Simple hacks to access Netflix’s geo-restricted content in your region

With the advent of the internet, the content available to anyone for anything is immense. However, not all content is available everywhere. Yes, that’s right. An overwhelming amount of content on the internet is geo-restricted. This means certain content is only available for consumption ONLY in certain regions.

But there’s no need to worry because every problem comes with its solutions. It so happens that there are quite a few ways to access geo-blocked content without using unlawful means. In this article, we’ll be discussing the two most commonly used ways to do that.

VPNs

The first and most common way to unblock content with geo-restrictions is using a VPN, short for Virtual Private Network. A VPN is essentially a collection of servers located in different parts of the world. These servers help route your internet traffic, and in doing that changes your location on the internet and voila, you can access content that’s not normally available in your region. 

Since the internet recognizes all users connected to it using IP addresses, a VPN’s primary modus operandi is to mask your IP address. A VPN uses an encryption tunnel to spoof your location. In layman terms, you enter the tunnel at one end and exit at the other with your IP address changed.

VPNs work great at unblocking content which is geo-restricted. However, there’s a slight problem, most of the content creators or streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, etc.) have restrictions on VPNs. So, if you use a sub-standard VPN to access Netflix content that’s locked in your region, you’ll receive a Netflix proxy error.

This occurs because Netflix can detect if a low-quality VPN is being used, and will block access. In order to avoid the Netflix proxy error, you’ll have to either switch to a better VPN provider or change servers if you already are using a good VPN service.

DNS Servers

Another commonly used technique to access geo-restricted content is using a DNS server. A DNS server basically converts website addresses into IP addresses, and hence helps you connect to the internet and access content. Imagine the DNS server as a phone book for the internet. It locates the right IP address corresponding to a website’s name and thereby, it lets you access the website.

A DNS server basically creates a tunnel which doesn’t change your IP address per say, but rather routes it through a different server – and this is what makes the internet think you’re accessing content from a different location.  

The best bit about DNS servers is that they work on all devices connected to your home network. The worst bit about DNS servers is that they won’t let you stream content that’s prohibited in your location. So, you can access websites that are geo-blocked in your region, but not the content.

How to use a DNS server?

To successfully use a DNS server, you have to tinker with your DNS settings found in your router. Using a DNS service helps you access these settings through a computer or a digital device.

The most common DNS server is the Google Public DNS. To use it, all you have to do is to change your IPv4 address to 8.8.8.8 and your IPv6 address to 8.8.4.4. You can access these in your network settings found in your device. Google’s DNS server is also amongst the fastest DNS servers available.

OpenDNS

For having complete control over how your DNS works, OpenDNS is the way to go. You can easily configure OpenDNS since it’s compatible with all devices. Using OpenDNS allows you to access websites that are blocked in your region.

OpenDNS has two subscription options available, the personal plan and the business plan. You can read up more on their website and choose the one best suited to your usage.

SmartDNS

SmartDNS is another DNS provider that is most commonly used for streaming purposes. It unblocks restricted content on Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. A SmartDNS server helps you bypass geo-restricted content in a matter of minutes.

SmartDNS is the most similar to how a VPN works. It will send your traffic to a server that’s located in a country of your choice before sending the query to the internet. In layman terms, a SmartDNS server will basically spoof your actual location on the internet.

DNS Servers VS VPNs

The main difference between VPNs from a DNS service is that all of your internet activities are sent through the tunnel. This slows down your internet connection when connecting to a VPN. This is why you need only to use it when accessing the blocked content. Disable it when you’re doing other things.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to bypass geo-restrictions on content that is not normally available in your region, you can either opt for a DNS server or a VPN service. However, keep in mind that a VPN is more reliable but slightly slower than a DNS server.