Netflix is one of the popular media streaming websites. One of the many reasons internet users use VPN to unblock unavailable video content. Video streamers access geographically restricted content by routing traffic through their VPN servers in the appropriate country or regional area. This disguises the users’ actual location and tricks Netflix into delivering the content they want.
VPN disguises its users’ locations and fools the streaming websites into providing a content catalog for a different region. However, if you have tried to do this before, you might have found that Netflix could detect and block your VPN connection.
But how is it able to do that? In short, streaming websites use various tools to identify VPN connections, including databases of known VPN IP addresses.
Why Does Netflix Block VPNs?
Netflix blocks VPNs because it considers them as a means of bypassing geo-restrictions, just like you cannot access Hulu outside the US. The reasons are that Netflix provides content in every regional library regarding the licensing and distribution regulations. Netflix will not be offering you a content title to your region.
Therefore, with distribution and licensing rules and regulations, every regional library gets its share of content titles. For example, if you search for Harry Potter on Netflix, you will only find it in a few regions. This happens because of the distribution and licensing rights issues.
Over the last few years, Netflix has become a content creator itself, putting out thousands of Netflix original movies and episodes. This has given the firm a significant financial incentive to crack down on VPN use.
How does Netflix detect a vpn?
The hard news for VPN users is that Netflix works pretty durable to identify and block VPNs. They need to impose copyright restrictions and defend the revenue lost by content creators when the video is streamed from an unlicensed region or country. This incentive has them on the watch for VPN usage and workaround to their restrictions.
So how do they do it? How does Netflix detect a VPN? In this blog, TechNinjaPro is going to highlight a couple of ways.
- Identifying Known VPN Provider IP Addresses
- Discovering Shared IP Addresses
- Caught Geolocation
- Looking for DNS Server Location Mismatches
1. Identifying Known VPN Provider IP Addresses
Netflix possibly enlists a service that tracks and provides information about servers and IP addresses, including those associated with VPNs. Once they identify the IP addresses that belong to VPNs, they can block them. This becomes a trouble when users use a service that does not regularly refresh their IP addresses.
2. Discovering Shared IP Addresses
When using a VPN, you may be using a shared IP address that quite a few other users possibly use. If Netflix sees much traffic coming from the same IP address, they can figure out pretty quickly that it is a Virtual Private Network and block it. This particular problem becomes trouble for those VPNs that have limited servers and available IP addresses.
3. Caught Geolocation
Your VPN may show that you are logging in from another country, but Netflix has many ways to identify where you are. The one way is your billing address. If your address is in New York and your traffic is from Germany, Netflix may believe you are on a VPN.
If you log in to Netflix and watch a movie without your Virtual Private Network, Netflix remembers that. When you log in through a Virtual private network and change your position, Netflix immediately identifies something is wrong.
4. Looking for DNS Server Location Mismatches
Netflix blocks VPNs in a slightly more technical way by detecting conflicts between DNS settings and IP addresses. The Netflix app has some features and knows you are on a VPN and block access to some content.
How to Avoid Netflix VPN Ban?
How can you prevent Netflix from detecting a Virtual Private Network and blocking you from viewing restricted content? You can try three main things: installing a VPN on your router rather than your devices, using a dedicated IP address or server, and using a VPN that continuously updates and renews IP addresses.
- Installing a VPN on Your Router Rather Your Streaming Devices
- Use Dedicated Servers and IP Addresses
- Use a VPN that Regularly Renews IP Addresses to Bypass the Blocks
1. Installing a VPN on Your Router Rather Your Streaming Devices
One method to avoid DNS location mismatches that activate proxy errors is by installing a VPN onto your router rather than on your streaming devices such as computers and mobile devices. Once you have installed the Virtual Private Network on your router, you can configure your settings to use the DNS servers provided by your VPN.
2. Use Dedicated Servers and IP Addresses
There are various VPNs such as NordVPN that can offer you a devoted VPN address and server that only you use. They are possibly available in the region from which you wish to stream shows and movies. This will get you around numerous VPN detection techniques. As no one else uses the address, Netflix will have difficulty identifying it as a VPN.
If you do not want to go that route, many other services have specific servers set up for watching Netflix. These special servers are specifically configured to avoid being blocked and are updated as required.
3. Use a VPN that Regularly Renews IP Addresses to Bypass the Blocks
Several VPNs are better than others when it comes to renewing IP addresses to avoid blocks. The one way to prevent Netflix from discovering a VPN is to use an IP address that has not been identified as a VPN. The best approach to accomplish that is to work with a VPN with a large number of addresses and regularly renewing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
By using a virtual private network that Netflix does not detect. The best VPN services to pick from are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and CyberGhost VPN, though many others do the trick as well.
Netflix does not ban VPN services outright, but you will be limited to Netflix Originals or other content if you use them. Netflix is allowed to stream everywhere to evade the potential licensing problem.
Netflix does not want its customers to stream movies and shows in regions where it is not licensed to distribute them. To stop this from happening, Netflix keeps a strict eye out for connections with DNS server location mismatches as well as IP addresses that are known to belong to virtual private networks.
The easiest way to change the Netflix region is by using a VPN. A virtual private network tunnels your internet traffic through an intermediary server located in a country of your choice. VPN can mask your actual IP address and replace it with one from your selected country, thus spoofing your current location.
Yes, VPN services are perfectly legal in the US and most western democracies such as Europe. VPN encrypts your internet connection and stops you from being hacked or tracked while you are online.
Conclusion
There are a variety of VPNs available in the market that can unblock Netflix without getting detected. The good news is that VPNs are susceptible to Netflix’s effort to block their traffic. The well-known VPNs constantly work on the problem and even offer tips, tricks, and advice on connecting to the content you want. Check out different VPNs that are suitable for streaming before choosing yours.