The Netflix proxy error and how to fix it with a VPN

The Netflix proxy error occurs whenever Netflix detects that a user is trying to stream a video through a proxy server or VPN. A proxy error message displays in the video player and is often accompanied by the error code m7111-5059:

“Whoops, something went wrong. Streaming error. You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”

In this article, we’ll discuss the Netflix proxy error, why it’s there, how it works, and how to bypass it to continue enjoying Netflix while using a VPN. We’ll also list the best VPNs to help you bypass this proxy error. We’ll go into each of them in more detail, but in case you’re short on time, here’s a quick summary.

The best VPNs for the Netflix proxy error:

1. NordVPN: Our first choice VPN for Netflix! Offers very high speeds, strong security, reliable servers, and works well with Netflix. Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Netflix.
   
2. Surfshark: A budget-friendly VPN that works great with Netflix. No speed, bandwidth, or VPN connection limits. Strong encryption. Strict no logs policy.
3. IPVanish: One of the fastest VPNs tested. Ideal for streaming and works with Netflix US and Netflix UK. Unlimited simultaneous connections per account.
4. ExpressVPN: Secure, fast and reliable servers in every corner of the globe. Great for accessing Netflix in UHD quality.
5. CyberGhost: A great VPN for beginners as apps are easy to install and get working. Streaming speeds are surprisingly good for a low-cost provider.
6. PureVPN: Perfect if you want to watch Netflix on a budget. Secure, fast, apps for all devices and fast WireGuard connections.
7. ProtonVPN: Highly advanced VPN that works to watch multiple Netflix regions. Solid no-logs policy and robust AES encryption. System-level kill switch.
8. PrivateVPN: Low-cost provider that can access most streaming sites, including Netflix. Effective stealth mode and static IP addresses available.

Why does Netflix ban VPNs and proxies?

When Netflix went global, it didn’t have all the licensing rights necessary to stream the same TV series and movies to every country. And even before the worldwide rollout, users would connect to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and other types of proxies to access the different content available in other countries’ Netflix libraries. The US Netflix library is particularly popular due to its larger and generally newer catalog of TV shows.

A proxy service acts as a middleman between your device and Netflix. Instead of communicating directly with Netflix, internet data is first routed through the proxy server. To Netflix and other websites and apps, it appears the user is connecting from the proxy server’s location instead of their own. If the user is in Canada and wants access to US Netflix, for example, they can connect to a proxy server in the USA and gain a US IP address. In simplest terms, VPNs work the same way but usually encrypt data in transit.

Netflix started blocking connections from all proxies and VPNs in early 2016 to enforce its copyright obligations. The trouble with this is that even users who connect to a proxy service or VPN server in their own country get hit with the proxy error, despite not trying to access content from another country.

How to fix the Netflix proxy error

Once you have a suitable VPN, avoiding the dreaded proxy error is easy. Simply follow this step-by-step guide.

Here’s how to avoid the Netflix proxy error:

1. Sign up for a VPN that works with Netflix. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Run your VPN app
3. Select the server location for the Netflix library you want to access. To watch UK Netflix, for example, choose a server located in the United Kingdom, this will give you a UK IP address.
4. Hit the Connect button and give it a few seconds to establish a VPN connection.
5. Open the Netflix app or go to Netflix in your web browser.
6. If your VPN is working, you should now be able to stream without the proxy error.

If you’re still getting the proxy error, try using a different server or location, clearing your cookies, and/or clearing your web browser cache. If you need more support, you can read our guide on what to do if your VPN isn’t working with Netflix.

Your VPN provider’s customer support might be able to help choose the correct settings and servers for Netflix.

How we chose the top VPNs for the Netflix proxy error

As well as being able to evade detection by Netflix, VPNs need to be fast enough for streaming, while also being secure, good value and easy to use. This may sound like a tall order, but our thorough testing process meant we were able to deliver on it.

• Features: We started by testing whether providers actually worked with Netflix. We then tried them out with other popular streaming services. As the US tends to be the favored Netflix library, we also checked how many State-side server locations each provider had.
• Speed: While connected to each provider’s US servers, we conducted multiple speed tests to see which were suitable for streaming Netflix in 4K.
• Security and privacy: To gauge which providers provided comprehensive protection, we evaluated them against 16 different security and privacy metrics. Those that performed poorly were rejected.
• Ease of use: If you’re reading this, you want a solution to Netflix blocking you — and likely asap. As such, we’ve only recommended providers with user-friendly services — as measured by our 10 ease-of-use metrics.
• Value for money: We’re always on the lookout for the best deals — whether that’s a provider with a generous money-back guarantee or one with a student discount. In all we used 10 different metrics to measure value for money.

The above is just a summary. You can read a detailed account of our testing process in the methodology section later in the article.

Best Netflix VPNs compared

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for bypassing the Netflix proxy error.

Best VPNs to bypass the Netflix proxy error

The most reliable method to allow access to Netflix from abroad is still by using a VPN.

Here are the best VPNs for Netflix to resolve the proxy error.

1. NordVPN

Jun 2025 works with NetflixTested Jun 2025

NordVPN works with more country-specific Netflix catalogs than any other provider in this list. This includes Netflix US, UK, Germany, France, Canada, Brazil, and Netflix Japan.

The provider has more than 7,400 servers in 118 countries — all of which are suitable for streaming. We had no problems accessing Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Amazon Prime Video.

Speeds are highly impressive. While connected to NordVPN’s US servers, we recorded an overall average download speed of 199.78 Mbps. This is more than fast enough for streaming Netflix in UHD on multiple devices (as a side note, NordVPN allows up to eight simultaneous device connections).

Other features include an obfuscation protocol called NordWhisper, one-click access to the Tor network, and MultiHop servers.

NordVPN has apps with a full GUI available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. Want to know more? Read our guide to using NordVPN with Netflix.

BEST FOR NETFLIX:NordVPN is our top recommendation. It’s extremely fast and works with Netflix no matter which server you’re connected to, which makes it a breeze to get up and running. Strong security and privacy policies. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

works with NetflixTested Jun 2025

Surfshark is extremely affordable and works with several Netflix libraries, including Netflix US, UK, and Japan.

The provider has a global network of over 3,200 servers in around 100 countries, so finding a server in your desired location is easy. We used Surfshark’s US servers for our speed tests, the results of which you can see below.

Speeds were consistently fast, with an overall average of 193.45 Mbps. The provider was more than 53 Mbps faster than the combined average speeds of the other tested providers. In practice, you’ll have no trouble streaming, gaming, or torrenting while connected. 

Some of the provider’s standout features include a stealth mode that can bypass blocks in China, MultiHop servers for additional encryption, static IP addresses, and an ID-generation tool.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. For more information, check out our guide to Surfshark and Netflix.

BEST BUDGET VPN:Surfshark is highly affordable and works out of the box with Netflix. It’s secure and reliable and doesn’t impose a connection limit. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Surfshark here.

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3. IPVanish

works with netflixTested Jun 2025

IPVanish has become one of the best VPNs on the market thanks to its fast speeds and strong unblocking ability. This makes IPVanish an excellent choice for Netflix, and you can use it with both the US and UK versions.

In our speed tests, IPVanish averaged an impressive 169.00 Mbps. This is fast enough for streaming Netflix in UHD on up to six devices simultaneously, which is perfectly possible as IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous device connections.

The provider’s features include a Scramble function for obfuscating user-generated traffic; an ad, tracker, and malware blocker; split tunneling; a kill switch, and leak protection.

IPVanish apps are available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Amazon Fire TV. You must manually configure the on Linux and select routers.

LAG-FREE STREAMING:IPVanish lets you stream in the highest quality thanks to its fast, unthrottled connections. Unlimited simultaneous connections and quality customer support. Includes a no-logs policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

works with NetflixTested Jun 2025

ExpressVPN works with Netflix in several countries, including the US, the UK, and Canada. It also works with BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

The provider has more than 3,000 servers in 105+ countries. We used its US servers for our speed tests. As you can see from the chart below, ExpressVPN was consistently quick. Its overall average download speed of 128.71 Mbps is fast enough to comfortably stream Netflix in UHD on five devices at the same time. 

The provider has built-in obfuscation that enables it to work in restrictive countries such as China. It also has its own connection protocol, and comes with a kill switch, content filtering, and app-based split tunneling.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and certain Wi-Fi routers. If your device doesn’t support VPNs, for example, if you’re using a game console or Apple TV, you can use the MediaStreamer smart DNS proxy included in every ExpressVPN subscription.

Read more about using ExpressVPN with Netflix here.

STREAM WITH EASE:ExpressVPN is fast and security-conscious. It’s been reliably working with Netflix since the proxy error first appeared. Secure and reliable with a no-logs policy and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

works with NetflixTested Jun 2025

CyberGhost provides access to US, UK, and JP Netflix and is a great beginner-friendly option.

The provider also works with several other big-name streaming platforms. Usefully, it maintains a list of servers labeled with the streaming services that they work best with.

Speed-wise, CyberGhost is ideal for streaming. In our tests, it overall average download speed was 141.70 Mbps. This is fast enough for streaming Netflix in UHD on five device simultaneously (not that CyberGhost has a seven-device connection limit).

The provider has a large network of more than 10,000 servers in 100 countries. Its apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Read more about using CyberGhost with Netflix.

EASY TO USE:CyberGhost specifically lists Netflix servers in its apps, so you don’t have to guess at which locations work. 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full CyberGhost review.

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6. PureVPN

works with netflixTested Jun 2025

PureVPN is an awesome VPN that is perfect for users on a budget. Despite being cheaper, it can effectively access multiple Netflix regions, including the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, and Germany.

Thanks to its fast servers and WireGuard protocol, PureVPN ensures fast streaming of UHD content without the frustration of buffering. While connected to its US servers, we recorded speeds of between 139.52 Mbps and 151.47 Mbps. 

PureVPN has servers across over 65 countries, enabling users to access a wide range of region-locked content and services globally. It is particularly good for streaming British television channels like BBC iPlayer and ITVX – as well as watching tons of US streaming platforms (ESPN, Sling TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream, Hulu, HBO Max, and many more).

The VPN has reliable apps for all major platforms and includes advanced security features like robust AES encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a strict no-logging policy. These features make PureVPN a secure choice for those looking to stream content discreetly at work or school and are equally beneficial for remote work and protecting against ISP snooping and government surveillance.

A minor limitation is the somewhat slow response times of its live chat support, however, the overall performance and reliability of this VPN make it an excellent choice for most home users. Plus, you can try PureVPN risk-free using its 31-day money-back guarantee.

LOW COST:PureVPN is perfect if you want to watch Netflix on a budget. It is secure, fast, and perfect for home internet users seeking online freedom and privacy. Apps for all devices and fast WireGuard connections. 31-day money-back guarantee lets you test it yourself.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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7. ProtonVPN

works with netflixTested Jun 2025

ProtonVPN offers fast access to US-based platforms with its Tier 1 servers strategically located on both the West and East coasts. This setup is ideal for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Peacock, as well as for accessing US game servers and other region-specific content.

ProtonVPN maintains a robust no-logging policy. Its apps are equipped with 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection. The service combines robust protection with high-speed connectivity giving you the best of both worlds.

In our speed tests for this article, ProtonVPN averaged 139.66 Mbps. This makes it an excellent choice for those wanting to access entertainment — whether that’s streaming Netflix or online gaming.

With servers in over 117 countries, ProtonVPN excels in overcoming regional restrictions and navigating censorship. Just remember that its free plan does not support Netflix streaming—this requires a paid subscription. Torrenting is supported with features like split tunneling and port forwarding. It even has advanced features like obfuscation, Tor over VPN, multi-hop, and ad and tracker blocking.

While ProtonVPN’s pricing is higher than some alternatives, its extensive features justify the cost for users who want advanced functions as well as great speeds. Plus it is one of the fastest connecting VPNs we have ever tried. ProtonVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee offers a risk-free way to evaluate its performance compared to other VPNs.

Having issues? We have a ProtonVPN troubleshooting guide for Netflix.

GREAT FOR TORRENTING:ProtonVPN is a highly advanced and feature-packed VPN. It works to watch multiple Netflix regions as well as tons of popular services around the world. Perfect to engage in secure torrenting. Solid no-logs policy and robust AES encryption. System level kill switch. 30-day refund guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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8. PrivateVPN

works with NetflixTested Jun 2025

PrivateVPN is a smaller provider but works with Netflix in several countries, including the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, and France. If you’re trying to access a show or subtitles only available in a specific country, try this one.

PrivateVPN has servers in 63+ countries overall and performed steadily in our speed tests. Its average speed across the three tests was 54.27 Mbps, which — though noticeably slower than the test results above — still means you could stream Netflix in UHD on two devices at the same time. 

PrivateVPN’s features include a stealth mode than works in China and the UAE, port forwarding, static IPs, and the ability to adjust the encryption level for faster speeds.

Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL:PrivateVPN works with Netflix in a variety of countries, so it’s great if you want to access international libraries. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: How we found the best VPNs for fixing the Netflix proxy error

Most VPNs struggle with Netflix, which often results in the Netflix proxy error. To spare you from having to test a succession of VPNs to find one that works, we’ve done the testing for you. Even better, we’ve found those that also provide an all-round solid service in other key areas:

Speed

To find the VPNs most able to provide you with interruption-free streaming, we conducted multiple speed tests. As US Netflix is the most popular option, we used each provider’s US servers. To replicate the average user’s experience we limited our own connection speed to 250 Mbps. Measurements were taken using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app.

The results for each provider were averaged and then converted to an overall score out of 10 relative to the other tested providers. This makes it easier to directly compare them.

NordVPN was the fastest provider overall, with Surfshark a close second. Both providers are ideal for watching Netflix in the highest resolution available — and on multiple devices at the same time. While all VPNs slow your connection a little, these two will slow it the least. Indeed, most people won’t even notice a difference.

Features

We tested each VPN with Netflix and scored it on the number of country-specific libraries it could access. As most people use more than one streaming platform, we also scored providers on the number of other services they could access. Finally, we scored VPNs according to how many server locations they had in the US, as this is a good indication of server availability in the country.

These scores were weighted and then combined to generate the following comparison chart:

ExpressVPN’s score of 9.1 was highest. It had the most US server locations and excels at unblocking just about anything. Surfshark and IPVanish are excellent alternatives.

Security and privacy

If you want to be able to access Netflix while traveling abroad securely, you’ll need a VPN service that uses 256-bit AES encryption. This, combined with a kill switch and DNS leak protection, ensures you’re protected from cybercriminals. If you’re looking for even greater protection, note that some VPNs offer extras, such as an ad-blocker. Use the table below to see how each VPN performed against our security and privacy test metrics.

If the terms used above don’t mean much to you, don’t worry. We’ve combined the test results to generate a chart showing overall scores for each provider.

NordVPN and Surfshark each scored a winning 9.5. Both providers use effectively uncrackable encryption together with RAM-only servers. Their obfuscation works in restrictive countries like China, and they’ve had multiple independent audits of their software and infrastructure. ProtonVPN is a great alternative, though it doesn’t work in China.

Ease of use

We’ve only selected VPNs that offer user-friendly apps for desktop and mobile platforms. These are quick and easy to navigate and even come with 24/7 support, whom you can contact via live chat and email. We also assess providers on their customer service, as you can see in the table below. 

To paint a rounded picture of each provider’s user-friendliness, we combined the scores for each of the above metrics to generate the chart below.

NordVPN was the easiest-to-use provider overall. Its apps are particularly well-designed and include task-specific servers for more advanced users. There’s a strong customer support team and signing up is a hassle-free experience.

Value for money

Just because a VPN offers the above doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. We look for VPNs that suit a range of budgets and that come with things like student discounts and generous money-back guarantees.

Each of the above metrics was assigned a score, which we then combined into an overall rating out of 10 for each provider.

Surfshark, with a score of 9.7, was the best value for money provider overall. IPVanish was a very close second. Both providers allow unlimited simultaneous device connections and have generous two-year introductory offers (with Surfshark being the slightly cheaper of the two).

How does the Netflix proxy error work?

Netflix doesn’t publicly disclose how the VPN ban and proxy error work, but we can surmise a few things through our extensive testing.

Blacklisting IPs

An IP address is a unique string of numbers and decimals assigned to every internet-connected device. Public IP addresses are visible on the web and correspond to specific countries. Whenever you connect to a VPN or proxy service, your device’s public IP address is masked by that of the proxy server.

Netflix blacklists most proxy and VPN server IP addresses. Rather than weeding out individual servers, we believe Netflix simply blocks entire ranges of non-residential IP addresses. Netflix knows most proxy servers are hosted in data centers, which use different ranges of IP addresses than residential networks.

DNS filtering

Netflix can also detect when some VPNs and proxies are being used through DNS. DNS, short for Domain Name System, works like a phone book for the Internet, associating IP addresses with domain names.

Whenever you go to the Netflix website, your web browser sends a DNS request to a DNS server. The DNS server looks up the IP address for Netflix and returns it to your device, which then fetches the video from the Netflix server. Netflix can determine which DNS server was used in this transaction.

By default, your DNS server probably belongs to your local Internet Service Provider and corresponds to a specific country or region. Many proxies and VPNs only route web traffic and not DNS traffic. If Netflix spots a mismatch between your DNS server location and your IP address location, it knows a proxy service is in use and throws up the error.

Most good VPN providers route DNS traffic along with everything else through their servers, but the Netflix apps for iOS and Android compound the issue by overriding these DNS settings. The website version that you access in a web browser doesn’t do this, though, so accessing Netflix in a browser is typically easier than on mobile apps.

Why Netflix bans VPNs

Our research has conclusively shown that despite Netflix’s aggressive crackdown on VPN and smart DNS proxy providers, a select few VPN providers have managed to maintain Netflix access for their users. This heavy-handed VPN ban overlooks these tools’ crucial role in safeguarding users’ privacy and enabling secure access to home-based services while traveling abroad. We firmly believe that the value of these essential privacy shields should not be underestimated or ignored.

Through years of experience testing VPNs, we’ve discovered that even with the ban in place, VPNs and smart DNS proxies are still the most commonly used and accessible methods for accessing Netflix outside of one’s home country. We firmly believe that both options effectively resolve the proxy error, and we will detail how to do so in the upcoming sections.

How do VPNs work with Netflix?

As mentioned above, a VPN encrypts a device’s internet traffic and routes it through a middleman server in a location of the user’s choosing. By connecting to a VPN in the US, you can access the internet as if you were physically located in the US.

For the average Netflix user, a VPN is a desktop or mobile app that usually requires a small monthly fee.

Most VPNs that can reliably access Netflix don’t share how they do so. Again, however, we can surmise how they manage to do it.

Because Netflix blacklists most data center IP addresses, VPN providers set up several servers using residential IP addresses. These IPs are off Netflix’s radar, and blocking them could result in some non-proxy users being unable to access videos. If Netflix happens to block a residential IP anyway, the VPN provider swaps it out with the next one in line.

A few VPNs have also forced the Netflix app to use the VPN provider’s DNS servers instead of local ones. This ensures that Netflix cannot determine whether the user is accessing videos through a VPN.

Smart DNS proxy

A smart DNS proxy cleverly allows you to use a proxy only as needed for certain websites, apps, and services. It is usually configured in the DNS settings of your device’s network settings menu. Like VPNs, DNS proxies often require a monthly subscription.

We mentioned before that DNS works like a phone book for the internet. Smart DNS alters entries in the phone book for specific domains like “netflix.com.” Instead of Netflix’s IP address, a request for netflix.com on a smart DNS proxy sends your traffic to a proxy server in the US (or the location you want to access).

These proxy servers likely use residential IP addresses in place of commercial data center IP addresses to avoid Netflix’s firewall, similar to some VPNs. Unlike VPNs, however, your internet traffic is not necessarily encrypted, so you don’t get the same level of privacy or security. They are useful, however, on Smart TVs when no VPN app is available.

Combining smart DNS and VPNs

Most VPN providers that can access Netflix only operate a small handful of servers that can do so. This means users must look up or ask customer service which server or location to connect. To get around this, some providers combine a VPN with smart DNS to let users use Netflix regardless of which server they’re connected to.

For example, when you connect to any NordVPN server through a VPN, you use NordVPN’s DNS servers. Those are smart DNS servers that, in most cases, will route requests to Netflix back to the US version, regardless of actual server location. This allows NordVPN users to access Netflix USA from any server location, although they might not get the localized version they expect. In this case, even though you’re connected to a server in Mexico, your connections to Netflix still run through US servers.

Some VPN providers like ExpressVPN allow you to use smart DNS either with the VPN or as a standalone service.

Netflix Proxy Error: FAQs