How to Easily Change Netflix Region with or without a VPN

How to Change Netflix Region without a VPN

If you don’t want to use a VPN, there are two main ways to change your Netflix region without one: using a smart DNS service (the most effective option), orusing a proxy server.

Previously, we had suggested also trying remote desktop software, the Tor browser, orsetting up a home VPN server, however we’ve removed these methods since the setup was either too time-consuming orunblocking multiple regions wasn’t effective enough.

How to Change Your Netflix Region without a VPN

The best way to change region in Netflix without a VPN is to use a Smart DNS proxy.This solution reliably unblocks Netflix on most devices at HD/4K speeds.

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to change your Netflix country using Smart DNS:

1. Sign up for a smart DNS service.We recommend expressvpn ’s mediastreamer orControl D.
2. Register your IP address by following the relevant instructions on the provider’s website.If they ask you to enter it manually, use our What Is My IP Address tool.
3. Get the appropriate DNS server address.You can usually find these in the provider’s My Account section.
4. Open the Network Settings on your device .
5. Find the DNS Settings.They are usually under an “Advanced” or“Manual” tab.
6. Input the DNS server addresses your provider has given you.Click confirm.
7. restart your device.The smart DNS service will activate once you reconnect to the internet.

In the two section below , we is explain ’ll explain in more detail how to use smart dns and Proxy Servers to unblock international Netflix library .

1.Smart DNS Service

A smart DNS service lets you change your device’s DNS settings to re-route your connection through DNS servers in a country of your choice.

By combining a DNS server with a proxy server, you can use Smart DNS to bypass geo-restrictions on content.

Like with a VPN, Smart DNS tricks platforms like Netflix into thinking you’re physically located in that country, allowing you to access that region’s content.

For example , if you live in France and want to watch US Netflix , you is re can re – route your dns request through a US server and easily stream american Netflix from overseas .

Two popular standalone smart DNS services optimized for streaming are Smart DNS Proxy and Unlocator.

You don’t need to download software to use Smart DNS, enabling you to easily switch Netflix regions on devices such as LG Smart TVs and gaming consoles like Xbox, which typically do not support native VPN applications.

In fact, this is one area in which Smart DNS is better than a VPN for changing your Netflix region.

Smart DNS is also faster than VPN, although this doesn’t always translate to better streaming resolution.

MediaStreamer worked with US Netflix more often than any VPN server.

While Smart DNS tools allow streaming on a wide range of devices, they do not encrypt your traffic orhide your IP address.

In other words, your ISP will be able to see what you’re doing and you won’t be protected from cybercriminals while connected to unsecured public WiFi networks.

Some VPNs for streaming also offer their own Smart DNS tools.Based on our latest round of testing, the two that work most reliably with Netflix are:

NOTE: Our tests found that Surfshark and NordVPN’s Smart DNS features do not work reliably with Netflix, while CyberGhost and PIA’s do not let you change Netflix regions.

How to Use Smart DNS to Change Netflix Region

We’ve already outlined how to use Smart DNS with Netflix above, however you can also watch how to do it in the video below:

How to use MediaStreamer to change Netflix region.

The setup process will vary slightly depending on your provider and the device you’re using, but the general process is roughly the same across devices.

EXPERT ADVICE: MediaStreamer only unblocks US Netflix.However, some Smart DNS providers let you unblock multiple Netflix regions.To choose a region, open your Smart DNS account settings and switch country in there.Then, restart the device, load Netflix again, and you should see the new region’s content library.

2.Proxy Server

A proxy server can help you change your Netflix country by routing your traffic through a third-party server before connecting to Netflix.

Like with a VPN, a proxy server hides your IP address and tricks Netflix into thinking you’re located in the country where the proxy server is based.

In other words, if you connect to a proxy server located in the UK, you’ll get access to the UK Netflix library, regardless of where you actually are in the world.

Unlike a VPN, ​​proxy servers don’t encrypt your internet traffic.

How a Proxy Server works.

There are two main types of proxy server:

1. Web Proxy: These are accessed via a website and are usually free to use.Simply enter the URL you’re looking to unblock, choose your desired server location, and start browsing.

   Though free, web proxy servers are extremely unreliable for unblocking Netflix because their IP addresses are widely-used and very easy for Netflix to block.

2. Browser Proxy extension : Higher-quality proxy servers tend to be available as web browser extensions.Some are free to use, but many charge a subscription fee.

Many Chrome VPN extensions are actually proxy servers, and not full VPN products.They route browser traffic through a remote server, but don’t encrypt it.

Examples of browser-based proxies that work with Netflix include Hide.me’s Chrome extension and Windscribe’s Firefox extension.

Proxy servers are application-specific, meaning they only re-route traffic from the application they’re running on.

You can use a proxy server to change regions on Netflix in your browser, but you won’t be able to do the same on an external Netflix app.

In general, proxy servers are less secure than VPNs, and less reliable than Smart DNS for changing your Netflix region.However, they’re free and can sometimes unblock foreign Netflix libraries.

EXPERT ADVICE: A “transparent” or“anonymous” proxy server won’t help you change Netflix region.That’s because an anonymous proxy hides your IP address but also tells Netflix you’re using a proxy, while a transparent proxy doesn’t even hide your IP address.Only “elite” proxy servers can unblock Netflix.

How to Use a Proxy Server to Change Netflix Region

Browser proxy extensions such as CyberGhost’s can sometimes work to unblock Netflix.

To use a web proxy server to change Netflix region :

1. Download the proxy browser extension.In this example, we’re using CyberGhost’s free web proxy.
2. connect to a server in the Netflix location you want to access.CyberGhost’s proxy allows you to connect to the US, Germany, Netherlands, orRomania.
3. open Netflix in the same web browser.You should now be able to stream Netflix titles licensed in the location of your proxy server.

Using a proxy server browser extension to change Netflix region is very similar to using a VPN browser extension.Read our guide to setting up a VPN on Chrome for instructions.