How to Troubleshoot Netflix Not Working Issue

Is Netflix not loading, or does it keep crashing on your phone, TV, or computer? Are you getting errors like “Can’t connect” or “Can’t access servers”? Whatever issue you are facing with Netflix service on your device, this guide aims to help you. Let’s check the different ways to fix Netflix not working on Android, iPhone, TV, and PC.

The first thing that you must do if Netflix isn’t working is restart the concerned device. Similarly, you should also restart your Wi-Fi router. To restart your phone or PC, simply turn it off and on. To restart the Wi-Fi router or TV, unplug it from the power supply for a few seconds, then plug it back in.

Often, nothing is wrong with the Netflix app on your phone, TV, or PC, but the problem is with the Netflix servers. You can easily check whether the Netflix service is down by using the Downdetector website. Open the website and enter Netflix in the available box. You will see the outage status.

You must ensure that the Internet connection is working on your device. To test whether it’s working, open any website in a browser on your phone or PC. Similarly, try opening a different app on your smart TV. If that also doesn’t open, the problem is with your Internet connection. Try changing the DNS server to Google DNS, OpenDNS, or any free DNS service.

Pro Tip: learn how to fix your smart TV not connecting to Wi-Fi.

If Netflix isn’t working on a TV or PC but works on the phone, you must check whether your Netflix account has the right to watch on a bigger screen. Basically, Netflix offers a basic mobile plan that lets you watch only on a mobile phone and not on TV or PC. You must be subscribed to that plan only.

To check your Netflix plan on Android, iPhone, or PC, follow these steps:

Tip: get up to speed about all the features that you can access in the Netflix plan with ads.

If you haven’t updated the Netflix app in a while, chances are that the Netflix not working problem is happening due to a bug in the app. You must update the Netflix app.

Are you using a VPN on your phone, computer, or TV to watch Netflix? You should try turning it off to see if that fixes Netflix’s problems.

If Netflix doesn’t work on mobile data but works on Wi-Fi, chances are that you have restricted the access of cellular data to the Netflix app. To grant access, follow these steps:

Tip: learn how to fix it when cellular data isn’t working on your iPhone or iPad.

On Android and supported smart TVs, like Samsung, you can also try clearing the cache to fix the issue of the Netflix app crashing. Doing so will only remove the temporary files from the Netflix app and won’t affect your downloaded content or any other settings in the Netflix app.

Note: doing so will remove the downloaded Netflix TV shows and movies from your phone. In addition, you’ll also be signed out of your account.

We are covering the steps to clear the cache or Netflix app on Samsung smart TVs. The steps may differ on another TV model.

Netflix errors like “Can’t connect,” “Can’t access servers,” etc., can be resolved by signing out of the Netflix account. Signing out will not hamper your Netflix watch list or recommendations and will only log you out of your account. Ensure that you know your account’s password.

To sign out of your Netflix account on Android and iPhone, tap on the profile picture icon at the top of the Netflix app. Scroll down and tap on “Sign out,” then sign in again.

If nothing helps you fix Netflix not working on your iPhone, you should reset the Netflix app. Doing so will sign you out of your Netflix account and delete any downloads. It will not have any impact on your watch list, recommendations, etc.

A promising solution when it comes to fixing issues with Netflix on all devices is to reinstall the Netflix app. Before you can reinstall it, you must first uninstall it. Reinstalling the Netflix app will sign you out of your account, delete downloads, and restore the settings customizations you have made to the original settings.

Pro Tip: you can also try installing an older version of the Netflix app using APK instead of updating the app on Android.

The last resort in fixing the issue of Netflix not connecting or not working is to reset the network settings on your iPhone, Android phone, and TV. Doing so will restore all of the network settings, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc., to their default values and remove any saved devices.

To reset network settings on your smart TV, (in this case Samsung), go to “Settings → General → Network → Reset network.”

Once Netflix starts working on your device, learn how to download movies from Netflix for offline viewing. Also, check out the best tips to enhance Netflix viewing.

All images and screencaps by Mehvish Mushtaq.

Mehvish is a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she's always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She's been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps.

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