How to Use NordVPN with Netflix

Streaming a different Netflix library on a computer is the simplest setup of all.

1. Open the NordVPN app and connect to a server in the region you want to unblock.
2. Open Netflix in your browser. On Windows, use Microsoft Edge for up to 4K. On Mac, use Safari. Chrome caps out at 1080p.
3. Check you’re in the right library. Click “New & Popular” and look at the “Top 10 in [country] Today” row. If it shows the wrong country, clear your browser cache and refresh.

The Netflix mobile app can override your VPN’s DNS settings, which makes some VPNs useless on phones and tablets. Thankfully, NordVPN isn’t one of them.

1. Open the NordVPN app and connect to a server in your chosen Netflix region.
2. Open the Netflix app. If it was already open, close it fully and reopen it to refresh the connection.
3. Search for a title and start streaming.

If Netflix still shows your local library, restart your device to clear the app’s cache. Closing the app on its own isn’t always enough.

NordVPN has dedicated apps for all three platforms, so there’s no awkward setup.

1. Install the NordVPN app from your device’s app store. You’ll need to sign up on a phone or computer first.
2. Open the app and log in. You’ll usually authenticate by entering a code on a linked web page.
3. Connect to a server in the country you want to access.
4. Open Netflix and start watching.

If a title won’t play, connect to a different server in the same country. Some work better than others, especially on Fire TV.

Roku, Chromecast, and consoles like the PS5 and Xbox don’t support VPN apps.

You therefore have two options: install NordVPN manually on a compatible router, or share a VPN connection from your Windows PC using a mobile hotspot.

The hotspot method is usually quickest, since you probably already have the hardware:

1. Connect your PC to a NordVPN server in your chosen Netflix region, using the OpenVPN protocol.
2. Enable Mobile hotspot in your Windows network settings and share your VPN connection.
3. Connect your console, Roku, or Chromecast to that hotspot.
4. Restart the device to clear any cached location data, then open Netflix.

Note: On Roku, you’ll also need to reset the Netflix channel for the new location to register. Hover over the app, press the asterisk (*) button on your remote, and select Restart channel.

This is much higher than average, and better than other top-tier VPNs. For example, NordVPN unblocks 13 more Netflix libraries than PIA and 7 more than Surfshark.

While ExpressVPN and Windscribe can access more Netflix regions, NordVPN unblocks most of the popular catalogs.

For instance, the VPN works with Netflix Japan, US, and UK – three of the most sought-after libraries among Netflix subscribers. However, it failed to access Netflix in India and South Korea.

It’s essential that a VPN maintains fast connection speeds when streaming Netflix. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to watch low-quality video and endure a lot of buffering.

Thankfully, NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs I’ve ever tested. While every VPN slows your internet speed to some degree, the speed loss wasn’t noticeable when using NordVPN.

When connecting from the US to servers in the UK, I experienced an average speed loss of just 10%.

This is faster than many top-rated VPNs. For example, NordVPN is 3Mbps faster than Surfshark on international connections.

These are impressive speeds for a long-distance VPN connection, and my tests show that NordVPN consistently performs well on other international connections:

NordVPN’s impact on internet speed in various countries.

Country	City	Speed Loss
Australia	Sydney	16%
Germany	Berlin	8%
Japan	Tokyo	11%
USA (West)	Los Angeles	9%

These speeds make NordVPN an excellent choice for Netflix. Even with a modest home connection, you should be able to stream buffer-free and in Ultra HD.

NordVPN offers access to 7,130 servers across 150 countries.

Few competitors match that kind of geographic reach. For context, Surfshark covers 100 countries and IPVanish covers 112.

NordVPN’s extensive network meant I could try multiple servers until one worked with my target Netflix library, though the first server I picked usually worked.

Another advantage of such a large server pool is that user traffic is distributed more evenly across the network. This prevents server congestion and preserves bandwidth, leading to faster speeds.

Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown means you can no longer share your account with anyone outside your household without paying an extra fee.

There’s a clever workaround, though, and it’s exclusive to NordVPN. Using a free feature called Meshnet, you can let friends or family stream Netflix on your home IP address, so Netflix treats them as part of your household.

To be clear, Meshnet isn’t a VPN connection. It creates a private, encrypted network between your devices over a peer-to-peer (P2P) link, rather than routing everyone through a central VPN server.

The upshot? You can split the cost of a single subscription with someone in another city, or even another country. Best of all, Meshnet is completely free, even without a paid NordVPN plan.

Make sure both you and the person you’re sharing with are running the latest version of the NordVPN app before you link devices. It’s the most common cause of a failed connection.

Netflix identifies IP addresses that belong to VPN servers and blocks them. NordVPN overcomes this by operating a huge server network that is extremely difficult to block in its entirety.

However, individual servers can still make their way onto the blocklist. If your VPN IP address has been detected, try disconnecting from the VPN and then reconnecting to a different server.

As you’ll be assigned a new IP address, this should solve the problem. However, you might have to try it a few times to find a server that works.

Thankfully, NordVPN’s server network is so large that you won’t even have to change location to do this. The service offers multiple VPN servers in each country.

See my list of NordVPN’s servers that I’ve verified to beat the geo-blockers.

Netflix can read location data stored in your browser’s cookies and cache, and use it to work out where you really are, even when you’re connected to a NordVPN server abroad.

Clearing these files forces Netflix to show the library that matches your VPN server.

Follow the instructions below if you want to clear your cache on Safari.

On iOS, you can simply delete and reinstall the Netflix app to clear its cache.

If you’re using an Android, go to Settings, select Apps, find Netflix, then clear its storage and cache from there.

While NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature effectively blocks malware and ads, it can also interfere with accessing streaming services.

I was unable to unblock Netflix, and other platforms like Hulu, while Threat Protection was enabled.

To disable Threat Protection, click or tap the shield icon in your NordVPN app and toggle it off.

NordLynx is my recommended protocol for Netflix as it delivers the fastest speeds.

However, if Netflix keeps detecting your NordVPN connection, switching protocols helps.

You can do so by going to Settings > General > VPN Protocol.

Try changing to OpenVPN (TCP), followed by OpenVPN (UDP). If neither works, then move on to my next step.

Here’s something many VPNs still get wrong: IPv6. Netflix can decide which library to show you based on your IPv6 address, not your IPv4 one.

The problem is that plenty of VPNs don’t fully support IPv6. If your real IPv6 address leaks out of the VPN tunnel, Netflix will serve you your local library no matter which server you’re on.

For peace of mind, I recommend disabling IPv6 on your device rather than relying on the VPN’s built-in setting.

You can confirm there’s no leak using our VPN leak test tool.

Another useful tactic is to make sure you’re using NordVPN’s DNS servers. To do this:

1. Close the Netflix app if you’re on mobile, or clear the browser’s cache if you’re on desktop.

2. Restart the NordVPN application.

3. Manually configure your device to use the following DNS server addresses: 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100. The NordVPN website explains how to do this on a number of different platforms.

4. Restart your device and check your DNS servers.

5. Open the NordVPN application and connect to a server.

6. Navigate to Netflix and start streaming.

Based on what I’ve seen, creating a new Netflix profile can occasionally bypass a VPN block.

You can have up to five profiles per Netflix plan, though Extra Member accounts are limited to one.

If all else fails, contact the NordVPN customer support team.

NordVPN’s live chat service is one of the best I’ve tested. It’s available 24/7, and the agents are often helpful and prompt in their replies.