Netflix Not Working? Here’s the Fix!

Can’t watch your favorite shows because Netflix is not working? 

Netflix is one of the best movie streaming platforms today, with thousands of titles on their content library. They also release great original movies and TV shows like Money Heist, Stranger Things, and more. 

If you’ve been using Netflix for a while, you probably know that occasional errors happen on the platform, which is normal. Usually, faulty servers or a problem with your device are the common cause of Netflix issues. 

If Netflix is not working on your device, it can be frustrating, mainly if you have limited free time. Instead of enjoying your favorite shows, you are stuck on the couch trying to figure out what is wrong with the platform. 

We’ve decided to make a simple guide in fixing Netflix if it is not working on your device to help you out.

Let’s jump right in!

1. Check Netflix Servers. 

Before making any changes to your system, the first thing that we always recommend doing is to check if the issue is with Netflix or your device. Knowing where the problem is can help you identify the best approach to fix the issue. 

Visit Netflix’s dedicated status page to check if their servers are down or an unexpected error occurred. 

Netflix Server Status

However, if the website is not accessible, you can also use third-party tools like Downdetector. It is a site that shows the current status of application servers and the past issues they’ve encountered. 

2. Sign Out of All Devices. 

If Netflix is not working on your device, you’ve probably reached the maximum allowed devices to use your account. In this case, we suggest that you sign out of your account on all devices and log back in on the device you currently use. 

To sign out of your account on all devices, follow the guide below: 

  1. First, open your Netflix account using a browser. 
  2. After that, open your Profile and click on the Account tab. 
  3. Now, go to the Settings tab and click on Sign Out of All Devices
  4. Lastly, click on Sign Out again to proceed. 
Sign Out Netflix

Once done, go back to your device and try using Netflix again. 

3. Check and Reset Your Internet. 

Network-related issues could also be the reason for Netflix not to work. Since it is an online platform, it requires a minimum internet bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps to enjoy its services without a problem. 

To check your connection status, run a speed test using Fast.com to measure its current bandwidth.

Speed Test

If the result shows that your network is running slow, restart your router to re-establish the connection with your service provider’s servers. Unplug your router’s power chord from the outlet and wait for at least 10 seconds before plugging it back in. 

Restart Router

Once done, perform another test on your network to check if the restart worked. Contact your ISP if you continue to experience network issues and ask them to fix their service or upgrade your current plan. 

4. Turn Off VPN. 

Virtual private networks are services that provide security over your network and bypass restrictions set by your ISP. On Netflix, VPNs allow you to access restricted content on the platform. 

However, Netflix does not allow this and blocks users who run VPNs on their devices. Netflix could face legal sanctions if users can access the said titles. 

If you have a VPN on your device, turn it off before using Netflix. 

Turn Off VPN

On the other hand, you can also try other VPNs that work well with Netflix, like PureVPN. It also keeps your connection stable for a smooth movie-watching experience. 

5. Clear Your Browsing Data. 

Browsers store temporary data on your computer, which are called caches and cookies. Browsers use these data to enhance their performance when loading up websites. However, caches and cookies can accumulate over time and get corrupted. 

If this happens, expect unexpected problems to occur on the websites you visit. To fix this, clear your browsing data by doing the following steps below:

  1. On your browser, click on the Options button at the top right corner of your display and select Settings
  2. After that, go to Privacy and Security and click on Clear Browsing Data
  3. Now, include caches and cookies in the process and change the target Time Range to All Time
  4. Finally, click the Clear Data button to start the process. 
Clear Browsing Data

Once done, log back into your Netflix account and check if the problem is solved. 

6. Disable Browser Extensions. 

Browser extensions are mini-applications that provide additional features on the websites you visit. However, not all websites are compatible with these extensions and could disrupt their normal flow. 

If Netflix is not working on your browser, turn off your extensions first and see if the problem goes away. 

Follow the steps below to disable browser extensions: 

  1. On your browser, open the Options tab and go to the Settings page. 
  2. After that, click the Extensions tab on the side drawer to manage your extensions. 
  3. Finally, turn off all extensions installed on your browser. 
Netflix not working

Go back to your profile afterward and check if Netflix is now working. 

7. Run Malwarebytes. 

Do you experience other problems aside from Netflix not working? Your system could be suffering from a virus or malware attack. Viruses consume all your resources, which slows down your device’s performance and its applications. 

To fix this, download Malwarebytes and run a full system scan on your device. This will prompt the tool to search your entire directory for infected files and automatically removes them for you. 

It is available for all major operating systems, including Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS. 

8. Restart Your Device. 

Your device may have encountered a temporary glitch that causes other applications to run into errors. If Netflix or any application is not working, restart your device to reload its operating system and resources. 

On Android, check out the guide below to restart it: 

  1. First, open your device and press the Power button until the options screen shows up. 
  2. After that, tap on Restart
  3. Wait for your device to restart, which can take several seconds. 
Restart Android

For iOS users, you can restart your device by doing the following: 

  1. On your device, press the Power button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ screen appears. 
  2. Now, drag the slider to the right until the display turns black. 
  3. Finally, tap the Power button once to restart your device. 
Restart iOS

If you are using a Windows computer, you can restart it by doing the following: 

  1. First, press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu
  2. After that, click the Power button to access the Power Options screen. 
  3. Lastly, click on Restart to reboot Windows
Restart Windows

For macOS users, check out the guide below to restart your computer: 

  1. On your Mac, open the Apple Menu at the top left corner of your display. 
  2. Now, click on Restart from the drop-down menu. 
  3. Finally, confirm your action by clicking the Restart button again. 
Restart macOS

Once done, go back to Netflix and see if the problem is solved. 

9. Clear Netflix App Data (Android). 

For Android devices, you can also try clearing Netflix’s app data if it is not working correctly. Netflix stores temporary data on your device, which is used to improve its overall performance. 

However, some of Netflix’s app data may have gotten corrupted when the servers went down. In this case, we suggest that you clear its app data to fix the issue. 

Follow the steps below to clear Netflix’s app data: 

  1. On your device, go to the app drawer and open the Settings app. 
  2. After that, scroll down and access the Apps tab. 
  3. Now, open Netflix and tap on the Storage tab. 
  4. Lastly, tap the Clear Data button. 
Clear App Data

After clearing the app data, go back to Netflix and check if the problem is solved. 

10. Update Netflix. 

Netflix releases updates on its platform to ensure that errors get patched, and the app is optimized for most devices. However, if you haven’t updated the Netflix app on your device, now is the time to do so. 

For Android users, follow the guide below to update Netflix: 

  1. On your device, open the Google Play Store and tap on the Menu button. 
  2. After that, tap on My Apps & Games to check for updates. 
  3. Finally, tap the Update button next to Netflix to install the latest version. 
Update Android Apps

On iOS devices, you can update Netflix by doing the following: 

  1. First, open the App Store on your device. 
  2. Now, tap on your Profile to view the applications with available updates. 
  3. Finally, tap the Update button beside Netflix to install the update. 
Netflix not working

If you are using a Windows computer, check out the steps below to update Netflix: 

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu and launch the Microsoft Store
  2. Next, click on More Options and select Downloads and Updates
  3. Finally, click the Download button beside Netflix to install the latest version. 

After updating Netflix, go back to your profile and check if the problem is solved. 

11. Reinstall Netflix. 

If the update did not fix the problem on Netflix, we suggest that you reinstall the app on your device. Some of its installation files may have gotten corrupted and causes the application not to work. 

On Android, you can delete Netflix by doing the following: 

  1. On your home screen, locate the Netflix app. 
  2. Now, press its app icon until the selection screen shows up. 
  3. Finally, tap on Uninstall to delete Netflix
Netflix not working

For iOS devices, you can uninstall Netflix by doing the following: 

  1. First, find the Netflix app from your home screen. 
  2. After that, tap and hold its app icon until the options menu appears.
  3. Lastly, tap on Remove App to uninstall Netflix
Uninstall Netflix on iOS

If you are using a Windows PC, check out the guide below to remove Netflix: 

  1. Open the Start Menu and search for Add or Remove Programs
  2. Click on Open and find Netflix from the list. 
  3. Finally, click on Netflix and select Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove the app from your computer. 
Netflix not working

If you don’t see your device from the list, proceed to Netflix’s Help Center and look for your device’s specific guide. 

Reinstall the Netflix app afterward and check if the problem is solved. 

If you are experiencing a specific issue on Netflix, browse our other guides below and see if you can find anything useful.

13. Report the Problem to Netflix. 

If Netflix is still not working on your device, we recommend letting the experts handle the situation. 

Contact Netflix’s customer support and ask them to address the issue on their platform. Ensure that you provide all necessary details like your account information, the device you use, and a screenshot of the problem to help their team address it faster. 

Netflix not working

You can also browse the guides on their Help Center and see if anything works out for you. 

This ends our guide in fixing Netflix if it is not working on your device. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it. 🙂

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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