Are you trying to figure out why you cannot watch anything on Netflix?
Netflix is one of the biggest on-demand movie streaming platforms, with over 200 million users worldwide. The app is subscription-based, so you need to register an account and pay a certain amount to access its features.
Through the years, Netflix has slowly built a deep content library and even produced its original movies and TV shows.
However, if you’re reading this right now, it is safe to assume that you have issues watching anything on Netflix.
Most of the time, server-related problems are the reason why you cannot watch anything on Netflix. However, it could also be an issue with your internet connection, or a third-party application like VPNs interrupts Netflix’s usual process.
Since there are many factors to look into, troubleshooting could be confusing without proper guidance.
In this case, we’ve decided to make a guide on what to do if you cannot watch anything on Netflix.
Let’s get started!
1. Check Netflix Servers.
Since Netflix is an online platform, it needs its servers to deliver services and features. However, if Netflix’s servers go down, you can expect different problems to occur on the platform.
To check the status of Netflix, visit their dedicated page where they show their servers’ current situation. Now, if the website is not accessible, you can also use third-party websites like Downdetector to check if there are any problems with Netflix.
If the servers are down, the best option you got for now is to wait. However, we also suggest that you try the remaining methods below and see if anything helps improve the situation.
2. Re-Login to Your Netflix Account.
Your user data may have gotten corrupted when Netflix’s serves went down or while browsing through the platform. If this happens, you need to refresh your current session to reload your account data and eliminate the errors.
On Android and iOS devices, follow the steps below to sign out of your Netflix account:
- On your device, tap on the Netflix app from your home screen to launch it.
- Next, tap on your Profile located at the top right corner of your display.
- Lastly, tap on Sign Out and follow the prompts to log out of your Netflix account.
If you are using a Windows PC, you can sign out your Netflix account by doing the following:
- First, launch the Netflix app on your Windows device.
- After that, click on More Options.
- Finally, click the Sign Out button.
For macOS and browser users, check out the guide below to sign out your Netflix account:
- On your browser, go to the Netflix website to access your account.
- Now, point your cursor to your Profile icon to access the drop-down menu.
- Lastly, click on Sign Out of Netflix.
If you don’t see your device from the list, visit Netflix’s Help Center and look for your device’s dedicated guide.
After signing out of your Netflix account, wait for a few minutes before logging back into your account.
3. Try to Play Another Title, Show, or Movie.
The problem could lie within the Netflix title that you are trying to play. There are times when a particular show or movie on the platform encounters a problem and becomes unplayable.
To verify if the problem is not isolated on a specific movie or show, browse the library and try playing another title.
If other shows play without problems, proceed to the final method below to report the issue with Netflix’s support team.
4. Turn Off VPN.
Netflix has some titles restricted to other regions due to licensing and legal issues. Some users bypass these restrictions through VPNs, which is why Netflix blocks any users running these services on their devices.
Besides, some virtual private networks don’t work that well and could cause delays and interruptions over your network. If you have VPNs running on your device, turn them off first before using Netflix.
On the other hand, you can also consider using other services like PureVPN if you want to be protected while browsing online. It also works if you want to access Netflix titles that are not available in your country.
5. Clear Your Browsing Data.
Search browsers use temporary data from the sites you visit to enhance their overall performance. These data are called caches and cookies, which can accumulate over time and cause performance issues on your browser.
With this, it is vital to clear your browsing data occasionally to keep your browser running at its peak performance.
If you don’t know how to clear your browsing data, check out the steps below:
- On your browser, click on the Options button at the top right corner of your display and select Settings.
- After that, scroll down to Privacy and Security and click on Clear Browsing Data.
- Now, change the Time Range to All Time and ensure that caches and cookies are included in the process.
- Finally, click on Clear Data to start the process.
After clearing your browsing data, log back into your Netflix account and try to play another title.
6. Disable Extensions or Try Another Browser.
Browser extensions or add-ons are programs installed on your system that provide additional features on certain websites. However, some extensions are not compatible with certain websites and could cause issues.
If you cannot watch anything on Netflix, turn off your browser extensions and see if the problem goes away.
- On your browser, click on the Options button and access the Settings tab.
- Next, click on the Extensions tab from the side menu to manage your browser extensions.
- Lastly, disable all the browser extensions or add-ons installed on your system.
On the other hand, you can also try using a different browser if you cannot watch anything on your current browser. Ideally, we recommend using popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, which use render engines optimized for most websites.
7. Run Malwarebytes.
If you experience other problems on your system besides Netflix, you may be dealing with a virus or malware infection. Systems infiltrated by malware and other viruses would often perform poorly, and applications can malfunction.
To check your system for infected files, perform a full scan using Malwarebytes. It is third-party software that scans your whole computer for viruses and malware and automatically removes them from your system.
Malwarebytes can also help prevent viruses from entering your computer in the future. It is available on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
8. Restart Your Device.
Your operating system could have encountered a temporary bug or glitch that causes other applications not to work correctly. If you cannot watch anything on Netflix, try to restart your device to eliminate any errors that may have occurred on your OS.
On Android, check out the guide below to restart it:
- Hold down the Power button of your Android device to access the Options screen.
- After that, tap on Restart.
- Wait for your device to reboot, which could take several seconds.
For iOS users, you can restart your device by doing the following:
- Press the Power button of your iOS device until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ screen shows up.
- Next, tap and drag the slider to the right until your device turns off.
- Lastly, tap the Power button again to power on your device.
If you are using a Windows PC, see the step-by-step guide below to restart it:
- On your computer, click on the Start button from the bottom left corner of your display.
- Now, click on the Power button to access the selection menu.
- Finally, click on Restart to reboot your operating system.
On macOS, you can restart your device by doing the following:
- First, press the Apple logo at the top left corner of your screen.
- On the drop-down menu, click on Restart.
- Lastly, click the Restart button on the pop-up message to confirm the action.
If you are using a different device besides the ones mentioned above, visit Netflix’s Help Center to guide you.
After restarting your device, go back to your Netflix profile and check if you can now play movies on the app.
9. Update the Netflix App.
Netflix releases frequent updates on its app to ensure that the platform is working correctly. However, if you haven’t updated the Netflix app on your device, bugs and other glitches may have occurred and are now causing problems.
To fix this, simply update the app to the latest version to ensure that errors get patched and the servers support the version you run.
On Android, check out the guide below to update the Netflix app on your device:
- First, go to the app drawer and launch the Google Play Store.
- After that, tap on the Menu button to access the side drawer.
- On the side drawer, tap My Apps & Games to prompt the Play Store to check for available updates.
- Finally, find Netflix from the list and hit the Update button to install the latest version.
For iOS devices, you can update Netflix by doing the following:
- On your device, access the home screen and open the App Store.
- Inside the App Store, tap on your Profile icon from the top right corner of your display.
- Scroll down and find Netflix from the list of applications.
- Lastly, tap the Update button beside Netflix to install the update.
If you are using a Windows PC, follow the steps below to update the Netflix app:
- On Windows, click on the Start Menu and launch the Microsoft Store.
- After that, click on your Profile icon beside the Search bar.
- Next, go to Downloads or Updates and click the Check for Updates button.
- Finally, click the Download button beside Netflix if there is a newer version available.
If you don’t see your device from the mentioned steps above, visit Netflix’s Help Center and look for the dedicated article for your device.
10. Check Your Internet Connection.
Problems playing titles on Netflix could indicate that your internet connection is running slow. Since streaming movies online requires a lot of bandwidth, it is vital to have a fast internet connection to avoid problems.
To check your network’s status, run a test using Fast.com to measure its current upload and download speed.
If the result shows that your connection is slow, refresh the link with your service provider’s servers by restarting your network router.
Locate the power cable of your router and remove it from the wall outlet. Wait for several seconds before plugging back in the power cable to restart your router.
Perform another test on your network to confirm if the restart worked. On the other hand, contact your ISP if your network continues to run slow and ask them to fix their service.
11. Report the Problem to Netflix.
If you still cannot watch anything on Netflix, we suggest that you call the attention of Netflix.
Contact their customer support and elaborate on the problem you are experiencing. Provide the necessary details, including your account information, the title you are trying to play, and the device you use to help their team provide a solution faster.
You can also visit Netflix’s Help Center, where you can find articles that can help you fix this issue.
This ends our guide on what to do if you cannot watch anything on Netflix. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂
