How to Watch International Netflix With a VPN
VPNs are an essential digital security tool for political activists, journalists, and security researchers, but they are now popular among regular Internet users because of the increased privacy they provide and because they allow you to access region-locked content.
How do VPNs work?
If you are new to the world of VPNs, the basic premise is that VPNs hide personal information such as your IP address, location, and online browsing data from anyone who tracks you online. This includes your ISP, advertisers, websites, governments, and even other private users on the same networks. VPNs pass your connection through proxy servers located in other countries that mask your true location, and it is through these proxy connections that you can trick websites and streaming apps into thinking you live in another part of the world.
Can I use a VPN to watch region-locked content?
Setting up a VPN to watch international Netflix (or Hulu, YouTube, and other streamers) is easy, as long as the VPN is legal in your country. VPNs are legal in the US, but you should check your local laws if you live elsewhere or plan to travel.
What type of VPN should I use to watch international Netflix?
With that legal note out of the way, the first step is to find a suitable VPN. There are many VPNs out there, and some are better ( and more reliable) than others. But if watching region-specific content is the only reason you use a VPN, you really need to make sure your VPN meets two criteria:
- It’s a logless VPN, which means it doesn’t store connection data or personal information.
- Allows you to select proxy servers in the country or region with the content you want to access.
Most popular paid VPN services, including NordVPN and Surfshark, meet the above criteria and are fine if you just want to watch, say, Japanese Netflix. However, if you want tighter privacy, I recommend Mullvad VPN as it is open source, stores far less information than most other VPNs, and has servers in 38 countries. Whatever you do, I generally recommend avoiding “free” VPNs as most of them are insecure and leak your data, full of ads, or even completely fake programs that infect your devices with malware.
Once you have a suitable VPN installed on your device, all you have to do is select the proxy server location. The steps to do this will vary between different VPN apps, but most of them offer an option when you connect. Once you connect to the proxy server, simply download the streaming website you want to watch and you’re good to go.