VPN Viewers Find Solutions to Netflix Limitations

Consumers bypass Netflix restrictions with the help of certain VPNs.

(SALEM, Ore.) - In 2016, Netflix, the popular online video streaming platform banned IP addresses associated with VPNs (virtual private networks) from accessing its services.

Although this step had implications on a large number of Netflix users everywhere, the ones that used ExpressVPN continued to enjoy the Netflix services. (You can go through a comprehensive ExpressVPN review to learn more about it).

Let’s find out the top tips from Salem-News writers on how those that use VPNs can still bypass the Netflix restrictions with the help of services like ExpressVPN.

Netflix – What is it?

However, the biggest issue with Netflix is that its services are country-specific, implying that if you stay in the UK, and want to watch the Netflix programs available in the US, you can’t do it unless you use services like virtual private networks.

After the Netflix banned VPN usage in the year 2016, although you could still access the Netflix website of a different country (from yours), you’d get the following error as soon as you tried watching some show from that country’s Netflix library:

“You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.”

Why does this happen?

When you use a VPN service, it allocates you a different IP address and your browsing session is kept private. This used to work perfectly well to access Netflix content until the platform started blocking the VPN IP addresses. Though it is their prerogative to do so, banning the VPN users was a disappointment to Netflix fans.

VPNs are not uncommon or illegal. Individual Internet users may secure their wireless transactions with a VPN, to circumvent geo-restrictions and censorship, or to connect to proxy servers for the purpose of protecting personal identity and location, which, in today's world, is quite understandable.

Netflix runs as a separate business entity in every country and whenever it purchases the rights to a TV program or a movie, those rights are meant only for a single or multiple pre-agreed countries. Hence, it becomes illegal for it to allow access to those TV programs or movies to viewers from other countries.

However, this Netflix VPN ban didn’t stop people from finding workarounds to the problem, as was no doubt expected.

How people continue to bypass this ban

Netflix viewers have basically two options today – either they can watch whatever is available in their country, or they can opt for a VPN that continues to work with the Netflix platform, despite the ban.

ExpressVPN is one such reliable and fast VPN service that continues to provide users with unrestricted access to the Netflix libraries in Germany, Canada and US.

Is Netflix okay with it?

It’s not overtly concerned. Instead, Netflix is currently working on a solution wherein it would be able to provide universal access to its content from anywhere in the world. If that happens, subscribers won’t need to use VPN services to watch their favorite Netflix programs/movies. We await the news of that solution.

Conclusion

Until Netflix starts offering global access to its libraries, a service like ExpressVPN is your only best bet to watch any blocked Netflix content. In case you decide to use a VPN service other than the ExpressVPN, make sure you check with the provider that it will indeed work with the Netflix platform.

Source: Salem-News.com Special Features Dept.