If you’re seeing the error message “Oops, something went wrong… You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy” when trying to watch Netflix, it’s bad news.
Your VPN server’s IP address has been blacklisted by Netflix. Don’t worry though – there’s a few fixes you can try to resolve the problem.
In this article, we help you understand how the Netflix VPN ban works and what you can do to beat it!
We also list five excellent VPNs that still work with US Netflix (see below).
See also:
- Netflix not working with NordVPN? Here’s some EASY fixes! (May 2023)
- ExpressVPN not working with Netflix? Here’s how to fix that! (August 2021)
Netflix error code m7111-5059?
The “Netflix error code m7111-5059” simply means that the VPN you’re using has been detected by Netflix (more on this later).
Follow the steps below to find out how to stop seeing the m7111-5059 error code when connecting to Netflix via a VPN.
Netflix not working with VPN: Quick guide
Netflix only blocks the IP addresses of some VPNs. Good VPNs usually work reliably with Netflix.
Follow the steps below to and you’ll be able to watch Netflix (again) from anywhere in the world.
Delete Cookies
If Netflix is no longer working with your VPN, a good place to start is deleting your Cookies.
Cookies are small files used to streamline your online experience. For example Netflix uses Cookies so you don’t have to input your login details everytime you access Netflix.
While they aren’t malicious files Cookies do contain information about where you’re located. This can be a problem.
If the Cookies show a different location than the location you’re connecting to with your VPN, Netflix will know you’re using a VPN and will block your connection.
To fix this, try deleting your Cookies.
Change to a different server
The most likely reason you’re coming across errors with your current VPN, is because Netflix has identified and blocked the IP address your VPN has given you.
This doesn’t necessarily mean it has been able to block all of the IP addresses your VPN can provide though.
Changing to a different server will give you a different IP address. If this one hasn’t been blocked by Netflix, your VPN will work with the streaming service again.
Change to a different protocol
Protocols are a set of rules or instructions that VPNs use to setup a server connection and communicate with that connection.
There are many different protocols out there. Each are designed for specific uses. Some prioritise speed, others prioritise security, some work well with Netflix, some don’t.
Most VPNs allow you to change between protocols. We advise changing protocol and then seeing if that fixes your VPN not working with Netflix.
Upgrade to a VPN that currently works with Netflix
If deleting your Cookies and changing to a different server doesn’t fix Netflix not working with VPN, your VPN hasn’t been able to get around Netflix’s VPN blocking methods.
This is potentially something that could take a long time to fix, as your VPN will need to purchase and release new IP addresses and build an infrastructure that prevents those new IPs from being blocked. This isn’t cheap and could take a long time.
While of course you could wait for your VPN to do that, the quick fix is to upgrade to a VPN that already has this sort of infrastructure in place. ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) is the best VPN on the market and it has measures in place that will allow you to watch Netflix reliably without issues.
How Netflix detects VPNs?
A cheap, oversubscribed VPN is easy for Netflix to detect.
Too many people connecting from the same (VPN) IP address is basically how all VPN IP addresses get detected and blacklisted by the streaming service.
An IP address is like a telephone number, complete with a dialling code. Every internet connection in the world has its own unique IP address. Your IP address reveals (to a website) which country/city your internet connection is coming from.
VPNs make money by sharing a small number of servers/IPs with a larger number of customers. When you use a low-end VPN, you’re sharing your IP address with a lot of other customers. So naturally, this IP will be detected and blacklisted by Netflix first.
The best VPNs, such as ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) provide users with access to a lot more servers and IPs. This is important as it allows them to spread their customers across their IPs. Keeping them undetected as the number of customers connected to Netflix via each IP remains under Netflix’s “abnormal” threshold.
ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) also play a game of Cat and Mouse with Netflix. When one of their IP addresses is detected and blacklisted, they react by shutting it down and opening a fresh (undetected) IP. This will allow you to watch Netflix reliably anywhere in the world and will prevent you running into the same problems you’re coming across with your current VPN.
Why does Netflix block VPNs?
It’s common knowledge that Netflix has different size libraries for different countries. This is due to the third-party content Netflix includes in its library.
Let’s use the TV show Frasier for example. You can watch it on US Netflix, but not on UK Netflix. This is because Netflix US has bought distribution rights from Paramount (the show’s producers and rights holders). However, Netflix doesn’t have the same distribution rights for the UK. Channel 4 and 4OD does.
But, if a UK Netflix subscriber uses a VPN to spoof their internet connection to somewhere in the US, they can use their same Netflix account to watch Frasier on US Netflix.
This is a global problem for Netflix. Part of the reason US Netflix has a much bigger library than any other region is that there are more subscribers in the US than any other country.
TV & Film distributors recognise this and sell their content to Netflix accordingly.
Netflix’s recent crackdown on VPNs is likely to be due to pressure put on them by the third-party rights holders it licences content from.
Does Netflix ban VPN users?
While we cannot say for certain, it is highly unlikely that Netflix will ban your account for using a VPN.
When using a VPN, the streaming service will try and block your connection, but this is unlikely to go any further.
If Netflix banned your account, you would probably cancel your subscription. This would result in a loss of revenue for Netflix, which it obviously doesn’t want. Therefore it is unlikely Netflix will ban your account for using a VPN.
What to do when Netflix blocks your VPN?
The best workaround for the Netflix VPN block is to simply use a VPN with servers/IPs that aren’t blacklisted by Netflix. It’s as easy as that.
These can be tricky to find and verify. So we recommend you use one of the VPNs featured below. These VPNs play a game of Cat and Mouse with Netflix.
When Netflix blacklists one of its IP addresses, the VPNs open a new one and direct their customers to it.
If you want to start watching US Netflix (again) all you need to do is sign up with one of the VPNs listed below and connect to a US server.
How do I stop Netflix blocking my VPN?
If Netflix is blocking your VPN, the VPN you’re using isn’t good enough to ensure it works reliably with the streaming service.
If your VPN was working with Netflix and now it’s not, the measures it has in place to get around Netflix’s blocks are no longer sufficient.
You can try the fixes above but nine times out of ten the best way to stop Netflix blocking your VPN is to use a VPN that has a proven track record of working well with Netflix.
We’ve tried and tested a number of VPNs with Netflix and we’ve listed the best ones for the streaming service below:
The best VPNs to watch Netflix
1. ExpressVPN 🥇
Why You Should Use ExpressVPN? It’s the fastest and MOST reliable VPN of 2022
Pros
- ✅ Fast servers
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ 10-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 24/7 Live Chat
- ✅ Easy-to-use app
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- ❌ Expensive
Special Offer for you!
Get 3 extra months free when you sign up for a 12-month ExpressVPN plan. That’s 15 months in total for the price of 12.
Number of servers: 3,000+ | Speed: >80% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 160 in 94 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $6.66/month for 15 months
- $9.99/month for 6 months
- $12.95/month for 1 month
ExpressVPN ($6.66/month) is still the best VPN. And importantly, it ALWAYS has servers that are open with major streaming sites such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
ExpressVPN is usually very good at playing Cat and Mouse with online streaming sites. Meaning, whenever one of its servers is blacklisted it creates a new one – giving its users a constant stream of servers that aren’t blocked. Needless to say, this is a valuable attribute if you’re looking for a VPN to unblock streaming sites.
Its app is easy-to-use and free to download on pretty much any device you can think of. Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, FireStick, Android TV, Roku, PS4, Xbox, Linux, even Apple TV (with a workaround). It’s got it all covered.
The app is another main reason this VPN is so good at unblocking TV streaming sites (that claim they block VPNs) is that its software takes a pragmatic approach to user management. While other VPNs tempt customers by promising them access to hundreds/thousands of servers in multiple countries, ExpressVPN does things differently.
With ExpressVPN you only have a handful of server locations to choose from. Once you select your location the app takes care of the rest. Assigning you to the fastest available server that’s not oversubscribed. This simple technique is so important, as it keeps ExpressVPN’s servers operating at lightning-fast speeds and prevents its IPs from getting blacklisted for “abnormal” usage in the first place.
Check out our full ExpressVPN review.
Special Offer for you
(30-day money-back guarantee)
2. Private Internet Access 🥈
The BEST low-cost VPN for streaming!
Pros
- ✅ Fast and reliable servers
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ 10-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 24/7 Live Chat
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- ❌ Only 48 server locations
Special Offer for you!
Sign up for a 3-year plan with Private Internet Access and save 83% + 3 months free. That works out at $2.03/month.
Number of servers: 25,000+ | Speed: >75% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 70 in 74 countries | Devices supported: 10 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $2.03/month for 3 years
- $7.50/month for 6 months
- $11.99/month for 1 month
Private Internet Access is one of the leading no-log VPN services with over 1-million paying customers.
This VPN is one of the best in the industry at beating streaming sites’ VPN bans. It provides reliable connections with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ Amazon Prime Video, etc. It also allows 10 simultaneous devices to be connected to its servers at the same time, so you can share the account with your close friends.
If – for whatever reason – you’re not happy with Private Internet Access, there’s a 24/7 live chat support available to assist you with your problem. PIA also offers the industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
From my tests (from New Zealand) I was able to get download speeds of 70 Mbps while connected to a UK server using the Private Internet Access VPN (my non-VPN speed is 100 Mbps).
Special Offer – Save 83%
(30-day money-back guarantee)
3. NordVPN 🥉
A very quick and trustworthy VPN
Pros
- ✅ Fast servers
- ✅ No logs
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ 6-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
- ✅ Easy-to-use app
Cons
- ❌ No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
Special Offer for you!
Sign up for a 3-year plan with Private Internet Access and save 83% + 3 months free. That works out at $2.03/month.
Number of servers: 5,000+ | Speeds: >80% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 62 countries | Devices supported: 6 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $3.49/month for 2 years
- $6.99/month for 1 year
- $11.95/month for 1 month
NordVPN is the most widely-used VPN in the world. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a polished app that delivers fast connections (more on this later) to a massive network of VPN servers.
It’s the most reliable at unblocking popular streaming services too – US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. This is because NordVPN hired a full-time technical team (that’s responsible for monitoring its servers’ connections with popular TV streaming services) and has been aggressively investing in its network of IP addresses in key locations.
Another interesting thing to note is that NordVPN is an industry leader in its development of Nordlynx technology. Nordlynx is built using the WireGuard, a new VPN tunneling protocol designed to outperform current standards (OpenVPN and IPSec). The benefits, according to NordVPN, are dramatically faster transfer speeds while connected to a VPN. My tests – New Zealand to London – confirm that Nordlynx is currently the fastest VPN on the market. However, the difference isn’t dramatic, a few Mbps is all.
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 70%!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
4. Ivacy
A very quick and trustworthy VPN
Pros
- ✅ Fast servers
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ Dedicated streaming servers
- ✅ 5-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
- ✅ 24/7 Live Chat
Cons
- ❌ Only 5 devices
- ❌ Sometimes runs slow
- ❌ Occasionally block by streaming sites for several days
Special Offer for you!
Sign up for Ivacy and enjoy a 7-day trial with no strings attached
Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $1.16/month for 5 years
- $3.50/month for 1 year
- $9.99/month for 1 month
If you’re looking for an excellent VPN, with an even better price tag, Ivacy ($1.16/month) is a great option.
This VPN has all the features you need to stream BBC iPlayer, in HD, from any country in the world. I’ve been testing the app recently on Mac, PC, Android, iOS and FireStick and the results have been impressive – unlocking BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. with ease.
The Ivacy app is a little different in regards to its UX (user experience). Instead of just selecting a UK server, you need to select the specific BBC iPlayer server. Don’t worry, this isn’t a bad thing – by connecting to a dedicated BBC iPlayer server, it simply means that you’re connecting to an IP address that Ivacy knows works with BBC iPlayer.
For an extra $1.99/month (£1.74) you can add-on a dedicated IP. This will buy you sole access to an IP address in a country of your choice, meaning you won’t have to share your IP (and speeds) with any other use. I don’t recommend this though, using the regular Ivacy servers is enough 95 per cent of the time.
Special Offer – 7-day FREE trial!
(30-day money-back guarantee)
5. CyberGhost
A very quick and trustworthy VPN
Pros
- ✅ 1-day free trial
- ✅ Reliable servers
- ✅ Thousands of IP addresses
- ✅ 7-simultaneous connections
- ✅ 30-day money-back guarantee
- ✅ Easy-to-use app
Cons
- ❌ Expensive
- ❌ Average speed scores
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
Take advantage of CyberGhost’s 1-day FREE TRIAL!
Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes
- $2.75/month for 3 years
- $3.69/month for 2 years
- $5.99/month for 1 year
- $12.99/month for 1 month
CyberGhost is one of the more established VPNs on the market. It has a well-established, and well-tested global network of servers that perform well.
From my tests over the past several months, CyberGhost has no trouble at unblocking major streaming services – US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max etc. This VPN performed well at maintaining download speeds, well above 65 per cent of my regular (non VPN) ISP speed.
That said, there’s nothing really unique about the service. Which forces you to look at its price-point. And there’s nothing special here. Its short-term $12.99/month price tag puts is well above the industry average of $10.10/month. Similarly, its long-term $2.75/month for 3 years deal isn’t much of a “deal” either.
Oddly, CyberGhost’s most unique feature is its a 1-day, no obligations, free trial. This is an appealing offer to customers who are new to VPNs. However, it’s important to remember that most reputable VPNs will offer customers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so try not to be too seduced by the offer.
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
(30-day money-back guarantee)
Netflix not working with VPN on iPhone?
If you’ve been watching Netflix with a VPN on your iPhone and it’s stopped working. Chances are the same thing has happened that we highlighted in this article.
Netflix has figured out you’re using a VPN and has blocked the IP address given to you by your VPN.
Just like Netflix not working with VPN, there’s nothing to worry about when Netflix stops working with VPN on iPhone. All you have to do is upgrade to a better VPN like ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or Private Internet Access ($2.03/month).
If you want to read the full article on how you can fix Netflix not working with VPN on iPhone you can go here.
Netflix not working with VPN on Android?
If your VPN has suddenly stopped working with Netflix on Android, chances are your VPN doesn’t have enough resources to ensure it can work reliably with the streaming service.
Don’t worry though, similar to this article all you have to do is upgrade to a VPN that can work with Netflix on Android reliably.
To read about how you can fix Netflix not working with VPN on Android, visit our dedicated article: Netflix not working with VPN on Android? Try these EASY fixes! (May 2023)
ExpressVPN not working with Netflix?
If ExpressVPN has stopped working with Netflix, then all the IP addresses ExpressVPN can currently provide have been identified and blocked by Netflix.
We’ve been using ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) to watch Netflix reliably for years and more often than not, changing to a different server will fix the issue.
If not, it will only be a short time before ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) is able to release new unblocked IP addresses. All you need to do is wait.
If it’s still not working, try the guide we’ve provided here.
NordVPN not working with Netflix?
NordVPN is usually very reliable when trying to watch Netflix.
If it has stopped working, don’t panic, there’s a number of fixes you can try to resolve the problem.
More often than not, Netflix will have identified the current IP address you’ve been given by NordVPN.
Fortunately, NordVPN has measures in place to stay one step ahead of these blocks.
However, if these measures aren’t working, you can always take a look at this guide to see how you can fix the issue on your own.
Surfshark not working with Netflix?
Netflix is getting very good at blocking IP addresses provided by VPNs.
If Surfshark has stopped working with Netflix, it means the measures the VPN has in place to get around Netflix’s VPN blocking techniques are no longer working.
There are some fixes you can try to resolve this issue. Usually, the most likely reason is all of Surfshark’s IP addresses have been blocked by Netflix.
You might have to wait for Surfshark to address the issue on its end, however in the meantime it might pay to get an additional VPN so you can change between them if this sort of error happens again.
Private Internet Access not working with Netflix?
Private Internet Access usually works reliably with Netflix; however we have noticed that it does come across issues from time to time.
If Private Internet Access has stopped working with Netflix, it either doesn’t have measures in place to stop Netflix blocking all of its IP addresses or the measures it does have are no longer working.
To fix this, you can follow this guide. We also recommend upgrading to a more reliable VPN like ExpressVPN ($6.67/month).
IPVanish not working with Netflix?
If you’ve been using IPVanish to access different Netflix libraries and its stopped working, Netflix has managed to block all of the IP addresses the VPN can currently provide.
This can be frustrating especially if it was working and now it’s not.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to fix IPVanish not working with Netflix. You can find out how to fix the issue here.
Ivacy not working with Netflix?
Ivacy not working with Netflix? Don’t panic there’s an easy way to fix that.
All you need to do is upgrade to a VPN that works reliably with Netflix.
Based on our tests we’ve found ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) is the best VPN for watching Netflix anywhere in the world.
Ivacy has stopped working with Netflix because the IP address you’ve been given has been blocked by the streaming service.
The best way to fix this is to upgrade to a better VPN where this won’t happen.
Tunnelbear not working with Netflix?
If you’re using the free version of Tunnelbear to watch Netflix, the first step is to upgrade to the paid version of the software.
This will provide you with more IP addresses and servers around the world.
If that’s still not working, you can fix Tunnelbear not working with Netflix by following our expert guide.
Don’t worry, fixing it is easy and won’t take long. You’ll be able to watch Netflix with a VPN again in no time!
CyberGhost not working with Netflix?
Based on our tests, CyberGhost struggles to work with Netflix.
CyberGhost is primarily a VPN for security as opposed to being able to access geo-locked content.
If CyberGhost is not working with Netflix we advise upgrading to a VPN that has better infrastructure in place to allow you to watch Netflix anywhere in the world.
We recommend ExpressVPN ($6.67/month). You won’t come across the same issues you’re coming across with CyberGhost when using ExpressVPN ($6.67/month).
