How to Unblock Netflix Using a VPN? [2024]

Is that one Netflix show or movie you’ve been dying to see restricted in your country? Or what if you have been preparing to travel to a foreign country, only to find that your favourite Netflix content is banned there? Sadly, we’ve all been there.

Due to copyright and licensing issues, some of the content in Netflix’s streaming catalogue is restricted to particular regions. As a result, every country has its own Netflix library, and the list of content available in your Netflix account depends on your current location. Or rather, what Netflix thinks your current location is.

That’s right. You can trick Netflix into thinking you are in a different location and easily access another country’s content library simply by using a VPN. This article will explore the safest and easiest way to access Netflix’s thousands of titles from just about anywhere. Just follow this step by step guide, and you will never run out of options to watch on Netflix. 

Choose the right VPN

To prevent users from streaming geo-restricted content with a VPN or proxy, Netflix tracks trends in the IP addresses being used. Whenever it notices an abnormal amount of traffic from the same IP address and determines it is VPN-associated, it immediately blocks that IP address from the site.

Over the years, Netflix has gotten notably better at blocking VPNs from its servers. This type of ban is not exclusive to Netflix either – many other streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ have VPN bans in place as well. 

The truth is, only a handful of VPN providers are now capable of bypassing Netflix’s strict geo-restrictions. So, when choosing a VPN service for streaming Netflix, there are a few things to take into account.

The first and most apparent is that the VPN in question must be capable of masking your location and hiding the fact that your IP address is associated with a VPN. 

If you are unsure, you can always check our compilation of the Top-rated VPN UK and see which ones are the best at evading Netflix’s restrictions.

Once you have chosen a VPN compatible with Netflix, keep these other factors in mind before making a final decision. 

How to Fix the Netflix Proxy Error

Whenever Netflix detects that a user is trying to steam a video using a VPN or a proxy service, it sends the following error message.

The error code m7111-5059 is every Netflix user’s worst fear. Luckily, fixing this error is really simple and easy. There are several solutions you can try. 

But, what if you are already using a premium VPN that has previously worked with Netflix but are still seeing the error message? In that case, try clearing your web browser’s cache and cookies. Outdated data in your PC is a common cause for Netflix detecting your VPN activities.

Another way is to disable your VPN and log out of your Netflix account for a short time. Then, reconnect with the same VPN server and the Netflix library you want to watch, and the error should be gone by then.

If that doesn’t work, switching to a different server should do the trick. Netflix is constantly upgrading its software and adding new blocked IP addresses to its database, so you can’t expect your current server to work for too long.

Even the best VPN service for streaming Netflix can’t avoid the Netflix proxy error all the time and require switching servers from time to time. 

You can also get a dedicated IP address — a VPN IP address only for you. As Netflix typically blocks IP addresses shared by thousands of users, it is less likely to detect a dedicated IP address. 

When all else fails, try contacting your VPN’s customer support for more dedicated assistance. 

Free vs Paid VPN for Netflix

Although it may be tempting to use a free VPN to access Netflix, the universal rule that no good-quality product comes for free applies here as well. We advise strongly against using a free VPN to access any streaming content for a number of reasons. 

First, even if you find a free VPN provider capable of accessing Netflix, which is difficult enough to begin with, it will most likely come with a monthly data cap. As streaming video uses up a lot of data, you will probably run out of free VPN data allowance pretty quickly. 

Freemium VPNs also frequently don’t have enough servers to cater to all of their users, which may result in network slowdowns and, thus, poor streaming experience. 

Last but not least, free VPNs are not as reliable as paid VPNs. Although they are free to use, they often come at a hidden cost to your online anonymity. In fact, many of them have been known to track users’ online activities and sell personal information for their personal gain.

Final Thoughts

In the never-ending battle between Netflix and VPNs, it seems that Netflix is winning, at least for now. With harsher than ever restrictions on VPNs and blocks on residential IP addresses, Netflix is more effective than ever at preventing VPN users from accessing its content library. 

Still, for now, you can safely rely on the methods mentioned above to stream your favourite Netflix shows and movies from anywhere in the world. So, get your popcorn ready, sit back and prepare for your longest Netflix binge-watch session ever.