How to Use Netflix on the iPhone From Outside the US

August 26, 2010
by Thomas Fals

So Netflix has launched their long awaited Netflix app for the iPhone but you can’t get in on the fun because you live outside the US? Well fear not – I have been trough the whole thing before with the iPad and the same cure works for the Netflix in the iPhone.

If you already have the app installed skip ahead to step 2»

1. Download the Netflix App for the iPhone

Skip this step if you already have access to the the US store. The assortment in the App Store varies from country to country and the App is only available in the US store. So first you need to trick the App Store into thinking you live in the US.

Go to ebay and look for an US iTunes giftcard. These giftcards contain a code you can redeem for money in iTunes and the App Store. Since these cards are issued in the US they are equal to using an American creditcard. When you redeem the card just fill in a fake US address and you can now access the US App Store on your iPhone and download the Netflix App.

2. Trick Netflix into thinking you are in the US

As you might have figured out already the Netflix app is restricted to streaming in the US only. The way to get around this if you live in Europe, South America, Asia or anywhere else outside the US is to use a VPN connection. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and what this does is connect your iPhone to a server in the US that will act as middleman for your connection to Netflix. It might sound complicated but it is really not. A VPN service is not free but it is extremely useful. I have used Hide My Ass on both the iPad and iPhone with great success. I suggest you go for the 6 or 12 month package as you will get the best discount. Check out their site here.

Once registered you will receive a setup mail containing your account info. Now all you have to do is pick up your iPhone and go to Settings > General > Network > VPN and add a new connection and fill in the new connection info. Once you have done that you can turn on the VPN and as soon as you see a small VPN icon in the upper left corner you are ready to go – almost.

3. Sign up for Netflix

Before you can start using Netflix you of course need an account. Simply install the Hide My Ass app on your computer and then connect to t a server in the US. Then start the sign up process and remember to use a 5 digit zip code when. If you have a 4 digit zip code just put a zero in front. Otherwise just pick a random set of numbers.

Fire up the Netflix app and stream away outside the US.

This is also a pretty cool solution for Americans travelling abroad who still want to use their Netflix account on the go.

IMPORTANT: You need to enable vpn before you sign into the app. Otherwise you need to go to settings and reset the app and log in again.


Posted on Thursday, August 26th, 2010, filed under: iPhone, Netflix, Tutorial.

  • JPBOB

    Hey,

    Thanks a lot for this tutorial very helpful. I needed this since I have ordered my Apple TV (Living in Belgium). Ahint for others, I started immediately to fillin password and login. didn't work and was confusing…
    Untill i got the email with instructions (15 min later) then everything was clear.

    One more question: What is the maximum traffic i can have? Can I leave it on all the time ?
    I read somewhere that you can turn off VPN once you are downloading.
    However I would like to know if there is max on downloading from vpn.

    Tusind Tak

  • thomasfals

    Hi there. I am not sure if there is a maximum traffic amount. I have never hit a limit, but you might need to talk to the support at strong VPN and find out. I don't think the Apple TV has a VPN client so the Netflix part will most likely not work. I will be getting my Apple TV next week so I will write a tutorial on how to get around the restrictions if there are any.

  • Nipan

    Hey,
    How can I sign in for a netflix Account without a us credit card(Living in germany)? I always got the Error message that there is Problem with my card (using my German One). Thanks a Lot for any Suggestion

  • JPBOB

    Hi Thomas,

    Thanks for the reply.
    I believe their will be a way around the lack of VPN client on the Airport TV 2.
    I tried it with Netflix las night (not yet on Apple TV2. You START downloading/streaming with VPN.
    Once you are watching the movie you turn off the VPN and switch back to your own wifi network. This still works fine.
    So, On that moment you should be able to stream the movie to Apple TV from the iPad.
    Of course I can only confirm once I have the Apple TV …
    Any time soon …. :-)

  • thomasfals

    Hi there

    I have heard of a couple people running into problems with foreign cards. It seems like some cards just wont work. My Danish Visa card went straight trough with no problems. Do you have access to another card or perhaps a friend will let you try his or hers?

  • http://www.facebook.com/NidHentai Pitsanu Satrulee

    FOR STEP 2 you DON'T Need to buy US gift-card to create US itunes account.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2534

    Thanks for the tip tough, I follow every step except the one I mentioned.

  • http://www.facebook.com/vicky.laursen Vicky Scott Laursen

    thomas, ved du hvordan man gore det over fjernsyn? Mange tak. (dk)

  • thomasfals

    Hej Vicky

    Det kommer lidt an på hvilket udstyr du har. Du kan enten forbinde din pc eller Mac til dit tv. Alternativt kan du se dette link der forklarer hvordan man kan bruge Apple Tv med Netflix uden for USA http://thomasfals.com/how-to-u…/

  • alf

    First, thanks Thomas, excellent writeup !!!

    JPBOB…. please report back about the Apple TV2 solution…. would really like to find a solution for this….

  • Herve Dumoulin

    Hi Thomas,
    Iam from France, I made every step you write to watch netflix on my iphone but I have a problem, when I launch the movie my iphone display an alert “You cannot watch Netflix on this location” My VPN is activated… Im one step to do it I will be so happy. It works on my laptop

  • thomasfals

    The Airplay feature is not enabled on the iPad for Netflix so unfortunately that wont work.

  • thomasfals

    Did you start VPN before you logged into Netflix? If not log out of Netflix, start the VPN and log in again.

  • Daniela Bartakova

    Thanks a lot, for these great tips. Its working excellent.

  • Joeyali

    hi thomas,
    thanks for the post and instructions. i followed every step (including starting the VPN before launching netflix) but i get the “you cannot watch…” message from netflix :( … any advice? thanks, joey

  • thomasfals

    Hmm all I have to add is try to log out again and back in. I just tested here and it works just fine. Did you remember to set your server to one located in the US?

  • http://www.acrossthewaves.org Obienator

    Sir! I wish to thank you SO much. I have been looking for months and months to get Netflix to work outside the US and your tutorial was the only one that worked! Thanks again!

  • Selvan

    Kan det kun lade sig gøre at bruge det over WiFi eller kan man kringle på en måde at du kan bruge det direkte på f.eks. iPad 3G?

  • thomasfals

    You can stream Netflix on both the iPad and iPhone over 3g. VPN will also work via 3g. Just make sure you have a dataplan that has room for that amount of data.

  • thomasfals

    I am glad to hear that :)