How to change Netflix country: the 2026 tip

Netflix is ​​the global benchmark for streaming with more than 300 million paying users. The platform continues to appeal despite the increase in prices and the end of account sharing with a very large catalog of films and series. The rise of original programs has allowed it to take a step forward and they are expanding its catalog all over the world, without having to sign distribution contracts with the rights holders in each country.

Available in more than 190 countries, Netflix adapts its catalog according to the user’s location. In other words, you do not have access to the same content in France, the United States or Japan. Why these differences? And above all, how to access all of Netflix’s global content? We explain why and how to change country on Netflix.

How to change country on Netflix?

Changing country on Netflix is ​​automatic when you are in another territory, since you will change your IP address with your internet connection. That being said, you might be happy to know that you don’t have to move (or travel) to change your location on Netflix and gain access to other libraries.

There is a less radical solution, favored by many Internet users: this consists of installing a VPN application on your devices to change your IP address, and therefore your virtual location. The most used for Netflix are NordVPN, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. You will need two clicks to change your IP address and thus access all Netflix catalogs in the world.

Change Netflix country with NordVPN

When your VPN is activated, you will have another IP address (just select a country as you can see in the screenshot below): all you have to do is go to the Netflix site and refresh the page. By doing this, you will quickly notice that you have accessed a completely new library: that of the country where your IP address is reported.

Why does the Netflix catalog vary by country?

You may have thought that Netflix’s offer was the same for all subscribers: think again. The contents are not the same everywhere and some subscribers are better off than others. If Netflix productions (films or series) are generally accessible from all countries, this is not the case for content purchased by Netflix – sometimes only reserved for certain countries.

There are several reasons that justify the existence of different catalogs:

1. The first is closely linked to distribution rights. The latter are obtained by purchasing licenses from rights holders (studios, distributors). In some countries, these rights are already assigned exclusively to other platforms or are simply not available for sale. Sometimes the parties simply cannot reach an agreement and the rights are not obtained. The situations are therefore specific to each country: Netflix can therefore buy the rights for a series in the United States, but not in France. In other words, users with an American IP address will be able to see it on their Netflix catalog, while a French person with a French IP address will not be able to see it.
2. The other explanation is to be found on the side of user preferences: a title can experience incredible success in one country while elsewhere it represents little interest for the platform’s customers. Netflix adjusts its offer according to the culture of each country, the audience and the popularity of certain programs. It is therefore possible that a French series is very popular on Netflix France, but that if you are in the United States, it is not even available in the catalog.

These are the two main reasons why some libraries are more extensive than others. To give you an overview of the differences, here are the volumes observed in the main catalogs in April 2026:

How does Netflix determine your catalog?

To assign a library of films/series to its different users, Netflix uses their IP address. It is thanks to this unique identifier of each device on the internet that it is possible to determine their geographic location and, consequently, the catalog to which they have the right to access. If you have an American IP address, then it will show you content from the United States. If you have a French IP address, you will have access to the French catalog.

This operation is based on geo-restriction technology which limits access to the Internet based on the location of Internet users.

The best VPNs to change countries on Netflix

The market has hundreds of VPNs, and more and more Internet users are looking to access this exclusive content only available in certain countries. Result: many turn to a VPN without taking the time to carefully compare the offers, which sometimes leads to bad choices. Indeed, some VPNs will slow down your connection (impossible to see your series in HD), or even cut it. Some aren’t even able to avoid detection by Netflix.

To help you avoid these errors, here is a selection of the most reliable providers for changing countries on Netflix.

1. NordVPN

Those who don’t want to bother won’t look any further… and they are right. NordVPN is the ideal tool for streaming enthusiasts. With more than 8,922 servers in 129 countries, the publisher is well equipped to offer an unlimited video streaming experience. The flow rates ensure impeccable loading and reading speeds. You will have no trouble accessing the American Netflix catalog, to watch WWE events, or the British, Canadian, or Japanese catalogs, from your sofa in France.

The NordVPN interface is very popular with its users: the ergonomics are well designed and you can access several cities in the largest or most popular countries in a few seconds. Even an Internet user unaccustomed to VPNs will find their bearings because everything is intuitive whatever the support (Windows, Mac or Linux, iOS and Android but also Smart TVs or boxes like Apple TV).

If you are hesitant to take the plunge, consider the 30-day “satisfied or refunded” guarantee that NordVPN automatically includes with any subscription: you are not really taking any risk in testing the effectiveness of this VPN for changing countries on Netflix.

Change Netflix country with NordVPN

2. ExpressVPN

With 160 locations in 105 countries, ExpressVPN is a serious competitor to NordVPN. In addition to its in-house Lightway protocol which offers speeds perfectly suited to streaming on Netflix, it accesses all the most popular video streaming services without being blocked.

Its unlimited bandwidth and high-end servers ensure consistently high speeds, so you don’t have to worry about Netflix videos loading. You will quietly enjoy the best films and series on the platform without being disturbed, as if you were on your WiFi connection at home.

ExpressVPN has almost twenty years of experience in the VPN sector and its interface has evolved to better meet current standards. It’s one of the most intuitive at the moment: there is by default an “on/off” button which will connect you to the fastest server. You can also click on the three small vertical dots on the interface to display the long list of countries and cities where the servers are located.

To avoid leaving NordVPN alone in the lead, ExpressVPN offers the same flexibility: when you subscribe, you have 30 days to change your mind and obtain a possible refund upon simple request from customer service (available at any time of the day or night via instant messaging).

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3. CyberGhost

To access exclusive content, especially on Netflix, CyberGhost VPN is an excellent alternative. The service relies on a particularly vast infrastructure with more than 12,000 servers spread across 100 countries. This scale allows it to offer servers optimisés for very specific uses such as streaming, downloading and gaming. When you go to the menu tab “for streaming†, you will see a list with the servers that specifically allow you to unblock SVoD platforms in different countries.

Is CyberGhost better than its rivals by having specific servers for streaming? No, not really since NordVPN and ExpressVPN have optimized all their servers to bypass blocks and show you content from these platforms. That said, CyberGhost’s unoptimized servers also often allow platforms to be unblocked, even if they are not marked as such.

Of course, CyberGhost VPN does not forget its primary purpose: to protect your privacy. The VPN integrates a complete set of cybersecurity tools (Split Tunneling, kill switch, AES-256 encryption, ad blocker, IP address masking) to guarantee secure browsing on all your devices.

Another strong point: its prices. CyberGhost is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, especially if you opt for a long subscription (two years). If NordVPN and ExpressVPN are around 3 euros for their long-term subscription, CyberGhost is around 2 euros. Certainly, it will offer you fewer features but the main functionality of the VPN is perfectly mastered and accomplished.

Finally, CyberGhost offers a money-back guarantee of up to 45 days for subscriptions of 6 months or more – a more generous policy than its competitors.

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Why change region on Netflix?

If changing location on Netflix has become a very widespread practice, it is because it can be useful in many situations. Here’s why some Internet users want to change countries on Netflix.

Discover new content

Although Netflix is ​​constantly producing and adding new content, some streaming enthusiasts have looked through their catalog and don’t know what to watch. They are therefore tempted to visit foreign versions of their favorite SVoD in order to discover new programs. By being smart, you can easily double or triple the number of series and films by browsing all versions of Netflix in the world – and you will keep your only French subscription to do so, so it’s at no extra cost.

A VPN compatible with Netflix allows them to do this without any real obstacle, provided they choose the right one: the VPN must be efficient enough not to be detected by Netflix and to offer a good streaming experience, without latency or stuttering.

Once the VPN is installed, simply browse the list of countries covered and click on the one that interests you. The catalog change is immediate after a simple page refresh. All you have to do is enjoy new series and films available in another territory.

Access your local catalog from abroad

If you have to go abroad, during a tourist trip, a business trip or an expatriation, you risk losing access to your Netflix library and your favorite content.

In this case, using a VPN will allow you to return to your local catalog. You will simply need to connect to a server in the target country. To go to Netflix France while being outside the borders of France, you will have to opt for a French server.

Many expatriates also use a VPN to watch original programs from their country of origin, whether on Netflix or on more traditional French television. For example, if you have an English or Swiss IP address because you live abroad, using a VPN will allow you to access all national channels from your computer, mobile or Smart TV.

View content before its release in France

You’ve probably noticed: new seasons of series and films are not always broadcast simultaneously throughout the world. The platforms often favor the United States, where certain titles appear several weeks, or even several months, before arriving in France or Europe.

If you don’t want to wait, a VPN can allow you to change regions on Netflix and immediately access foreign catalogs that offer the most recent episodes. Real fans of films and series are therefore perfectly familiar with VPNs which allow them to access content not available in their territory.

Adjust audio settings

When you travel abroad, the language available in your catalog may change automatically. Result: the audio tracks and subtitles offered do not always correspond to your preferences. By connecting to a server in your home country via a VPN, you’ll instantly return to your usual settings and a consistent viewing experience.

À retain

A VPN obviously does not replace a Netflix subscription: it simply modifies your virtual location, that is to say the location perceived by the services you use. Your account remains essential to access the platform.

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FAQ

The 01net editorial team does not encourage the use of a VPN in any way that could potentially violate the terms and conditions of use of a streaming platform. We invite you to check the conditions in advance.

Is it legal to change countries on Netflix with a VPN?

Using a VPN is not illegal per se in most countries, including France. However, Netflix prohibits circumvention of its geographic restrictions in its terms of service. You do not risk legal action, but the platform may block access to content or display you an error message if it detects the use of a VPN.

How to change country on Netflix on Smart TV?

If you have a TV connected to Android TV, or you use an Amazon Fire TV Stick, all you have to do is go to the applications catalog to download and use the VPN of your choice. It’s that simple, but be sure to select a high-performance VPN that is Netflix compatible.

Otherwise, you will have to be tricky and potentially configure the VPN on your router (provided that it is compatible).

Can you change region on Netflix from Apple TV?

For a long time, it was impossible to use a VPN on Apple TV because no such application was authorized by Apple. However, with the release of tvOS 17, the Apple company has made a big turnaround. As a result, more and more virtual private networks can be used on Apple TV, including NordVPN. According to tests carried out by our teams, the latter is the No. 1 VPN on tvOS at present.

Using it, you can connect to one of NordVPN’s servers located in around 129 countries, making it easy to obtain an IP address in the territory that interests you and unblock exclusive content from the country in question.

Does changing country on Netflix work on mobile and tablet?

Yes, provided you use a VPN that offers an app and have turned off location services on your device if necessary (as they can interfere with the VPN). Note that all the services presented in our article offer among the best VPN applications for Android and iOS.