Are you wondering why you cannot stream anything on Netflix?
When it comes to on-demand movie streaming services, Netflix is arguably the best in terms of content and optimization. Their platform works most of the time smoothly and does not require a lot of bandwidth.
However, it can be pretty frustrating if you cannot stream anything on Netflix for unknown reasons.
Based on what we’ve found out, this problem commonly occurs when Netflix servers slow down due to the number of users using the platform or an issue on your device or network.
Since the problem does not give an error code or points out a particular issue, troubleshooting can be handy, especially if you don’t know where to start.
To help you, we’ve decided to show you what to do if you cannot stream anything on Netflix.
Let’s jump right in!
1. Check Netflix Servers.
Netflix is an online streaming service that relies on its servers to deliver content to people. However, if its servers go down unexpectedly, the platform may not work as usual, or random errors can occur.
To check if the problem is Netflix servers, visit their dedicated page to see the platform’s current status. You can also use third-party websites like Downdetector if Netflix’s status page is not accessible.
If the servers are down, the best thing that you can do is wait until their team fixes the issue.
2. Check and Reset Your Internet.
If Netflix’s servers are working fine, the problem could be with your internet connection. Minimum internet bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps is needed to use Netflix without issues. To check if your connection meets that requirement, run a speed test using Fast.com.
Contact your service provider for an upgrade if your network does not meet the minimum requirement.
On the other hand, try restarting your router if you know that your subscription goes beyond that requirement. Unplug your router’s power cable from the outlet and allow it to rest for 5 to 10 seconds. After that, plug back in the power chord to the outlet to restart your router.
Once done, re-run the test on your network to check if it is now running correctly. If not, call the attention of your ISP and ask them to fix their service.
3. Test Using Another Device.
If you cannot stream anything on Netflix using your current device, try switching to a browser or another platform and see if the problem would be the same.
Your device could be experiencing some issues and having difficulties playing various titles on Netflix.
On the other hand, proceed to the final method below if you can’t stream anything on all your devices.
4. Re-Login to Your Account.
Temporary errors may have occurred on your user data during use or when Netflix’s servers went down unexpectedly. If this is the case, you can expect the platform not to work until you refresh your current session.
To do this, log out of your Netflix account and sign back in after several minutes to reload your user data.
On Android and iOS, you can log out of your account by doing the following:
- On your mobile device, launch the Netflix app.
- After that, tap on your Profile from the top right corner of your display.
- Lastly, tap the Sign Out button at the bottom of the page.
For browsers and macOS devices, follow the steps below to sign out your Netflix account:
- First, access the Netflix website using your preferred browser.
- Next, point the cursor to your Profile to open the drop-down menu.
- Finally, click on Sign Out of Netflix.
If you are using the dedicated Netflix app for Windows, you can log out of your account by doing the following:
- First, launch the Netflix app from your desktop.
- Now, click on the More Options button at the top right corner of the window.
- Lastly, click on Sign Out.
After that, wait for several minutes before logging back into your Netflix account.
5. Turn Off VPN.
VPNs or virtual private networks are services that provide security over your network. It can also bypass restrictions set by your ISP or the applications you access. Now, Netflix is known to go against users who run VPNs to access restricted content for their region.
Some titles on Netflix are not available in particular countries due to licensing issues. If users get access to these titles, Netflix could face legal actions. The Netflix app would not work on your device if it detected a VPN running.
If you cannot stream anything on Netflix, turn off your VPN first and see if the problem goes away.
On the other hand, consider using alternative services like PureVPN. Compared to other VPNs, it does not interrupt your network connection and works well with Netflix and other applications.
6. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies.
Search browsers use temporary data called caches and cookies to improve their performance when loading up websites. However, these data could get corrupted at any time and cause multiple problems on Netflix and other sites that you visit.
To fix this, clear your browsing data to get rid of corrupted files on your browser. See the steps below to guide you on the process:
- On your browser, open the Options tab located at the top right corner of your display.
- After that, click on Settings and navigate to the Privacy and Security tab.
- Now, click on Clear Browsing Data and change the Time Range to All Time.
- Finally, make sure that caches and cookies are included in the process, then click the Clear Data button.
After deleting your browsing data, log back into your Netflix account and try to play several titles on the platform.
7. Disable Your Browser Extensions.
Extensions or add-ons are third-party applications installed on your browser that provide extra features on websites. However, not all sites are compatible with these extensions and could interrupt how they usually work.
Disable your browser extensions if you cannot stream anything on Netflix. Follow the guide below to turn off your browser extensions:
- On your browser, press the Options button from the top right corner of your display and open the Settings tab.
- After that, click on the Extensions tab.
- Lastly, disable all your extensions and restart your browser.
Once done, go back to Netflix and check if the problem is solved.
8. Run Malwarebytes.
If you experience other issues aside from Netflix, your device could be suffering from a malware attack. Viruses take up all your system resources, which affects your system’s performance resulting in applications not working correctly.
To check your system for malware and other viruses, download Malwarebytes and use its full system scan feature. This will automatically scan your entire storage for infected files and remove them with a single button press.
Malwarebytes is available for all major operating systems like iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.
9. Restart Your Device.
Your device may have encountered a temporary error that causes applications to malfunction. In this case, we advise that you restart your device to reload all its resources and refresh your operating system.
On Android, follow the guide below to restart it:
- On your device, press and hold its Power button until the options screen shows up.
- After that, tap on Restart.
- Wait for your device to reboot, which could take several seconds.
For iOS devices, you can restart them by doing the following:
- First, hold down on your iOS device’s Power button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ screen shows up.
- Now, drag the slider to the right until your display turns black.
- Finally, tap the Power button again to restart your device.
If you are using a Windows computer, check out the steps below to restart it:
- Press the Windows key on your keyboard to access the Start Menu.
- Next, click on the Power button to open the Power Options tab.
- Finally, click on Restart and follow the on-screen prompts to reboot your computer.
For macOS users, see the steps below to reboot your device:
- On your macOS device, click on the Apple logo at the top left corner of your display.
- Now, click on Restart from the drop-down menu.
- Lastly, click on Restart again on the dialog box to confirm your action.
For other devices, please visit Netflix’s Help Center and look for the guide dedicated to your device.
After restarting your device, go back to Netflix and see if you can now stream movies or TV shows.
10. Clear Netflix App Data (Android).
On Android, you can try clearing Netflix’s app data if you cannot stream anything on Netflix. Some of your application data may have gotten corrupted while in use or during a failed update.
Follow the steps below to clear Netflix’s app data on your Android device:
- On your device, open the Settings app and tap on the Apps tab.
- Next, find Netflix from the list and open it.
- Finally, open the Storage tab and tap on Clear Data.
Once done, re-login to your Netflix account and try to stream another movie or TV show.
11. Install the Right Drivers (Windows).
If you cannot stream anything on Netflix, your display drivers could be outdated or not installed correctly. To fix this, try to update your graphics driver to ensure that it is compatible with all the latest applications and installed correctly on your system.
To update your display drivers, follow the guide below:
- First, press the Windows + S keys on your keyboard and search for the Device Manager.
- After that, click on Open and expand the Display Adapters tab.
- Lastly, right-click on your graphics card and select Update Driver. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process.
Go back to Netflix afterward and check if the problem is solved.
12. Reinstall Netflix.
If you still cannot stream anything on Netflix, some of its installation files may have gotten corrupted and no longer fixable. In this case, the best option you got is to delete the app from your device and reinstall a fresh copy.
On Android, you can delete Netflix by doing the following:
- First, open your device and find Netflix from the app drawer.
- Next, tap and hold its app icon until the Options screen shows up.
- Lastly, tap on Uninstall to delete Netflix.
For iOS users, check out the guide below to uninstall Netflix:
- On your device, find the Netflix app from the home screen.
- Press and hold its app icon until the selection screen appears.
- Finally, tap on Remove App to uninstall Netflix.
If you are using a Windows PC, see the steps below to remove Netflix:
- On your keyboard, press the Windows + S keys and search for Add or Remove Programs.
- After that, open it and locate Netflix from the list.
- Lastly, select Netflix and click Uninstall to remove it from your computer.
Once done, reinstall the Netflix app on your device and check if the problem is solved.
13. Report the Problem to Netflix.
At this point, we suggest that you let Netflix handle the situation if none of the steps above worked for you.
Contact Netflix’s customer support and report the problem you experience on the platform. Ensure that you give all necessary information like your account details, the device you are using, and the show you are trying to stream.
We hope that one of the methods above helped you in fixing this issue on the Netflix app. If you need help, let us know in the comment section below, and we’ll get back to you whenever we can.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
