Netflix VPN Not Working? Proxy Error Fixes in Order (2026)

Netflix is blocking the IP address you are connected through, not your VPN provider. An IP address is the number that identifies your connection on the internet. The fix that works most often is to switch to another server in the same country, then fully restart the Netflix app before you try again.

That is the first step in NordVPN’s, ExpressVPN’s and Surfshark’s own Netflix troubleshooting articles. Netflix’s help center confirms how the block works. It says a VPN “can make your device or network look like it’s connecting from somewhere other than your physical location”. Netflix responds to what it sees on the address, not to your account.

This page explains the error codes and ranks the causes. Then it gives the fixes in order, with the exact menu paths from the providers’ pages. We loaded all of these pages on 31 October 2026. We have not tested streaming on any provider, so nothing here is a lab result. Where a provider says a service works, that is its documented claim.

Symptom

• The proxy message. The exact text is “You seem to be using a VPN or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again.” Netflix’s help page for it now carries the code E106. The old help page for M7111-5059 is help.netflix.com/en/node/53047. When we loaded it on 31 October 2026, it redirected to that E106 page. So if you searched for the M7111-5059 proxy error, this is the same block under a new code.
• M7111-1331 is a different error. Netflix’s page for it never mentions VPNs. It links the code to a browser setting that stopped playback, shown as “This title is not available to watch instantly.” It also links the code to a plan that does not include web browser viewing, shown as “Sorry, your account can’t be used on this device.” Many guides quote a combined string, m7111-1331-5059. It has no Netflix help page of its own. Surfshark’s blog treats it as the VPN block: “It means Netflix has figured out that you’re using a VPN”. In practice it is the proxy message as shown in a browser.
• No error, wrong library. The catalog did not change after you connected, the Top 10 is still your home country’s, or you see only a thin selection. Netflix’s VPN page says that with a VPN, “you may only be shown TV shows and movies Netflix has worldwide licensing for”. Our guide to changing your Netflix region explains how Netflix sets your region.
• Everything fails on one plan or one kind of title. Netflix states that VPNs “aren’t supported for watching Live events on Netflix or if you’re on an ad-supported experience”. Changing servers will not fix either case.
• tvq-pb-101 on a TV is not a VPN block. Netflix says it “happens when an issue with data stored on your device stops Netflix from playing”. The fix is a restart and a sign-out.

Likely causes, ranked

Netflix and the providers do not publish how often each cause happens. This ranking follows the order of the fixes in the three providers’ Netflix articles. We cross-checked it against Netflix’s own pages.

1. The server’s address is on Netflix’s list. The first fix in every provider article is to switch server. Netflix blocks addresses it links to VPNs and proxies, and large providers rotate through many addresses.
2. The app or profile is holding the old region. NordVPN warns that “frequently switching Netflix regions on a single Netflix profile can lock your visible region”. Surfshark says a flagged profile should clear within 24 to 48 hours. Netflix stores temporary data per app and per profile.
3. DNS does not match the server. DNS is the system that looks up the address of each site you visit. Surfshark says the proxy error “often” comes from a DNS leak, where those lookups go around the VPN. NordVPN’s article has you turn off DNS over HTTPS and Secure DNS in the browser. Netflix’s own ISP step is really a DNS check. It asks whether your connection uses the ISP’s DNS server.
4. IPv6 leaks past the tunnel. IPv6 is the newer kind of IP address. Our provider records show NordVPN and Surfshark do not support IPv6 and recommend turning it off. ExpressVPN’s apps block it. An IPv6 address that reaches Netflix reveals your real network.
5. The plan or the content rules it out. Netflix does not support VPNs on ad-supported plans or for Live events.
6. The EU portability rule. NordVPN’s article says that inside the EU, Netflix “will provide duplicate content as if you were in your home country, but only for a limited time”. This is Netflix working as designed, not a block.
7. Split tunneling or a bypass rule excludes Netflix. Split tunneling lets chosen apps skip the VPN. NordVPN offers it on Windows, Android and Android TV. ExpressVPN offers it on every platform, and Surfshark’s version is called Bypasser. Any of them can send the browser or the Netflix app around the tunnel.
8. The server label is not where the server is. All three providers use virtual locations. A virtual location is a server labeled as one country that is physically in another. Our provider records show that ExpressVPN marks these “Virtual Server Location” on its server list. Surfshark’s Indian locations are hosted in Singapore, the Netherlands and London. NordVPN lists a “Virtual” server type. Netflix may read the physical address differently from the label.
9. Third-party web protection, an antivirus VPN, or the provider’s own blocker. Netflix notes that “some antivirus software includes a VPN that may be turned on”. NordVPN’s article has you pause its real-time protection and turn off third-party web protection.
10. The device cannot run the VPN. NordVPN’s Fire TV article says first-generation Fire TV Sticks do not allow VPN connections. Older Samsung and LG sets have no VPN apps. Surfshark’s SmartDNS was discontinued on 2 February 2026. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer stops when your registered IP changes.

Fixes in order

Do them in order and test after each one. Most people never get past step 2.

1. Confirm what Netflix sees. Use Netflix’s own method on a device on the same network. Open fast.com, wait for the test, click “Show more info” and read the country next to “Client”. With the VPN on, it should name the server’s country. If it names your real country, the VPN is not covering this device. Our is my VPN working check shows the same thing. The IPv6 leak test shows whether an IPv6 address is slipping past.
2. Close Netflix completely, switch servers in the same country, then reopen it. NordVPN says to close the browser or app and connect to a different server in the same country. Surfshark says to “reconnect to a different city or server in the same country”. ExpressVPN gives US viewers an order to try: Washington DC, San Francisco, New York, “New Jersey – 3”, “Los Angeles – 3”, then Denver. Stay in the same country for several attempts before you change countries.
3. Clear the app’s memory of the old region. NordVPN and Surfshark give the same Android path: Settings, search “Apps”, Netflix, “Force Stop”, “OK”, “Usage”, “Storage”, “Clear cache”. On iOS, both providers say to reinstall the Netflix app, because clearing the cache is not an option. ExpressVPN gives the paths for Android TV, Fire TV and Apple TV. Android TV: Settings, “Apps”, Netflix, “Force Stop”. Fire TV: Settings, “Applications”, “Manage Installed Applications”, Netflix, “Force Stop”. Apple TV: double-click the TV button, swipe to Netflix, swipe up. For smart TVs and consoles, Surfshark says to restart the device, or unplug it and wait several minutes. In a browser, clear the cache and cookies for netflix.com, or use a private window. Netflix’s M7111-1331 page also says to type www.netflix.com rather than opening a bookmark. In Chrome, it says to turn off extensions.
4. Sign out, restart, sign in, or change profile. ExpressVPN’s step 2 is to sign out of the Netflix app, restart the device and sign back in. NordVPN says to connect to the server you want, then create a new Netflix profile to force a region update. Surfshark says to switch to a different profile on the same account. If that works, the original profile was flagged and should clear within 24 to 48 hours.
5. Fix DNS, IPv6 and web protection. Turn off DNS over HTTPS or “Secure DNS” in the browser. NordVPN links the Firefox and Chrome settings. Remove any custom DNS in the VPN app or on the device. NordVPN’s TV guides say a custom DNS overrides its own DNS servers and “can cause issues when using streaming services”. Run the provider’s DNS leak test. On NordVPN’s test, look for “Connected to NordVPN”. On Surfshark’s, look for a single DNS server in the server’s location and a “protected” notice. Turn off IPv6 on the device or router if the provider does not support it. Turn off third-party web protection. If you use NordVPN’s real-time protection, pause it. The path is the shield icon, “Pause”.
6. Check split tunneling and bypass lists. The browser or Netflix app must go through the VPN tunnel. Our provider-specific pages give the paths: NordVPN not connecting, ExpressVPN not working and Surfshark not connecting.
7. Check the plan and the title. If you are on the ad-supported plan or trying to watch a Live event, stop here. Netflix does not support VPNs for either. If the title you want is missing rather than blocked, Netflix’s VPN page says turning the VPN off may bring your region’s catalog back. What each country sees depends on licensing, not on VPN detection.
8. Check the server label. When the region matters, pick standard servers rather than virtual or specialty ones. If you are physically in the EU, expect the EU rule above.
9. Try a browser instead of the app. Surfshark and ExpressVPN both suggest the Netflix website when the app fails. ExpressVPN also suggests its browser extension, or a different browser: Chrome, Firefox, Vivaldi, Chromium, Brave or Edge.
10. Use another route on TVs that cannot run a VPN app. First-generation Fire TV sticks cannot run a VPN at all. NordVPN says second-generation and Basic Edition sticks are too old. ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer is a DNS service and “not a VPN”. It gives no encryption and no choice of location. It needs your home IP registered at portal.expressvpn.com/dns-settings with automatic registration on. Unused IPs are removed after 30 days. NordVPN’s SmartDNS needs your home IPv4 address allowlisted in your Nord Account, as our NordVPN and Netflix guide explains. Surfshark’s SmartDNS no longer exists. It was discontinued on 2 February 2026. A TV still pointing at it must be switched to automatic DNS or to 194.169.169.169 before anything else will load. Other routes remain for Samsung and LG sets, Roku and consoles. Use a router running the VPN, a shared VPN hotspot from a PC, or a newer TV with a native app.
11. Check whether Netflix itself is down. NordVPN’s article links its “Is Netflix down?” page. A Netflix outage shows the same symptoms on every server.
12. Contact the right support. Only the provider’s chat can tell you which locations are currently blocked. Our records show that NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN all offer 24/7 chat. Netflix will not help. Its pages say “Netflix Customer Service isn’t able to help with VPNs because the steps are different for each VPN”. Netflix also has an ISP route, but it is for people who are not using a VPN and still see the message. That route compares the fast.com country and IP with what your ISP assigned, then checks the DNS server.

Every provider’s Netflix article carries a condition. NordVPN says its service “should never be used to bypass copyright regulations”. ExpressVPN’s guide tells you to connect to a server in the country where you are. Netflix’s terms treat a VPN as something to turn off. Read them before you decide what you are using the connection for.

When to switch

Switch only when the same provider fails on every server in a country for days. One blocked address is not a reason to switch. No provider promises Netflix. NordVPN’s streaming page warns that services such as Netflix “may limit VPN connections”. ExpressVPN’s Netflix guide tells you to match your real country. Surfshark says results may vary.

What you can rely on is the refund window, which lets you test. NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark each offer 30 days on a first direct purchase. We verified this on 31 October 2026. App Store and Google Play purchases are excluded or handled by Apple and Google. Renewals are excluded.

Start with best VPN for Netflix. It lists what each provider’s own pages claim, and the catches. Then use ExpressVPN vs NordVPN and NordVPN vs Surfshark to see network sizes, device limits and renewal prices side by side. The provider pages Does NordVPN work with Netflix?, Does ExpressVPN work with Netflix? and Does Surfshark work with Netflix? carry each provider’s documented claim and the refund steps.

Related

• Best VPN for Netflix and best VPN for streaming
• NordVPN not connecting, ExpressVPN not working and Surfshark not connecting
• Is my VPN working? and the IPv6 leak test
• All VPN troubleshooting guides