How to Watch US Netflix Using a VPN Right Away

Dec 17, 2020

10 minutes

Can't see the region-restricted US shows you want to watch on Netflix? I had the same issue when I was traveling in Europe a couple of years ago. Why shouldn't I be able to view the shows I've paid to see? Well, that's a complicated story.

What isn't complicated, however, is the way I could have easily solved the problem of not being able to watch the US shows on Netflix. Use a VPN!

Skip ahead to step 1, if you want to get started right away.

What is a VPN?

A VPN is a virtual private network that changes your browsing location and encrypts your data. To learn more about this, see our guide that details VPNs in depth.

Which VPN should I use?

The best VPN for watching US shows on Netflix is NordVPN. It's been tested countless times and continues to work like a charm. There are other VPNs out there you can use, but many have mixed results. And NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee—so signup for 1 month and then just cancel your account to get your money back when you're done. This essentially makes it free.

Does this really work?

Yes! We've tested it using NordVPN. The same steps will work for other streaming services like Disney+ and BBC iPlayer too.

NordVPN

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There are other VPNs that have been known to work for this. But again—we recommend you use NordVPN to reliably watch US Netflix, so follow the link below.

What kind of account should I set up?

If you plan to watch US Netflix for a long period of time, then it's probably worth it to just invest in a 1-year account.

If you only need the VPN for a short period (less than a month), then definitely look for one that offers a free month like NordVPN.

Mobile installation

If you're trying to install a VPN on your iPhone or install a VPN on your Android phone, then we have separate guides that might help you do that.

Download the VPN's app onto your device. (A VPN, like NordVPN, can be installed on either your desktop/laptop, mobile device, or even your router.)

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Check Price on NordVPN

If wanting to watch on a TV that's connected via a router

I'll start by saying that it might be easier for you to use a desktop/laptop that's wired to your TV. If you don't have the wires, however then you'll need to download and install the VPN on your router. This involves logging into your router and installing the software remotely. Each router requires different steps, so it's too much to put here. We will point you to NordVPN's router install page where you scroll down and follow the steps for your particular router. Just make sure you choose a VPN server that's located in the United States, if you want to watch US Netflix.

If using an Amazon Fire device (Firestick)

If you're using an Amazon Fire device (Firestick), then you can simply download the NordVPN app from the Amazon App store on your device.

Navigate to the Amazon App store on your device.
Search for NordVPN.
Download NordVPN and install.

On a desktop or laptop

The steps will vary depending on which VPN you choose. But you'll need to sign up for an account, download the app to your desktop, and install it. If you're using NordVPN, follow the link to do all three.

On a mobile device

In either the Android or Apple app store:

Search for your desired VPN service, e.g. "NordVPN".
Install the app on your phone/tablet.

Some phones have a built-in switch to turn the VPN on and off. Make sure after installing the VPN app that the switch is turned on. It can be found at the top of the "Settings" screen on an iPhone.

Most VPN providers will give you the option to choose through which country you want to route your internet traffic. Essentially, this means that you will be given a new IP address from the server in the desired country, making it appear as if you are using the internet in that country.

If you want to watch US Netflix, then you'll need to connect to a US-based VPN server. Again, NordVPN makes this easy, and even finds you the best server so you will not experience the slow down that many people do when using a server so far away.

Steps for mobile, desktop/laptop, and Amazon Fire

Sign in to your VPN app.
Choose a US-based VPN server.
Connect to the VPN server.

The steps for this change depending on what browser you use to access the internet. In most browsers, however, you can do this by:

Going to settings or preferences. (Sometimes three dots or lines at the top right of your browser.)
Navigating to "Privacy" or "Data".
Clearing all data, particularly cache.

Now Netflix will no longer remember that you were using the internet outside of the US.

Now, when you sign in to Netflix using a VPN, like NordVPN, it will appear as if you're watching from the US.

Yes. You'll still need to have a paid Netflix account from which to watch. We can, however, offer you some ideas on how to watch Netflix for free for a little while at least!

Turn the VPN off

When you're done watching your show and want to turn the VPN off, then simply return to the app and disconnect from the US server. You can turn it back on by following the above steps as needed.