that it was blocked or did not play steadily.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPVanish | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played in HD | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played the full library in HD with 3 to 5 second load times and no drops in quality | article updated Aug 2026 | not stated | |
| PCMag (opens in a new tab) | Blocked Netflix detected the reviewer in the US on several tries across servers; the reviewer calls this poorer than in previous testing | article updated Jan 2026 | not stated | |
| Private Internet Access | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix US played in HD on a streaming-optimized US East server | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Blocked PIA no longer unblocked the US Netflix library; the tester calls the streaming result weak | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The US Netflix library opened | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| CyberInsider (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix opened on the first try on PIA's US servers and streamed smoothly without buffering, though the site notes that streaming has been hit or miss for PIA in past tests | article updated Feb 2026 | run from the US |
Success ratesThese sources measure how often the service opened over many attempts. That is neither a pass nor a fail, so it counts toward no group above.
- NordVPN · Comparitech (opens in a new tab) (article updated Aug 2026): In Comparitech's own Netflix benchmark, which measures how often the US library opens, the US catalog loaded on 86.21% of 29 measurements
- Proton VPN · Comparitech (opens in a new tab) (article updated Aug 2026): In Comparitech's own Netflix benchmark, which measures how often the US library opens, the US catalog loaded on 62.96% of 27 measurements
Country not statedThese sources name no country, so their results count toward no group above.
- CyberGhost · TechRadar (opens in a new tab) (article updated Feb 2026): CyberGhost also reached the UK, Japan, Canada and Australia Netflix libraries without an obstacle
- CyberGhost · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 10 regional Netflix libraries opened on its Netflix servers, the US, UK and Canada among them
- CyberGhost · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): 15 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea among them
- ExpressVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Netflix unblocked, though access was sometimes blocked on Apple TV and a server switch usually fixed it
- ExpressVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 25 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked, with India needing two or three server changes; results were weakest in Latin America and in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia
- ExpressVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 18 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Canada among them
- ExpressVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Sep 2026): 20 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK and Japan among them, with no buffering
- IPVanish · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Japan among them
- IPVanish · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Aug 2026): Netflix also played the full library in HD in the UK, Germany, India and Japan, and in France, the Netherlands and Canada
- NordVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Besides the US, the UK, Canadian, Australian, French, German, South African, Japanese and Romanian Netflix libraries opened; Netflix Egypt did not, and showed the US library instead
- NordVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 23 of the 40 regional Netflix libraries they tested worked; the other 17, Brazil, Thailand and Turkey among them, showed only Netflix Originals
- NordVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened; the Indian and Dutch libraries would not stream
- NordVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): More than 15 Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Thailand among them, each on the first server tried
- Private Internet Access · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): On desktop, Netflix was the only service that partly worked, and it often detected the VPN even on streaming-optimized servers in several countries; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick it was hit or miss
- Private Internet Access · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): Netflix worked in 10 of the 13 libraries they tested; Spain, Brazil and Singapore were blocked
- Private Internet Access · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Only 4 Netflix libraries opened; where Netflix detected the VPN it showed Netflix Originals only
- Private Internet Access · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, and worked right away in all their tests
- Proton VPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): The US library and nine others opened, the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan among them
- Proton VPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, France and Japan, best on the optimized servers
- Surfshark · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 28 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked; the 12 blocked ones include Colombia, the UAE, Ireland and Ukraine
In the UK
Were each VPN's servers in the UK blocked by Netflix there? Every row is one source's own published result, credited and linked. Nothing is merged or averaged, and a result is only as current as its date.
RecommendedAt least two sources from the last 12 months, and the newest result of every one of them is a pass.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played in 4K with no buffering on a dedicated streaming server | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK worked | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK was among the 15 or more libraries that worked, on optimized and regular servers alike | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| TechRadar (opens in a new tab) | Played The UK Netflix library opened without an obstacle | article updated Feb 2026 | not stated | |
| ExpressVPN | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK worked | article updated Nov 2026 | not stated |
| Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played at full resolution with no buffering | article updated Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The UK servers loaded Netflix UK consistently | article updated Sep 2026 | not stated | |
| IPVanish | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played in HD | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK worked | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played in HD, with the full library available | article updated Aug 2026 | not stated | |
| PCMag (opens in a new tab) | Played The UK Netflix catalog opened without restrictions | article updated Jan 2026 | not stated | |
| NordVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played the full catalog in 4K UHD | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK worked | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| CNET (opens in a new tab) | Played The UK Netflix library opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The UK Netflix library opened on the first server tried | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| Proton VPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played in HD on the paid plan; the free plan has no UK servers | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK worked on the paid plan; the free plan did not | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK streamed, best on the optimized servers | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| PureVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK was unblocked on the first attempt | tested Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK worked | tested Aug 2026 | run from the US | |
| Surfshark | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK played in 4K with no buffering on WireGuard | article updated Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played The UK Netflix library worked | tested Oct 2026 | run from the US |
Results conflictListed, not recommended: at least one source reports that it was blocked or did not play steadily.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Internet Access | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Not steady Netflix UK worked but dropped once mid-stream and needed a server change | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Blocked Netflix UK did not work | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix UK streamed and worked right away | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated |
Country not statedThese sources name no country, so their results count toward no group above.
- CyberGhost · TechRadar (opens in a new tab) (article updated Feb 2026): CyberGhost also reached the UK, Japan, Canada and Australia Netflix libraries without an obstacle
- CyberGhost · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 10 regional Netflix libraries opened on its Netflix servers, the US, UK and Canada among them
- CyberGhost · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): 15 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea among them
- ExpressVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Netflix unblocked, though access was sometimes blocked on Apple TV and a server switch usually fixed it
- ExpressVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 25 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked, with India needing two or three server changes; results were weakest in Latin America and in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia
- ExpressVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 18 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Canada among them
- ExpressVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Sep 2026): 20 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK and Japan among them, with no buffering
- IPVanish · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Japan among them
- IPVanish · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Aug 2026): Netflix also played the full library in HD in the UK, Germany, India and Japan, and in France, the Netherlands and Canada
- NordVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Besides the US, the UK, Canadian, Australian, French, German, South African, Japanese and Romanian Netflix libraries opened; Netflix Egypt did not, and showed the US library instead
- NordVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 23 of the 40 regional Netflix libraries they tested worked; the other 17, Brazil, Thailand and Turkey among them, showed only Netflix Originals
- NordVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened; the Indian and Dutch libraries would not stream
- NordVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): More than 15 Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Thailand among them, each on the first server tried
- Private Internet Access · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): On desktop, Netflix was the only service that partly worked, and it often detected the VPN even on streaming-optimized servers in several countries; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick it was hit or miss
- Private Internet Access · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): Netflix worked in 10 of the 13 libraries they tested; Spain, Brazil and Singapore were blocked
- Private Internet Access · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Only 4 Netflix libraries opened; where Netflix detected the VPN it showed Netflix Originals only
- Private Internet Access · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, and worked right away in all their tests
- Proton VPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): The US library and nine others opened, the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan among them
- Proton VPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, France and Japan, best on the optimized servers
- Surfshark · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 28 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked; the 12 blocked ones include Colombia, the UAE, Ireland and Ukraine
In Canada
Were each VPN's servers in Canada blocked by Netflix there? Every row is one source's own published result, credited and linked. Nothing is merged or averaged, and a result is only as current as its date.
RecommendedAt least two sources from the last 12 months, and the newest result of every one of them is a pass.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library was among the 10 that opened on its Netflix servers | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
| TechRadar (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library opened without an obstacle | article updated Feb 2026 | not stated | |
| NordVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library worked, one of the 23 of 40 regional libraries that did | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| CNET (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated | |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library opened on the first server tried | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| Private Internet Access | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix Canada was among the 10 of 13 libraries that worked | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix Canada streamed and worked right away | article updated Jun 2026 | not stated | |
| PureVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix Canada worked after one to three server changes | tested Oct 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix Canada worked | tested Aug 2026 | run from the US |
Results conflictListed, not recommended: at least one source reports that it was blocked or did not play steadily.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPVanish | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library opened with ease | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
| vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix Canada showed the full library, not only Netflix Originals | article updated Aug 2026 | not stated | |
| PCMag (opens in a new tab) | Blocked Netflix detected and blocked the reviewer in Canada on several tries across servers | article updated Jan 2026 | not stated |
Only one published testListed, not recommended: one source is not enough to go on, whatever it found.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library was among the 18 that opened | article updated Nov 2026 | not stated |
| Proton VPN | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library was among the ten that opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
| Surfshark | All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played The Canadian Netflix library worked | tested Oct 2026 | run from the US |
Country not statedThese sources name no country, so their results count toward no group above.
- CyberGhost · TechRadar (opens in a new tab) (article updated Feb 2026): CyberGhost also reached the UK, Japan, Canada and Australia Netflix libraries without an obstacle
- CyberGhost · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 10 regional Netflix libraries opened on its Netflix servers, the US, UK and Canada among them
- CyberGhost · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): 15 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea among them
- ExpressVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Netflix unblocked, though access was sometimes blocked on Apple TV and a server switch usually fixed it
- ExpressVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 25 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked, with India needing two or three server changes; results were weakest in Latin America and in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia
- ExpressVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 18 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Canada among them
- ExpressVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Sep 2026): 20 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK and Japan among them, with no buffering
- IPVanish · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Japan among them
- IPVanish · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Aug 2026): Netflix also played the full library in HD in the UK, Germany, India and Japan, and in France, the Netherlands and Canada
- NordVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Besides the US, the UK, Canadian, Australian, French, German, South African, Japanese and Romanian Netflix libraries opened; Netflix Egypt did not, and showed the US library instead
- NordVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 23 of the 40 regional Netflix libraries they tested worked; the other 17, Brazil, Thailand and Turkey among them, showed only Netflix Originals
- NordVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened; the Indian and Dutch libraries would not stream
- NordVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): More than 15 Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Thailand among them, each on the first server tried
- Private Internet Access · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): On desktop, Netflix was the only service that partly worked, and it often detected the VPN even on streaming-optimized servers in several countries; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick it was hit or miss
- Private Internet Access · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): Netflix worked in 10 of the 13 libraries they tested; Spain, Brazil and Singapore were blocked
- Private Internet Access · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Only 4 Netflix libraries opened; where Netflix detected the VPN it showed Netflix Originals only
- Private Internet Access · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, and worked right away in all their tests
- Proton VPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): The US library and nine others opened, the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan among them
- Proton VPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, France and Japan, best on the optimized servers
- Surfshark · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 28 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked; the 12 blocked ones include Colombia, the UAE, Ireland and Ukraine
In Australia
Were each VPN's servers in Australia blocked by Netflix there? Every row is one source's own published result, credited and linked. Nothing is merged or averaged, and a result is only as current as its date.
RecommendedAt least two sources from the last 12 months, and the newest result of every one of them is a pass.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played The Australian Netflix library worked, one of the 23 of 40 regional libraries that did | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| CNET (opens in a new tab) | Played The Australian Netflix library opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
Only one published testListed, not recommended: one source is not enough to go on, whatever it found.
| VPN | Source | What it reported | Date | Test setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost | TechRadar (opens in a new tab) | Played The Australian Netflix library opened without an obstacle | article updated Feb 2026 | not stated |
| IPVanish | PCMag (opens in a new tab) | Played The Australian Netflix catalog opened without restrictions | article updated Jan 2026 | not stated |
| Private Internet Access | Safelyo (opens in a new tab) | Played Netflix Australia was among the 10 of 13 libraries that worked | article updated Nov 2026 | run from Vietnam |
| Proton VPN | Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) | Played The Australian Netflix library was among the ten that opened | article updated Oct 2026 | not stated |
| PureVPN | All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Blocked Netflix Australia did not work | tested Aug 2026 | run from the US |
| Surfshark | All About Cookies (opens in a new tab) | Played The Australian Netflix library worked | tested Oct 2026 | run from the US |
Country not statedThese sources name no country, so their results count toward no group above.
- CyberGhost · TechRadar (opens in a new tab) (article updated Feb 2026): CyberGhost also reached the UK, Japan, Canada and Australia Netflix libraries without an obstacle
- CyberGhost · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 10 regional Netflix libraries opened on its Netflix servers, the US, UK and Canada among them
- CyberGhost · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): 15 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea among them
- ExpressVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Netflix unblocked, though access was sometimes blocked on Apple TV and a server switch usually fixed it
- ExpressVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 25 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked, with India needing two or three server changes; results were weakest in Latin America and in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia
- ExpressVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 18 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Canada among them
- ExpressVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Sep 2026): 20 or more Netflix libraries worked, the UK and Japan among them, with no buffering
- IPVanish · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened, the US, UK and Japan among them
- IPVanish · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Aug 2026): Netflix also played the full library in HD in the UK, Germany, India and Japan, and in France, the Netherlands and Canada
- NordVPN · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Besides the US, the UK, Canadian, Australian, French, German, South African, Japanese and Romanian Netflix libraries opened; Netflix Egypt did not, and showed the US library instead
- NordVPN · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): 23 of the 40 regional Netflix libraries they tested worked; the other 17, Brazil, Thailand and Turkey among them, showed only Netflix Originals
- NordVPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 17 Netflix libraries opened; the Indian and Dutch libraries would not stream
- NordVPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): More than 15 Netflix libraries worked, the UK, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Malaysia and Thailand among them, each on the first server tried
- Private Internet Access · CNET (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): On desktop, Netflix was the only service that partly worked, and it often detected the VPN even on streaming-optimized servers in several countries; on Apple TV and Fire TV Stick it was hit or miss
- Private Internet Access · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Nov 2026): Netflix worked in 10 of the 13 libraries they tested; Spain, Brazil and Singapore were blocked
- Private Internet Access · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): Only 4 Netflix libraries opened; where Netflix detected the VPN it showed Netflix Originals only
- Private Internet Access · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, Canada, Japan, Germany, Sweden and Denmark, and worked right away in all their tests
- Proton VPN · Top10VPN (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): The US library and nine others opened, the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan among them
- Proton VPN · vpnMentor (opens in a new tab) (article updated Jun 2026): Netflix also streamed in the UK, France and Japan, best on the optimized servers
- Surfshark · Safelyo (opens in a new tab) (article updated Oct 2026): 28 of the 40 Netflix libraries they tested worked; the 12 blocked ones include Colombia, the UAE, Ireland and Ukraine
For the picks that meet our threshold and how each provider compares beyond streaming, read our best VPNs for Netflix.
Does Netflix allow VPNs?
Netflix’s help center says VPNs are not supported for live events or on an ad-supported plan, and it tells viewers who see its VPN or proxy message to turn the VPN off and try again. Read the Netflix Terms of Use for the country where your account is registered before you rely on a VPN.
This guide is written for subscribers who use a VPN in the country they live in to watch their own paid account. A VPN does not replace a Netflix subscription. Nothing here is a promise that Netflix will play with a VPN on; the service can block a server at any time, and turning the VPN off is always the fallback that Netflix itself suggests.
FAQ
Why does Netflix say you are using a VPN or proxy?
Netflix has decided that your connection looks like it comes from somewhere other than where you really are. Switching to another server in your own country is the first thing to try, and Netflix’s own advice is to turn the VPN off.
Is it legal to use a VPN with Netflix?
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, but a streaming service can restrict it in its terms, and Netflix’s help center asks viewers who see its VPN message to turn the VPN off. Read the Terms of Use for your account’s country. This is general information, not legal advice.
Will a free VPN work with Netflix?
Free plans usually offer few servers and few countries, which leaves you fewer addresses to switch between when one is blocked. The tables above show each source’s own note, so check whether a result was for a paid or a free plan before you rely on it.
Does clearing cookies really help?
It can. A browser may keep the location and sign-in details it saw before you connected, so clear the cookies and cached files for the Netflix site after a server change and sign in again. If Netflix plays in a private window but not in your usual one, stored data is the likely cause.
Should you turn the VPN off to watch Netflix?
That is what Netflix’s help center suggests for its VPN or proxy message. If you want the VPN on for the rest of your browsing, try the server and leak fixes above first, and turn it off only while you watch if nothing else works.