Many people now use VPNs to help them access Netflix. They can prove useful when customers want to use the streaming service from overseas from a country where it is not usually accessible. In spite of this, there may be additional restrictions in place within that country preventing the customer from using a VPN for Netflix, or the customer may not want to breach the terms and conditions of Netflix.
We’ve covered what you need to know about using a VPN for Netflix in 2024, including: where Netflix can be used, how a VPN works and whether or not Netflix permits the use of VPNs to access their services.
Where can Netflix be used?
Netflix is frustratingly not accessible in every country even when customers have paid for their subscription. There are different subscription options available across different countries, with different content being offered in every region.
Companies such as Netflix will have agreements in place with media outlets, agreeing which content can be streamed in different countries based on market demand. This can aggravate customers who are paying a monthly subscription for Netflix in their own country and want to access their services from abroad when travelling for work or holidaying. In spite of this, customers are only entitled access to the streaming service from their home country, where they regularly pay for their subscription.
As a consequence of this, many customers travelling abroad do attempt to use a VPN to bypass restrictions and stream content from various countries around the world. There will also be customers who live in a country where Netflix access is not possible, and wish to use a VPN to regularly stream content.
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How does a VPN work?
VPNs work by transmitting a connection to the internet through the server of a VPN provider in order to encrypt it and improve security. Every device which is used to access the internet will have an IP address which is usually assigned geographically. When a device accesses a site or service online, they should usually be able to tell where the user is located solely based off of their IP address.
Using a VPN can help users to disguise their current location meaning that sites and services should not be able to see the users actual location when they use their content. This means that the user will be provided with an alternate location and VPN address when they access the internet or streaming services such as Netflix to appear as though they are in a different country or region to where they actually are.
VPN providers are responsible for tunnelling all website traffic, transmitting it to a remote server which may be in a different country. Users will frequently have VPN providers operating from a different country to them, so it is possible to use services from abroad legally. Users’ devices should then reveal the address of the VPN server instead of their own, which in itself is legal.
It is advised that customers use VPNs all of the time when they are accessing the internet, however this is not always possible. As the VPN provider will provide users with an alternative address and location, it is possible that they can use this to disguise where they actually are. Consequently, some users can bypass the regional restrictions in place and access Netflix from countries where it is not usually available through appearing as though they are in their home country or a country where Netflix can be accessed legally with a VPN.
Does Netflix permit using a VPN to bypass restrictions?
Legally, Netflix does not agree with customers using a VPN to access their content worldwide even if they are paying for a subscription to be provided with the services. As a consequence of this, Netflix does attempt to block VPN usage from countries where their services are prohibited.
This can lead to customers using VPNs to access the streaming services in their home country where it is legal to access Netflix being blocked for using a VPN. Customers may then struggle to regain access to the account that they are paying for even when they have not broken any regulations surrounding where they use Netflix.
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Whilst it is not illegal to use a VPN for Netflix to access content from the popular streaming service, it is discouraged by Netflix. However, this is not the same as using a VPN to download copyrighted content. Customers will still be required to pay for the service in order to access Netflix whether they are accessing the service legally or not, as it is impossible to use without a subscription in place regardless of a VPN connection.
It is also important to remember that IP addresses are not the only way to find out a user’s location from their device. Cookie data, browser and device settings and connection latency may also be able to reveal where a user is actually located, meaning that using a VPN to access Netflix from another region does not work every time, and some VPNs can be traced.
In spite of this, using a VPN to access Netflix from a different country does usually work and is a simple way to bypass geo-blockers which may be in place.
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