Netflix operates in more than 190 countries, but each country’s catalog is different. Some movies or series available in one region may be missing entirely in another. That’s why so many subscribers want to switch their Netflix region to unblock shows or films they can’t otherwise access from their location.
The reason is simple: you want the freedom to watch the content you’re paying for, no matter where you are. Fortunately, there are reliable methods to change your Netflix region safely and effectively. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best ways to do it, step by step, using a reliable VPN.
How to Change Your Netflix Country: Tutorial
We’ll begin this guide with the simplest, yet most effective method. Have you ever heard of a VPN? This service is designed to keep your online privacy intact. In addition, it can change your IP address to hundreds of countries and cities worldwide. How can this benefit you if you want to alter your Netflix region?
Exactly as it sounds. Using a VPN to switch your IP address to another country will make Netflix see you as if you’re there. Let’s say you want to access the American library. In that case, getting an IP address from the USA with a VPN will do the trick. Not all VPNs work with Netflix, and many are detected as a result.
For this guide, we’ll use NordVPN to demonstrate how to change your Netflix region because it works perfectly. That said, alternatives exist. Here is, in fact, the list of the three VPNs that we can recommend:
8922 servers
118 covered countries
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10 simultaneous connections
9.4 /10
3000 servers
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10 simultaneous connections
9.1 /10
27000 servers
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Unlimited connections
9 /10
1. Subscribe to a VPN Service
Subscribing to a VPN is mandatory if you want to successfully change country on Netflix. Premium providers primarily work with this streaming service, and in our experience, free VPN apps won’t suffice because they’re detected. Besides, you can get NordVPN and its 70% discount on biennial plans below.
A 30-day refund policy is included, so if you decide to ditch it because you no longer need it, you can do so and get reimbursed. Visit NordVPN’s site, select a plan, and provide your email. Once this is done, complete the payment and follow the other steps to create your account. It takes a minute.
2. Install a VPN
It’s time to install a VPN on the device you want to use for a Netflix region change. NordVPN works on all platforms: Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux. With ten simultaneous connections, you can set it up on multiple devices. We recommend downloading the app from its official site, installing it, and logging in.
3. Change Your Netflix Country
Think about which Netflix region you want. Let’s say you want to access the Australian Netflix catalog. Open the server list, find Australia, and click it. After the Connected message appears, your new IP is in place. With this IP address, you can go to Netflix and immediately see the UK library with all of its content.
The same goes for other countries like Japan, the USA, Canada, the UK, and others. If you’re interested, we have a guide on unblocking American Netflix. It’s the most popular library with many phenomenal series, movies, and shows.
Change Your Netflix Region With NordVPN
How to Change Netflix Region Without a VPN?
To be clear, using a VPN is the most efficient way to alter your country on Netflix. We don’t want to push it down your throat and say you must use it. It’s not mandatory, but after trying other methods, you’ll see they aren’t as good.
We have a few in mind with varying degrees of efficiency.
SmartDNS
SmartDNS is incredibly effective at streaming and unblocking content. Much like a VPN, SmartDNS can make you look like you’re accessing the website from another country. It’s done through complex manipulation of DNS requests.
There are two things to note. First, SmartDNS usually comes with VPNs like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, Surfshark, and others. Second, SmartDNS isn’t secure, so apart from the ability to change your region on Netflix, you get no encryption. There’s also a noticeable location lack.
VPN providers usually offer SmartDNS addresses in the USA, so you can only access the US library. A solution would be to purchase a separate SmartDNS service; there are many. To use SmartDNS, get the service, obtain and copy the DNS addresses you want, and paste them into the Network settings on your device.
You’ll find detailed tutorials for different devices on NordVPN’s website, for instance. A huge advantage of SmartDNS is that it works on all devices. This means you can use a new DNS address on your Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, routers, gaming consoles, and non-VPN-friendly systems like WebOS and Tizen.
In our tests, however, SmartDNS wasn’t more effective than a great VPN service. It was detected on multiple occasions, and its speeds weren’t as fast. You can still try it and see if it works for your needs.
Proxy Services
Proxy services are often confused with VPNs. They work similarly and act as intermediary servers between you and the website you’re trying to visit. Are they great for changing the Netflix region? In theory, yes, but in practice, no. Proxies also lack encryption, so they’re insecure, except if we’re talking about Shadowsocks.
Your standard HTTP proxies are slower and unoptimized for streaming. We found their connection instabilities to be a result of overcrowding. Something else we observed is that they won’t work with Netflix. In most cases, you can’t even pick the desired location. Even if you can, you’ll be locked into just a few countries.
Paid proxies are an option, but not a good one. They’re extremely expensive and difficult to set up. Some offer website unblocking abilities, but sadly, with slow performance. If you want a quality proxy, try Hide.me Proxy, but don’t expect miracles; it won’t work with Netflix and other streamers in 99% of the cases.
Remote Device Access
There’s an interesting method to change your country on Netflix. You can remotely access another device and route your traffic through its IP address. NordVPN offers its Meshnet function, which allows exactly that. Fortunately, it’s available even if you haven’t bought NordVPN; in other words, it’s free.
Meshnet lets you connect to up to 60 different devices and share files or remotely access and control them. The other device should also have Meshnet enabled, and by extension, NordVPN installed. From here, it’s smooth sailing. You can access the device in the USA (or any other country), visit Netflix through it, and watch.
To use Meshnet, simply download the NordVPN app, sign up for an account, and you’re free to take advantage of it; no payment is needed. With a free account, you won’t be able to use NordVPN, however. It is worth noting that more internet users use Meshnet and NordVPN to get around the Netflix password-sharing ban.
Discover NordVPN’s Meshnet Feature
Tor Browser (The Worst Option) ⚠️
Tor is phenomenal if you aim to get on the dark web. In our experience, it’s hardly great for anything more than hiding your IP address and enjoying anonymity. VPNs are still superior in this regard, but what about changing countries on Netflix?
Sadly, this is a viable but also the worst option. Tor will hide your IP address and protect your privacy, but won’t let you choose the location. The browser is also extremely slow because of the way it works, with its entry and exit nodes, encryption, and everything else.
If you want an accurate representation of its speed, here it is. Tor’s “speed” will make Netflix load for minutes before you can access anything. You can also forget about HD streaming and the snappiness you can get from a VPN. Worst of all, using Tor doesn’t guarantee you’ll change your Netflix region.
Remember, you can’t pick the location, so you don’t know how the website will interpret the connection originating from the Tor network.
Is Changing My Netflix Country Legal?
Using a VPN to circumvent geo-blocks is a common practice. It is legal if we’re talking about changing our Netflix country, too. This means you won’t suffer repercussions like fines, jail time, and so on. It’s worth mentioning that it’s against the platform’s terms of service. You just need to look at its terms of service.
The company is against using a VPN to access its restricted content. This makes sense because its content is usually blocked because of licensing agreements, allowing it to display certain titles in some countries. Since you’re watching something you’re not supposed to, changing your Netflix region is against the rules.
Can you be banned in that case? No, not to our knowledge. The worst that could happen is that your VPN gets detected by the streaming platform.
How Many Netflix Catalogs Are There?
Given that this streaming giant works in 190 countries, we’re looking at 190 libraries. Bear in mind that VPNs that work with Netflix can’t unblock all of them. They can, however, help you access dozens. We’re talking about popular catalogs from Europe, the USA, Asia, and a few other desirable regions.
If you’re interested in the largest, most title-rich libraries of this platform, here are a few that might spike your interest even more. The libraries you see below are known as the largest at the time of writing.
| Netflix Catalog | Number of Titles |
| Iceland | 9,700 |
| Slovenia | 8,500 |
| USA | 7,800 |
| Philippines | 7,600 |
| Indonesia | 7,100 |
| Pakistan | 6,800 |
| India | 6,700 |
The libraries you see are known as the largest at the time of writing. Iceland has more than 9,700 titles, while Netflix US is smaller with a tad over 7,800. You can access all these libraries with a VPN, so these regions’ titles are accessible anywhere. Connect to a server in the corresponding country, and you’re set.
Can I Find Subtitles in My Language?
Finding subtitles in your preferred language can be tricky when you change your Netflix region. You may locate the content you want, but if it isn’t available in your language and no subtitles are offered, your effort quickly becomes frustrating. Netflix provides a range of subtitle options depending on your location.
It also always includes a few universally popular languages. In most cases, your language will be listed. If it’s not, there are a couple of workarounds you can try. Start by visiting the Manage Profiles menu. Change the preferred language in your profile settings and check if subtitles in that language now appear.
If that doesn’t work, you can turn to third-party tools. One reliable option is Substital, a free browser extension for Chrome and Firefox. It lets you add subtitles to Netflix titles directly. Once installed, open Netflix, launch Substital, and the extension will detect the title you’re watching, be it a movie or series.
You can then search for subtitles in your language, select them, and even customize how they look, adjusting alignment, color, or font size to fit your preferences.
Why Can’t I Change My Netflix Region?
The most common reason is simple: you’re not using a VPN. Even with a VPN, you may run into issues. When this happens, it usually means Netflix has detected your VPN connection. Don’t worry, there are several fixes worth trying:
- Switch servers: Connect to another server in the same country or a different one, refresh Netflix, and try again.
- Clear cache and cookies: This removes old location data that might interfere with your VPN. After clearing them, reconnect and test again.
- Enable obfuscation: Some VPNs, like NordVPN, offer obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic, making it harder for Netflix to block.
- Try a different protocol: If WireGuard isn’t working, switch to OpenVPN (TCP) or IKEv2. These alternatives sometimes bypass detection.
- Use a VPN browser extension: If the desktop app fails, the extension may work, especially with WebRTC leak protection and location spoofing enabled.
- Contact support: Premium VPNs provide excellent customer support. They can tell you which servers currently work with Netflix.
Our Final Verdict
You don’t need to overcomplicate things or fly overseas just to change your Netflix library. The easiest and most effective solution is to use a VPN, which lets you switch your IP address in seconds and access content from other regions. Our top recommendation is NordVPN, but even ExpressVPN is a good alternative.
NordVPN consistently works with Netflix and even includes Meshnet for advanced device-to-device connections. Other tools, like proxies, Tor, or SmartDNS, are less reliable for streaming. The good news? VPNs are virtually risk-free to try, thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee for swift refunds if things don’t go your way.