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How to Use ExpressVPN with Netflix

Updated Jun 26, 2026

Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of apps and his research has been featured on the BBC, The New York Times, and more. Read full bio

Fact-checked by JP Jones

The Short Answer

ExpressVPN keeps working with Netflix when other VPNs fail. Its fast, user-friendly apps unblock 18 Netflix regions, including the US, UK, Canada, and India, with smooth 4K streaming throughout. If you hit a Netflix error, switch to the Lightway protocol and connect to one of our verified servers below.

An illustrated representation of a user using ExpressVPN to bypass the Netflix VPN error message.

ExpressVPN is the VPN we go for whenever we want to watch region-locked Netflix content, and it has been for years.

While most VPNs flicker in and out of working with Netflix, ExpressVPN just keeps going.

Our data shows it’s the one service that’s unblocked the major libraries consistently through every crackdown since 2021, when rivals like NordVPN and Surfshark struggled.

It’s not just about reliability, though. ExpressVPN has the best apps we’ve ever used, streams in 4K without buffering, and works smoothly on every device, from your phone to your Fire TV.

This combination makes it the most hassle-free way to watch Netflix from another country, and these days it’s competitively priced, too.

Below, we’ll show you how to set it up, what to do on the rare occasion Netflix blocks a server location, and what ExpressVPN is actually like to use day to day.

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VPNs Tested	59
Total Hours of Testing	30,000+
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How to Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN

Using ExpressVPN with Netflix is straightforward, especially as the VPN’s apps are the most user-friendly on the market.

Streaming the Netflix India Library using ExpressVPN.

Streaming the Netflix India Library Using ExpressVPN.

Before you follow the step-by-step instructions below, make sure you have an active Netflix account.

How to Use ExpressVPN with Netflix

Sign up for ExpressVPN.
Download and install the VPN onto your device(s): ExpressVPN has apps for all popular platforms, including computers, phones, and streaming devices.
Choose which Netflix region you want to unblock: To find a specific title, search uNoGs for what country it’s available in.
Connect to a server location in that country: For example, connect to a Japanese VPN server to access Netflix Japan.
Launch Netflix: You’ll now be able to watch geo-blocked Netflix content.

You can see how quick and easy it is to unblock the US Netflix library in the video below:

ExpressVPN Not Working with US Netflix? Try This thumbnail

If you see an error message, can’t log in with the correct details, or can only see Netflix originals, the ExpressVPN server you selected isn’t working with Netflix. Follow the workarounds below to get around this.

Is ExpressVPN Really That Good with Netflix?

The short answer is that ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for streaming, especially Netflix.

It consistently streams every desirable Netflix library, it delivers fast speeds across servers in 113 countries, and works on just about every device you can stream Netflix on..

Streaming Netflix USA with ExpressVPN.

Streaming Netflix USA with ExpressVPN.

Here are the key benefits and drawbacks of using ExpressVPN with Netflix:

Pros and cons of using ExpressVPN with Netflix.
Pros	Cons
Consistently works with 18 regions, including the US, UK, and India	No password-sharing workaround like NordVPN’s Meshnet
The most reliable Netflix VPN across our five years of testing	Smart DNS only covers US and UK Netflix
The most user-friendly apps of any VPN, on every major device	Doesn’t unblock Netflix in Mexico and Switzerland
MediaStreamer Smart DNS unblocks US and UK Netflix on consoles and Smart TVs
Fast enough for buffer-free 4K on every server we tested
Competitively priced, with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Exceptional 24/7 live chat support

Unblocks Regions Most Rivals Can't

ExpressVPN unblocks 18 Netflix regional libraries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US.

That’s one more Netflix region than NordVPN, and it includes India, the Netherlands, and South Korea, three popular libraries NordVPN can’t touch.

More telling than the headline number is consistency. Our data shows ExpressVPN is the only VPN to have unblocked more than half of the eight most popular libraries every year for the past five years.

Even during the strict 2021 Netflix ban, when NordVPN’s and Surfshark’s Netflix access was very patchy, ExpressVPN still unblocked four of the top eight regions.

It isn’t quite flawless. ExpressVPN can’t currently unblock Netflix in Mexico or Switzerland.

And if sheer quantity is what you’re after, Windscribe unblocks more Netflix regions (32), though at noticeably lower resolution and on far fewer devices.

Smooth 4K Streaming, Every Time

Reliability is one thing, but the quality of the stream is what you notice night to night.

Here, ExpressVPN has never let us down. Across years of testing, Netflix titles have loaded almost instantly and played in full 4K, and we can’t remember the last time we saw a buffering wheel.

That’s down to its speed. On our fiber connection, a nearby server cost us just 2% of our speed using the Lightway protocol; fast enough that you’d never know a VPN was running.

Long-distance connections hold up well, too. We streamed in 4K/Ultra HD on every server we tested. Here’s a snapshot of our speed test results:

Table showing ExpressVPN’s speed performance across various locations.
Server Location	Speed Loss	Stream Quality
Canada	5%	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
UK	7%	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
Germany	13%	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
Japan	17%	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)
Australia	17%	4K/Ultra HD (UHD)

The Easiest Apps for Streaming

I use ExpressVPN as our own daily VPN, and the main reason is how effortless the apps are.

There’s no learning curve. You press the big Connect button, the app picks the fastest protocol and a nearby server, and you’re connected in a second or two.

To jump to a Netflix region, you tap the Locations button on the home screen, and search for the country or city you’re after.

What we appreciate most is the consistency. The Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android apps look and behave almost identically, so there’s nothing new to learn when you switch devices.

That carries over to the TV apps. ExpressVPN’s Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV apps share the same clean, dark-mode interface, with servers grouped by continent for easy selection on a remote.

The mobile apps are equally great. They’re compact, they now include a dark mode, and home screen shortcuts save you digging through menus.

Compatible with Almost Every Device

ExpressVPN covers all the devices you’d use to stream Netflix, with native apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.

For Netflix, its standout extra is MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS tool. It unblocks US and UK Netflix on devices that can’t run a VPN app, like a Smart TV or a games console, and it’s included free with your subscription.

It’s the dependable Smart DNS option NordVPN lacks, though it’s limited to those two regions.

To stream any other region on a Roku, Chromecast, or games console, the simplest method is to share a VPN connection from your Windows PC using a mobile hotspot, since those devices can’t run a VPN app directly.

How to Fix ExpressVPN Not Working with Netflix

ExpressVPN is a superb VPN for bypassing Netflix’s geo-restrictions. However, the VPN occasionally stops working as Netflix is always finding new ways to block VPN traffic.

Netflix error message.

Netflix’s “Pardon the interruption” streaming error message.

If you’re having trouble streaming Netflix with ExpressVPN, try one of our fixes below:

1. Connect to a Compatible Country

Through our testing, we’ve found that ExpressVPN unblocks more Netflix regions than most other VPN services.

However, there are still several countries where it doesn’t work. If you connect to a VPN server in one of these regions, the workarounds listed below, such as clearing the cache, won’t be effective.

Make sure you’re connected to a VPN server in the following countries:

Australia
Brazil
Canada
France
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
Poland
Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Turkey
UK
US

2. Connect to a Working Server

Here’s how to change server location in the ExpressVPN app:

Open the ExpressVPN app and press the server location button immediately below Connect.
Search for one of the servers listed below, such as New Jersey - 1 for the US library.
Select the server location. The app will now connect you to that ExpressVPN server and your IP address will change.

If you’re connected to a compatible country and Netflix still detects the VPN, it means Netflix has blocked the server’s IP address. To fix this, you’ll need to connect to a different server in the same country.

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.

ExpressVPN servers that work with popular Netflix regions.
Netflix Library	ExpressVPN Server
Canada	Toronto
Japan	Tokyo
UK	Docklands
US	New Jersey - 1

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

ExpressVPN automatically connects you to New York when you choose the United States, and Netflix blocked that server’s IP address back in 2021.

So if US Netflix won’t load, that’s almost always why. Search for New Jersey - 1 and connect to it instead, then refresh your browser or restart the Netflix app.

3. Open an Incognito Window

Here’s how to use incognito mode in Google Chrome:

Open Google Chrome. Click the three dots in the top right corner.
Click New Incognito Window.
Visit Netflix.

Using a normal browser window, Netflix can store information about your location in cache and cookies. By deleting cache and cookies, Netflix can only guess your location with the VPN server IP address.

The quickest way to do this is to open a new incognito window in your web browser, so you can start again with a clean slate. No cache or cookies will be carried over.

Alternatively, delete the cache and cookies in your browser. This takes a few extra steps, though, and means you’ll have to re-login to every web service in that browser (e.g. email and other streaming services).

If you’re using an Android device, clear Netflix’s cache and cookie files from within the Settings app. On iPhone, you’ll have to restart your device to clear cache and cookies.

4. Change to the Lightway Protocol

Here’s how to change VPN protocol in the ExpressVPN app:

On desktop computers, click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top left. On mobile, tap Options in the bottom right.
On desktop computers, click Protocol and select Lightway – UDP. On mobile tap Settings > VPN Protocol > Lightway – UDP.

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.

Our tests show that Lightway protocol is more reliable at bypassing Netflix’s geo-blocks than other protocols (OpenVPN and IKEv2).

ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol on Windows.

You can activate Lightway in the Windows app settings.

It’s also extremely fast, with minimal speed loss. It can stream content in HD and 4K without any buffering provided your internet speeds can support it.

5. Use MediaStreamer

Here’s how to use ExpressVPN MediaStreamer:

Make sure you’re not connected to a VPN server. Log into the ExpressVPN website.
Click DNS Settings on the left-hand side. Click Register my IP address and ensure Automatically register my IP address is enabled.
Change your device’s DNS address to the MediaStreamer DNS address. You will now be able to access US Netflix.

If you can’t find an ExpressVPN server that works with US Netflix, try MediaStreamer.

MediaStreamer is ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS proxy. It’s included in your ExpressVPN subscription at no extra cost and is intended to unblock US Netflix on Smart TVs and games consoles, where the VPN app isn’t available.

However, in the past, we found that MediaStreamer was more reliable at accessing US Netflix than any regular ExpressVPN server. Though this hasn’t been the case lately, it’s still worth trying as a last resort.

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

FAQs

Why Won't ExpressVPN Unblock US Netflix?

Almost always, it’s because you’re on ExpressVPN’s default US server. ExpressVPN connects you to New York by default, which has been very unreliable for several years.

To fix this, connect to a different US server, for example New Jersey - 1.

Can I Use ExpressVPN on a Games Console?

Yes. For US and UK Netflix, the simplest route is MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS tool, which works on devices that can’t run a VPN app and is free with your plan.

For any other region, or for devices like Roku and Chromecast, share a VPN connection from your PC over a mobile hotspot.

Which Netflix Regions Can ExpressVPN Unblock?

In our latest tests, 18: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US.

That’s more than almost any paid VPN, and it includes India, which most rivals can’t unblock. The main gaps are Mexico and Switzerland.

Is ExpressVPN Fast Enough to Stream Netflix in 4K?

Easily. Netflix needs 25Mbps for 4K, and in our tests ExpressVPN comfortably cleared that on every server, including long-distance ones.

On a nearby server we lost just 2% of our speed using the Lightway protocol. In practice, that means instant loading and 4K playback with no buffering.

Not in the way you can with NordVPN. ExpressVPN doesn’t have an equivalent to NordVPN’s free Meshnet feature, which lets someone outside your home stream on your IP address to get around the password-sharing crackdown.

If beating the password-sharing rules is your main goal, NordVPN is the better pick. For everything else about streaming Netflix, we still rate ExpressVPN higher.