How to Get US Netflix on Smart TV – 4 Ways
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There are a number of different ways to access US Netflix on a Smart TV. But if you can’t access the Android App Store from your TVThings could be a little more difficult. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of setting up a VPN to watch your Smart TV on Netflix in the US using three different methods.
To start using the methods below, you will need a Smart TV, a Netflix subscription, and a subscription to a VPN service that works with Netflix.
How do I get US Netflix on my smart TV?
There are three different ways you can watch Netflix on a Smart TV. To view the steps of each method, simply click on the links below.
Find out which country your favorite Netflix shows are in
With the all-new Streamcatcher tool, finding the Netflix regions that have your favorite Netflix is very easy. All you have to do is search for any TV show or movie you want to watch to find out where your favorite shows are being broadcast.
How to watch Netflix on a smart TV with a VPN router
Using a VPN router is arguably the easiest way to watch US Netflix on your Smart TV. Most convenient routers these days can be configured to work with almost any VPN service. When you connect your smart TV to the router, assuming it has the Netflix app, it is possible to watch the US version of Netflix.
DD-WRT is one of the most customizable types of firmware to install a VPN on a router and we will be using it as part of the examples below.
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Set up a VPN connection on your router that connects to a US VPN server.
On the DD-WRT router, the PPTP and OpenVPN settings can be found under Services > VPN.
Do you need a VPN router? Take a look at our VPN routers page. Or, for an in-depth look at the setup, check out How to Setup a VPN on DD-WRT Router Guide.
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Connect your smart TV to the router on the same band you set up the VPN connection.
We recommend setting up your VPN using the 5GHz band, then make sure that any devices you want to route through your VPN connection (in this case your Smart TV) also use that frequency.
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Open the Netflix app on your smart TV and sign in.
You can use your existing Netflix account to do this, and there is no need to sign up for a new one. It doesn’t matter if your account is not registered in the US, you should now see the full US catalog of Netflix titles. “Cheers” is a good indication that he has succeeded.
Some considerations
Sure, using a VPN router to access US Netflix on TV is the most convenient way in the long run, but there are still some considerations to keep in mind.
Invest in a good router
Although VPN applications are often lightweight, data encryption can be hardware intensive. Cheaper routers don’t have the processing power to properly run the VPN smoothly, and if connections falter, it can affect your Netflix quality and ultimately leave you unprotected. Buying a good router is expensive, but it’s a great long-term investment.
Choose the right VPN service and server
In a perfect world, accessing the different Netflix libraries would be as easy as connecting to a VPN and choosing a server located in the country you want to access. Unfortunately, Netflix blocks most VPN connections on behalf of licensing partners and some only support the streaming platform on certain servers. When it comes to choosing the right VPN, not only do you need to make sure Netflix is supported, you should also check out the available countries to suit your needs.
Improve your communication
Since wireless devices are a dime a dozen, it’s known that the distance and things between your router and your TV can affect the stability of your connection, but what you should really consider is the distance between the server and your home. Using a server on the other side of the world is more likely to slow down your connection than connecting to a server located in the country where you live. Sometimes compromises have to be made in order to access the right streaming catalog, but you should always choose the closest servers when possible.
Split tunneling and different frequencies
Using a VPN router is one of the most reliable ways to access Netflix’s international libraries, but it does come with a downside – every device connected to the router will have to make the same compromises, such as slower speeds and the inability to access local content. Fortunately, split routers and multiband tunnels can keep your other devices up and running quickly.
Split tunneling is a feature built into the VPN, allowing you to identify and delete devices that are routed through the VPN server. This is only offered by certain providers, however, it is always worth checking out our guide before purchasing a subscription. Alternatively, you can always set up the VPN on one frequency (5GHz) and connect your devices to another (2.4GHz) on a multi-band router.
How to watch Netflix on your Smart TV using Android TV devices
If your smart TV uses Android TV or Amazon Fire TV as an operating system, you’re in luck! Almost every VPN on the planet offers an Android app, and many also offer Android TV and Amazon Fire TV apps. There are also some excellent third-party OpenVPN software out there – most notably OpenVPN for Android. If you are not sure if your TV is compatible, check the considerations below.
Follow the steps below to set up a VPN with your Android TV and start watching Netflix.
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Install the Netflix app from the Google Play Store. We recommend ExpressVPN because it is fast, reliable and has a great Android app.
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Install the VPN app from the Google Play Store.
Android TV devices can install and run any Android app or Android TV VPN. Android TV apps are better optimized for smart TVs, but a regular Android app will work as well.
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Use the VPN app to connect to a VPN server in the United States.
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Press the home button on the remote control to exit the VPN app while it is still running.
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Launch the Netflix app and sign in.
It doesn’t matter if your account is not registered in the US, you should now see the full US catalog of Netflix titles.
The TV show “Parks and Recreation” is a good benchmark for checking that you’re watching the US catalog. All is well, you can now just click on a title to view it.
How to watch Netflix on your Smart TV with Amazon Fire TV (Fire TV Stick)
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Find your VPN provider, or just search for “VPN” to browse the supported providers.
You can do this manually via the search box at the top right of the Fire TV screen, or use the voice search for second-generation owners using your Alexa remote.
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Install and run the application.
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Connect to a VPN server in the United States.
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Press the home button on the remote control to exit the VPN app while it is still running.
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Launch the Netflix app and sign in.
It doesn’t matter if your account is not registered in the US, you should now see the full US catalog of Netflix titles.
The TV show “Twin Peaks” is not available to UK Netflix subscribers, so we find it useful to search for it to verify that we are watching the US catalog. All is well, you can now just click on a title to view it.
Some considerations
The big advantage of using an Android VPN over a VPN is that it is easy to enable and disable the VPN as required. But, there are some considerations to make if you choose this method.
Check compatibility
Naturally, Netflix has discontinued app support for some of the older smart TVs out there. There is a solution available for some, but only if your device is Google certified. To avoid potential issues, be sure to check compatibility before purchasing.
Consider buying a Fire TV stick or Android TV device
If your smart TV does not have an Android operating system, you may seriously want to buy an Android TV or Amazon TV Stick. Once you connect one of them to the HDMI port of your big screen TV, you will greatly improve its functionality.
streaming in 4k
Only a very limited set of certified devices will play Netflix content in 4K (if you have the right plan and at least 25Mbit/s download bandwidth). So, if you want 4K streaming, make sure your devices are all compatible.
VPN is not supported on Fire TV
If your VPN service is not supported by Amazon Fire TV Store, then you can download any Android VPN app on your Fire TV device. Please see Best VPN for Fire Stick for a complete guide on how to do it.
Watch Netflix on Smart TV by sharing your Windows or macOS VPN connection
It is possible to share a VPN connection from your Windows PC or Mac with your Smart TV. This is the most complicated option to set up, and it lacks some elegance. But, if you don’t have a VPN-enabled router or an Android/Fire TV device, this is a workaround.
Since the methodology is more in-depth, we have dedicated an entire separate guide to it. Check out our sharing VPN Connection guide for more information on doing this in Windows and macOS with different WiFi/Ethernet combinations.
How to configure Smart DNS on a Smart TV to watch Netflix
Smart DNS services can unblock US Netflix by resolving US Smart TV DNS queries. Perhaps the easiest and most gentle way to unblock US Netflix on a Smart TV.
ExpressVPN offers a smart DNS service along with their VPN, which they call mediastreamer. It is really easy to use, all you have to do is follow the instructions below:
- Register with ExpressVPN and login to your ExpressVPN account. You can save 49% off this VPN with our special offer, just click on our ExpressVPN links and the discount will be applied automatically.
- Click on the “DNS Settings” tab on the left sidebar.
- You will see your Dynamic DNS Registration, so click Save DNS Host Name when you see this. ExpressVPN may take up to 10 minutes before it detects the change.
Once you have set up ExpressVPN media streaming service, you need to change the settings on the TV.
Specifications vary depending on your TV model, but DNS settings are usually found by heading to the Settings menu and going to the Network section. On Samsung TVs, for example:
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Press the menu on the remote control > Network > Network status > IP settings > DNS settings
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Select Enter Manually.
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Make a note of your current DNS settings (just in case!)
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Enter the DNS address your SmartDNS provider gave you.
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Click OK and restart the TV.
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Launch the Netflix app.
It doesn’t matter if your account is not registered in the US, you should now see the full US catalog of Netflix titles.
Some considerations
As with the other methods discussed in this guide, there are some considerations to keep in mind if you choose to use this method.
Do I have to change my regional TV settings?
No, Netflix is now available everywhere on the planet (except for China, Syria, and North Korea), so there is no longer any need to change your TV’s regional settings to download the app.
Is Smart DNS More Reliable Than VPN?
There is an argument that VPN server IP addresses are easier for Netflix to block than DNS resolvers used by Smart DNS services. But in fact, many of these services are also blocked by Netflix.
Positives
The biggest advantage of using Smart DNS over VPN is that it is possible to configure Smart DNS on pretty much any internet capable device. This includes game consoles and smart TVs.
Another advantage is that Smart DNS is faster than VPN because no resource-intensive encryption is used to secure the connection.
Negatives
If your local streaming services are not supported by your Smart DNS provider, you may find them blocked when you configure Smart DNS. There is no easy way on a Smart TV to simply turn Smart DNS on and off.
Smart DNS services are only useful for streaming things. For a similar monthly fee, a VPN will let you stream Netflix, protect against extensive government surveillance, protect against website tracking, keep your browsing history private when using public WiFi, let you access censored websites, let you torrent safely, and more .
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