Change the Country on Netflix — Netflix Abroad

If you've ever opened Netflix while on vacation abroad, you probably know that the movies and series on offer can be widely different than what you're accustomed to. Netflix catalogs differ from country to country because the licensing rights negotiated by streaming services are secured individually for each market. Wouldn't it be great if you could access all content catalogs without having to travel?

It's actually quite simple to change the country catalog that Netflix displays, making it possible to view content from other regions. However, you can't just change your country in Netflix's settings—you have to trick the service by obtaining a foreign IP address. The easiest way to secure one of these is with a VPN.

A virtual private network or VPN is a tool that protects you and your privacy online. It creates a virtual tunnel between your device and the network you've connected to, anonymizing any data sent, while also changing your IP address.

This process entails sending your data through one of the VPN's servers, which can be located anywhere on the planet. For example, if you connect to a server in the US, you'll get a US IP address, which means websites and streaming services will treat you as if you were a visitor from America.

VPN services make it easy to establish a secure, anonymous connection via user-friendly apps. In the next section, we'll explain how these work.

To start, you'll need an account with a VPN provider of your choosing. While there are free VPN services, streaming foreign content on platforms such as Netflix, is usually only possible with a paid subscription.

The method used to change countries depends on where you watch Netflix.

If you use Netflix on a computer or smart device that supports apps, the process is incredibly easy. We'll explain how it's done using NordVPN, the best-performing service from our review, as an example.

1. Open the VPN app and select a server in the country whose content you want to access.

2. Connect to the server.

3. Go to Netflix's website. The catalog for the country you've connected to should now be displayed.

4. Once finished, close the VPN connection in the app's client.

If you want to watch Netflix on another device, such as your TV, the procedure is a bit more complicated. Native VPN apps do exist for some smart TVs. Should you have an Android TV, for example, you can simply download NordVPN and establish a VPN connection.

In the event that your VPN provider doesn't offer a dedicated app for your smart TV, you'll have a few options:

You can set up a VPN on your router and use it at the network level. This has an added advantage: instead of just using a VPN app on a single device, all devices on your network—including your TV—will have a secure connection and the ability to change locations.

The downside to this approach is that it is more complex than other options. Not every router supports each VPN service, and there's no universal guide because the technique varies depending on the router and VPN provider.

Fortunately, most VPN services explain the process for different routers. For example, here are instructions for NordVPN.

If you don't want to set up a VPN connection on your router, you can share one between your computer and TV via Ethernet cable. To illustrate, here's how you would do this on Windows 11:

1. Open Windows Settings and navigate to "Network & Internet". Click on "Advanced network settings".

2. Click on "More network adaptor options" to see your network interfaces.

3. From the list, find the adapter with the name of your VPN service. Right-click on it and choose "Properties."

4. Switch to the "Sharing" tab and check the "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection" box. Then click "OK."

5. Connect your computer to your smart TV via Ethernet cable. Now you can establish a VPN connection to the PC, which should also work on the TV.

Instead of using an Ethernet cable, you can create a mobile hotspot on your computer and connect your smart TV to it.

1. Open Windows Settings and click "Mobile Hotspot" under "Network & Internet".

2. Open Windows Settings and navigate to "Network & Internet". Go to "Advanced network settings" and in the window that opens click on "More network adapter options".

3. The new hotspot should now be visible among your network connections. It will be labeled as "Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter". Take note of its name because you'll need it in a moment. In the example pictured below, it's called "LAN Connection* 10″.

4. Next, find the adapter that includes your VPN service's name. Right-click on it and choose "Properties".

5. Switch to the "Sharing" tab and check the "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection" box. From the drop-down menu, select the hotspot connection with the name you noted earlier and click on "OK".

6. Connect to the WiFi hotspot you just shared on your smart TV. You should now be able to use the VPN connection.

There are countless VPN providers on the market, but not all of them are capable of streaming foreign content. We were able to watch Netflix content from abroad with 17 of the 22 providers from our sample. Here are our Top 3:

NordVPN is EXPERTE.com's overall winner. The service didn't just dominate in our sample's performance test, it also includes great apps with plenty of features, a large server network, and high security standards. In addition to Netflix, we were able to use NordVPN to access content from abroad on Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and the BBC's iPlayer.

ExpressVPN scored with its user-friendly app, great performance, and reliability in terms of accessing content from abroad on Netflix as well as other streaming platforms. However, it is one of the pricier VPN providers on the market.

Compared to many other VPN providers (especially those offering 2-year subscriptions), Surfshark is particularly inexpensive. But they don't just offer attractive pricing; Surfshark took an impressive second place in our performance review, making it a reliable choice for streaming Netflix content from abroad.

As we noted, 14 other VPN providers from our sample were able to stream Netflix content from abroad. To see more of our top picks, be sure to check out our dedicated article on the best VPNs for Netflix.

Not really. While free VPN services and plans do exist, they're usually unable to bypass region restrictions on foreign streaming content. Even the free versions offered by top VPN providers don't include this feature, since it's a perk for paying subscribers. On occasion, you might be able to watch videos over a free VPN connection, however, for reliable streaming, you'll need a paid program.

Yes, it's legal. That being said, you are in a bit of a gray area. Bypassing the provider's geoblocking via VPN violates Netflix's terms of use. This is because the provider is responsible for ensuring that it adheres to the licensing agreements it's signed in various countries and must perform due diligence in ensuring compliance.

However, you don't need to fear any legal repercussions, and it's unlikely that you'll be penalized as a Netflix customer. Theoretically, the streaming service could block your account, but so far, we aren't aware of any such cases.

VPNs aren't the only way to travel the world virtually. You can also use a proxy server or Smart DNS to bypass Netflix's region restrictions.

Proxy servers are typically free and don't require the installation of any special software. However, they have shortcomings when it comes to performance, which can often translate into difficulties while streaming. Smart DNS is a service (typically paid) that enables you to use the DNS address of a server abroad. You'll be able to surf at full speed, however, your data won't be encrypted.

Our article on geoblocking explains how to set up proxy servers and Smart DNS. We consider VPN services the best way to access Netflix content from abroad due to their combination of reliability, performance, and security.

Using a VPN to switch countries on Netflix and other streaming platforms is a breeze, making it possible to explore otherwise inaccessible content, such as movies and series, from around the world. The entire process is legal; and even if you violate Netflix's terms of use, you don't have to fear any consequences.

You could try your luck with free VPN services. However, for reliable Netflix streaming, you need a paid subscription. With our Top 3 providers—NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark—you'll be all set. We cover the best VPN services for Netflix in a separate article. You can also find detailed reviews of all 22 providers from our sample in our EXPERTE.com VPN comparison.