Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services on the surface of the earth, but with its popularity comes its own set of problems. The service may be famous for its massive catalogue of movies and TV shows but it is also infamous for certain issues and the frustrations its users occasionally face.
One of the most common ones is the “Unable to Connect to Netflix” pop up. This can cause the application to crash frequently, load only a blank or black screen on startup, constantly cause the application to malfunction and result in you not being able to stream your favourite movie or TV show. The reason for this error can be a bad or unstable internet connection, the service itself is down, external hardware malfunctions and more. Most of which can be easily fixed at home with a little effort.
In this article, we have covered tried and tested solutions for the error which are universally applicable. As well as methods tailored to specific devices including Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One consoles, PlayStations, and Roku devices.
Fix Netflix Error “Unable to Connect to Netflix”
Netflix is available across various platforms from laptops to smart TVs and iPads to Xbox One consoles, but the troubleshooting process for all remains more or less the same. These general solutions may fix a faulty application across the board no matter what type of device you are using.
Method 1: Check your internet connection
As Netflix requires a strong and stable internet connection to function smoothly, checking its strength seems like the obvious first step to fix Netflix Audio and Picture Out of Sync on Android and iOS to fix Netflix Audio and Picture Out of Sync on Android and iOS. Be sure that the Wi-Fi or cellular connection is switched on. Also, ensure that the Airplane mode isn’t unintentionally active. You can try using other applications to rule out the possibility of having an internet problem on your device.
Method 2: Relaunch Netflix
Some glitches in the Netflix application itself can lead to the said error. Closing it down and then reopening the application just might do the magic. Check if the app is able to load normally this way.
Method 3: Restart your device
Asking someone to restart their device may feel like a cliche and probably is the most overused troubleshooting advice given, but it is usually the most efficient solution. Restarting the device improves performance by closing down all the open background applications that may be slowing down the device. It often fixes any faulty applications or any other system problems. Turn the device off completely and unplug the power cable (if any). Leave it alone for a couple of minutes and wait for the magic to happen before using it again. Launch Netflix and check if you’re able to fix Netflix error “Unable to Connect to Netflix”.
Method 4: Check if Netflix isn’t itself down
Occasionally Netflix experiences a service outage that can cause this error. You can easily check if the service is down by visiting Down Detector and checking its status in your region. If this is the issue, then there is nothing you can do but wait until it is fixed from their end.
Also Read: 5 Netflix Proxy Detected Error Fix
Method 5: Reboot your network
If the device isn’t being able to connect to the Wi-Fi correctly, there might be a problem with the Wi-Fi connection. Try rebooting the Wi-Fi router to solve this issue.
Completely turn off the router and modem. Unplug the power cords and leave them alone for a few minutes before plugging them back in. Once the power supply is restored, wait until the indicator light starts blinking normally. Launch Netflix in incognito mode on your device and check if the error still persists. If the error still comes then troubleshoot Internet connection problems.
Method 6: Update your Netflix Application
Bugs in the application itself can lead to this error, and updating your application is the best and only way to kill these bugs. The latest version of the application may be required for smooth functioning or for connecting to the Netflix servers for media streaming. Go to the app store and check for any software updates.
Method 7: Login and log out of the application
Logging out of your account from the device and logging back in can also help solve the problem. This will reset the app settings on your device and provide a fresh start.
Method 8: Re-install Netflix application
Often deleting the Netflix profile and application and then reinstalling it will fix any problem experienced by you. You can directly delete the application from your device by long-pressing its icon and then selecting uninstall or by heading over to the settings application and uninstalling the application from there.
Re-download it from the relevant app store and check if you’re able to fix Netflix error “Unable to Connect to Netflix”.
Also Read: 9 Ways to Fix Netflix App Not Working On Windows 10
Method 9: Sign out of all devices
Even if your membership plan allows for it, using your account on multiple devices can occasionally cause server problems. Server problems can cause conflicts due to various users and logging out of all your devices could be the potential fix.
Keep in mind that you will be logged out of all your devices and will have to individually log into each device again. The signing out process is quite easy and explained below:
1. Open the Netflix website, we recommend that you open the webpage on either a laptop or desktop as it makes the process incredibly simple.
2. In the top right corner, click on your profile icon. From the drop-down menu, select ‘Account’.
3. In the Accounts menu, under the ‘Settings’ section, click on ‘Sign out of all devices’.
4. Again, click on ‘Sign Out’ to confirm.
After a few minutes, log back into your device again and check if the problem is fixed.
Method 10: Update your Operating System
May it be smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, or Smart TVs, you must always try to keep their system up to date with the latest operating system. Some applications including Netflix may not be compatible with the current specifications. Updates can also fix any bugs that may be hindering the device’s or application’s performance.
Method 11: Check with your Internet Service Provider
If you have tried all the above-mentioned methods and the issue isn’t with the network or application, the problem may be with your Internet Service Provider (IPS), which is out of your control. Pick up your phone, give the service provider a call, and describe your problem.
Fix Unable to Connect to Netflix Error on Samsung Smart TV
Smart TVs are known for allowing applications to be directly installed on them without needing any additional hardware, Samsung Smart TVs are no different. An official Netflix app is available on the Smart TV, but unfortunately, it is infamous for its problems. Listed below are a few methods to troubleshoot your television and solve the Netflix issue.
Method 1: Resetting your TV
Periodically resetting your device can work wonders for it. Firstly, turn off your television and unplug your TV set for about 30 seconds. This allows everything to completely reset and start afresh. Turn it back on again and check if the issue is solved.
Method 2: Disable Samsung Instant On
Samsung’s Instant On feature may help your TV start quickly, but it is also known for occasionally causing conflicts with the installed applications. Simply turning it off may solve the problem.
To disable this feature, open ‘Settings’ then locate ‘General’ and click on ‘Samsung Instant On’ to turn it off.
Method 3: Perform a hard reset
If nothing mentioned above works, performing a hard reset will be your last option. A hard reset will return your TV to its factory setting by resetting all the changes and preferences, and therefore, allowing you to start afresh.
To begin this process, you need to call Samsung’s technical support team and ask the remote management team to perform a hard reset on your Smart TV set.
Fix Unable to Connect to Netflix Error on Xbox One Console
Even though Xbox One is primarily a gaming console, it acts quite well as a streaming system too. If the general solutions weren’t helpful, you can try the below-mentioned fixes.
Method 1: Check if Xbox Live is down
Many applications and features of the console are dependent on Xbox Live online service, and they might not function if the service is down.
To check for this, visit Xbox Live Official Status Web Page and verify if there is a green checkmark next to Xbox One Apps. This checkmark denotes if the application is working smoothly. If it is present then the problem is caused by something else.
If the checkmark is absent, then a part of Xbox Live is down and you will have to wait until it comes back online. This may take anywhere from just a couple of minutes to a few hours, so be patient.
Method 2: Quit the Xbox One Netflix application
Quitting and re-opening the application is the oldest trick in the book, but it is the most effective one.
Press the circle X button present at the center of your controller to bring up the menu/guide and select Netflix from the list of your recently used applications. Once it is highlighted, hit the menu button with three lines on your controller and then proceed to press ‘Quit’ from the pop-up menu. Give the application a couple of minutes and then reopen Netflix to check if the problem has been resolved.
Fix Unable to Connect to Netflix Error on PS4 console
Like the above mentioned Xbox One, PlayStation 4 can run streaming applications as well. Apart from the general way, there are two additional ones that are worth a shot.
Method 1: Check if the PlayStation Network service is down
If the PSN’s online service is down, it could be preventing some applications from working smoothly. You can check the service status by visiting the PlayStation status page. If all the boxes are ticked, you can move on to the next step. If it isn’t, you will have to wait until the service is back up again.
Method 2: Close and reopen your PS4 Netflix app
The PlayStation 4 application will continue to run in the background even if you switch between games or use another application. Shutting down the open apps will not only improve the performance but also fix any bugs and issues you may be experiencing.
To close the application, press the ‘Options’ button on your controller when the Netflix application is highlighted on the home screen. A new pop up will arrive; click on ‘Close Application’. Now you are free to reopen the application as you usually would.
Fix Netflix Error on a Roku
Roku is a digital media player that allows you to stream media from the internet to your TV set. The best solution to fix Netflix on Roku is to deactivate the connection and then reactivating it again. This process can differ from one model to the next, listed below are the methods to fix the problem in each one.
For Roku 1
Press the ‘Home’ button on your controller and click on the ‘Settings’ menu. Navigate yourself to ‘Netflix Settings’, here find and click on the ‘Disable’ option.
For Roku 2
When you are in the ‘Home Menu’, highlight the Netflix application and press the ‘Start’ key on your remote. In the following menu, click on ‘Remove Channel’ and then again confirm your action.
For Roku 3, Roku 4 and Rokuṣ TV
Enter the Netflix application, move your cursor to the left, and open the menu. Click on the ‘Settings’ option and then sign out. Sign back in and check if the issue has been fixed.
If everything mentioned above fails, you can always contact Netflix for further assistance. You can also tweet the problem at @NetflixHelps with the appropriate device information.
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That’s it, I hope the above guide was helpful and you were able to Fix Netflix Error “Unable to Connect to Netflix”. But if you still have any questions regarding this tutorial then feel free to ask them in the comment section.