How to watch American Netflix in Europe
Jeff
Jeff, TV analyst for WatchTVAbroad hails from Pennsylvania, United States and after growing up disinterested in sport found his sport calling in his late teenage years. Now he loves nothing more than streaming boxing, MMA and other combat sports.
Whether you are an American traveling to Europe, moving there permanently, or if you are just a European local – you might find that the Netflix catalog for many of the European countries does not satisfy your needs.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone!
As you probably know, Netflix has a different set of shows and movies offered for every country, depending on what is popular and what streaming licenses the company has.
It just so happens that the United States has one of the biggest selections available.
If you’re interested in streaming it while you’re in Europe, keep scrolling down.
What you will need to watch
Netflix determines what catalog you get access to based on your location. It does this by checking your internet connection.
They will switch what is available to you automatically as you switch countries, so crossing the border means having the entire catalog change on its own.
However, by using an app known as a ‘VPN‘, you can virtually change your location and make it appear like you’re in the United States whether you’re in the UK, Switzerland, France, Germany, Poland or anywhere else in Europe.
VPNs are convenient apps that you can install on your PC, smartphone, tablet, Smart TV, or many other devices.
Millions of people around the world are using them for protection while browsing the web, securing their connection while working remotely, or merely bypassing geo-restrictions and censorship.
Where can I get a VPN then?
Of course, it also matters which VPN you are using, because not all of them are made the same.
If you do a quick search
The situation is extra difficult because there are lots to choose from — hundreds of them. Some are good, some are bad, some are neither here nor there. However, if you don’t know what to look for, let us help you out by recommending ExpressVPN. This is one of the best VPNs in the industry, as it offers:
- Excellent speeds for streaming
- Over 3,000 servers in 94 countries
- Excellent customer support available 24/7
- Affordable price
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Keeps no logs of your activity
- Apps for numerous devices and systems
Other choices include CyberGhost, NordVPN and IPVanish, so you’re free to pick.
30-day money back guarantee
How to unblock US Netflix from Europe
So, if all of this sounds good to you, the next step would be to learn how to set up a VPN and unblock US Netflix.
Here is what you should do:
1. Get a VPN
The first step is to sign up for a VPN.
We recommend you choose ExpressVPN, but any from above will do. Visit their website and complete their sign-up process.
2. Get the app
After that, download the app from the website (Windows, Mac) or your regular app store (Android, iOS, Smart TV).
Installation is automatic on mobile devices and TV, while on PC, you can install it just like any other app. It is all done within a minute.
3. Connect
The next step is to log into your new VPN app. This will be either by the activation code supplied by ExpressVPN or using the account details you created.
Now press the ‘Selected Server‘ button and then press ‘Connect‘.
Unblock the US Netflix catalog while you’re in Europe.
30-day money back guarantee
4. Watch US Netflix
The last step is to visit Netflix like normal either using the website or the built in app via your device.
You may need to clear your app cache if you don’t see the catalog of available choices change.
Why is American Netflix the holy grail?
As you may know, American Netflix has the largest, most abundant catalog in the world.
If you are located in the US, or you connect to it via a VPN, you will have access to over 1,761 TV shows, as well as more than 4,091 movies.
In comparison, France only has access to a tiny 387 shows and 1541 movies.
Many other European countries have even fewer of both, such as Italy (196 shows, 1000 movies), Hungary (204 shows, 570 movies), Serbia (328 shows, 1439 films), while even the UK is only slightly better than France, with its 532 shows and 2425 movies.
When you see these numbers, it is pretty easy to understand why people consider US Netflix a holy grail.
With it, you can watch shows like Futurama, Mad Men, The Hunger Games, Family Guy, New Girl, Lost, and many others.
Also movies such as Indiana Jones and other exclusives that aren’t available elsewhere.
Will I need a new Netflix account?
The great news is you won’t need a new Netflix account. You can use your regular login details.
You can use your existing account, as Netflix only detects your location in the world by scanning something called your ‘IP Address‘.
Once your IP changes, so do the catalog you have access to, so all you need to do is connect to a US server and you’re done.
Can I get Netflix for free?
While VPN can do a lot of things, even this technology won’t be able to get you a free account from Netflix.
Sorry!
So, you will need to have an actual account, either your own or borrow a friends like a lot of people do.
Summary
American Netflix is sought after by pretty much every other Netflix user around the world.
It has hundreds of added shows and movies. More than almost any other country in the world, which is why a lot of people are looking for ways to access it.
Thankfully it’s straightforward to access it from Europe. Sign up for ExpressVPN, download their app, connect to the United States and sit back and enjoy all the extra content.
