How to Use ExpressVPN with Netflix & Fix It Not Working

1. Connect to a Working ExpressVPN Server

Most of the time, ExpressVPN has stopped working with Netflix because the streaming platform has blocked the IP address of the VPN server.

For example, ExpressVPN automatically connects you to New York when you select the United States. It’s a very popular server location, and Netflix has blocked the IP address since August 2021.

To beat these IP address blocks, connect to one of the ExpressVPN servers listed below. We keep testing these servers to confirm they still work with Netflix.

Netflix Library	ExpressVPN Server
Australia	Sydney – 2
Canada	Vancouver
France	Strasbourg
Germany	Frankfurt – 3
Japan	Yokohama
UK	Wembley
US	New Jersey

Once you’re connected to a working ExpressVPN server, refresh your browser if you’re on desktop, or restart the Netflix app on mobile.

2. Use MediaStreamer

If you can’t find an ExpressVPN server that works with US Netflix, use MediaStreamer. MediaStreamer is ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS proxy, which is included with your ExpressVPN subscription at no additional cost.

MediaStreamer bypasses Netflix’s geo-blocks by replacing the DNS address from your ISP with an ExpressVPN DNS server located in the US. This is harder for Netflix to detect than a regular VPN connection.

Since the most recent Netflix VPN ban, our research has found that MediaStreamer is more reliable at accessing US Netflix than any regular ExpressVPN server.

That said, unlike a VPN connection, using MediaStreamer won’t hide your IP address, nor will it encrypt web traffic.

MediaStreamer works independently of the ExpressVPN application, therefore you can use it on every internet-connected device you own. This includes devices that don’t support VPN apps, like Apple TV, Smart TVs and games consoles.

Disappointingly, MediaStreamer only works with US Netflix. However, as this is the most popular library, we don’t think it’s a dealbreaker.

3. Clear Cache & Browser Cookies

 

Netflix stores temporary information about your location whenever you access its service. These files are called cookies and cache.

Even if you’re connected to a VPN server in a different country, Netflix uses these to figure out your true location. If these locations don’t match, it’ll block you from accessing its content.

By deleting these files, Netflix can only calculate your location using the IP address of your VPN server. You’ll then be able to stream content from your chosen Netflix region.

If you’re using a different browser, you can still follow the steps above. The process for removing cookies and cache is similar on all popular web browsers.

4. Change to the Lightway Protocol

If Netflix isn’t working with ExpressVPN, try changing your VPN protocol. Due to the different encryption and obfuscation methods each protocol uses, some are better at bypassing Netflix’s VPN ban than others.

We recommend you connect to the Lightway (UDP) protocol. Our tests have found this protocol to be more reliable at bypassing Netflix’s geo-blocks than other ExpressVPN protocols, like OpenVPN and IKEv2.

Lightway is also ExpressVPN’s fastest protocol. It’ll stream content in HD and 4K without any buffering or lag.

Some ExpressVPN servers also support L2TP/IPSec and PPTP, but these protocols are not secure. We don’t recommend them for any non-streaming activities. However, if you only want to restore Netflix access, they provide additional options to try.

5. Contact ExpressVPN Support

If none of the above troubleshooting methods work, contact ExpressVPN’s customer support.

ExpressVPN’s support team can provide you with an up-to-date list of exactly which servers can unblock Netflix.

In the video below, you can see us contact ExpressVPN’s support team when our server was blocked from accessing US Netflix. We were told to connect to the Atlanta server, which worked instantly.

In our experience, ExpressVPN’s customer support is the best on the market. They’ll recommend a working server, and also check for problems with your internet connection, if your VPN keeps disconnecting.

ExpressVPN’s support agents are available 24/7 through live chat and email. No matter the time of the day, a representative can help restore Netflix access.

Netflix detects and blocks VPNs differently on each device. The best way to fix ExpressVPN with Netflix varies depending on the device you’re using.

Here’s how to fix ExpressVPN with Netflix on the most popular streaming devices:

Amazon Fire TV

Netflix can identify and block all VPNs, including ExpressVPN, more effectively on Fire TV Stick than any other device.

In our testing, we found that only 50% of the ExpressVPN servers that worked in a web browser also worked on Fire TV. When using an incompatible server, we were shown this tvq-pb-101 (1.10.5059) error message:

To fix ExpressVPN with Netflix on Fire TV Stick, contact ExpressVPN’s customer support team and ask for a working server. The support agents have access to an up-to-date list of servers that are optimized for Fire TV Stick streaming.

Then, connect to the recommended server and clear Netflix cache files. To do this on Fire TV, open Settings. Click Applications, then Manage Installed Applications. Scroll down and select Netflix. Click Clear Cache, then Clear Data.

For more information on how to get ExpressVPN working properly on your Firestick, plus setup and troubleshooting info, see our guide to using ExpressVPN with Fire TV.

Smart TV, Games Consoles & Apple TV

If ExpressVPN stops working with Netflix on your Smart TV, games console, or Apple TV, it means there’s a problem with MediaStreamer.

In most cases, this will be because the IP address you registered on the ExpressVPN website is out of date. You’ll need to re-register your IP address whenever your ISP changes your IP address, which will happen every two weeks or so.

To fix this, make sure you’re not connected to a VPN server and log in to the ExpressVPN website. Click My Account. On the left hand side, select DNS Settings. Then, click Register my IP address and enable Automatically register my IP address.

The steps above should get ExpressVPN working with Netflix on your Smart TV, games console, or Apple TV.

If it doesn’t, try disabling IPv6 on your router. As well, ensure your streaming device is connected directly to your main internet router and not to a WiFi extender. In the past, we’ve found these steps help to fix issues with MediaStreamer.

iPhone & Android

On mobile devices, ExpressVPN cannot force the device to use its DNS servers. As a result, Netflix can check whether the IP address of your VPN server matches that of your DNS server.

This is why accessing geo-blocked Netflix libraries on iPhone and Android is more difficult than on Windows and Mac. When ExpressVPN stops working with Netflix on these devices, you’ll only be able to see Netflix originals.

To work around this block, contact ExpressVPN’s customer support and ask for a server that works on mobile. Then, connect to this server and clear cache by restarting your device. You will now be able to stream Netflix.

Windows & macOS

When ExpressVPN stops working with Netflix on desktop, you’ll likely encounter the Netflix proxy error m7111-5059.

Unblocking Netflix in a desktop web browser is easier than on every other device, though. As a result, the troubleshooting steps are much simpler, and you won’t need to do them as often.

To fix ExpressVPN not working with Netflix on Windows and Mac, simply connect to a working server. Then, refresh the page.

If this doesn’t fix the issue, change to the Lightway protocol and clear your browser cache.

We’ve tested 55 VPNs services with Netflix. Our ExpressVPN review found that ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for Netflix and the best VPN for streaming.

The VPN service unblocks Netflix in 10 countries, including the US and Japan. The VPN delivers extremely fast international connections, and you can install it on a wide range of devices.

In the section below, we detail what makes ExpressVPN a superb option for Netflix.

Reliably Streams 10 Netflix Libraries

Since the August 2021 Netflix VPN ban, our tests have found that ExpressVPN works with Netflix more often than any other VPN service.

It doesn’t work 100% of the time, though. If ExpressVPN isn’t working with Netflix for you, read our workarounds at the top of this page.

With that said, some VPNs work with even more Netflix libraries than ExpressVPN. Our research found that PrivateVPN streams 14 libraries and Windscribe can access 32.

But as ExpressVPN works with Netflix Canada, US, UK, and Japan, you’ll be able to access almost every title you want using it.

Fast Speeds for HD Streaming

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs you can get and is our top recommendation for Netflix streaming. A VPN needs to be fast to stream Netflix content in HD without buffering or lag.

We measured our average download speed with and without using ExpressVPN. The results were well above the speed requirements for HD and 4K streaming.

When connecting from the UK to servers in the US on our 100Mbps connection, we recorded a fast download speed loss of 79Mbps. We also measured a speed of 73Mbps in Japan and 88Mbps in Germany.

You can see our full results from ExpressVPN’s speed tests in the table below:

Server Location	Download Speed (Mbps)	Stream Quality
Starting Speed (UK)	100	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
UK	87	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
Germany	88	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
USA	79	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
Japan	73	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
Australia	69	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)

EXPERT TIP: ExpressVPN has its own speed test tool built in to help you to find the fastest servers for streaming. To use this, press the hamburger menu (≡), then click Speed Test. Click Run Test and wait for it to finish. Connect to the fastest server in your desired Netflix region.

Compatible with Every Streaming Device

You can install ExpressVPN use it with Netflix on every device.

The VPN service has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. There is also a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.

ExpressVPN works on your TV, too. There’s an easy-to-use app for the Amazon Fire TV Stick and Android TV. All apps come with the fast Lightway protocol and AES-256 encryption.

If you’re using a Smart TV or a games console, you can set up the MediaStreamer Smart DNS service. It’s not a full VPN, so it won’t encrypt your traffic or protect your privacy.

However, MediaStreamer is enough to change Netflix regions without using a full VPN. Most other VPNs, including Surfshark and CyberGhost, don’t offer a Smart DNS proxy that works with Netflix.

You can install ExpressVPN on your router, too. This protects all your devices, including your TV, with a full VPN service.

Large Server Network

A large server network lets you easily change servers and get a new IP address if one is blocked by Netflix.

As we detailed earlier in this guide, this is one of the most effective ways to fix ExpressVPN not working with Netflix.

ExpressVPN’s server network is one of the largest we’ve seen. There are 3,000 servers to choose from, spread across 94 countries and 160 cities, including 23 in the US alone.

Here are the number of ExpressVPN servers in each popular Netflix region:

Country	Number of Server Locations
Australia	5
Canada	4
Germany	4
India	3
Japan	3
UK	4
US	23

The other benefit of a larger server network is you’re less likely to experience slowdowns and poor streaming quality due to server congestion. Instead, users are spread out over a wider range of servers and speeds remain fast.

The ExpressVPN app doesn’t show information about server load, though. Other top Netflix VPNs, like Proton VPN, let you check server load within the app. You can then connect to a server that’s more likely to work with Netflix and have faster speeds.