Astrill not working with Netflix? Here’s how to fix it

The availability of certain Netflix TV shows and movies depends on where you are in the world. If you want the entire library to choose from, you’ll need to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This makes it appear as if you’re located in the country licensed for the content. This isn’t foolproof however. You might find, for example, that a VPN like Astrill is not working with Netflix. In this case you’ll receive this error message:

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

In response, you can first try removing cookies or connecting to a different server. Failing that, you’ll need to switch to a more reliable VPN, such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

Does Astrill work with Netflix?

Astrill has servers in 106 cities across 56 countries, but the only place from which we were able to stream Netflix during our tests was the US.

It seems that Astrill mostly only works with US-based streaming sites – great if you want the likes of Hulu and Disney+, less so if you’re looking for services such as BBC iPlayer or ITVHub.

If you have a Netflix account based outside the US and wish to use it while abroad, we’d recommend looking for a different VPN. A VPN like NordVPN offers a wide variety of options, providing access to American Netflix plus Netflix UK, JP, CA, AU, and more.

Why is Astrill not working with Netflix?

There are a few reasons why Astrill isn’t working with Netflix. One is that you’re using blacklisted VPN servers. If this is the case, you’ll receive an error message advising you to disconnect from your unblocker or proxy and try again. 

Alternatively, you might receive an error message stating that the content you’re trying to access isn’t available in your region. In this case, cookies stored in your browser might be revealing your IP address.

If you can’t access Netflix using a mobile device, it could be because your GPS data is being cross-referenced with the location of the server that you’re connected to. Netflix can use this information to determine whether your true IP address is being hidden. 

How to fix Netflix not working with Astrill

There are a variety of potential solutions for Astrill not working with Netflix. Start with these:

• Try connecting to a different server within the same region. You might have to do this several times before establishing a working connection. While this is easy in the US – where Astrill has the majority of its servers – it can be more difficult elsewhere.
• Remove cookies from your Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome browser, and also clear the cache and history. Sometimes different browsers can work better with your chosen VPN, so play around with the different options. 
• Try streaming from your browser rather than the Netflix app. 
• Uninstall and then reinstall Astrill. This will ensure that you’re running the most up-to-date version.
• Try streaming Netflix with a laptop or desktop computer rather than a mobile device. If there’s only a problem with the latter, try using a GPS-spoofing app to provide fake GPS data. Or switch to a VPN like Surfshark, which has built-in GPS spoofing.
• Get in touch with Astrill customer support. You can send a message via a contact form or chat with them live. 

How to securely stream Netflix with Astrill

If you’ve never used a VPN before, you’ll be pleased to know that accessing streaming services like Netflix from abroad is easy:

1. Start by signing up for Astrill. Bear in mind, however, that we’d recommend a more reliable provider like NordVPN.
2. Download and install the appropriate version for your device (Astrill has apps for Windows, Android, MacOS, Linux, and iOS).
3. Connect to one of Astrill’s servers in your home country.
4. Sign in to your Netflix account and start streaming. If you run into any problems, try clearing cookies from your browser, or switching to a different server. 

Which are the best VPNs for streaming Netflix abroad?

Netflix has more subscribers than any other streaming platform, which means it has bags of money to spend on preventing the use of VPNs. The servers of smaller providers, such as Astrill, are usually identified and blacklisted first, though many big-name VPNs regularly lose access too. 

With this in mind, we’ve tested some of the best VPNs to see how they perform when trying to access Netflix libraries from 30 different regions. 

1. NordVPN Our 1st choice when Astrill not working with Netflix. Fast enough to stream 4K content and able to access all of the major Netflix libraries. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try it risk-free.
2. Surfshark Best budget VPN when Astrill not working with Netflix. Fast and secure, and with servers in all Netflix regions. Try it for free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. ExpressVPN Highly secure and reliable. Works notably well with Netflix. ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 
4. Cyberghost Great for streaming Netflix abroad, and boasts top-notch security and privacy features. You can try it commitment-free thanks to a 45-day money-back guarantee.
5. PrivateVPN Remarkably good access to Netflix libraries. Also very fast and log-free. PrivateVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Can I watch Netflix with a free VPN?

You can try, but it will likely prove frustrating and could compromise your online safety.

Free VPNs might seem like a good option, but they can rarely provide the services they advertise. They tend to be under-funded, so their network of servers is small. This, coupled with large numbers of users, results in slow connection speeds and poor streaming quality. 

A chronic lack of investment also means they are slow to respond when their servers get blacklisted, which makes using Netflix with a free VPN very difficult.

Most importantly of all, their security can be lax. Many of the most popular free VPNs share your data with third parties, and most have some kind of logging policy. Unless you choose very carefully, a free VPN can compromise the security of your personal data – the very opposite of what it should be doing.

Will using a VPN connection slow down my network speeds?

Using a VPN means the data flowing to and from your device needs to follow a more circuitous route. This inevitably means a reduction in speed. However, using one of the better VPNs means that this reduction is barely perceptible. VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN offer average download speeds of hundreds of Mbps.

The actual speed you get on any given day will depend on where the server you connect to is located, and how many other people are using it. Distant and heavily loaded servers will reduce your speeds.

In terms of Netflix, you need a download speed of at least 3 Mbps to stream standard definition (SD) content. High definition (HD) streaming requires 5 Mbps, while 4K content needs 25 Mbps. A VPN like Astrill should be able to comfortably meet these requirements.

The protocols and type of encryption used by the VPN also have an effect on speed. The strongest encryption takes the heaviest toll on speed, though some of the top VPNs have custom protocols that help offset any losses. A protocol is a set of instructions that determines how data routes between your device and the VPN server.  

Which Netflix shows can I watch abroad with Astrill?

Astrill isn’t the best VPN for streaming Netflix abroad and may only connect to one or two regions. If you do find a connection, this is a short list of some of the content you’ll be able to watch from abroad with Astrill.

• The Sandman
• Locke & Key
• The Last Kingdom
• 3%
• Never Have I Ever
• The Umbrella Academy
• Top Boy The Sinner
• Chesapeake Shores
• Behind Her Eyes
• Outer Banks

Astrill & Netflix FAQs