How to Change Netflix Region

Using a virtual private network (VPN) is the simplest and most effective way to change your Netflix region and access geo-restricted titles unavailable in your country.

A VPN changes your IP address to a different one from almost any other country, depending on which one you use.

The number of international Netflix libraries you can unblock also varies across VPNs, with the most effective accessing up to 32 regions.

Watch the video below on how to change Netflix region using a VPN, or follow the instructions just below.

Pros & Cons of Using a VPN

These are the main benefits and drawbacks of using a VPN to change country on Netflix:

Pros	Cons
Compatible with up to 32 Netflix regions	Requires advanced steps to work on Smart TVs, games consoles & Roku
More reliable than any other method	The very best Netflix VPNs require a paid subscription
Streams in the highest video quality
Simple to set up and use
Free options available (but limited)
Encrypts network traffic

If you don’t want to use a VPN, there are two main ways to change your Netflix region without one: using a Smart DNS service (the most effective option), or using a proxy server.

In the past we had suggested also trying remote desktop software, the Tor browser, or setting up a home VPN server, however these methods were either too time-consuming or not effective enough.

In the two sections below, we’ll explain in more detail how to use Smart DNS and Proxy Servers to unblock international Netflix libraries.

1. Smart DNS Service

Pros	Cons
The easiest way to change Netflix region without a VPN	Only works with specific websites and in a limited number of locations
Works on almost every device (including Smart TVs and games consoles)	You need to provide your IP address in order to gain access
Cheaper than most VPN services	Choice of VPN service is limited
Provides fast connection speeds	Can be more difficult to configure than a VPN application

A Smart DNS service lets you change your device’s DNS settings to re-route your connection through DNS servers in a country of your choice.

Like with a VPN, Smart DNS tricks platforms like Netflix into thinking you’re physically located in that country, allowing you to access that region’s content.

For example, if you live in France and want to watch US Netflix, you can re-route your DNS requests through a US server and easily stream American Netflix from overseas.

Two popular standalone Smart DNS services optimized for streaming are Smart DNS Proxy and Unlocator.

You don’t need to download software to use Smart DNS, enabling you to easily switch Netflix regions on devices such as LG Smart TVs and gaming consoles like Xbox, which typically do not support native VPN applications.

Specifically on these devices, Smart DNS is better than a VPN for changing your Netflix region.

Smart DNS is also faster than VPN, although this doesn’t always translate to better streaming resolution.

Importantly, while Smart DNS allows streaming on a wide range of devices, it doesn’t encrypt your internet traffic or hide your IP address.

In other words, your ISP will be able to see what you’re doing and you won’t be protected from cybercriminals while connected to unsecured public WiFi networks.

Some VPNs for streaming also offer their own Smart DNS tools. Based on our latest round of testing, the two that work most reliably with Netflix are:

How to Use Smart DNS to Change Netflix Region

We’ve already outlined how to use Smart DNS with Netflix above, however you can also watch how to do it in the video below:

The setup process will vary slightly depending on your provider and the device you’re using, but the general process is roughly the same across devices.

2. Proxy Server

Pros	Cons
Often free and easy to use	Does not encrypt your traffic
Good proxy server providers offer a range of server locations	Proxy IP addresses are easily blocked by Netflix
Generally delivers fast connection speeds	Overcrowded servers can occasionally cause slow speeds
	Only works when accessing Netflix from within your browser
	Less reliable than VPN services and Smart DNS

A proxy server can help you change your Netflix country by routing your traffic through a third-party server before connecting to Netflix.

Like with a VPN, a proxy server hides your IP address and tricks Netflix into thinking you’re located in the country where the proxy server is based.

In other words, if you connect to a proxy server located in the UK, you’ll get access to the UK Netflix library, regardless of where you actually are in the world.

Unlike a VPN, proxy servers don’t encrypt your internet traffic.

Many Chrome VPN extensions are actually proxy servers, and not full VPN products. They route browser traffic through a remote server, but don’t encrypt it.

Examples of browser-based proxies that work with Netflix include Hide.me’s Chrome extension and Windscribe’s Firefox extension.

Proxy servers are application-specific, meaning they only re-route traffic from the application they’re running on.

You can use a proxy server to change regions on Netflix in your browser, but you won’t be able to do the same on an external Netflix app.

In general, proxy servers are less secure than VPNs, and less reliable than Smart DNS for changing your Netflix region. However, they’re free and can sometimes unblock foreign Netflix libraries.

How to Use a Proxy Server to Change Netflix Region

Using a proxy server browser extension to change Netflix region is very similar to using a VPN browser extension. Read our guide to setting up a VPN on Chrome for instructions.

Using a free VPN that works with Netflix is the optimal way to change region on the platform for free.

Very few free VPNs worked in our tests, and the ones that did performed much worse than paid services. They also lack advanced streaming features, like Smart DNS.

Despite these limitations, Windscribe and PrivadoVPN proved to be by far the best free VPNs that still access multiple Netflix libraries.

Windscribe currently works with the following 5 Netflix regions: France, Germany, Romania, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

On the other hand, PrivadoVPN unblocks the UK library but more importantly the very popular American one.

Regardless of your device, the best way to change your Netflix region is to use either a VPN or a Smart DNS proxy.

However, the best option depends on the device(s) you’ll be using to stream.

A VPN is the best way to change Netflix regions on devices that support native VPN applications including desktop PCs, laptops, and phones.

With just one app, you can switch between multiple VPN locations and gain access to dozens of different Netflix libraries.

Smart DNS works better on devices without native VPN support, such as Xbox and PlayStation, and Smart TVs.

Some devices, like Roku, don’t support native VPN apps and don’t let you change the default DNS settings. In this scenario, you can set up a VPN on your router.

The table below details which method you should use to change your Netflix region based on the device you use. For detailed installation instructions, read our VPN setup guides.

Device	How to Change Netflix Region
Amazon Firestick	VPN Service
Android	VPN Service
Apple TV	VPN Service
Chromecast with Google TV	VPN Service
Google Chromecast (Older Version)	VPN Router
iPhone	VPN Service
MacOS	VPN Service
PS4/PS5	Smart DNS
Roku	VPN Router
Samsung Smart TV	Smart DNS
Xbox One/Series X	Smart DNS
Windows	VPN Service

There is currently no way to change the payment region of an existing Netflix account.

To change the billing country on your Netflix account, you must close your current account and create a new one associated with your new country. To do this:

You don’t need to change your billing country if you’re trying to stream movies and TV shows unavailable in your geographic region. Instead, use a VPN service or a Smart DNS proxy.