Can I Watch Netflix Abroad? How It Works and What to Know

Yes, as long as you have an active Netflix account and an internet connection. Netflix's help centre says it is easy to use Netflix while travelling: use it as normal on mobile devices and computers, or sign in on a new TV such as one in a hotel or holiday rental.

What to expect is that your library may not match home. A series you were halfway through may not be offered where you are, and you may see titles you cannot get at home. That comes down to licensing, not a fault with your account or device.

For the service overview, see VPN for Netflix.

Phones and tablets

Install the official Netflix app from the App Store or Google Play and sign in before you travel. Download a title or two while you are still at home and play one to confirm it works. Do not wait until you are on the plane.

Hotel TVs and rentals

Signing in on a TV that is not yours leaves your account on someone else's hardware.

• Sign in only when you need to, and decline any prompt to save your password.
• Sign out before you check out, rather than just switching the TV off.
• If you forget, open Manage Access and Devices in your Netflix account and sign out of that device, or sign out of all devices. Netflix notes it can take up to 48 hours for a device to appear on that page.
• Consider changing your password after the trip if you signed in on a shared device.

For Wi-Fi safety in hotels specifically, see Netflix on hotel Wi-Fi.

What it can do: encrypt your connection on networks you do not trust, so people on the same Wi-Fi see less of your traffic.

What it cannot do: change which titles Netflix licenses in a country, guarantee that any specific title will play, or stop you entering a password into a fake page.

What you should know before using one: Netflix's help centre says that with a VPN you may only be shown titles Netflix has worldwide licensing for, such as Squid Game or Stranger Things, and that you may need to turn the VPN off to watch titles available in your region. Netflix also says VPNs are not supported for live events or on ad-supported plans. So a VPN connection may change what Netflix shows, or block playback. XPASS has not recorded a passing Netflix test, so we make no promises.

A sensible approach is to use the VPN on public Wi-Fi when you sign in or handle anything sensitive, and turn it off when you want Netflix to show the library for the country you are in. Follow Netflix's terms of use and local law.

"You seem to be using a VPN or proxy"

Netflix may show this message with code E106. Netflix suggests visiting fast.com: if the country shown does not match where you are, a VPN is likely active on your device or network. Turn it off and try again, check you are not on an ad-supported plan, and if it persists reset network settings or contact your internet provider. Netflix says its support team cannot help turn off a VPN because the steps differ for each service.

Cannot sign in

Check your email and password, try mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, and remember that text-message verification codes may not reach a home number while roaming. Set up a backup method before you go.

Buffering

Check the venue's connection speed, move closer to the router, and lower the video quality. Turn the VPN off briefly to see whether the VPN or the local network is the cause. See improving connection stability.