How to unblock Netflix on iOS, iPhone and iPad

How to unblock Netflix on iOS
(Image credit: ViktoriyaFivko/Shutterstock)

Whether you're after an iPhone VPN, an iPad VPN, or simply a Netflix VPN to use across all your devices to get access to overseas content, using the best VPN you can find is a smart move.

These services are perfect for watching what you're used to when you're out of the country, but they also provide a double whammy of streaming power – when you're at home you can also relocate yourself abroad. If you do that, you'll be able to watch tons of shows and movies on Netflix that might not be available back at home. 

For example, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is available on Netflix in the UK, but it's a Hulu exclusive in the US. If you're in America and don't have a Hulu subscription, you can simply connect to a UK server and watch it on Netflix. Below, we'll outline exactly how that process works, and how you can start doing it yourself on your iOS device.

How to view geo-blocked Netflix content on iOS

The main reason that you may need to use a VPN when watching Netflix is due to the different licensing agreements that Netflix has for shows on a per-country basis. For example, the classic British comedy Only Fools and Horses is only available on Netflix in the UK, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. So, if you want to view it in the US, you’ll have to connect to a VPN server in the UK.

With a quality VPN, you can choose from a long list of locations to connect through, so you can view Netflix content from any country around the world.

How to install a VPN on iOS

Every VPN has a slightly different installation process, but we’ll use ExpressVPN as an example. First, visit its website to sign up for an account. You only need to enter your name, email address, and payment details, and ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can effectively try before you buy.

Once you’ve made your first payment, you will receive a welcome email. Open this email on the iOS device that you intend to use ExpressVPN on, and click on the link inside. Enter the user credentials that you signed up with, and scroll down to find the download links. Choose the iOS one, and you’ll be taken to the ExpressVPN iOS app on the App Store. Install it like you would any iOS app.

Unblocking Netflix content on iOS

Now that the VPN is installed on your device, open the app and fill in your ExpressVPN username and password. On the first installation, the app will ask you for permission to install VPN settings.

After you’ve agreed, you can now choose from the list of VPN locations around the world. Choose a relevant VPN location from the list (you can use Flixwatch.co to find the countries where your preferred Netflix content is available), and press the big on/off button to connect to the VPN.

Once the VPN is connected, open up the Netflix app on your iOS device (and sign up and sign in using the new system if you haven't already) then stream your desired content.

What's the top VPN on iOS for unblocking Netflix content?

All the top VPN providers have an iOS client for their VPN services. While NordVPN and Surfshark deserve honorable mentions, ExpressVPN performed the best in our testing.

ExpressVPN is the best iPhone VPN available.

<a href="https://go.expressvpn.com/c/4550836/1330033/16063?subId1=hawk-custom-tracking&sharedId=hawk&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressvpn.com%2Foffer%2Ftomsguide%3Foffer%3D3monthsfree%26a_fid%3D744" data-link-merchant="expressvpn.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ExpressVPN is the best iPhone VPN available.
We love ExpressVPN’s intuitive interface on iOS that makes it easy to choose a VPN server location and unblock Netflix. It also has handy tools in its iOS app that you can use to check the security and privacy of your connection. Best of all, ExpressVPN could always unblock Netflix content in our testing, and the connection speeds were excellent.

ExpressVPN also has one of the strongest levels of security that we’ve ever seen on a VPN, and no logs are stored of your browsing activities. There’s even a Privacy and Security Tools menu on Android, so you can check that your IP address is hidden and that you don’t have any DNS leaks. It’s easy to recommend ExpressVPN as the top Android VPN overall.

You'll have 24/7 live chat support for the unlikely situation that anything goes awry, and you'll also get a 30-day money-back guarantee to test it out. On top of that, Tom's Guide readers can claim three months free on an annual plan. What's not to like?

Richard Sutherland

Richard is a technology writer with over 20 years experience in website development, marketing, and SEO. A graduate in Computer Science, he has lectured in Java programming and built software for companies including Samsung and Walmart. Richard writes for TechRadar, IT Pro, Tom's Guide, and PC Gamer.