Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Guides

The most common Netflix problems and how to fix them

Michael Archambault
Nick Perry
By and

You’re ready to watch the latest must-see show on Netflix. You have some drinks, snacks, and a blanket, and fire up the first episode. But it all stops working. What now? Whether Netflix is having troubles on its end or your device is acting up, we take a look at some of the most common Netflix problems and how to fix them. From quick fixes to more advanced remedies, we’ve got you covered.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Netflix subscription

  • Internet connection

A laptop with a Netflix menu page on the screen.

Netflix may be down

Like any other streaming service, Netflix could be having an issue of its own; the problem might be out of your control. To check if Netflix is currently up and running, you can visit its official status page. Alternatively, you can head to a popular website such as DownDetector.com to check for any potential outages. If you’re a social media hound, a quick search for the hashtag #netflixdown on Twitter could convey helpful results.

Netflix app icon on Apple TV.
Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends

Quick fixes for Netflix problems

Netflix is up and running, but you still can’t get connected — what’s up with that? If the problem is on your end, here are a few quick fixes you can attempt. Start with our first recommendation, then move on to the next if your issue isn’t resolved. Hopefully, we can get you back to the next episode of Ozark with only a few attempts.

Step 1: Close the Netflix app on your smartphone or tablet. If you’re on the web, close your web browser and try again.

Step 2: Try restarting your device; whether you’re on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone, follow the age-old advice — turn it off and on again.

Related

Step 3: Try resetting your router; there could be a problem with your internet connection. If you’re not sure how to reset a router, follow our guide — we promise it’s not too difficult.

Step 4: Update the application. If you’re using Android or iOS, head to the Play Store or App Store to see if a new update has been issued.

Step 5: Lastly, try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it.

A wall-mounted TV with Netflix on the screen.

More advanced fixes

If Netflix isn’t down and the above quick fixes didn’t work, you may have to spend a bit more time delving into the issue. The most probable cause is your home internet, so begin by running a speed test using a website such as Speedtest.net. Netflix lists the following recommended speeds for different streaming quality levels:

  • 3.0 Mb per second - Recommended for SD quality
  • 5.0 Mb per second - Recommended for HD quality
  • 25 Mb per second - Recommended for Ultra HD quality

For more details on testing your device’s connection speed, we recommend visiting Netflix’s official website. If all else fails, you can reach out to the support team at Netflix, where they will be able to work with you on your issue. If Netflix can’t solve the issue, you can also reach out to your ISP’s support services for problems that may be affecting your internet connection.

Now you're all back up and running, we’ve rounded up the best movies on Netflix and best shows on Netflix that you can stream right now, if you need some inspiration.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Michael Archambault
Michael Archambault
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital marketer located in Long Island, New York. For the past decade…
How to set and change your Netflix primary location
A The Netflix screen for how to set the primary location.

If you're a Netflix user in the U.S., you've undoubtedly seen the news of the streaming giant's recent crackdown on password sharing and its new policies and payment options for subscribers using the service outside of their "household," also known as the "primary location."

You can dig more into the what and why in our coverage of the story, and in particular how it's giving students a raw deal, but if you're here you may already know that Netflix has unrolled their plan in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain, requiring customers to choose and set their primary location for the Netflix account used "in the main place where you watch Netflix, and is associated with your home Wi-Fi [or wired] network and the devices connected to it."

Read more
Netflix’s new account-sharing rules punish students for being students
Five kids in uniforms standing side by side in a scene from Love 101 on Netflix.

As a Canadian, I am now going to be among the first lucky people to contend with Netflix’s new rules around account sharing. As a parent of one university student and one soon-to-be university student, I’m also among the first people who will have to tell their kid -- in true Canadian style -- sorry, no more Netflix for you.

See, my son attends school about 45 minutes away from home. Not far at all by university (or college for my American friends) standards, but still far enough that he no longer qualifies as a household member, according to Netflix.

Read more
Netflix expands its anti-password sharing scheme
Netflix app icon on Apple TV.

Anyone who's using someone else's Netflix login has been waiting with bated breath for more details about whether they're soon going to have their friends pay more, get their own account, or something more draconian. Today, the streaming service outlined plans for four more countries — but the U.S. is not among them.

In a blog post reminding us all that more than 100 million households share accounts, Netflix said that it's rolling out new rules in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. "Our focus has been on giving members greater control over who can access their account," the company said.

Read more